Youth Wednesday Evening Community Group

This summer the youth ministry at Parkway will start meeting in homes around town. With the pending sell of our building and the desire to utilize a more missional approach to ministry, I fell this to be a positive step. Speaking very practically, when we sell the building we will have to meet in homes, there will simply be no alternative. Likewise, meeting in homes plants or ministerial efforts closer to the culture in which we minister. We have already seen success with home based community groups during the spring semester. Now is as good a time as any to begin a full-scale transition from meeting once at the church building to meeting multiple times in the community.

How will we do this, you likely ask? Here is the plan. Beginning Wednesday June 4 at 6:00 in the evening, we will be having a youth (grade 6 – grade 12) community group at my house. The next week there will be another youth community group at Misty’s house. Now, what you are about to read is quite important, read carefully. With this new plan the intention is that we get out into the community, be closer to the students of Tallahassee. While we are starting with just two houses I hope to see this grow. It begins with Misty’s and my house because our two houses are both easily available for use and just happen to be centrally located in the north and south of town. Now, I realize that if you live in the east and west of town you might be thinking, “great, this helps me none.” You are correct; it is equally difficult to get to my house, Misty’s house, and the church building for you. Do not forget, however, there is no reason that a community group cannot be established in your part of town, maybe even your house if there are enough people interested in coming. Again the goal is to get out in our community. We want to see new people and give them a place to discuss spiritual maters and at the same time make new friends.

Now, logistics; beginning Wednesday June 4 we meet at my house at 6:00 pm to study session 1 of our summer study. The next week, Wednesday June 11 we will meet at Misty’s house, again studying session 1 of the same study. The week following, June 18, we meet at my house to study session 2, June 25 is at Misty’s for session 2, July 2 is at My house with session 3, and on and so forth. It is not intended for the same students to meet every week for bible study. Though you are welcomed to come to both, it might be better to use the time in other ways which I shall discuss later.

The every other week cycle might be a little confusing. It is meant to aid with the transition to the new community group concept. When school begins next fall I hope that we can bring more community groups on line and ultimately fall in to a regular weekly schedule. For the summer I am thinking that a two-week schedule will be a bit easier to handle, helping us get the process down and make the necessary adjustments. Also, we might find that the off week is a nice time to get together to swim, watch a movie, play some form of sport at the park, maybe cook a meat, some how find ways to engage our culture.

Also, feel free to comment on this article or email me with questions or concerns.

Click for Map to my house (Remember I live in apartment 78).
Click for Map to Misty’s house.

July 12 Wakulla Family Day

The Parkway Student Ministry has a Wakulla springs family day planned. The date for this latest incarnation of the student ministry family day will be Saturday July 12, starting at 10:30 and wrapping up at 3:30. However, this latest family day extravaganza will be a bit different. While we will still cook food for you, this year you will have to pay for it. Not to worry, you can still come if you do not wish to eat the food we cook; it is perfectly permissible for you to bring your own food. The cost for the food I cook will be $4.00 per person, it will be better than McDonalds and that is the only place, besides our picnic at Wakulla Springs on Saturday July 12, you can eat for $4.00. If you plan to come please to put your name on the list. There are two ticket options: Would Like to Eat and Will Not Eat/Bring my own food. Make your choice, if you would like to eat the food we cook bring your money and pay at the picnic.

This event is open to all students (middle school, high school, and college), their parents and family, and student ministry volunteers. The idea is for everyone even remotely related to the student ministry at Parkway Baptist Church (student attendees of The Well, our various student bible study attendees, youth and college Sunday school attendees, and other students who attend or interact with our ministry in some way) to feel welcomed to come and if they wish bring their family for a big picnic and fellowship. Come to eat, meet friends, swim, take the boat tour, or otherwise get to know new people and hang out.

Please note: students and parents are welcomed and if parents come with their students then younger non-youth aged siblings are welcomed. But, non-youth aged siblings should not come without mom or dad.