Introducing the YEC Lineup Bios
Friday’s Speaker: Afshin Ziafat – http://www.afshinziafat.com
Afshin was born in Houston, TX. He moved to his native country of Iran with his family when he was two years old. In the midst of the Islamic revolution in Iran, Afshin’s family moved back to Houston when he was six years old. In the second grade, he was given a Bible by a tutor who was teaching him the English language. He read that same Bible 10 years later as a senior in high school and came to faith in Jesus Christ. His conversion to Christianity was only the beginning of his journey to understand what it would look like to follow Christ. Ultimately, his family would disown him because of his faith in Christ. His story illustrates the call of Christ on each of our lives- to follow Him regardless of the cost. Afshin found that the reward was greater than the cost. He found the life Christ had for him. His story is one of hope and inspiration.
Saturday’s Speaker: Derwin Gray - http://www.derwinlgray.com/
Derwin is the Founding Pastor of Transformation Church, a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, mission-shaped community in Indian Land, South Carolina. He and his wife Vicki have been married for 18 years and have two children, Presley and Jeremiah.
After graduating from Brigham Young University, Derwin played professional football in the NFL for five years with the Indianapolis Colts (1993-1997) and one year with the Carolina Panthers (1998). During that time, he and Vicki began their journey with Christ and experienced God’s faithfulness and direction as He moved their hearts to know Him and make Him known. They began One Heart At A Time Ministries in 1999, an itinerant speaking ministry dedicated to seeing people transformed–one heart at a time–through the love, grace, and truth of Jesus.
Worship Band: Addison Road - http://addisonroad.com
The stories sound like happenstance, like coincidence. A band without a name is assembled at the last minute, comprised of college friends and acquaintances, because a gig has suddenly become available. Somehow, the members “click” and the music is noteworthy. Years later, the band has radio success and Dove Award nominations. While writing for a new album, they are contacted by TobyMac, who just happens to offer a song with this lyric:
“Will you walk away when the fire gets hot, or fight another day?”
Weeks after recording the song, the band must live it when the rented RV containing all their possessions burns to the ground. Coincidence? Happenstance? Certainly not. The history of Addison Road is a stirring series of stories that fit together so well, God’s signature is undeniable. Read more
Drama Duo: Bean and Bailey - http://www.beanandbailey.com
Bean and Bailey is made up of Bradley Bean and Jackson Bailey. Bradley and Jackson met in 1992 at Carson-Newman College where they were both freshmen living in the same dorm. Along with mutual friends, they began using their leisure time in the dorm to make humorous videos and comedy sketches. This led to official “shows” where the group of 5 guys (brilliantly named “Give Me 5”) would entertain high school students who were visiting the college. “Give Me 5” soon began performing for faith-based events as well as regular campus events at Carson-Newman College. Read More
New Bible study for high schoolers coming March 1.
Relationships are one of the best parts of life and also can be one of the frustrating things in life. How do we navigate relationships both friendships and dating? Beginning Tuesday, March 1, we are going to begin a 5 week study on relationships with our high school students. Bring a friend or 50 as we look at friendships.
Meet the Centrifuge Pastor and Worship Band
Robert Smith
Robert Smith is a Teen Culture Specialist from Lawton, OK who surrendered to ministry at age fourteen. Before entering fulltime youth ministry, He was a basketball coach, Bible teacher and chapel coordinator at a private Christian school, while simultaneously serving as Youth Pastor at a new church start. He went on to serve at Ryan, OK, and Madill, OK, before forming Upside Down Ministries in Feb 05 with his wife Mary. His ministry seeks to train and equip workers and parents in strategies for relating to and mentoring youth. After working with teenagers for the past 7 years, Robert now spends his time traveling and speaking to teens and parents about youth culture. He and his wife are also actively involved in hosting and leading a youth and college bible study at their house. He has worked with several popular national Christian music artists in effort to provide positive entertainment for youth. He believes that this generation will impact the entire world like no other generation before them. Robert feels his calling is to use pop culture to get teens attention then point them to God in terms they can understand. Robert served as FUGE camp pastor at Carson Newman College in 2008.
Thad Burkhalter Band
Over the past 10 years the Lord has given Memphis-based worship leader Thad Burkhalter some incredible opportunities to partner in ministry with various groups around the country. God continues to place Thad right in the middle of the work that He is doing through the local church. Thad gets a little fired up talking about worship and the life change that true worship can bring about in the hearts of God’s people. Thad’s desire is to serve the Lord with the gifts and abilities he has been given. He can’t wait to see where God wants to use him next…
Meet the M-Fuge Pastor and Worship Band
Maina Mwaura
Maina is from the great state of Georgia. He serves as the student pastor at Greenforest Community Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga. When Maina is not hanging out with his students you can find him spending time with his wife Tiffiney. Maina is a graduate of Liberty University and New Orleans Baptist Theological seminary.
SoloFlight 
Based out of Mobile, Alabama, SoloFlight leads worship by creating music that is passionately driven to bring others to the throne of God. Andrew, Stacey, TJ, and Derek have been actively involved in music ministries in Mobile for several years and had no idea what was in store for them when their paths crossed at the University of Mobile. Andrew Buttry, the leader of SoloFlight, has been leading students and adults in worship for years, constantly striving for worship to be a moving, spiritual experience, showing the awesomeness of God. SoloFlight desires to be a channel to which the Holy Spirit flows freely and to be nothing more than mirrors to reflect God’s abundant mercy and redeeming grace to all who reach out to Him. The mission is simple. Spread the word and show the love of Christ.
Fuge Camp Info
The camp deposit deadline to secure your spot is closing fast. This Sunday, January 30, is the deadline to secure your spot for either Centrifuge or M-Fuge for this summer.
Centrifuge is for Middle schoolers who are currently in grades 6-8. We will be attending the Middle school only week at Carson-Newman University June 13-17. The info pack can be download by clicking on the following link: C-Fuge Info Pack.
M-Fuge is for High schoolers currently in grades 9-12. We will be going to Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, June 26-July 1. Click here for the info pack: M-Fuge Info Pack.
Contact Bro. Mark with any questions.
Upcoming Items
It’s hard to believe D-Now was just last weekend. As I have stopped to think about the weekend over the course of this week, it continues to become clear to me that students all over Clarksville want to hear from God in any way they can. There is a desire to live for God despite our fleshly shortcomings that is refreshing and encouraging.
I’m looking forward to what God has planned for 2011. Coming up is our 3rd annual Cafe AMPED, Tuesday night, Jan. 25. We turn our gathering area into a coffee shop for a night of relaxation, coffee, food, and this a special musical guest in Lydia Walker. All students grades 6-12 are invited to attend!
Also coming up is the deadline for camp deposits. Deposits are $50 per student and are non-refundable. Contact Bro. Mark for more information and scholarship opportunities.
Lastly, for your enjoyment is our D-Now wrap up video.
An Amazing Weekend To Come
In roughly 3.5 hours teenagers from around Clarksville will decend on various churches for the 2nd annual Cumberland Baptist Association wide DiscipleNOW. I must admit that this is turning out to be an exciting year. I know, I know, I say that every year; however, this year just seems different. When the planning team began praying back in October for D-Now, they were praying for 75 students seeing that we had 68 last year and a good sized group of 6th graders promoting in the student ministry. So the wheels were set in motion to plan and pray towards that goal.
As time progressed, the goal changed to 80 as more and more students showed interest and mention inviting their friends. Never in our wildest dreams would we have imagined what would happen in January. As the final registration deadline approached, 94 students had registered for D-Now. We couldn’t believe it. But the best part came next. Several students were standing around the registration table as the D-Now director, my wife, Jamie, was celebrating the number of students coming to D-Now. When she reveal the number of students registered, the gathered students celebrated with her and then requested that she ask me to keep registration open so we could reach the 100 mark. Students then began calling and texting their friends to come to D-Now.
Jamie and I received phone calls, Facebook messages, and texts until 11:00 PM that night. Towards the end of Sunday night, January 8, we were at 98 students so the deadline was asked to be extended. And so I agreed. When it was all said and done, our great and awesome God blessed us with 101 students for this weekend!!!! I am so blown away at 1) our God for doing something that only He can do. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the turn out that has occurred, 2) our students for the excitement, ownership, and anticipation for this weekend. This goal was theirs and they earned it. This was not something myself nor the D-Now planning team pushed. We were content with whoever God sent our way as we are going to make the most of each opportunity we have to minister to and with students. The kudos goes to our students. They took ownership, set a goal, and reached it on their own. I cannot brag on our students enough.
I am looking forward to seeing God move and hearing the testimonies of our students and leaders about this weekend. I believe our students’ hearts are ready to hear from Him and respond in action and changed lives. This is going to be an awesome weekend, one that will be talked about for a long time to come.
Please be in prayer for our 11 houses, 101 students, 14 Bible study leaders, and the countless number of adults who have planned, worked, donated, cooked, and prayed for this weekend.
Humbled by God’s awesomeness,
Bro. Mark
D-Now Kick-off rally at Hilldale FLC
The kick-off rally is still on for tonight from 6:30 – 8:00 PM.
Below is a map to the FLC.
View Larger Map
Reminder: No AMPED or AWANA next week, O
Reminder: No AMPED or AWANA next week, October 11-15, due to Fall break.
D-Now 2011 Sneak Peak
Believe it or not D-Now 2011 is only 4 months away! As a sneak peak, here is a recent article that our Associate Associational Missionary, Wally Vinson, wrote:
Providence is not just a city in Rhode Island. It will be the title of this year’s DiscipleNow study. It is a theological term, which is understood as God’s right to govern and preserve all that He has created. This will be the focus of the weekend as we study the book of Ruth.
The book of Ruth is not just a study about how a widowed, Moabite woman marries a rich Israelite man. It is an incredible display of God’s protection and provision for His people, and his purposes. This study will examine; how to respond when bad things happen, power of reputation, the definition of biblical love, and how events of the book of Ruth fits into the larger picture of God’s redeeming work in the world.
DiscipleNow 2011 will be January 14-16, Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend. Disciple Now is an intensive weekend of study and reflection for students in grades 6-12. The students spend two nights in church members home and go delve into five Bible study lessons. During the weekend, all the churches get together for times of worship and ministry.
We, as an association, have written the material, publishing both teachers’ and students books, along with the biblical background study for the teachers. We will have a kick off event at Hilldale’s FLC on January 12 at 6:30 p.m.. Even if your church is not participating in the weekend, you are encouraged to come to this event. The cost of the event varies according to the individual church. The cost per student ranges from $25-$35. Every student that participates will receive a DiscipleNow t-shirt and student book.
If you would like more information about how to conduct a DiscipleNow weekend and what is entailed in it, please call the associational office and we will be happy to meet with your student leadership and share about this important ministry. If your church has students, your church needs to be a part of this weekend. We need to know soon if your church intends to participate. Last year we had over 500 students and adults involved. This year we are praying for even more.
Wally Vinson
Wally Vinson is the current Associate Associational Missionary for the Cumberland Baptist Association located in Clarksville, TN and a former Youth Minister.
See You At The Pole Stories
Today is See You At The Pole across the country. Our prayers are with all who are participating where ever you are. May God be glorified and honored this morning through a unified, concentrated voice of prayer. May this morning be the catalyst for a prayer revolution and lifestyle that lasts all year long and not just on one day.
We would love to hear your stories from See You At The Pole. No matter where you are located, we would love to hear a brief story of what happened at your school.
Getting AMPED for 2010-2011
This year, 2010-2011, is going to be an exciting year for AMPED Student Ministries! Our new Sunday School year begins this Sunday, Sept. 12. We have an awesome team of teachers ready to take the reins from last year’s outstanding group and continue to teach, minister, and disciple our students. New this year is our 6th grade curriculum. We will using Group’s Grapple curriculum and our teachers are excited about it! Very interactive with a web group our students have the option of signing up for. We begin our 5th year with Student Life Bible Study. The Christ, Community, and Ignite studies will be taught in their respective classes.
This past Tuesday, Sept. 7, began our third year of AMPED. We have tweaked it yet again. New this year:
- Prayer Time prior to AMPED – AMPED does not officially start until 6:30PM on Tuesday’s; however, if students want to come early, there will be a prayer room open from 6:00-6:20PM. E6, our youth room, will not officially open until 6:15. This is a designated time for prayer and not for socializing.
- Student Leader Teams – This year we are making a concerted effort to include our students in the happenings of AMPED each week. Students have the option to sign up for a variety of teams that serve certain functions on Tuesday nights. The teams are greeters, calling visitors, running the sound board, running the computer, with more to come.
- AMPED – is our Tuesday nights with Small Group studies based on gender and grades. Our High Schoolers will be studying Colossians while our Middle Schoolers will be studying various topics from prayer, the armor of God, and more this year in their small groups.
- AMPED Overload - New this year on the last Tuesday night of each month beginning in October. AMPED Overload is an evening with no small groups but a group activity either as the whole group or as Middle School and High School groups. Our prayer is for students to bring their friends to experience Christ through a variety of ways. October’s Overload will be our third annual Praise-n-Prayer service. Watch for more information to come.
- AMPED Out – Closing out our new stuff this year is AMPED Out. The first Wednesday of each month beginning in October, teams of adults and students will be going out making visits and sharing Christ. Our prayer is to teach, show, and mentor our students in sharing their faith and how to make visits. Our goal is developing leadership habits for students that will last well into their adult years. Space is limited for AMPED Out.
Be in prayer not only for our adults as they lead our students into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ but also for our students as they learn, grow, lead, and share Christ with their friends.
This is going to be an AMPED UP year!
See You At The Pole – Sept. 22
See You At The Pole is a student-led, student-initiated global prayer movement centered around students prayer together at their flag-poles on the fourth Wednesday in September.
This year’s See You At The Pole takes place Wednesday, September 22 @ 7am.
The following description of the this year’s theme is found here
The 2010 See You at the Pole™ theme is Reveal based on the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9–13.
The Message Bible states the Lord’s Prayer like this:
With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best—as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.
For twenty years now, See You at the Pole™ has been about students leading out in prayer, asking God to reveal Who He is on campuses all over the United States and the world.
On Wednesday, September 22, at 7 a.m., GATHER at your school flagpole, PRAY for your school, friends, families, and world. ASK God to REVEAL Who He is to your campus. Pray for AWAKENING.
Begin praying now for our students who will be gathering for prayer.
AMPED Up Celebration
If you are a student currently in grades 6-12, join us Tuesday, September 7, from 6:30-8:00PM as we welcome AMPED back for the school year 2010-2011.
Youth VBS 2010 Wrap Up Video
Youth VBS concluded a couple of weeks ago. To relive the week check out the video.
Paper Towel Challenge Results
We have come to the end of our month long competition between the girls and the boys. Once all rolls were counted and recounted, the girls came out the winner. The final count was Girls: 133 and Boys: 103.
Yes we came up just short of our 250 goal; however, the Copper Basin Mission Team will have the full 250 rolls to take with them on their mission trip in a couple of weeks.
So girls don’t forget about your pool party this Friday from 6-9PM. Contact Bro. Mark with any questions.
Paper Towel Challenge Update for June 7
After a strong Sunday showing of receiving a total of 72 rolls of paper towels, the girls added 2 rolls to their lead over the boys. Currently the girls lead by 19 rolls over the boys: 122 to 103. To date the overall total of paper towel rolls given is 225 out of 250.
This Sunday, June 13, is the last Sunday for the competition. If the boys want to win they need a strong showing this week; however, the girls can’t relax with their lead as anything is possible in the final days of the competition.
Who will win and get the pool party? Stay tuned!
Memorial Day Weekend Schedule
Sunday, May 30
- Worship Services at 8:30 & 10:00 AM (only)
- Childcare for ages birth-4 for both Worship Services
- No Sunday School
- No Evening Worship
Monday, May 31
- Church Office Closed
Paper Towel Challenge Update – May 24
To date we have received 127 rolls of Paper Towels out of our 250 roll goal. After yesterday, the standings are:
- Girls – 67
- Boys – 60
Don’t forget to bring your rolls this Sunday. With there being no Sunday School this Sunday, rolls may be dropped off at the Welcome Desk.
Copper Basin Paper Towel Challenge
This July a team almost 60 from our church will be going to the Ocoee River Area of TN more specifically Copper Basin. This is one of the poorest areas of the United States. To show our support, our Student Ministry is seeking to have 250 rolls of paper towels to send with the Mission team to give away to the families of Copper Basin.
So we created the Paper Towel Challenge. The Girls are competing against the Boys to see who can bring in the most Paper Towels. The Challenge began this past Sunday, May 16, and ending Sunday, June 13.
At the of Sunday, the Boys had a lead of 16-0 over the Girls. However, at our last AMPED for the school year last night (May 18), there was an influx of 97 rolls of paper towels bringing the total amount to 113 out of the needed 250 rolls to send with the mission team.
The reward? A pool party complete with burgers, hot dogs, & dessert in June for the winner.
So don’t forget to bring your paper towels each Sunday or to the Church Office Monday-Friday (8:30 am-4:30 pm). Be sure to label the rolls either Boy or Girl so they can be accounted for properly.
Next update on the standings is Monday, May 24.
The Amazing Cranium Race
Join us Tuesday night, May 18, from 6:30-8:00 PM to celebrate the end of the school year! Pizza will be for all to feast on. Guys need to bring 2-liter drinks and Girls need to bring desserts. The highlight of the night will be a group competition call The Amazing Cranium Race. Get ready for a wild test of 5 learning styles in a team competition that will be a blast! Bring a friend or 50 to celebrate the end of school and beginning of summer.
See everyone then!
