Meet the D-Now Speaker and Worship Leader
D-Now is only 2 weeks away! Can you believe it?! Seems like yesterday plans were being formed….This Wednesday, January 25, is the last day to register for this amazing weekend. We hope to see all of you and a friend or 50. 
Download the 2012 Registration Form & 2012 DNOW Info Packet.
I also would like to take a couple of minutes to introduce our guest speaker for Friday night and our Worship Leader for Friday and Saturday nights.
Worship Leader: John Lemonis
John’s experience includes nearly three decades working on church staff full-time in a variety of areas, but primarily as Minister of Music/Worship (in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee). He is a noted singer-songwriter-arranger-worship leader, clinician, panelist, and speaker. His work includes crusades, music seminars, writing conferences (including work for the Gospel Music Association and NSAI – Nashville Songwriters Association International), and industry workshops. He holds a Master’s Degree in Theology and his under-graduate work focused on Music and Composition. John is the husband to Janet and father to Nikki (23), Tony (21), & Kara (8)
Friday Night Guest Speaker: Scott Hill
Scott has lived in East Nashville for five years with his wife Emily and serves as the College Pastor at Mosaic Church in Nashville. Before moving to Nashville, he studied at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS where he received his undergraduate degree in Mass Communication and Public Relations. Currently, Scott is working on his masters in Global Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary. Aside from his role as college pastor with Mosaic Church of Nashville, Scott works with a non-profit called Friends Life that focuses on the needs of adults with disabilities as well as writing for Fringe Magazine. He has also been a camp pastor for LifeWay’s M-Fuge
Student Ministry Family Outing
On Saturday, October 15, we will be enjoying the outdoors at the Christian WayFarm’s Harvest Praise Day in Hopkinsville. All High School and Middle School students, their families, and friends are invited to attend this family centered outing.
Cost is $6 per person. Families provide their own transportation and students attending by themselves and need transportation must sign up by Sunday, Oct. 9, at the sign-up sheet at the Youth Bulletin board outside E6. The deadline to sign up is Sunday, Oct. 9.
We will leave from the church parking lot at 9 AM and return at 4 PM.
What is Harvest Praise Day?
(Taken from here)
Christian Way Farm would like to invite you to a special day of food, activities and entertainment that will be fun for the whole family.
Our usual fall Saturday activities will continue but on this day we add the availability of food and provide special music. A variety of Christian music brings an uplifting sound throughout the farm.
Our purpose on this day is to provide a family friendly atmostphere on the farm as we celebrate and give thanks for another Harvest season.
Admission includes the opportunity to enjoy all the music of the day plus the following fun activities:
- Explore the straw castle.
- Navigate the corn maze.
- Enjoy a tractor wagon ride.
- Visit the u-pick pumpkin patch (Pumpkins are not included in admission, but the most expensive pumpkins in the patch are $4.00. Other pumpkins and decorating items are available for purchase)
- Shell and grind corn.
- Feed and pet the animals.
- Play in corn-filled antique trucks.
- Browse in the farm’s store, located in an old barn.
- Catch a ride on the lawnmower train.
- Race around the tricycle track.
- Or just relax in the swing or rocking chairs on the porch!
Additional activities will be available such as pumpkin painting, hair spray and face painting. These activities will cost $1.00 each.
Food is available for purchase and will include the every popular burgoo, grilled chicken and pork chop sandwiches.
Apples with caramel, chips, drinks, smores and candy also available.
Picnic areas are available for those who buy food or choose to bring their own.
Contact Bro. Mark with question or for more information.
We are In-Transit
Youth VBS 2011: In Transit kicked off in full gear last night. The Chris Beck band led us in worship and David Greer did an outstanding job teaching the Bible study. We all are looking forward to tonight as Lydia Walker leads us in worship and we have a guest teacher for Bible study. A few things to remember:
- Our missions offering is going to support the tornado relief effort in Alabama. You read more here: http://www.alsbom.org/tornadorelief. Our goal is bring in $800.
- Our one night attendance goal is 75. If we have 75 students in attendance on a single night, Bro. Jeff and Bro. Mark will be the first duo to sumo wrestle on Friday night.
- The sumo wrestling suits make their return this year on Friday night. In order to participate, you must complete the following permission form and have it notarized: Hold Harmless Agreement – Dunk Tank Sumo Wrestling 2011. Note: There are notaries available at the church and your parent(s) must come inside to sign the form in front of a notary.
Camp is upon us
We are 1 week away from the first of 2 camp adventures for our students. Next week is our Centrifuge trip for our middle school aged students and the final week of June sees our high school students headed to New Orleans, LA, for a week of mission work at M-Fuge. Please be prayer for safe travels and changed lives. I do want to take a moment to give information about the new missions focus through the Fuge camps. Each year at Fuge, a mission offering is taken to support our missionaries in North America and around the world. This summer begins a new emphasis that I want to share about.
Taken from http://www2.lifeway.com/fuge/index.php/pages/about/missions/ :
The summer of 2011 we will celebrate the 27th anniversary of the FUGE mission offering. Campers have given more than 9.5 million dollars over these years. This mission offering goes to support the work of both the International Mission Board (IMB) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB). These agencies have allowed us to target specific ministries with which students can identify.
For the past five summers the missions offering has been targeted to specific people groups and projects chosen by IMB and NAMB. Our partnership with NAMB has been and will continue to be directed toward the people of Canada. Click on CANADA below for more information about the work being done as a result of money donated by FUGE campers. Our partnership with IMB has been focused on the ROMA people of Central and Eastern Europe. We’ve seen lives changed as God has honored the investment made over the last five years. After much prayer, IMB is excited to announce a new focus for the next five years that will allow us to invest in the work God is doing among the people of Sub-Saharan Africa. Begin praying now about giving to these incredible ministries at camp this summer!
Again, go to http://www2.lifeway.com/fuge/index.php/pages/about/missions/ for more information.
Resource for Parents: 99 Thoughts for Parents of Teenagers
For several years, I have followed youth culture expert, Walt Mueller, founder of the Center for Parent and Youth Understanding (www.cpyu.org). If you have not heard of CPYU, I urge you to check out the website for a variety of resources on youth culture.
Recently I received an email about a new book Walt has written entitled 99 Thoughts for Parents of Teenagers. Upon reading the excerpt available, I was very impressed by his goal in writing the book as well as his honesty in the preface for the purpose of the book.
I would like to provide copies of this resource to you. If you would like complementary copy of this book, contact Bro. Mark.
The following link is to download a sample of the book: 99 thoughts sample
Diaper Drive Challenge Details
Our Diaper Drive kicked off last with the details of the challenge being revealed.
The Diaper Drive runs from yesterday, April 19, until Sunday, May 15. The challenge is to collect as many diapers sizes 4, 5, & 6 and pull-ups for this summer’s church wide mission trip to Copper Basin.
The challenge pits boys vs. girls to see who will bring the most packages of diapers. The winner, announced Tuesday, May 17, will enjoy a laser-tag outing.
Note: When delivering diapers, please use a permanent-marker indicating Boy or Girl on the package so we know how to allocate the packages. Contact Bro. Mark for more details.
iLife Begins Next Tuesday, March 1
Relationships are difficult. No we’re not talking about puppy-love, “I think he/she likes me” kind of relationships – we’re talking about everyday, go through life relationships. God has wired us in our DNA to have/need friendships, to go through life – not alone – but with others.
So how do we navigate the relationships we encounter through our lives. Chances are rare that your friends in elementary or even middle school are the same today. Chances are there has been friction between you and a friend, between you and a loved on, between you and your significant other. How do we handle those times of stress? How do we handle making new friends? How does God use our relationships? What is the part God wants me to play in my relationships?
These are just a few of the questions we will tackle for 5 Tuesdays, beginning next Tuesday, March 1. If you are a High Schooler, this study is for you. Don’t miss a week, bring a friend or 50, and join us from 6:30-8:00 PM.
YEC Lineup Videos
To give a more personal feel, below are some videos of the guests at this year’s YEC.
Afshin Ziafat
Derwin Gray
Addison Road
Bean and Bailey
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
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.
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.
