Hi there,
Next Friday April 3rd, pretty much all schools are either in the middle of Spring break or Starting Spring Break...
If you're off of school and in town, you should go bowling with me! Let me know if you're in!
Junior High and High School are welcome!
11am-2:30pm on Good Friday! Bring your own money for bowling and lunch! We'll leave church at 11 and get back around 2:30!
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
March Happenings
Hey, I hope you were able to join us this past weekend to see the 14 students get baptized! It really was a cool service that honored God and was encouraging to the church!
Coming up
We have a Chicago Meeting this Sunday from 12-1:30pm. Be sure to be there if you're on the team! Bring your Spiritual Gifts Inventory, your Testimony and your team spirit!
Saturday the 21st we have our monthly Miami Valley Women's Center Workday from 9:45-12:15!
Saturday March 28th your Youth Leaders will be officially appreciated with a meal in their honor...As you know we have several leaders with small children. I am looking for volunteers to babysit the kids so all of our leaders and spouses can be there. If you're interested please let me know. We'll need help from 5pm-9:30ish. We'll use Central Park and nurseries at church and have pizza for everyone.
Enjoy the springy weather this week!
Coming up
We have a Chicago Meeting this Sunday from 12-1:30pm. Be sure to be there if you're on the team! Bring your Spiritual Gifts Inventory, your Testimony and your team spirit!
Saturday the 21st we have our monthly Miami Valley Women's Center Workday from 9:45-12:15!
Saturday March 28th your Youth Leaders will be officially appreciated with a meal in their honor...As you know we have several leaders with small children. I am looking for volunteers to babysit the kids so all of our leaders and spouses can be there. If you're interested please let me know. We'll need help from 5pm-9:30ish. We'll use Central Park and nurseries at church and have pizza for everyone.
Enjoy the springy weather this week!
Friday, February 20, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What do PreLaw, Paramedics, Physical Therapy, Undeclared, Hospitality Management and Organizational Leadership have in common?
The answer is: Each of these were my declared field of study at one point in my college path. That's a path that took almost 12 years to navigate BTW.
Why is this important? Well, as this school year has rocketed by I've had several conversations with students who are feeling the pressure of some choices they have to make (or already have made) about their future. Many of them are asking for help knowing what they are supposed to do (they must think I have a special app on my phone that God uses to communicate His specific will for people).
Before I say anything else, let me say this...I do not believe it is my place to tell your student what to do with their life. As parents, you have the joy of walking through these stages with your student and exploring their personality and gifting to discover the path God has for them.
But I also remember being in their shoes. I remember having a teacher tell me that my 12th grade Poli-Sci Paper was really well written and that maybe I had a future as a Lawyer...only to realize that I just like arguing. Not lawyering. I remember wanting to have an answer for people who asked, "So what are you going to study?" I remember feeling so happy that I finally had an answer, NO ONE was going to convince me to rethink that choice! Especially my parents (sorry Mom, again).
So, for the next two Wednesday nights, I am going to meet with current Juniors and Seniors to talk about the process of choosing what to do with their lives. My heart in these discussions is to help our students to understand themselves better and understand the unique gifting God has given them. I will not tell any student what they SHOULD do.
I honestly used to think that I just needed to pick something and stick with it...that if I could just get a real job and have a family that everything would be great. It took me a long time to realize that God's plan was very different than my plan. It took me even longer to get my plan to line up with His!
Friends, in my years of retail management I saw countless students come out of high school with high hopes and big dreams. And I saw many of them flounder to find direction and purpose. It was easy to spot them, because I saw the same desperation in myself. My prayer is that God would use these discussions to help your family in this process. That students might walk away knowing themselves better and having grown in their understanding of how God has gifted them. Maybe it will just reinforce what they already know. Maybe it will open their eyes to a truth they were afraid to admit. Maybe unlock a passion that will change this world!
My senior year I had one goal...Survive! I wish I had taken the time to ask what God had designed me to do. The good news is, He doesn't give up. I know I am who I am today, because of the path I walked...but I also know I could have taken a different road to get here.
For His Glory,
Justin
As always, if you have questions or concerns or would like to talk through anything please let me know.
The answer is: Each of these were my declared field of study at one point in my college path. That's a path that took almost 12 years to navigate BTW.
Why is this important? Well, as this school year has rocketed by I've had several conversations with students who are feeling the pressure of some choices they have to make (or already have made) about their future. Many of them are asking for help knowing what they are supposed to do (they must think I have a special app on my phone that God uses to communicate His specific will for people).
Before I say anything else, let me say this...I do not believe it is my place to tell your student what to do with their life. As parents, you have the joy of walking through these stages with your student and exploring their personality and gifting to discover the path God has for them.
But I also remember being in their shoes. I remember having a teacher tell me that my 12th grade Poli-Sci Paper was really well written and that maybe I had a future as a Lawyer...only to realize that I just like arguing. Not lawyering. I remember wanting to have an answer for people who asked, "So what are you going to study?" I remember feeling so happy that I finally had an answer, NO ONE was going to convince me to rethink that choice! Especially my parents (sorry Mom, again).
So, for the next two Wednesday nights, I am going to meet with current Juniors and Seniors to talk about the process of choosing what to do with their lives. My heart in these discussions is to help our students to understand themselves better and understand the unique gifting God has given them. I will not tell any student what they SHOULD do.
I honestly used to think that I just needed to pick something and stick with it...that if I could just get a real job and have a family that everything would be great. It took me a long time to realize that God's plan was very different than my plan. It took me even longer to get my plan to line up with His!
Friends, in my years of retail management I saw countless students come out of high school with high hopes and big dreams. And I saw many of them flounder to find direction and purpose. It was easy to spot them, because I saw the same desperation in myself. My prayer is that God would use these discussions to help your family in this process. That students might walk away knowing themselves better and having grown in their understanding of how God has gifted them. Maybe it will just reinforce what they already know. Maybe it will open their eyes to a truth they were afraid to admit. Maybe unlock a passion that will change this world!
My senior year I had one goal...Survive! I wish I had taken the time to ask what God had designed me to do. The good news is, He doesn't give up. I know I am who I am today, because of the path I walked...but I also know I could have taken a different road to get here.
For His Glory,
Justin
As always, if you have questions or concerns or would like to talk through anything please let me know.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Scioto Hills Winter Retreat
Hello,
So in a few short days we will be heading to Scioto Hills Camp and Retreat Center for a crazy fun weekend!
First things first...
This weekend will be fun, but this weekend is not intended to be just a crazy overnight. You are expected to focus on the teaching and engage with your leaders. Phones will be confiscated if they are a distraction. Students are expected to respect the authority in place both camp staff and youth leaders.
We will have a great time...but each student must commit to having the right attitude throughout the weekend.
Here's what you need to know!
Register is you haven't already done so...
Online at https://campscui.active.com/orgs/SciotoHillsChristianCampRetreatCenter#/selectSessions/780303
If you've already registered you should have received a confirmation from Scioto Hills, in that confirmation email, it hopefully included a "what to pack" list.
Here's a summary just in case.
What to pack
-flashlight
-Bible/pen/notebook
-Sleeping bag/pillow
-comfortable, warm clothes
-jacket/coat/sweatshirt
-bath towels/washcloth/personal items (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant (please, please, please)
-camera (cheap)
-spending $$$ Tshirts ar 15-17, plus snacks
-any medications
What to leave at home
-electronics - games, radios, iPods, (you won't get service out there...)
-Snacks containing peanuts ot peanut butter
We will leave at 5pm of Friday February 6th. Please be ready to leave at 5pm. We will arrive around 8pm and eat when we get there...so students should snack after school.
We will leave camp before 12 on Sunday and return around 2pm. Students will have the chance to contact you as we get closer to let you know our estimated time of arrival.
Questions or concerns?
Jhoppe@whbc.org
937.602.6613 cell
So in a few short days we will be heading to Scioto Hills Camp and Retreat Center for a crazy fun weekend!
First things first...
This weekend will be fun, but this weekend is not intended to be just a crazy overnight. You are expected to focus on the teaching and engage with your leaders. Phones will be confiscated if they are a distraction. Students are expected to respect the authority in place both camp staff and youth leaders.
We will have a great time...but each student must commit to having the right attitude throughout the weekend.
Here's what you need to know!
Register is you haven't already done so...
Online at https://campscui.active.com/orgs/SciotoHillsChristianCampRetreatCenter#/selectSessions/780303
If you've already registered you should have received a confirmation from Scioto Hills, in that confirmation email, it hopefully included a "what to pack" list.
Here's a summary just in case.
What to pack
-flashlight
-Bible/pen/notebook
-Sleeping bag/pillow
-comfortable, warm clothes
-jacket/coat/sweatshirt
-bath towels/washcloth/personal items (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant (please, please, please)
-camera (cheap)
-spending $$$ Tshirts ar 15-17, plus snacks
-any medications
What to leave at home
-electronics - games, radios, iPods, (you won't get service out there...)
-Snacks containing peanuts ot peanut butter
We will leave at 5pm of Friday February 6th. Please be ready to leave at 5pm. We will arrive around 8pm and eat when we get there...so students should snack after school.
We will leave camp before 12 on Sunday and return around 2pm. Students will have the chance to contact you as we get closer to let you know our estimated time of arrival.
Questions or concerns?
Jhoppe@whbc.org
937.602.6613 cell
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Hey There
Hello,
Hopefully you saw the last post which talked about our recent Baptism discussions. We are working on a date for those who are going to respond in obedience and get baptized. It will either be Sunday March 1st or the 8th. Anyone interested in being baptized needs to talk with Justin soon.
We've also got a lot of other stuff going on!
Saturday Jan. 17th from 9:30-12:00pm
We're hanging at the church! No MVWC this month.
We'll order pizza so bring $5. We'll play some games in the youth room and maybe watch a movie.
Sunday Jan 18th from 12pm-1:30pm
Chicago GO Trip Meeting
If you are interested in going on this summer's trip you need to be here. We will meet in the church dining room (next to the gym). Pizza will be provided, please consider a $5 per family donation to help cover the pizza costs. Lunch is for families of anyone attending the meeting, the youth room will be available during the meeting for younger siblings.
Friday Jan 30th from 5:30-9:30pm and Saturday Jan 31st from 8-4pm
The Worship team and any students who are interested in being involved with the worship team will be heading to Cedarville University for their annual Worship Conference. The Cost is $30 per person. Sign up with Justin by Jan 18th!
February 6-8
Scioto Hills Winter Retreat
The cost is $89. I currently have 14 students who have signed up to go. I will need a solid commitment by January 21st or we will not be taking a group down. Please sign up with Justin ASAP
As always, reach out to me with questions or concerns!!
Justin
Hopefully you saw the last post which talked about our recent Baptism discussions. We are working on a date for those who are going to respond in obedience and get baptized. It will either be Sunday March 1st or the 8th. Anyone interested in being baptized needs to talk with Justin soon.
We've also got a lot of other stuff going on!
Saturday Jan. 17th from 9:30-12:00pm
We're hanging at the church! No MVWC this month.
We'll order pizza so bring $5. We'll play some games in the youth room and maybe watch a movie.
Sunday Jan 18th from 12pm-1:30pm
Chicago GO Trip Meeting
If you are interested in going on this summer's trip you need to be here. We will meet in the church dining room (next to the gym). Pizza will be provided, please consider a $5 per family donation to help cover the pizza costs. Lunch is for families of anyone attending the meeting, the youth room will be available during the meeting for younger siblings.
Friday Jan 30th from 5:30-9:30pm and Saturday Jan 31st from 8-4pm
The Worship team and any students who are interested in being involved with the worship team will be heading to Cedarville University for their annual Worship Conference. The Cost is $30 per person. Sign up with Justin by Jan 18th!
February 6-8
Scioto Hills Winter Retreat
The cost is $89. I currently have 14 students who have signed up to go. I will need a solid commitment by January 21st or we will not be taking a group down. Please sign up with Justin ASAP
As always, reach out to me with questions or concerns!!
Justin
Sunday, January 11, 2015
The Challenge
Hey Parents,
So I mentioned in my last post that we were going to be talking about Baptism and that your student would have a chance to respond if they had not yet been baptized...Well, we talked about it today.
I went through the basics of what Baptism is (an ordinance laid out by Christ for the church) and talked about what it symbolizes (Christ's burial and resurrection). Next we talked about how baptism is a beautiful reminder of all that occurred for us when Christ died on the cross and then rose again. We talked about how we die to our old self and are made new. We talked about how we often don't live this way and then looked at how the gospel gives us hope to face the darkness in us and in this world. I explained that when believers obey in baptism God is glorified and the church edified.
To end our time this morning I gave challenges to the 3 "types of students" there today:
1. To those not saved, but who heard the gospel this morning, the challenge was to choose today as the day they accept Christ as Savior and let the Gospel begin to work...followed by baptism.
2. To those saved, but not yet baptized, the challenge was to recognize the command of Christ to be baptized. I reminded them that if they know they ought to do this, but now choose not to then they are quite frankly, sinning.
3. To those already saved and baptized, but not yielding to the gospel in all areas of their lives (that covered the rest of us...including me), the challenge was to begin yielding those areas to Christ.
Parents, I know the decision to baptize or not baptize is a personal one, and that families should make this choice together. I am available to discuss further any concerns you may have. I am in the process of securing a date for a few students who have spoken to me about getting baptized. If you would like your student to be included on this date please let me know as soon as possible.
Thank you for your support and your encouragement.
Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
For His Glory,
Justin
So I mentioned in my last post that we were going to be talking about Baptism and that your student would have a chance to respond if they had not yet been baptized...Well, we talked about it today.
I went through the basics of what Baptism is (an ordinance laid out by Christ for the church) and talked about what it symbolizes (Christ's burial and resurrection). Next we talked about how baptism is a beautiful reminder of all that occurred for us when Christ died on the cross and then rose again. We talked about how we die to our old self and are made new. We talked about how we often don't live this way and then looked at how the gospel gives us hope to face the darkness in us and in this world. I explained that when believers obey in baptism God is glorified and the church edified.
To end our time this morning I gave challenges to the 3 "types of students" there today:
1. To those not saved, but who heard the gospel this morning, the challenge was to choose today as the day they accept Christ as Savior and let the Gospel begin to work...followed by baptism.
2. To those saved, but not yet baptized, the challenge was to recognize the command of Christ to be baptized. I reminded them that if they know they ought to do this, but now choose not to then they are quite frankly, sinning.
3. To those already saved and baptized, but not yielding to the gospel in all areas of their lives (that covered the rest of us...including me), the challenge was to begin yielding those areas to Christ.
Parents, I know the decision to baptize or not baptize is a personal one, and that families should make this choice together. I am available to discuss further any concerns you may have. I am in the process of securing a date for a few students who have spoken to me about getting baptized. If you would like your student to be included on this date please let me know as soon as possible.
Thank you for your support and your encouragement.
Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
For His Glory,
Justin
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