What an experience!!! We saw God move in our group and in the kids and adults we were blessed to hang out with. We are already working on this years trip, adding a puppet show and a couple of teen services to the format. If you went last year you know what to expect and are probably planning on returning. If you didn’t go last year, check out the video and make plans to join us June 13-22, 2009. You will be so glad you did!
Tag: Fusion Student MInistry
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2008 Rewind – Small Groups
If you haven’t connected with a small group yet . . . you are missing out! This year we have moved all of our small groups to homes and they are awesome! We have great leaders that would love to get to know you and encourage you. We are only halfway through the year so its not to late to get connected. They will start again Wednesday January 7th 2009. Click here for more info. Check out the video to see what has happened so far . . .
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2008 Rewind – Wild Week
What a great week, the beach, Lambert’s, the ocean (with jelly fish . . . boooo) sand volleyball, condos, awesome worship, Ken Freeman, Kacy Benson, Nick Thurmond, Baptisms in the Ocean, and a 13 hour bus ride. Wild Week 08 at Orange Beach has to be one of the best camp experiences I have ever had. Our group grew closer to God and each other. God did awesome things in each persons life that week. If you did get to go to Wild Week last year, make plans to go this year when we invade camp wow in Oklahoma for Wild Week 09 July 7th-11th. For more info click here!
Here’s a video of some snap shots from last years experience!
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Weekend Review – Dec. 7th
This week was week 3 of the Big Give!! God has really been doing some neat things in our time. This last week concluded our Gifts of Grace for East Plano kids, it was awesome seeing our students come into church with gifts for kids. I really look forward to worshiping with our students each week. Our student worship team does such a great job.
This week we encouraged students to get involved in a couple of mission projects. One is teaching ESL to kids at Meadows Elementary and the other is helping raise funds to build schools in Uganda, in partnership with Invisible Children (invisiblechildren.com). Note – the second opportunity in Uganda was inspired by one of our students who shared how she was getting involved in a project called schools for schools. She did a great job and her story fit so well with the talk. Here is the outline with pictures we used to drive home the point that you have to stay focused.
THE BIG GIVE
How to Give!
December 7TH, 2008“‘So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.’” John 13:34-35 (NLT)
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
1. It takes FOCUS!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)
What do you see? Look at the pictures very closely!
“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
2. It takes SACRIFICE!
“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16 (NLT)
3. It takes COMMITMENT!
“Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37 (NIV)
4. It takes FOLLOW-THROUGH!
“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NLT)
Excited to see what happens this week as we talk about Where to Give Big.
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Weekend Review
This weekend we started a new series called the big give. Kinda stole the idea from Oprah. My wife and I caught a couple of episodes of the show and as I watched I couldn’t help but think how students could get involved in something like this that allows them to see a need and meet a need. This weekend I challenged the student to do these three thingsWhat is required to get involved in the Big Give!
- You have to DREAM BIG!
- You have to LIVE BIG!
- You have to SERVE BIG!
We will have some organized opportunities for students to get involved with but the general idea of the series is to look at the needs around us and to get involved. This week we talked about Gifts of Grace.
This is how Gifts of Grace- Toys for East Plano was started and where I need your help blog land:-) Please, Please help a child in need. All you have to do is 3 simple steps!!
1. Cut out a tag provided on this pdf file.
2. Purchase a toy.
3. Mail your NEW toy with a securely attached tag by Nov. 30th to:
Grace Community Church
Att: Toys for East Plano
4501 Hedgcoxe Road
Plano, Texas 75024OR drop it by the Church on Dec. 7th.
**Please mail gifts by November 30th
You may send wrapped or unwrapped toys as long as you include a tag.Our goal is to provide 800 Toys for this community need. Please help us reach our goal and make a difference in a child’s life!
For more information about participating churches please visit: www.findgrace.org and www.willowcreekfellowship.us
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Once on This ISLAND jr – Fowler MS Musical
Last night Josiah and I attended the Musical at Fowler Middle School. We had several of our students from Fusion in the musical. I must admit I was excited to go, but in the back of my head my expectations were not that high. When we walked in we were greeted quickly by some of our 8th graders and told we came in the wrong door and had to go around the other way. So we did as we were told. As we entered the Cafeteria we began seeing parents and other students form the church that weren’t in the play as well as some Small Group Leaders. It is always nice to see students and parents outside of the church, and it is awesome seeing Small Group leaders attend events that students are involved in! Way to go Jenn and Jon!!!!
We took our seats for the opening act and WOW, this didn’t seem like a MS production at all. It was so fun watching the students I know, and those I don’t, perform. You could tell that there was a lot of practice that went in to this performance. They did such a great job, that it even held Josiah’s attention, which at 4 years old, says a lot! Here are three pics that were taken last night, I tried to use my phone to capture some pics but as you can see on the first picture the lighting bleached out everyone. But the other two are after the performance with some of our student’s that stared in the show . . . I should have gotten autographs for when they are famous one day! I love the pic of Ashley giving her older sister bunny ears!!!!
Tonight we are off to Texas Stadium to watch Plano Football and see the band, dancers, and cheerleaders perform. Josiah and I are going to hang out with Hunter one of our 7th grade students!!!! It’s going to be so much fun. Can’t wait to see Plano win!
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Weekend Rewind!
What a day!!! We continued our series “Family Matters” which is 3 week series that deals with the family. Worship was off the chain in both services. I thought the talk went better in Middle School than in High School for a couple of reasons:
- More students – Last night was Homecoming and it took a toll on our HS attendance
- More Energy – It seemed like the MS had more energy than HS, even though the MS service is earlier
- I felt flat in HS – I realize how much I feed off of the energy in the crowd. It makes a difference in the way the talk goes. I like the interaction.
The general question today was, “Am I part of the Problem or Solution?
We showed this video to kick off the talk. It really brings it home when you look at it from a child’s perspective.
It’s easy to look like a perfect family when the doors are open and people are peaking in, but when the doors shut the real family tend to come out, the good, the bad, and the ugly. No matter the situation, even if it’s not our fault or something we have no control over, we can still add to the problem or be part of a solution.
After Church went to Razzoos – Cajun Cafe . . . It was awesome, and the kids plate was only $4.00. We had a great time as a family hanging out with Will, Rachel, Ryan, Tyler and Jenn. It was good to eat some good fried food and hang with students and staff!
Took Joe to watch Wills soccer game for as long as Jackson could take it. We lasted 45 minutes just enough time to see a half. Wills team was winning so it was easier to leave! Hope they won! will find out tonight at small groups!
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Weekend Review
Well last week was a week of sickness in the Gould home. It seems like this month has just been an unhealthy month for us. On Monday Night Jackson was throwing up, Wednesday Night Josiah, Thursday should have been me, but I hate throwing up, but Saturday takes the cake. I felt like death. Couldn’t even move without wanting to vomit, then Sunday, guess who, yep Mom (aka Stephanie was sick) So all of us have had it and hope it stops there because I don’t want a repeat!
However, the weekend services must carry on and they did. Lucky for me, we are developing a teaching team in Fusion and I was able to pass the baton to Marti late Saturday Night and she did an awesome job!!!! We started a new series on Habits encouraging students to start some. From what I have been told is everything went well. Worship was great and students paid attention for the most part. I’ve been told there were two that were really a distraction. If you are reading this you should feel bad and repent! You know who you are!!! 🙂 Anyhow, attendance was up and God is moving! Its so awesome!!! If you are a teenager you should come check it out, if you are a parent of a teenager, you should encourage them to check it out, if you are a random reader of this blog, well, pray that God would give our ministry a passion for Him like no other!
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Small Groups
Tonight, we officially started small groups for grades 6-10th. I have the privilege of being the 9th grade coach. Tonight we had 15 ninth graders at our host home. Here are their pictures as they walked in.
What a good night! The topic was Guilt. Guilt is a hard topic to talk about and makes us feel uncomfortable because it hinges on actually having to share our faults with others. We asked these three questions in Small Groups
- How do you deal with guilt?
- Are there signs that you are ignoring?
- Have you asked God for forgiveness?
Doug Fields shared two things about guilt that I think are pivotal to overcoming it. If we aren’t proactive in temptation we will live our life being reactive toward guilt and situations. Here are some steps to take.
- Go to God with the situation. (confession)
- Go to others with the situation. (accountability)
If you will do these things you will be able to experience freedom from your current situation!
Dan Gould 