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Parents and volunteers help students make an impact for eternity
Joining the battle for “Generation Now,” many Prestonwood members have answered Pastor Jack Graham’s call to help make a difference in the lives of our students.
In declaring 2007 as the “Year of the Student,” Pastor Graham challenged the entire church body to make an impact for eternity by investing in our students and those in our area.
“We’re blessed and encouraged by the number of people responding but also by the way they are responding,” said Minister to Students Chris Lovell. “We have actually had people thank us for having so many ways that they can help.”
The church family has taken bold steps of faith by connecting with students through prayer, giving of their time and giving of their resources.
Ron Kelley, Director of the Prestonwood Foundation, was so moved by Generation Now that he introduced a $2.5 million endowment to provide members with an alternative means to support the students financially.
And already, the Women’s Ministry has made a $25,000 commitment.
But as great as the response has been, the need is much greater.
Parents and volunteers who have invested in the Student Ministry discover that they are blessed beyond measure.
As they reach out to students, the passion the students have for Christ rekindles their own passion and as 2 Timothy 1:6 says—“stirs up the gift of God within them.”
Jeanna Soper realized how blessed she is to be a volunteer in the Student Ministry when a student approached her one Sunday morning for prayer.
She’d known the girl for years, and gladly prayed that God would lead the girl to boldly share her faith. A few weeks later Jeanna felt led to send the girl a card of encouragement. In return, the girl sent a card saying, “That’s just what I needed to hear…don’t forget that I’m praying for you, too.”
“Here I thought I was bold in sending her a card,” Jeanna said. “I thought I was blessing her, but it turned out that she was blessing me more than she’ll ever know.”
Jeanna, who leads a table group of junior high girls on Sundays, is one of the many volunteers in the Student Ministry who have been blessed through their dedicated involvement to students.
Like Jeanna, many volunteers are parents themselves. They find that leading a table group on Sunday mornings or a SPOTS home group in the middle of the week is just as important as discipling their own students at home.
As the parents of two teens, Brad and Lisa Clark recognize the need for involvement not only in their daughters’ lives, but in the lives of other teens. For the past seven years, they have opened their home for SPOTS.
“I feel it makes me a better parent when I’m involved because I hear first-hand what the kids are dealing with,” Lisa said. “I can better understand what they are going through.”
Not all of the volunteers in the Student Ministry are parents. Many just have a heart for ministry to students. Volunteer Abby Wood recognizes that adult role models, both good and bad, direct students on their path for life.
“I think students need to see the Christian life modeled by adults and their parents,” Abby says. “We watch our parents especially while we’re growing up, and students need to witness adults serving in the church and living for the Lord everyday.”
Thirteen-year-old Tyler Rundus said he relies on his dad for spiritual guidance and counsel. But his table group leader is also influential in his life.
“He’s encouraged me a lot and has helped me through some struggles,” Tyler said.
Krista Shepard, 14, also counts her table group leader as an important figure in her life.
“She has helped me become a better Christian by helping me grow in my spiritual life and by teaching me to share my faith with others,” Krista said.
Jeanna, the table group leader of junior high girls, is passionate about making a difference in the lives of the girls she disciples. She’s thankful her sons—Hunter, 16, and Trevor, 13—receive the same guidance from their own table group leaders.
Their discipleship continues when they go home.
“They hear the message from Chris, their table leader, and then from me,” says Jeanna. “I’ve seen the connection it’s given me with my boys. When we’re all on the same page, it further cements what they’re learning, and hopefully, their roots are growing deeper.”
How you can help:
- Parenting—Get actively involved at home in the discipleship of your students. The Student Ministry will provide resources to help.
- Volunteering—Invest in the lives of students by working with various areas of our Student Ministry.
- Sponsorship—Financially support a student for one event or for an entire year and invest in their spiritual development. The Prestonwood Foundation has established Generation Now Endowment to provide scholarships for Student Ministry events on a perpetual basis.
- Prayer—Connect with a student and pray for and encourage that student for one year.
Please visit the kiosk in the Atrium on the Plano campus to learn about the many ways you can get involved. You may also visit:
www.prestonwoodstudents.org
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