Shorewood Foursquare Ignition Youth Ministry

Doing the Right Thing and the Hard Thing. My letter of resignation from Youth Ministry.

2011-08-27T12:43:00.001-07:00

Doing the Right Thing and the Hard Thing. My letter of resignation from Youth Ministry.
     This is not an easy letter to write. Thinking about the words to use to express my joy, gratefulness, and sorrow brings back so many memories of the last three years at Ignition youth ministry. I actually did not set out to do this but rather to do just a simple Bible study with some Shorewood students to tie in one school year to the next. God, of course, had other plans.
     As we began the summer doing a Bible study of the letter to the Philippians, I realized that I enjoyed teaching even outside of the classroom setting and I enjoyed teaching the amazing youth that would show up every Tuesday evening. As the weeks went on, I believed God was calling me to do this as a youth ministry and to not be like a typical youth ministry, but one that was about Jesus.
   I know that last statement could be taken as a bit harsh, but I had seen other youth ministries and how they made it all about games, or food, or just happy-fun -time-hang out-yay! I also saw how those ministries lost most of their youth attending as soon as the Holy Spirit brought conviction to teach about Jesus. God told me specifically that this ministry would not be about that, and God willing that is what I had intended to do. It is and always should be about Jesus. Period.
   During the last three years I have seen God grow our youth, use them in mighty ways, mature them, help them through very difficult times, convict them of sin and lead them to repentance. God always showed up, and He always revealed His everlasting love on our youth. I know it had nothing to do with me, but I am joyful to be a part of it! Praise be to God!
   Leaving all of this is not easy. It's a "Do Hard Things" thing. I am leaving to spend more time with my family and to focus on home. This year my wife and I have had some challenging moments in our marriage and because of that, I believe my attention needs to be on my marriage. The Bible makes it clear that a man of God must have an orderly household first - meaning he has to be a pastor at home, taking care of the needs of his family first, before a ministry at church. What man would be effective elsewhere in his life, if his family suffers at home? I don't want to find out the answer. I have always said that I order my life this way: 1. Jesus, 2. Wife, 3. Kids, 4. Ministry. It is how I will continue to prioritize my life.
   The Ignition youth ministry has also not been abandoned. It is still very much alive. In the interim, Pastor Joe Turner will be filling in. In the following weeks you will get more information about when youth group is starting back up, and upcoming events. I repeat, youth group at Ignition Youth still lives!
   I want to encourage you all to continue to live out your youthful lives with it! Not only has God built an amazing ministry, but He has built an amazing community of believers at Ignition - that's you! Please continue to maintain that community that you have helped build, and continue to meet and pray and share burdens and love each other just as you always have had. Remember it's not about a person in charge, it's about Jesus!
   Finally, thank you all for allowing me to serve you and minister to you. It has been a gift of God to know you all. I will still be teaching at Shorewood Christian, still available to talk to you all, take phone calls, emails, texts - still available to pray for you and intercede for you. I have not abandoned you, and of course neither has God. So know that I love you all very much, but keep it about Jesus and His love for you.

I thank God for a you all - more than you'll know,
Wes Olsen

Ignition Youth News 4/12/2011 30 Hour Famine Update!

2011-04-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

30 Hour Famine Information!by Wes Olsen
It's time again for our youth ministry to participate in World Vision's 30 Hour Famine! Last year our youth collected over $1400 for aid and supplies to Haiti! It was awesome!

Now there are a few changes to this year's 30 Hour Famine. I originally sent out permission slips stating that this weekend was the Famine date, but it turns out that the High School and Junior High both have track meets this weekend and leaving a lot of our youth out of the Famine. So we have gone back to the schedule and have set a new date that will not conflict with the sports schedule. The new dates are May 6th and 7th.

New permission slips with the new date will be going out tomorrow and I am ordering more collection envelopes. The fasting information is still the same: We will start the fast at 8:30am Friday, May 6th and end Saturday, May 7th at 2:30pm. We will meet at 6:00pm on Friday evening at Cornerstone, where we will do Famine games, have a time of prayer and worship, and listen to two speakers. Also, with this new date our youth get some extra time collect donations for the 30 Hour Famine too!

Thanks again for everyone's flexibility with this and if you have any questions please feel free to email me:
Wes Olsen Email
30 Hour Famine Website: 30 Hour Famine

Important Information

We need help with scheduling parents for snacks. We have a lot of youth coming on Wednesdays and need parents to help us. Your youth can even pick it out to share! Also, if you are unable to help by bringing a snack we will also take donations, and go to the store for snacks ourselves.
Please pray for the Mannery's and their current situation. Pray they will receive strength, peace and healing during this season of their lives.

	Cool free resources from the Interwebz!
Free One Year Bible Reading Checklist Memorizing Philippians! Don't Waste Your Life - Free Online Book Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die - Awesome Free Devotional Got a free resource, just let us know!

SOS - SAVE OUR SNACKS!!!!!!!

We are so very excited to be serving the youth, sharing time with them and growing together as we hear Gods call in our lives!

Part of our evening is to provide the youth with a snack. Not only does a snack give them something to munch on, but provides them with valuable time to socialize and build relationships.

To do this, we need your help!

How can I Help?

We need every family to help by providing snack one evening throughout the year. Since we have an average of 50-60 youth, we are asking 2 families to bring snack each night. Your responsibility will be to bring enough snack for 30 youth. We have lots of families so if every family contributes; we should only need your contribution once this year.

What do I need to do?

Please contact Wes Olsen at 206-353-0164 or wesolsen@shorewoodfoursquarechurch.org. He will work with you to set up a date for you to bring snack on a week that will work for your schedule.

What should I bring?

This can be homemade or store bought. Fruit and vegetables, cheese and crackers or cookies, brownies etc. Shop the sales! What's in the pantry? (Hint: They are teenagers, they love it all!)

Should I bring drinks too?

You may provide drinks if you like, but we can provide water and that seems to work well.

How would you like the snack to come?

Please bring the snack prepared and ready to serve. Also, please remind your youth to bring home your containers.

My schedule is crazy and I have a hard time preparing a snack, is there any other way I can help?

Yes! If you would like to help and just don't have the time to provide a ready to eat snack, you can donate $10 to our snack fund. This fund can be used on days when we don't have anyone scheduled to provide a snack.

Thank you so much for coming along side us to help us love on and serve your kids!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Trina

God Bless You!

	Important Dates
4/13/2011 -Youth Group! 4/20/2011 - No Youth Group! - Spring Break 4/27/2011 - Youth Group! Birthday Night! 5/4/2011 - Youth Group! 5/6/2011- 5/7/2011 - 30 Hour Famine!!!

We thank God for each and every one of you,

Shorewood Foursquare Ignition Youth Ministry Staff

Ignition Youth News 1/24/2011

2011-01-24T18:46:00.000-08:00

Repentanceby Will Traynor

     "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ʻYou brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father," for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up
children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.ʼ"
-Matthew 3:7-12

     Many preach repentance as a means to escape fire. That is a lie. Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ is not an escape from fire, but the means by which we go through it. Every human will go through fire. In the text we see a the eternal fire that Jesus throws the chaff and unfruitful trees into, and we see a refining fire of sanctification that accompanies baptism. Make no mistake Jesusʼ sanctifying fire is a
scary and sometimes lonely road marked with suffering, but also with hope. The hope of Jesus Christ, our salvation, our justification and our Lord who sends us on our journey through this road, not as punishment, or so that we may prove ourselves to Him (for there is no need to, His death is proof of our value to Him and His love towards us) but so that He might make us more like Him and that we may learn to love him more deeply.

     The only way to move through sanctification is repentance. Many modern churches today teach that repentance is the turning away from sin or being ʻnot worldly.ʼ I think it is more the practice of continually turning towards Jesus at all costs. We are not only called to repent of the things we have done (saying that word, or thinking that
thought) but also from the things we have not done (not caring about the destitute and marginalized, or not paying attention in church) and even our general nature (pride, apathy, worry). The goal is not as much maximum distance from sin (or more accurately the certain sins that happen to convict us) as it is intense closeness with Jesus. Godʼs
highest call for us is to be wholly His, not to be wholly ʻun-worldlyʼ.

     The Pharisees and Sadducees attended one of Johnʼs baptisms in hopes that the baptism of the baptism would add to their assumed righteousness through the law so that they could escape the ʻwrath to comeʼ and were rebuked by John and called sons of Satan. The first element in repentance is realizing our spiritual bankruptcy and our inability to be righteous. The Pharisees and Sadducees were open to the baptism, but only as something to add to their own righteousness. They were not interested in being close to Jesus, they only sought to be sinless and were not interested in knowing Messiah. They were not willing to undergo the fire that comes along with baptism and repentance towards Jesus which ultimate doomed them to the fire reserved for fruitless trees. Are you seeking to merely not sin as much, or are you wanting nothing more than to fully know Jesus Christ?

     Element two is an unstoppable hunger and pursuit for Jesus that will stop at nothing until it has Him. Please donʼt assume that there is something in your life that is the cause of sin that God is willing to work around. There isnʼt. God will remove every hindrance at any cost until He has you because He loves you. It is better that God breaks every bone in your body and He has you than you being comfortable and belonging to Satan.

     The four Gospels recall Jesus referring to the ʻKingdom of Heavenʼ or the ʻKingdom of Godʼ about 86 times and the application of most of the teaching surrounding the topic of the Kingdom is repentance. Not as a ritual done when convicted or caught, but as a daily lifestyle.We repent because, at all costs, we must know Jesus and seek to be as close as possible to Him, not as a way of meriting righteousness, but as a response to the mercy, grace, and love displayed on the Cross
and the hope brought by the resurrection. We repent not because sin makes us feel bad, but because we are deeply undone by any actions that would break fellowship with our Savior. Because we are captivated by Jesus. Because we are in love.

1 Dan. 12:10, Isa. 48:10, Psalm 66:10
2 Matt. 9:12
3 Rom. 3:10-18, 23

Your Best life...later, Crazy Love Chapter 7
by Wes Olsen

     Are you still trying to do this on your own? Are you really still trying to find fulfillment outside of God's love? Have you not surrendered fully yet to this love?

     It's very true that there is great cost to ourselves to follow Jesus. We die to our selfish wants and needs to bless others and show the love of Christ. Some have given up 6 or 7 figure incomes to follow with complete abandon this Jesus. Some have given up their lives to fulfill a great and better calling - even to death! But why? Who would do this? What do they get out of it that it's so great to give up so much?

     They get Jesus. They get the greatest treasure of all - Jesus. With Jesus they get peace, joy, security, love, oh immeasurable love!, hope, strength, wisdom and these are just the things we receive here while we still suffer in a fallen world! Oh there is suffering and rough waters, but for those surrendered to Jesus it's always coupled with amazing miracles, peace beyond all understanding, power to walk through the most heart-wrenching trials, to quite honestly suffer with Jesus! Those surrendered truly desire to please God and get to see His glory - get to see Him do the impossible! Oh how amazing!

     Then there is eternity. What treasures will await us? What joys not ever experienced may we feel? What new thoughts might our minds enjoy? And we still get our greatest treasure Jesus! The thought makes me want to stop right now and worship Jesus!

      Does this sound out of reach for you? Too hard and too tough to go through with? Pray for faith and read the scriptures, so that God may show His glory and that living your best life later for an abandoned-to-Jesus-for-His-glory life now is worth your life - now!

Helpful scriptures
-Philippians 2:6-11
-1 John 2:6; 3:16-20; 2:28
-Matthew 12:50; 25:31-46
-Hebrews 11:6
-Romans 8

hi	Important Information
We need help with scheduling parents for snacks. We have a lot of youth coming on Wednesdays and need parents to help us. Your youth can even pick it out to share! Also, if you are unable to help by bringing a snack we will also take donations, and go to the store for snacks ourselves.

	Cool free resources from the Interwebz!
Free One Year Bible Reading Checklist Memorizing Philippians! Don't Waste Your Life - Free Online Book Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die - Awesome Free Devotional

SOS - SAVE OUR SNACKS!!!!!!!
by Trina Mannery

We are so very excited to be serving the youth, sharing time with them and growing together as we hear Gods call in our lives!

Part of our evening is to provide the youth with a snack. Not only does a snack give them something to munch on, but provides them with valuable time to socialize and build relationships.

To do this, we need your help!

How can I Help?

What do I need to do?

Please contact Trina Mannery at 206-550-9298 or trina.david@clearwire.net. She will work with you to set up a date for you to bring snack on a week that will work for your schedule.

What should I bring?

This can be homemade or store bought. Fruit and vegetables, cheese and crackers or cookies, brownies etc. Shop the sales! What's in the pantry? (Hint: They are teenagers, they love it all!)

Should I bring drinks too?

You may provide drinks if you like, but we can provide water and that seems to work well.

How would you like the snack to come?

Please bring the snack prepared and ready to serve. Also, please remind your youth to bring home your containers.

My schedule is crazy and I have a hard time preparing a snack, is there any other way I can help?

Thank you so much for coming along side us to help us love on and serve your kids!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Trina

God Bless You!

	Important Dates
1/26/2011 - Youth Group, Chapter 7 Crazy Love, Birthdays 2/2/2011 - Youth Group, Chapter 8 Crazy Love 2/9/2011 - Youth Group, Chapter 9 Crazy Love 2/16/2011 - Youth Group, Chapter 10 Crazy Love 2/23/2011 - Youth Group, Birthdays

We thank God for each and every one of you,

Shorewood Foursquare Ignition Youth Ministry Staff

Ignition Youth News 1/03/11

2011-01-01T17:37:00.000-08:00

Serving Leftovers to a Holy God - Chapter 5, Crazy Love
by Wes Olsen

    Happy New Year Ignition Youth! 2010 was a great year and I am praying that 2011 will be an even more blessed year. I hope that you have taken time to pray to God to anoint you for another year of battle and joy!
     One of the things I enjoy about the day after Christmas or New Years is the leftover food. Leftover turkey taste great as a sandwich or turkey chowder - yum! Leftover Chinese food after a New Years Eve dinner is also very yummy. But I also know that leaving the leftover food for too long is not yummy, but gross.
      I once knew a man that wouldn't even eat leftovers. Just the thought of eating day old food made him gag. It had to be fresh or not at all. Maybe it was a bit weird or maybe he only wanted the best. We tend not to like it when people don't give us the best. How many of you would have been upset if you received a broken guitar or video game for Christmas? How many of you would like it if instead of being fed a fresh, hot meal, you got to eat off the plate of whomever was finished with the meal first? I know I wouldn't, I would want the fresh meal.
      God wants the best too. He doesn't want the best food we can give him, He wants the best of us we can give Him. Instead we give God our cold, clammy, day-old leftovers, and we often don't think twice about it. This is the attitude of the lukewarm.
      Let me ask you another question. Are you more concerned about your salvation than your relationship with Jesus? See lukewarm people are more concerned about their salvation than loving Jesus, which is ironic considering lukewarm people don't make it to heaven, because of this! Jesus wants relationship, and He wants you to give him all of your life.
     Jesus calls us to be disciples or students of His. Not just "christians" who are by name only, but disciples who become like their teacher, Jesus. Don't know what this looks like? Pray and read through the gospels and let Jesus teach you the way, the truth and be led by the light! Go to Jesus first in everything, just talk to Him, ask Him questions and give Him time to answer you. Stop whining, and complaining and blaming Him about life and give it to Him to teach you through it. Give Him everything and your best! Doesn't Jesus deserve our best and not just our leftovers?

Important Information

Youth group for 2011 starts this Wednesday, January 5th! The time is still 6:30 - 8:30pm! Can't wait to see you all there!
We need help with scheduling parents for snacks. We have a lot of youth coming on Wednesdays and need parents to help us. Your youth can even pick it out to share! Also, if you are unable to help by bringing a snack we will also take donations, and go to the store for snacks ourselves.

Joe Arrants will be having a CD Release Party, January 8th at 6pm. www.joearrants.com

	Cool free resources from the Interwebz!
Free One Year Bible Reading Checklist Memorizing Philippians! Don't Waste Your Life - Free Online Book Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die - Awesome Free Devotional

SOS - SAVE OUR SNACKS!!!!!!!
by Trina Mannery

Fall is here and we are all settling into our new schedules - school, sports and youth group!

We are so very excited to be serving the youth, sharing time with them and growing together as we hear Gods call in our lives!

Part of our evening is to provide the youth with a snack. Not only does a snack give them something to munch on, but provides them with valuable time to socialize and build relationships.

To do this, we need your help!

How can I Help?

What do I need to do?

Please contact Trina Mannery at 206-550-9298 or trina.david@clearwire.net. She will work with you to set up a date for you to bring snack on a week that will work for your schedule.

What should I bring?

This can be homemade or store bought. Fruit and vegetables, cheese and crackers or cookies, brownies etc. Shop the sales! What's in the pantry? (Hint: They are teenagers, they love it all!)

Should I bring drinks too?

You may provide drinks if you like, but we can provide water and that seems to work well.

How would you like the snack to come?

Please bring the snack prepared and ready to serve. Also, please remind your youth to bring home your containers.

My schedule is crazy and I have a hard time preparing a snack, is there any other way I can help?

Thank you so much for coming along side us to help us love on and serve your kids!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Trina

God Bless You!

	Important Dates
1/5/2011 - Youth Group 1/12/2011 - Youth Group 1/19/2011 - Youth Group 1/26/2011 - Youth Group

We thank God for each and every one of you,

Shorewood Foursquare Ignition Youth Ministry Staff

Ignition Youth News 12/13/10

2010-12-11T18:07:00.000-08:00

It's an Ugly Sweater Christmas party, Ignition youth!
by Wes Olsen

     This week we will be having our youth group on Tuesday, to accommodate the basketball game on Wednesday and this week is our Ugly Sweater Christmas Party! What will we be doing, you ask? Great question!

     We will be celebrating the gift of life through the remembrance of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This will be accomplished by worshiping Jesus, wearing ugly sweaters, sharing food, and a gift exchange game told through the nativity story. I am praying that even though we will be having fun and fellowship, that we will not lose sight that we are celebrating the incarnation of God, Jesus.

     The Incarnation of God, literally means God in flesh. This means God became a man, Jesus, came down to us, to do only what He can do - rescue us. Through Jesus Christ, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, so that if we repent of our sins, put our trust in His saving grace, we will have eternal life! That God's rescue plan was finally put into motion one late spring/early summer day over 2,000 years ago as an obedient young lady, Mary, and a courageous man, Joseph, submitted themselves to God's great plan. They became parents to Emmanuel, God with us, and He certainly was.

     I thank God this Christmas season, as I look past the decorations, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and gifts and see Jesus, not as a baby but as Glorious Savior, Lord and King of Heaven and Earth! I encourage you to give thanks too, by stopping everything and thinking about what life would be like if Jesus had never been born, and give Him praise that He did and is still alive and active today! Amen.

       We will meet in the North Foyer and Sanctuary of Shorewood Foursquare Church at 6:30pm on Tuesday. Everyone needs to bring food and drink to share and a wrapped gift that is gently used or new and no more than $10. Please do not bring bad gifts like an empty box of donuts, because God does not give us empty or useless gifts. Also, just for fun please wear the ugliest sweater you have to the party. This is mostly for laughs, but also so you don't have to lie when your relative that gave you the sweater asks you this Christmas season if you ever wore it, you won't have to lie (which is a sin). It will be fun!

Important Information

Youth Group will be on Tuesday December 14th. We will meet in the North Foyer and Sanctuary at Shorewood Foursquare Church. This day change is to accommodate the High School Basketball game!!!
There will be a Christmas vacation break from youth group for the rest of December after Tuesday. Enjoy your time, family and gifts and we will resume in January.
We need help with scheduling parents for snacks. We have a lot of youth coming on Wednesdays and need parents to help us. Your youth can even pick it out to share! Also, if you are unable to help by bringing a snack we will also take donations, and go to the store for snacks ourselves.

Shorewood Foursquare Church will be having a Christmas Eve service starting at 7:00pm. Come worship and celebrate with us!
Joe Arrants will be having a CD Release Party, January 8th at 6pm. www.joearrants.com

Reject, Receive or Redeem Santa Claus.

I spent a lot of time early in my Christian walk, thinking about Christmas and all the ways we turn good things into god things and thus making them bad things. This included what I tell my kids about Santa and if I should have a Christmas tree. I did not want to be an idol worshiper because honestly I love God and I think stones would hurt if they were hurled at my head.
Maybe you too are always wondering or thinking about this and what we should do as Christians in this culture and especially what we should do about the non-Christ things that Christmas sometimes becomes. May I submit to you this wonderful article by Mark Driscoll, of Mars Hill Church from the Washington Post. Enjoy: What We Tell Our Kids About Santa

Also see: Why Christians Go Postal Over Facebook, Jay-Z, Yoga, Avatar, and Culture in General

SOS - SAVE OUR SNACKS!!!!!!!
by Trina Mannery

Fall is here and we are all settling into our new schedules - school, sports and youth group!

We are so very excited to be serving the youth, sharing time with them and growing together as we hear Gods call in our lives!

Part of our evening is to provide the youth with a snack. Not only does a snack give them something to munch on, but provides them with valuable time to socialize and build relationships.

To do this, we need your help!

How can I Help?

What do I need to do?

Please contact Trina Mannery at 206-550-9298 or trina.david@clearwire.net. She will work with you to set up a date for you to bring snack on a week that will work for your schedule.

What should I bring?

This can be homemade or store bought. Fruit and vegetables, cheese and crackers or cookies, brownies etc. Shop the sales! What's in the pantry? (Hint: They are teenagers, they love it all!)

Should I bring drinks too?

You may provide drinks if you like, but we can provide water and that seems to work well.

How would you like the snack to come?

Please bring the snack prepared and ready to serve. Also, please remind your youth to bring home your containers.

My schedule is crazy and I have a hard time preparing a snack, is there any other way I can help?

Thank you so much for coming along side us to help us love on and serve your kids!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Trina

God Bless You!

	Important Dates
12/14/10, Youth Group - Ugly Sweater Christmas Party12/22/10 & 12/29/10, No Youth Group - Have a great Christmas!1/05/11, Youth Group

We thank God for each and every one of you,

Shorewood Foursquare Ignition Youth Ministry Staff

2010-12-05T14:49:00.000-08:00

A wassailing we go!
by Wes Olsen

This week and next, we will be having our youth group on Tuesday, to accommodate the basketball games on Wednesdays and this week is our 2nd annual wassailing night! What is wassailing you ask? Great question!

Wassailing is the same as caroling! It is best known for gaining it's popularity in England and in Christmas caroling! In fact the best example of this is found in the song, "We wish you a Merry Christmas!" Where the carolers were lower-class citizens who would go sing for the wealthy so that they may get some figgy-pudding and a cup of good cheer ( I am sure they meant tea!).

       In the tradition of wassailing we will be politely singing Christmas carols to our neighbors around Shorewood Foursquare Church this Tuesday, in hopes of spreading our own good news of the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

       We will meet in the North Foyer of Shorewood Foursquare Church at 5:30pm, where we will have some hot cocoa ready for our cold, and possibly wet night. Please dress accordingly to the forecast so that you do not freeze or get drenched! We will not be stopping at Starbucks this year, so we can do more wassailing! We should be back about 9:00pm. This is a great tradition, and I pray that many will come to know the Lord through it!

Important Information

Youth Group will be on Tuesday December 7 and December 14th. We will meet in the North Foyer at Shorewood Foursquare Church. This day change is to accommodate the High School Basketball games!!!
Pastor Matt Ramirez, Youth Pastor at Grace Church Federal Way, will be speaking at Shorewood Foursqaure Church this Sunday, December 12th at 10:00am. Everyone's invited!
Tuesday, December 7 is our Christmas Caroling Night. We will be going around the neighborhood in this area singing our hearts out!

Tuesday, December 14th is a white elephant gift exchange. Please spend no more than $10 and try not to make it gender specific.
We need help with scheduling parents for snacks. We have a lot of youth coming on Wednesdays and need parents to help us. Your youth can even pick it out to share! Also, if you are unable to help by bringing a snack we will also take donations, and go to the store for snacks ourselves.

SOS - SAVE OUR SNACKS!!!!!!!
by Trina Mannery

Fall is here and we are all settling into our new schedules - school, sports and youth group!

We are so very excited to be serving the youth, sharing time with them and growing together as we hear Gods call in our lives!

Part of our evening is to provide the youth with a snack. Not only does a snack give them something to munch on, but provides them with valuable time to socialize and build relationships.

To do this, we need your help!

How can I Help?

What do I need to do?

Please contact Trina Mannery at 206-550-9298 or trina.david@clearwire.net. She will work with you to set up a date for you to bring snack on a week that will work for your schedule.

What should I bring?

This can be homemade or store bought. Fruit and vegetables, cheese and crackers or cookies, brownies etc. Shop the sales! What's in the pantry? (Hint: They are teenagers, they love it all!)

Should I bring drinks too?

You may provide drinks if you like, but we can provide water and that seems to work well.

How would you like the snack to come?

Please bring the snack prepared and ready to serve. Also, please remind your youth to bring home your containers.

My schedule is crazy and I have a hard time preparing a snack, is there any other way I can help?

Thank you so much for coming along side us to help us love on and serve your kids!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Trina

God Bless You!

	Important Dates
12/07/10, Youth Group - Christmas Caroling!12/14/10, Youth Group - White Elephant Party12/22/10 & 12/29/10, No Youth Group - Have a great Christmas!1/05/11, Youth Group

We thank God for each and every one of you,

Shorewood Foursquare Ignition Youth Ministry Staff

Ignition Youth News Encounterfest Edition

2010-11-08T20:23:00.000-08:00

ENCOUNTERFEST 2010 is this weekend!!!

I am so very excited for this year's Encounterfest at Camp Berachah. Last year's Encounterfest was such a turning point for a lot of students and though I am not expecting God to repeat himself, I do know that God wants to change lives and grow us to be more like His Son, Jesus!
Will you please pray for us that God will make Himself more glorious and more famous and that we will be able to worship Him with purer hearts!

Here is some important info if you are registered for Encounterfest:

Friday, November 12^th

Please make sure that your student arrives at Camp Berachah between the hours of 4:00-5:30pm.

We will be staying in the Hillside Lodge, which is near the very back of the camp. There will be people to direct you to the drop off site.

Please make sure to register your child at the Check In tables. Please note: If your student takes any medication it needs to be checked in, in its original packaging.

Sunday, November 14^th

Check Out will be at 1:30pm. Your student will have been fed lunch and please be sure to pick them up at the same site that you dropped them off at. Please be advised that a parent will be responsible for physically checking out their children. If your child will be driving home with another person/family, make sure that staff is aware during Check In.

What to Pack:

Accommodations have changed since our first letter. Your child does NOT need to bring a sleeping bag, blanket, or pillow; linens will be provided by the camp.

-Change of clothes for 3 days (weather appropriate)

-Toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, ect...)

-Modest swim suit (Boys: longer swim shorts, Girls: 1 piece bathing suit, or a long dark shirt that covers the stomach and lower back.)

-Towels ( at least 2 )

-Extra spending cash for Snack Shack

-Bible, journal

-Athletic wear (optional: There is an open gym available to us)

-Medication (In original packaging)

Electronic Devices:

I would advise students to NOT bring any form of electronic devices to camp so as not to be a distraction. Please be advise if they are lost/stolen Shorewood Foursquare Church will not be responsible for their replacement.

However, if students bring (IPod, cell phones, ect...) they must be used only when appropriate. If they are used during Chapel times or other group activities they may be confiscated and returned at the end of the weekend.

Parents, please have conversations with your children regarding this matter prior to our retreat.

Directions to Camp:

For specific directions to Camp Berachah please go to:

www.campberachah.org

SOS - SAVE OUR SNACKS!!!!!!!
by Trina Mannery

Fall is here and we are all settling into our new schedules - school, sports and youth group!

We are so very excited to be serving the youth, sharing time with them and growing together as we hear Gods call in our lives!

Part of our evening is to provide the youth with a snack. Not only does a snack give them something to munch on, but provides them with valuable time to socialize and build relationships.

To do this, we need your help!

How can I Help?

What do I need to do?

Please contact Trina Mannery at 206-550-9298 or trina.david@clearwire.net. She will work with you to set up a date for you to bring snack on a week that will work for your schedule.

What should I bring?

This can be homemade or store bought. Fruit and vegetables, cheese and crackers or cookies, brownies etc. Shop the sales! What's in the pantry? (Hint: They are teenagers, they love it all!)

Should I bring drinks too?

You may provide drinks if you like, but we can provide water and that seems to work well.

How would you like the snack to come?

Please bring the snack prepared and ready to serve. Also, please remind your youth to bring home your containers.

My schedule is crazy and I have a hard time preparing a snack, is there any other way I can help?

Thank you so much for coming along side us to help us love on and serve your kids!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Trina

God Bless You!

Important Information

Encounterfest is this weekend! If you still have a blance please pay so we can pay Grace Church
We need help with scheduling parents for snacks. We have a lot of youth coming on Wednesdays and need parents to help us. Your youth can even pick it out to share! Also, if you are unable to help by bringing a snack we will also take donations, and go to the store for snacks ourselves.
This coming week have chapter 3 of Crazy Love read for small group discussions.

	Important Dates:
11/10/10, Youth Group, 6:30-8:3011/12/10 - 11/14/10, Encounterfest 2010 @ Camp Berachah11/17/10 & 11/24/10, NO Youth Group - Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

We thank God for each and every one of you,

Shorewood Foursquare Ignition Youth Ministry Staff

Ignition Youth News 11/01/10

2010-11-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

Crazy Love, Chapter 3 Review
By Wes Olsen

          The chapter titled after the book, Crazy Love, left me writing a lot of questions about my relationship with God in the margins of the pages. Questions like, "How can I not? Am I still rebellious?" and "What is keeping me from trusting Him more? Sin? Lack of knowledge? No fear of God?"
           These questions were raised by my heart upon the examination of my current relationship with DAD. Lately, I have found myself having a more professional relationship, than personal one with God. I teach His Word, speak His Word, and share His Word, but I am ashamed to say that there is a void in my personal time with His Word. I sure would hate for my kids to have a professional relationship with me and not a satisfying personal one.
This last summer I went on a hike and ended up spending the night in a very wet, cold, foggy location next to a frozen lake...in July, and had probably one of the worst nights of sleep that I could remember. At one point, I had this overwhelming urge to rip out of my tent and go running down the mountain to be with my family as God was dealing with my heart towards them. All of sudden I wanted nothing more than to be with my kids and my heart felt so lonely without them. I believe I came down from there a better dad. I am trying to be more intentional with my words and time. I really want to love them as God loves me.
   But I can't love them like God loves me. I can only love God so much that His love overflows to my children as the Holy Spirit works through me. If I so desired my kids with such a love to want to run out of my tent in the middle of the night to be with them, then God's love must be even crazier, right?
   Francis Chan writes, "...I came to understand that my desire for my children is only a faint echo of God's great love for me and for every person He made. I am just an earthly, sinful father, and I love my kids so much it hurts. How could I not trust a heavenly, perfect Father who loves my infinitely more than I will ever love my kids? (p.55)" To which I asked, "No really, how could I not? Am I still rebellious?"
   I pray the Lord would open my eyes wider to His love, that I would desire to be with Him more than my children desire to be with me. I want to embrace this crazy love God shows me, and have a personal relationship with DAD that will feel and truly be eternal. I pray this for you too. Amen.

SOS - SAVE OUR SNACKS!!!!!!!
by Trina Mannery

Fall is here and we are all settling into our new schedules - school, sports and youth group!

We are so very excited to be serving the youth, sharing time with them and growing together as we hear Gods call in our lives!

Part of our evening is to provide the youth with a snack. Not only does a snack give them something to munch on, but provides them with valuable time to socialize and build relationships.

To do this, we need your help!

How can I Help?

What do I need to do?

Please contact Trina Mannery at 206-550-9298 or trina.david@clearwire.net. She will work with you to set up a date for you to bring snack on a week that will work for your schedule.

What should I bring?

This can be homemade or store bought. Fruit and vegetables, cheese and crackers or cookies, brownies etc. Shop the sales! What's in the pantry? (Hint: They are teenagers, they love it all!)

Should I bring drinks too?

You may provide drinks if you like, but we can provide water and that seems to work well.

How would you like the snack to come?

Please bring the snack prepared and ready to serve. Also, please remind your youth to bring home your containers.

My schedule is crazy and I have a hard time preparing a snack, is there any other way I can help?

Thank you so much for coming along side us to help us love on and serve your kids!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Trina

God Bless You!

Important Information

Encounterfest balance due this Wednesday! 11/03. If you need to know your balance please contact Wes Olsen!
We need help with scheduling parents for snacks. We have a lot of youth coming on Wednesdays and need parents to help us. Your youth can even pick it out to share! Also, if you are unable to help by bringing a snack we will also take donations, and go to the store for snacks ourselves.
Costume Party was a success! This coming week have chapter 3 of Crazy Love read for small group discussions.

	Important Dates:
11/3/10, Youth Group, 6:30-8:30 11/10/10, Youth Group, 6:30-8:3011/12/10 - 11/14/10, Encounterfest 2010 @ Camp Berachah11/17/10 & 11/24/10, NO Youth Group - Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

We thank God for each and every one of you,

Shorewood Foursquare Ignition Youth Ministry Staff

Ignition Youth News 10/18/10

2010-10-18T21:04:00.000-07:00

Crazy Love, Chapter 2 Review
by Wes Olsen

      You might not finish this article. Seriously. It has become quite apparent to me that God wants me to understand this fact: I could die before finishing this article. Right now. Any time.
       In chapter 2 of Crazy Love, Francis Chan points out the obvious and obviously ignored fact, that we are essentially not guaranteed our next breath. It's a grim thought, I know, but one we must always consider. This thought does have eternal consequences.
       Lately, I have personally been thinking about this, and not because I want to, and not necessarily because I read this chapter - as a matter of fact I was thinking about this prior to opening up to this chapter. I was thinking about Carley Henley this week. She was the young lady that unfortunately committed suicide at the UW two weeks ago. I was thinking about her because her family visited our church prior to this tragic event, and I got to meet her and her dad. Thinking about this really shook me, because she seemed fully alive in spirit to me, and yet her time was too short. Pray for her family please.
       Sunday, I had another moment of life being short, slap me in the face. This came through the television news show, 60 Minutes. One segment talked about a film reel found of San Francisco over a hundred years ago. It was amazing footage taken from the front of a trolley going down Market St. It was quite fascinating. This fascination turned to something very eerie as they interviewed a man who investigated the origins of the film, and found the movie to be filmed one week prior to the April 1906 earthquake that completely leveled San Francisco. Now as I watched the film, I realized that most of the people on the film smiling and waving had no idea that in one week they could all be gone for eternity.
        James writes, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14). This is what God showed me this morning as I breathed out into the cold air. My warm air from my body hit the cold air and created a mist from my mouth that was there, then gone. This is our life.
         So if this is our life, what are we doing with it? Do we spend time worrying and stressing out about it, or do we trust in our God and rejoice! Do we spend it thinking, "It's all about me!", or are we good stewards with our time and money, making the most of God? There is much to be said about thinking of how short of time we have to live, but we have to and it should change us.
         Finally, this last summer I battled with depression, that at it's worst, left me with thoughts of suicide. God was able to break in during those moments and show me that I was really depressed because I was not trusting Him, but in myself. So, humbled, I began trusting Him again, and I could feel the dark cloud in my mind lifting, bringing me relief. I was able again to rejoice! Not to long after, I read this from chapter 2, "Frankly, you need to get over yourself" (p.44). Indeed I did.
Jesus is everything.
Don't waste your life!

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Jas 4:14). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Important Information

Encounterfest Registration and Down Payment of $75 due THIS SUNDAY!!!!!!! (Oct 24th)
We need help with scheduling parents for snacks. We have a lot of youth coming on Wednesdays and need parents to help us. Your youth can even pick it out to share! Also, if you are unable to help by bringing a snack we will also take donations, and go to the store for snacks ourselves.
Costume Party on October 27th! Please wear a creative or funny costume and come have fun! Please restrain yourselves from evil, dark or inappropriate costumes! Thanks!

	Important Dates:
10/20/10, Youth Group, 6:30 - 8:30 10/24/10, Registration and Down Payment Due for Encounterfest 10/27/10, Youth Group Costume Party, 6:30-8:30 11/3/10, Youth Group, 6:30-8:30 11/10/10, Youth Group, 6:30-8:30 11/12/10 - 11/14/10, Encounterfest 2010 @ Camp Berachah 11/17/10 & 11/24/10, NO Youth Group - Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

We thank God for each and every one of you,

Shorewood Foursquare Ignition Youth Ministry Staff

2010-10-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

Crazy Love, Chapter 1 Review
by Wes Olsen

       I spent a good 2 hours at Starbucks this weekend reading and thinking through the first chapter, "Stop Praying", of Crazy Love by Francis Chan. No, I am not a slow reader, I just wanted to take time to think through the questions that Francis raises in this first chapter.
       The big idea in this first chapter, is to stop praying and rushing in with words to speak to God and first consider who God is; to have a healthy fear or reverence to God and stand in awe of Him. In order for us to do this, we must begin with reminding ourselves who God is so that we know whom we are coming to in prayer. Francis explains in some detail, the attributes of God: God is holy, God is eternal, God is all-knowing, God is all-powerful, and God is fair and just. As Francis explains these attributes through scripture, the weight and gravity of this God becomes heavy and big, and I become smaller and sinful.
      Finally we are taken into the throne room of Heaven as described in Isaiah 6 and Revelations 4, and I personally felt like I was finished, undone and wretched as my imagination took me to this awesome throne room of God. It left me quite breathless and dumbfounded. I was certainly in awe and I could not speak and maybe this is often how it should be as we approach this wonderful, magnificent God. Have you stopped to consider Him today? Have you chosen this day whom you will serve?
       Take a few momnets today and stand in silent awe of our great and mighty God, who loves us.

Dirty Mouth and blindness? You may have a condition called "Dirty Heart"by Wes Olsen

     Have you ever heard of the saying, "Garbage in, garbage out"? It is a phrase from the 1960's that is used in terms of computers and the information that you give them, is the information that comes out. It is said that the phrase became famous during the O.J. Simpson trial when his lawyer, Jonnie Cochran used it. I believe it can be used in our lives to describe how what we hear, watch or the things we participate in, go in us and affect what we say, how we view people, or what we continue to do.
      In Matthew 15 Jesus is being questioned by the religious leaders about why His diciples do not wash their hands before they eat as their elders traditionally do. Jesus flips the question back on the religious leaders by asking them, why do they break God's law with their traditions? He calls them hypocrites in front of a crowd of people, and then addresses them in verse 10, "Jesus called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' " The disciples were then worried and told Jesus, as if He didn't already know, that the Pharisees were offended. Jesus calls them blind guides and that anyone who follows them is blind too.
       In our culture today, there are many blind guides and many people willing to pluck out their eyes to follow these blind guides, just to seem current or a part of culture so that hey will not be left out. recently I watched an interview with rap-star, Eminem, where he speaks about not allowing filthy language in his house or around his kids, because he does not want to expose them to that stuff. And yet his lyrics are often filled with drug abuse, murdering or raping others, and filthy language. The most shocking part of the interview came when they showed a clip of his concerts and the young teenage girls at the front, near the stage, singing lyrics about abusing women, and crying while trying to touch the edge of Eminem's garments. Why? They are blind.
       The solution to the dirty mouth and blindness, is a clean heart. And you can only get this cleaning of the heart by the Great Physician, Jesus. Who opened the eyes of the blind, both physical and spiritual, and gave them new clean hearts. It amazes how much youth want to follow blind guides and how much parents either allow them to or turn a blind eye because it's too hard to allow them not to.
   My encouragement to our youth is to watch what you are putting in your heart and ask the question, "Does this glorify God?" And make the wise decision and not the blind decision. To the parents I want to encourage you to not to give up and invest yourself in your youths lives. Ask them what they listen too, look at their iPods, and check their phones and computers every now and then to see if there is garbage going into them, poisoning their heart. Finally, we must always consider God in every activity and with our thoughts, thinking of the cross and the ransom that was paid for you and I.
       This dialogue with Jesus ends in verses 15- 20, where we have the diciples asking Jesus to explain this more fully to them. See even the diciples don't see very clearly! Jesus says,

"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. ¹⁷"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? ¹⁸But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. ²⁰These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "
Ask Jesus today to clean out your heart by repenting of sin and trusting in Him!

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Mt 15:16-20). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Mt 15:10-11). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

	Important Dates:
10/13/10, Youth Group, 6:30 - 8:30 10/20/10, Youth Group, 6:30 - 8:3010/24/10, Registration and Down Payment Due for Encounterfest 10/27/10, Youth Group Costume Party, 6:30-8:30 11/3/10, Youth Group, 6:30-8:3011/10/10, Youth Group, 6:30-8:3011/12/10 - 11/14/10, Encounterfest 2010 @ Camp Berachah

Announcement

We thank God for each and every one of you,

Shorewood Foursquare Ignition Youth Ministry Staff

Ignition Youth News 10/06/10

2010-10-05T20:03:00.000-07:00

A Great New Beginning

By Wes Olsen

Most people point to January as a time where there are new beginnings. We make new resolutions, we are going to do new things, and why not? It’s a new year!

For me, September seems to be that time of year. School starts, youth group starts, there are new students, new friends, and new challenges. But as I have reflected on this, and tried to see things God’s way, there are a lot of beginnings - everyday!

Today I was struck by Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools reject wisdom and discipline.” Wow! Stop and think about this. The beginning of knowledge and wisdom is having a healthy reverence or fear of the Lord Jesus. I mean this makes sense, but think a little deeper about this: If I want knowledge and wisdom I must start with Jesus – when I wake up, when I brush my teeth, when I eat my meals, when I watch TV, when I teach, when I speak, when I deal with my family – anytime I do anything, I must consider God first! When I examine my life in light of this verse and what it means, it has “epic fail” written all over it! What can I do?

Well, I can do what Proverbs 1:7 says and get my heart right with God and begin to consider Him in everything I do, even before I do it. I will begin with God every morning and all throughout my day. I will trust that He will guide me by His Holy Spirit in me, to love others as He does, live in humility and give me discernment to make wise choices. I will pray that will not fall, but be able to stand at the end of my day victorious because of Jesus’ Holy Spirit! And if life becomes too much and I forget to consider God, He gives us another new beginning, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

It’s Crazy Love Time!

By Wes Olsen

Every summer I make a list of the books I want to read while on my summer vacation. This year I read Crazy Love by Francis Chan, Hurt by Chap Clark, and Lost and Found by Ed Stetzer. Crazy Love stood out because it was spiritually challenging to me and was able to get me to think about my love for Jesus and His love for me. I needed to think about the topics Francis Chan brings up in this book, and truth be told, I had some repenting to do.

Chan writes in the Preface, “This book is written for those who want more of Jesus. It is for those who are bored with what American Christianity offers. It is for those who don’t want to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do.”(p.21) I absolutely fall into this camp. I want more, I have plateaued and I don’t want to be a cultural-christian, but a follower of Jesus. I am tired of doing it any other way.

Chan goes on, “I hope reading this book will convince you of something: that by surrendering yourself totally to God’s purposes, He will bring you the most pleasure in this life and the next.” (p. 21) Francis Chan does just that and more in his book. I wanted to surrender more, and not just because Francis Chan said so, but because the truth in the Word and the exposition of it by Chan, makes it clear that this is what it looks like to follow Jesus – complete surrender.

Recently, I was speaking to my wife – ok I was complaining- about how tired I am trying to follow Jesus, and that was the problem! I was trying to do something, except enter into the joy of trusting Jesus alone. Are you tired? Do you want more?

I would like to challenge you, the reader, to pick up Crazy Love and be challenged by living a life completely surrendered to Jesus. A life that Francis Chan says, “…God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come through.” (p.124) Amen!

Testimony Night was Amazing!

By Wes Olsen

One of the greatest things God has led us to in this youth ministry is “Testimony Night”. “Testimony Night” or “Testify!” is a night where our youth get up and share what God is doing in their lives, for His glory.

Last week we heard from several students who have left Shorewood Christian School, but not Jesus! But because of their training and discipleship at Shorewood Christian School and Ignition Youth Ministry, they felt ready to “go into all the world” and be a light at their school. They admit it is scary and intimidating but they know God is with them and God will use them in great ways!

We also heard from students who have been challenged by God to grow closer and repent of sin, and we heard about a moment where God used a few of our youth to pray for a man in Federal Way on our way home from the Anderson Island retreat. He was shot in Pioneer Square earlier that month and was trying to get home to New York and get right with God. All he asked for was prayer and our youth stepped up and did that!

God is certainly moving in our youth’s lives and doing amazing things! God is great!

Announcements

1. Encounterfest 2010 is next month! Registration and down payment of $75 due October 24^th. Please make checks payable to Shorewood Foursquare Church.

2. Crazy Love books are on sale now for $10. Youth will need this book to participate in small group discussions at youth group Wednesday nights. Please see Wes Olsen to purchase a book. Recommend parents get one too so discussions can continue at home!

3. If you are participating in the PartyLite fundraiser, you only have 4 days left to sell! Please bring filled out forms and checks, made out to Shorewood Foursquare Church, no later than Wednesday October 13^th. You can bring them anytime before that too! Please remember to add tax to all orders! Got questions? Please see Wes Olsen

4. Pray for a youth lead worship group and for Encounterfest 2010

5. Got a story idea or testimony you would like to share with others? Come see Wes Olsen

Important information for this Wednesday!

2010-09-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hey there everyone, this week is it! This Wednesday is youth group!

Here are some things to remember:

· We will starting promptly at 6:30pm and ending at 8:30 pm. We will work hard to have things wrapped up by 8:30 pm so our leaders and your youth can get home at a decent time, so parents please be on time for pick up at 8:30pm

· We will be discussing the Encounterfest fall retreat, and the fundraiser our youth can participate in to raise their tuition

o Encounterfest is from November 12-14

o Registration form and deposit due by October 24^th

o Where it says “Please make the checks payable to YOUR church”, the “YOUR” is Shorewood Foursquare Church

o If your youth takes a fundraiser packet they are agreeing to commit to selling candles for their tuition

o Fundraising begins September 27^th through October 8^th and order forms and checks (no cash) need to be in no later than October 13th

· Next Wednesday, September 29^th, we will be selling the book Crazy Love for our youth group book study starting October 6^th. The book will cost $10. Earlier communication had a price of $9 but tax was not figured into the price, so we will be charging $10. Sorry if this is a problem for anyone.

As I have been praying for this year and youth group, I believe that this year will be a year of healing, growth and challenges as we mature in our relationship with Jesus. Please join me in praying for Jesus’ leading, His protection from the acts and effects of the enemy and that above all things we will fall more in love with Jesus and seek His kingdom first in all things. If we are not focused in this way then it will all be for nothing, and that is not God’s will or our will for this youth group. Thank you for your prayers.

We thank God for all of you!

Wes Olsen and the Ignition Youth Ministry team

It begins September 22nd!

2010-09-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

It begins September 22nd, more details to follow!

Car Wash to support Shorewood Christian High School this Saturday!!! Be there!!

2010-08-23T18:05:00.001-07:00

This Saturday, August 28^th from Noon o’clock – 5 o’clock, come to the Roxbury Lanes and get your car washed and help support our awesome High School!!! Shorewood Christian High School!!!!

We need your dirty car and any youth that would like to hold signs or help! Please show up this Saturday, 12pm – 5pm!

We thank God for you all!!

Ignition Youth Ministry Summer Schedule is Here!

2010-04-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

Week of March 7th, 2010

2010-03-07T13:55:00.001-08:00

Yes, there is youth group this coming week!

2010-02-12T12:49:00.000-08:00

I did not communicate very well about youth group for this coming week, but it is still on for Wednesday February 17th.
Also I just want to thank all of the youth that participated in speaking last Wednesday's youth group. Whta a blessing you all are to all of us.
I truly thank God for you all!
Wes

30 Hour Famine this month! February 26th to 27th

2010-02-12T12:46:00.000-08:00

This month we are participating in the 30 Hour Famine! All proceeds are going to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund through World Vision!
We are hoping to raise enough to meet our goal of $5000!!!!
Please support our students in their endeavor to save lives in Haiti!

SUBMERGED - Prayer and Worship Night! January 29th

2010-01-10T15:12:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2010!

2010-01-10T15:08:00.001-08:00

I know it has been a while since something has been posted on here, but that shows to go how busy things can get!
Welcome to 2010! I think it is important that this month and into February we focus on seeking the Lord's will, understanding prayer, and listening for our Dads voice. Prayer is such an important part of the christians walk and one I think we are being called to focus on. so prayer and small groups is the order of things for this season.

I thank God for you all,

Wes

Encounterfest was Awesome!

2009-11-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

It has been really hard to describe all that God has done in all of our lives this last weekend. As I think of it, I become both overwhelmed in words and emotions. All that my heart wants to do is is worship, praise and give glory to God as I think about the might move of God this last weekend. I would encourage all that came to tell you about their experiences with God so that you may share in His glory too!

I thank God for and love you all,

Wes

This week no youth group for leaders meeting!

2009-11-02T17:39:00.001-08:00

This week we will have no youth group for leaders meeting! But we will have youth group next Wednesday at regular time and then next Friday we leave for Encounterfest!!!!!

Ok, I am really excited about Encounterfest! There are about 75 people who are going to be there! We will have an encounter with Jesus through His Word, prayer and His being in His presence and I can not wait!

After this week I will have more information for you all about what’s coming up in the next two months, so I will see you soon.

I thank God for all of you!

Wes

This Wednesday is the Boiler Room Prayer Night!

2009-10-20T21:20:00.000-07:00

Youth Group Babysitting Fundraiser Night! This Saturday!

2009-10-13T22:55:00.000-07:00

Where? SHOREWOOD foursquare church (Upper part of building)
When? October 17th, 2009
Time? 5:00pm till 10:00pm
Who? All kiddos potty-trained to 6th grade

There will be adults on hand to watch and organize, including plenty of wonderful youth ready to serve!
No need to rsvp, just come in, sign in and have a good time!
We will provide snacks and drinks, games and movies!
Questions? Email wesolsen@shorewoodfoursquarechurch.org or call Wes olsen @ 206-933-1056 ex 671

This week at youth group!

2009-10-13T22:50:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow we are going to New Horizon Ministries to learn about how they reach out to homeless teens and teens who are in prostitution. We will not be dealing directly with the youth there, but we will take a tour and find out how we can help. Please be at cornerstone at 6:30 sharp!

Also I need as many youth group kids this Saturday to help Babysit at the church to earn money for Encounterfest! This is a fundraising event so that we can make more affordable more youth to go! Please let me know tomorrow if you will be able to help. It’s Saturday, 5pm-10pm, at Shorewood’s upstairs.

Got questions?
Let me know!

Wes

Wednesday, October 14th - Ignition Youth Ministry goes to New Horizon Ministries

2009-10-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago i found this article from the Mars Hill Blog, about child prostitution and sex trafficking. I wept. I felt anger and outrage, sorrow and a sense of helplessness for those being abused. Listed on that blog was a ministry that is needing help, in helping those trying to get out and be rescued - New Horizon Ministries.
So this coming Wednesday, we are taking a field trip to New Horizon Ministries (in Seattle on Third and Cedar) to take a tour, get a vision and see how we can help and glorify God.
Our youth are awesome and they want to serve and I want to serve so please encourage your youth to come, and please read the article and pray for those who are living in a hell on earth.

Please be at Cornerstone promptly at 6:30pm so we can be at New Horizon by 7pm. The tour is from 7pm to 8pm so we do hope to back by 8:30pm. Please give us grace if we are a little late. We are providing transportation.

I thank God very much for you all!

Wes

Last week (9/23) at Ignition Youth Ministry.........

2009-09-27T18:10:00.000-07:00

............we examined Paul's exhortation to the church in Corinth to examine themselves and to test themselves to see if they were indeed genuine followers of Christ or counterfiets. This is an act of maturity to examine one's self and to be real with what we see.

Our text was on 2 Corinthians 13:5:
"5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down."

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (2 Co 13:5-10). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

- Examine yourself and see if you are saved! Since no one can tell you if you are saved or not, you must examine yourself in light of scripture to see if this is true of you. So are you?

- If you have no realization that Christ is in you, then, Paul asks, have you failed the test? Or, are you a counterfeit?

- The truth is what we all need and we need the truth spoken to us firmly and lovingly. It's amazing how backwards and upside down the Corinthian church was and yet Paul had the eyes of God to see them...with grace. I reminded that when we speak to young people or even to other adults we need to see them, speak to them, love them and encourage them not by kicking them in the butts (although it might cross our minds) but by leading them and showing them that when we are weak, Christ is strong. Jesus didn't say, "Get the lead out!" He said, "Follow Me!"

-I asked our youth to examine themselves, repent today, trust Jesus today, and if they need it, get accountability today!

Parents, please read 2 Corinthians 13:5-10, and examine yourselves. Maybe go to your youth and boast in your weaknesses, ask for forgiveness and make Christ everything. Then maybe chat with your youth about what they might have discovered by examining themselves.

Next week...Good and Rotten fruit

I thank God for you all!

Encounterfest!

2009-09-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

Wednesday!Wednesday! Wednesday! New Night for IGNITION!

2009-09-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

We had a great time at Grace Church in Federal Way for “Engage! Power to change!” last Wednesday. I am thankful to God, how your kids respond to Him and desire Him. Please pray with me that this will continue throughout this year and the rest of their lives! We love these youth!

A couple of announcements:

1. Youth group has moved to Wednesday nights! Same time, same place!

2. If you need the permission slip and support letter for our fall retreat @ Camp Berachah please let me know. Fund raising opportunities and dates will come out soon!

3. On October 3rd I would like all of the Youth Group to help the Mannery’s at their house to do some fall cleaning. Last year’s auction we put up the youth group for auction to do some work at someone’s house, and the Mannery’s graciously bid on it and won! So let’s honor what we said we would do! Please let me know ASAP if you are going to be there!

I thank God for you all!

Wes

Update information for "Engage!" on September 16th!

2009-09-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I am really excited about tomorrow night as we kick of a new season of youth group! This is the Engage! Rally at Grace Church in Federal Way and it will be from 6:30pm to 8:30pm plus drive time. I just learned that the 907 bus has expired tabs, so that leaves me with just the one bus and van, so transportation has become an issue. Because of this, when you drop off your youth, there might not be any room left in the vehicles, so if there are any parents that would like to carpool I would appreciate it. Here is the address to Grace church in Federal Way: 1232 SW Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, WA 98023-8264.

Can’t wait to see you all there!

Wes

September 16th, 2009 - ENGAGE! Power to change!

2009-08-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

I am soo excited what God is doing and what He is going to do! We are starting off our Fall on the right foot with this awesome time of workshops, worship, prayer and fellowship. I know life is busy, and busy with good things, but please do not miss this event! We will be discussing how to keep ourselves in line with Jesus and how to be witnesses at our schools family and friend circles and everywhere! Save the date and be ENGAGED!

Youth Group is done for the summer, but there is something awesome to come!

2009-08-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

Due to camps, school starting up again and a retreat youth group is closed for the summer. But there is something brewing for this fall that will be awesome! See ya then, and until then read your Bible, pray to your Father, and enjoy the Son!

Enjoy this video too!

The Great Bible Giveaway!!!!!

2009-08-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

Logos Bible Software is celebrating the launch of their new online Bible by giving away 72 ultra-premium print Bibles at a rate of 12 per month for six months. The Bible giveaway is being held at Bible.Logos.com and you can get up to five different entries each month! After you enter, be sure to check out Logos and see how it can revolutionize your Bible study.

This Tuesday at Full Tilt in White Center!

2009-08-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

Hey for all of you not going to camp or not at camp this week we will meet at Full Tilt in White Center for ice cream and pinball games. Bring money for ice cream and games and let's enjoy some hang out time! Time is still 6:30 to 8:30.

The following link is to an article in the Seattle Times about full tilt:http://www.seattlepi.com/food/377762_eat05.html?from=wtnews

The address is
9629 16th Ave. S.W.
Seattle, WA

Can't wait, see ya then!

Wes

Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday at Lincoln Park - Be There!!!!!!!

2009-07-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

So this Tuesday, July 28th, we will have youth group at Lincoln Park, by the baseball fields near the North parking lot. Yes, where we were last time. $2 for dessert and be sure to bring your thinking caps because you some splaining to do!
This is the last youth group for the junior highers until September =(, but that's just because they have camp and oh so much other fun stuff to do.
The time is the same 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
If there are any questions please email me at wesolsen@shorewoodfoursquarechurch.org.

As always, I thank God for you all!

Wes

For Your Sanctification: Free video series from Jesus Take The Wheel

2009-07-21T17:28:00.000-07:00

Having watched most of these, I thought it would be a great resource for people to enjoy. We often need to be reminded more than we need to be taught. Please enjoy!

http://www.letjesustakethewheel.com/9mistakes.php

No Youth Group this Tuesday

2009-07-19T08:17:00.001-07:00

Hello again,
There will be no youth group this Tuesday, July 21st. We will resume youth group on July 28th, from 6:30-8:30pm, at the North end of Lincoln Park (where we were last time). This will also be the last youth group for the Jr. High until mid-September.
Thanks and God Bless.
Wes

Youth Group Tonight 7/14 at the Cove!

2009-07-14T09:46:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,
I had a blast at the Jr. High retreat. We did a hard thing by going to Heather Lake and some even took it a step further and jumped into the freezing lake! We also had some great times being quiet before the Lord and spending time with Him. I know I needed it!

Tonight we will be at the Cove (the beach part by the Normandy Park pool) from 6:30-8:30. $2 for sundaes. Come expecting to be challenged by God!

See ya then!

Wes

Junior High retreat Information!

2009-07-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, this is the big weekend for the Junior High Retreat! I am expecting God to meet us and for some great times together!

I was recently informed that I had put a sled on the things to bring list, that’s weird, so please do not bring a sled!

Also we leave at 10:00 am (hopefully) and please give your youth some spending cash for lunch on the way up there!

Thanks again!!!

Wes

Here again is the info: hope to see a lot of you there this Friday!!

Come join us for a wonderful youth retreat at the Turner’s Cabin in the North Cascade Mountains!

We will leave Shorewood Foursquare Church on Friday, July 10th at 10:00 AM and arrive back to the church on Sunday, July 12th at 5:00 PM.

This is a Junior High Youth only event.

Cost is $40 per person and payment is due by Tuesday, July 7th 2009

Leaders are Jennifer Reed, Sarah Erickson and Wes Olsen

What to bring:

Ø Bible

Ø Pen

Ø Backpack

Ø Changes of warm clothes

Ø Swimsuits

Ø Good shoes to get muddy or dirty

Ø Sleeping Bag, Pillow

Ø NO SLED!!!!!

Ø Flashlight

Ø Toiletries

Ø Snacks to share (Chips, fruits, etc...)

Ø Beverages to share (Juice, Pop, etc...)

Free Chapter on Dating from Mark Driscoll's book "Religion Saves and nine other misconceptions"

2009-07-05T21:05:00.001-07:00

Go here and see the sermons or read the free chapter on Dating. I showed the Dating sermon to the ninth graders last year and they found it very eye-opening and they liked it.

http://relit.org/religionsaves/

Greatest Bible Giveaway Ever

2009-07-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

From bible.logos.com:
You've never seen a Bible Giveaway like this before—we're talking 72 ultra premium Bibles given away in just 6 months. That's 12 winners every month! With so many Bibles to give away and the opportunity to enter up to 5 different ways each month for six months, your chances to win one of these 72 distinctive Bibles have never been better.*

Bible.Logos.com has partnered with 6 top publishers to give away over $11,500.00 of rare and ultra-premium Bibles over the next six months. We've made it even easier to win—you can enter up to five different ways every month. So what are you waiting for? Get started on your entries below and join us in celebrating the launch of the new Bible.Logos.com with the Great Bible Giveaway!

Also, don't miss a single chance to enter. Sign up to get a reminder when the next giveaway period begins and enter again!
Logos Bible Software is celebrating the launch of their new online Bible by giving away 72 ultra-premium print Bibles at a rate of 12 per month for six months. The Bible giveaway is being held at Bible.Logos.com and you can get up to five different entries each month! After you enter, be sure to check out Logos and see how it can revolutionize your Bible study.

Next Tuesday at Normandy Park Pool

2009-07-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

We had a great time yesterday at Seahurst Park! Next week we are heading to Normandy Park Pool from 6:30pm – 9:00pm for swimming and dessert. The cost is $2 to get into the pool and $2 for dessert so please feed your youth prior to their arrival. Also, this will be during the open swim for all members at the pool so I expect our youth to be respectful of others around them.
The address to the pool is
17655 12th Ave SW
Normandy Park, WA 98166

Also, if your youth is in Jr High and they want to go to the retreat that weekend, I need the permission slip and money in that night.

I thank God for you all!
Wes

Tuesday at Seahurst park!

2009-06-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

This week we are going to Seahurst Park for our youth group meeting! This park is located in Burien, WA. Go to the bottom of the road and to the left there is a trail that goes over a creek into a picnic area, and that’s where we will be.
Seahurst Park:
2400 SW 140th St
Burien, WA 98166
http://www.burienwa.gov/index.aspx?nid=311

Time: 6:30pm -8:30pm
Cost: $4 for a Party Sub!

Wes

Jr. High Retreat reminder!

2009-06-25T10:55:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone, the Jr. High retreat is fast approaching us (July 10 -12) and I want to remind everyone that I need permission slips soon so I can have a good headcount for food and activities. Cost is $45 and we will spend Saturday at Heather Lake (See photo).
Let me know if you need another permission slip or have questions!
wesolsen@shorewoodfoursquarechurch.org
Wes

This Saturday at the Mannery's has been Cancelled.

2009-06-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

Due to the lack of people available on Saturday we are postponing the work party until a later date. Stay tuned!

Wes

Youth Group to "DO WORK!" this Saturday

2009-06-23T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, at last years school auction, the Mannery's won a half a day's worth of work at their house courtesy of the youth group. So it's time to pay up and do work!

This Saturday from 8am - 1pm we will work doing various jobs at the Mannery's house. Lunch will be provided. I will have direction's to the Mannery's house tonight at youth group as well as a sign up sheet.

New 7th graders are not required to do this, but if they would like to come and be a part of this we would be very blessed.

Any questions email me at wesolsen@shorewoodfoursquarechurch.org

God Bless,
Wes

Time and Location Change for Youth Group

2009-06-20T09:16:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone, I had a blast last Tuesday hanging out with everyone and meeting the new 7th graders. Thank you, Jesus!
We realized last week that the time was a bit too long to fill, so we are going back to 6:30pm to 8:30 pm and this week we are going to be at the big shelter up at the top of the park. So you want to park at the parking lot further north. Cost is $4. So please take note of this.
I have another post on the way about working at the Mannery's next Saturday, so stay tuned and God Bless.

Wes

Youth Group tonight!

2009-06-16T12:47:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone, just a quick reminder, we are meeting at Lincoln Park tonight from 6pm to 9pm. Be dropped off at the south entrance at the beach side of Lincoln Park. Bring $4 for dinner and a heart for Jesus!
Call me if you have any questions!

Wes

What do you treasure?

2009-06-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Desiring God for this.

Encouraging Bio about Charles Wesley

2009-06-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Mars Hill Seattle for these great bio videos. See more at theresurgence.com

Tricks to help memorize scripture - YAY!

2009-06-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

If you are like me it's hard to memorize scripture, or anything for that matter. You begin to envy those who have photographic memories and whose wives don't have to remind them of anything cause you are an elephant of a person. But that's just me. So imagine my delight when I found this blog www.fallenandflawed.com, where the author posted this wonderful post on 18 Tricks to Memorize More Scripture. Read and be blessed, just don't forget!

Summer Time Schedule begins!

2009-06-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

Summer meetings begin on June 16th!!!

Where: Lincoln Park (down by the beach!)
When: June 16th from 6pm to 9pm
How: be dropped off at Lincoln Park south parking lot or down the beach access road
Cost: $4 for dinner

Come down and spend a summer evening with your friends as we enjoy our life in Jesus Christ, with fellowship, food, worship and fun. We all look forward to seeing you there!

Am I a soldier of the Cross? by Issac Watts

2009-05-31T19:46:00.000-07:00

Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause
Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease?
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign
Increase my courage, Lord!
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy word.

Thy saints, in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer, though they die;
They view the triumph from afar,
And seize it with their eye.

When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thy armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.

Last Youth Group for the School Year

2009-05-31T19:35:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, this Tuesday, June 2nd, we will be wrapping up our evangelism series, The Way of the Master and this will be the last meeting of the school year.
There will also be no youth group next week, June 10th, and the summer schedule will start on June 16th at Lincoln Park. I am hoping there will be a place down by the beach, and the weather will be nice. Later this week I will have more info on June 16th. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email me or comment below.

Parent Information Night was a lot of FUN!!

2009-05-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

I want to thank Amy and Joe Turner, David and Trina Mannery, Jennifer Reed and all the parents and youth who made last night's information night a success. I felt absolutely blessed and thankful.
Wes

Ignition Youth Ministry Information Night

2009-04-28T22:05:00.001-07:00

Shorewood Foursquare Ignition Youth Ministry and Children’s Church

Presents

6^th Grade Information Night

Who: All parents and kids, 6^th grade – 12^th grade

When: Friday, May 1^st, 2009 6:30pm until 8:30pm

Where: Shorewood Foursquare Church Sanctuary

What: All youth event and parents to welcome 6^th graders and all parents to the youth ministry

Why: - to hear the vision for the youth ministry

- sign release forms

- hand out summer schedule

Cost is $3 per youth

Ignition Youth Ministry is open for all students grades 7^th to 12^th. Starting June 16th the Ignition Youth Ministry invites those who have graduated from 6^th grade into 7^th grade to come out on Tuesday nights and join us for worship, prayer, Bible study, and great fellowship.

This information night is for all parents and their youth, 6^th grade to 12^th grade. We will discuss the vision for the youth ministry, hand out release forms and give out the summer schedule, including the summer retreats for junior high and senior high.

We will provide dinner with hot dogs, Italian sodas and chips. The cost will be $3 for each youth. We will also have prayer, worship, fun games, and a small group study. We look forward to seeing all of you there. Please feel free to call me, Wes Olsen @ 206-353-0164.