Food Drop  

Posted by Jordan Jones

Student Ministries has adopted an apartment complex downtown where we will deliver 200 boxes on Sunday during the Food Drop. We have filled all of our slots for families serving in this role. Right on!

Crosswalk students: We will still have CW on Sunday night. We will be serving dinner from 5-6:30 for those who arrive back from various spots in the city and need a little grub. We will start the gathering a little later on Sunday night: 6:30 p.m.

Just talk to anyone who was here last week...this is unlike any series we have done here at Crosswalk. Don't miss Week 2.

Retreats  

Posted by Jordan Jones

Last day to sign-up for retreats is Sunday!

Don't forget that we lowered both retreats' prices to $50. We want to make sure that everyone who wants to go can go!

Winter Retreats Update  

Posted by Jordan Jones in

We have heard the financial need! We desire that every student that wants to go on this weekend to see God can go. So we have lowered both retreats to $50 apiece.

If you have already paid the full price, we will be willing to offer you the difference in price, but would also ask that you prayerfully consider maintaining your current payment so we can use more resources to scholarship other students. Actually, maybe you would be interested in sending in more money to support this weekend?

Sunday Night Thoughts  

Posted by Jordan Jones in

God doesn't base success within the same parameters that man does. This reality collided into me last night.

Let's look at what man would typically describe as a "unsuccessful night":

  • We only had 50 students present. Everyone else either had a hot date or was out of town. 
  • We had 10 leaders that were unable to make it. 
  • It seemed as if whatever could go wrong, did go wrong: Brandon was sick, internet was down so we couldn't pull up the night's schedule or find the videos we wanted to play during the night, a few members of the band didn't show.

And then God did His thing. His thing being restoration, transformation, revealing that brokenness is appealing. 

A few thoughts on the night:
  • Still can't get enough of Hosea 1. I think the thing that hit me most this time through was the children's names and the strong connection Zach made between Israel and us. 
  • It was fun to strip down the band and just get back to the basics. 
  • I heard more stories of honesty and vulnerability among the 50 students that were here last night than I have in 6 months. Seriously. God is a God who pursues. 
  • The gospel declares to us that God hasn't given up on us. Not as if he needs us, but as if he can't bear to leave us to our bowls of beans, to those things that won't satisfy us in the end, but those things that are so easy to grab. The gospel reveals that there is hope. 
  • Wow! What a night. 

Join us next week for Week 2 of Out of the Dark. We will look at Hosea 2. If you are participating in the Food Drop, we will provide food for you in the Student Cafe at 5 p.m. 

Matthew 6  

Posted by Jordan Jones in

5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (NIV)



5"And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?
 6"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
 7-13"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. (MSG)


I've been searching out what God's intended beat and rhythm of prayer is. Because I feel as though there are not too many things more misunderstood, more maligned, more of a cause of frustration & confusion than prayer. 

No reason to get defensive to that. I talk with numerous middle and high schoolers every week. There is a common consensus: Why is it so important? Why can't I hear God speaking back to me? What the heck does prayer look like?

Is it merely me saying thanks? 

Is it getting on God's lap and reading off a wish list like we do with Santa?

Or could it be to engage a relationship?

To interact with the One we were created by and for?

I believe this more and more each day: prayer is designed to draw us into a more complete, more dynamic relationship with our Creator. 

Think about it...if I spent at least one hour with you every day one-on-one and called you at least once an hour...there's a good chance we are going to see our friendship/relationship progress, right? And experience tells me that I will start acting like you a little too. 

Like using those little unique phrases that only you do. And reacting to things like you do. And getting passionate about some of the things that I never even noticed before we became so close. 

Is the picture getting clearer?

Prayer is dynamic communion. Relationship. 

Not hype. Not formulas. Not wish lists. 

Love.  

Winter Retreats  

Posted by Jordan Jones in

Middle School is heading to Spring-Hill Camp in Evart, MI

High School is heading to Grace Adventures in Mears, MI

Both are during the weekend of Feb. 26-28.

Prices go up after Valentine's Day, Feb. 14.

Registration forms can be found at our main Student page: www.trinitywired.com/ministry/student-ministry.