OCTOBER 09

MISSOURI VALLEY
CHRISTIAN CHURCH

RUSH GUYS AND GIRLS BIBLE STUDY

SCHEDULE
CHALLENGE 5:50 For over a great chance for stu-
doors to Girls.
DINNER 6:00
year now, a group of dents to grow deeper
High School Guys This is how it in their relationship
WORHSIP BEGINS 6:30
have been meeting will work. At 7 PM with God and to con-
at the parsonage on Thursdays, 9th- nect with other stu-
(Band of Brothers), 12th grade girls and dents.
SMALL GROUPS 7:30
START eating food, hanging boys will meet at the
Over the last
out, studying the Bi- parsonage. After
year I have had the
RUSH ENDS 8:05 ble, and having an and hour of snacks,
privilege of watching
119 (ON SUNDAYS 9:15 awesome time. fun, and hanging out,
the guys who attend
AM)
Every time I an- we will split up into
grow and develop in
nounce this Bible guys and girls’
their relationship
Contact Information: study at RUSH the groups and study the
with Jesus. This Bi-
Missouri Valley Christian Church girls ask me when I Bible seperetly. The
ble study is a great
119 N. 4th St. will be starting one study will end at 9
chance to encourage
Missouri Valley, IA 51555 for them. Well, now PM.
712-642-4179 growth. So guys
I have an answer for I will be lead-
youth@missourivalleychurch.org continue to come,
them. Thursday ing the guys Bible and girls, make sure
Effectradio.com October 15th, Study, and Chelsea you don’t miss out
I have a great idea! I know Band of Brothers and Theresa Erixon on this awesome
you spent a couple of hours on will be disbanding will be leading the time.
facebook yesterday. You and opening its girls study. It is a
should try something. While
Turning Point @ Nebraska Christian College
your on Facebook, go to
www.effectradio.com and listen Hey High School Students! Nov. 6-7 Nebraska Christian College is
to some music. This is the radio going to be hosting Turning Point 2009. You have to come to this. It is $
station that exposed me to 35 plus $ 10-15 for food and you get to stay on campus at Nebraska
Christian Rock. I never really Christian College! It is a great event. In fact, several years ago, it was at
new that Christian music could Turning Point that God helped change my life and drew me closer to Him.
be that good. So check out the Come to Turning Point and hear His call. Permission forms and informa-
website listen to some music. tion letters are available at the church.
 PARENTS PAGE Page 2

1. Start Each Year Focused. The older teens become the more likely their goal is to "just graduate."
When the education system is not used to further social and intellectual development, it becomes nothing
more than teen-sitting service. Of course, the degree to which your teen thrives in school is related to the
desire to do so. The week before school begins sit down together and determine the goals for the year.
Take a statement as simple as, "By the end of the year I want to ___________________." Have your teen
fill in the blank as many times as needed with specific goals. Such as, "By the end of the year I want to
have a "B" average in geometry." Do not be unrealistic with your goals. Make them obtainable, reach
them, and set higher ones next time.
2. Maintain A Schedule. Students are used to following a schedule at school, so do the same at home.
Your family may decide that study time is the moment you get home, or it may wait until after supper.
Even school has field trips that change the schedule. Occasionally surprise your child with a field trip of
your own
3. Create A Study Atmosphere. As you do in your family meetings, cut out any distraction that will en-
croach on your teen's study habits. Turn off or turn down the phone, television, radio and anything else
that could distract. Ask your teens if there is anything you could provide that would help them study
(besides a bribe!). Would a desk area in their room help? Would your availability to help with test ques-
tions help?
4. Maintain A Mission Mindset. Jesus sent His followers out with a mission to go into all the world
(Matthew 28:19-20). Send your teen out with the same mission. We need to help teens see that school is
a fantastic place to introduce others to Christ. After a few weeks of school sit down with your teen and
make a list of the classmates he/she knows have not accepted Christ as Savior.
Pray together over those names each week and encourage your child to look for op-
portunities to fulfill the mission. Helping
5. Study Partners. Are your teens serious enough about their schoolwork to study
and not socialize with a partner? If so, then having someone to aid the learning
process can be invaluable. It teaches teens to work together for a solution, which is your teen
exactly what will be required upon entering the work force. If you are unsure about
your teen's ability to use a study partner for it's true intentions, then give it a trial
run. Let your teen study with a friend for a couple of tests to see if any improve-
thrive in
ment results. Have the study area where you can be aware of what is going on.
6. Proper Rest. Ben Franklin said, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man
healthy, wealthy, and wise." I am not sure about the wealthy part, but I can attest
School!
to the healthy and wise aspects. Pure and simply, we cannot function at our physi-
cal and mental best without rest. This may sound old fashioned but set weeknight
bedtimes for the entire family. As your teen matures he/she will feel that age per- by Paul Evans & Al
mits staying up later and later. If you set a standard for the family, everyone will be Millergren
under the same fair guideline
7. Note How They Take Notes. Most teachers test from their notes rather than text books. If that is true
of your child's teacher than ask to review the class notes to determine if your child is a good note taker or
not. Taking good notes is more than being able to copy what is on the overhead or chalkboard. It includes
the ability to understand what was written. Teach your teen to write down the notes and anything else that
will help to remember the purpose for the notes being given. Teach them to listen for clues such as the
teacher saying, “You will see this again.”
8. Tackle The Tough Subjects First. Finishing a study period in failure is discouraging. Have your teen
save the easy stuff for last so they can end with a positive feeling.
Tough subjects can be so tough that teens don't want to get started. If that is true for your home, then let
your teen start with one easy subject, move to the hard one, then close the study session with another
easy assignment.
9. Personal Responsibilities.
Teens can thrive and survive in school by being held accountable for their own actions towards their
grades. Their attitude should be a bad grade is not "the teacher's fault," but "my fault." When we as par-
ents provide an example of personal responsibility our teens are likely to follow
Added Bonus: Put up a weekly chart so your teen can see how their study time is affecting their
grades. They will find that the more quality time they put into their studies the better their grades will be
and the better they will feel about themselves.