bTeams: Student Ministry Volunteers
Here is a brief overview of The Bridge Student ministry:
We do not want to simply create another program or worship service that caters to the consumer mindset of adolescents! Instead, we want to partner with families, enter into the world of adolescents, and invite them to live in Gospel community. At The Bridge, we desperately desire for students to increasingly embrace the Gospel, fully integrate into the church body, and living on mission with Jesus! Since our student ministry is committed to this, and not simply creating a student program/environment, our student CORE groups (small groups) are primary to what we do….and the bulk of our student ministry volunteers are committed to leading a small group of students!
Because our CORE Groups and adult CORE Group leaders are such a large part of how we do student ministry at The Bridge…I thought I would share a little bit about the role of an adult CORE Group Leader…
ADULT CORE GROUP VOLUNTEER OBJECTIVE
To be people who are passionate about entering into the world of adolescents and inviting them to embrace the Gospel, integrate into the church body, and live on mission with Jesus!
ADULT CORE GROUP VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES
Below you will find the key responsibilities that will help you succeed as a Student Small Group Leader at The Bridge:
Partner : God calls parents to be the primary spiritual leaders in the lives of their kids. God also calls the church to partner with parents and equip them in raising up their kids in a godly way. A student small group leader at The Bridge takes this partnership seriously and is committed to being active and involved in the lives of Bridge students and families. A student small group leader is not committed to a program, but to gospel relationships with people. A small group leader who is partnering with what God is doing in the lives of students and families at The Bridge will be present and prepared.
Embrace : A small group leader must be someone who has placed their faith in Jesus! As we put our faith in Jesus and are wrecked by the gospel, we respond by living theologically, relationally, and missionally. A small group leader will lead out of the overflow of a life that is increasingly embracing the gospel! When someone commits to be a gospel partner by leading the precious students that God entrusts to The Bridge, they are committing to growing and developing in their own relationship with God. We can lead others where we are not willing to go ourselves!
Relate : You don’t need to try to be cool, just be yourself (that is the you that is increasingly embracing the gospel). A small group leaders who intentionally relates will:
- KNOW YOUR STUDENTS: Name, Story, Family, Friends, Problems, Struggles, Culture, School, Phone number, Email address, Websites, Likes/Dislikes, Talents/Hobbies, Sports/Activities, Interests, Passions, Learning Style, Schedule, Personality, Favorites
- PRAY FOR YOUR STUDENTS: For their families. With your students. Listen to God.
- LOVE YOUR STUDENTS: Trust, Serve, Listen, Speak the truth, Laugh, Encourage, Give, Celebrate, Care, Cry, Practice Patience.
- SHARE YOUR STORY: Lead the way (authenticity, vulnerability, confession)
- SPEND TIME ON THEIR TURF: When you spend time where students spend time, relationships grow exponentially! A small group leader will spend time with their students outside of CORE.
Pastor : As a Small Group leader, I am a pastor (Ephesians 4:11-13) – Christ’s gift to the church to equip his students for works of service so that the Body of Christ may be built up. As my students’ pastor, I will…
- Pray for their salvation and for them to increasingly embrace the Gospel.
- Inspire them to discover who God made them to be and who He has called them to be in the world.
- Care for them along the way.
- Help them see what it means to live on mission with Jesus.
- Be a guide in their faith-journey (someone who walks along-side) and look for landmarks (because I know that building influential relationships takes time).
- Look for ways to help fully integrate into the church body (connecting them to a house group and opportunities to serve).
As a parent who has put my faith in Jesus and wants my kids to do the same, I would be crazy to not want someone to come alongside me in discipling and investing into their lives in this way (especially as they move into their teenage years)! But hey…maybe that’s just me!
Here is an extra nugget for you:
This past Monday, our students went through experiential prayer stations…here is their art from the Paint Station (where they painted in response to God saving, redeeming, and rescuing them):
Guatemala Mission Trip (by Roderick Carrasco- team leader)
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There will be 10 of us from The Bridge Church heading to the San Marcos regions of Guatemala in June of this year. What a great opportunity, once again, to partner with When Will We Cry? Inc. and head to Guatemala. This is our 6th year to send teams and partner with Pastor Ely.
When Will We Cry? Inc. partners with Eleazar Siebenhor (Pastor Ely) and his wife Rosa to spread the gospel in the San Marcos Department of Guatemala. Located along the border with Mexico, San Marcos is one of Guatemala’s poorest regions and ranges from the Pacific Ocean in the south to the mountains in the north. Born and raised in this area, Pastor Eleazar clearly has a heart for these people and has helped start over 40 churches throughout this region.
When Will We Cry? Inc. is the only American mission organization working in San Marcos. We help supply many much-needed resources to this area, where 74% of the people live in extreme poverty. We provide for both physical and spiritual needs for these people, most of whom do not have adequate nutrition, clean drinking water, access to healthcare, or sufficient education.
Last year God did some amazing things while we were there:
This was some of the team members preparing for VBS classes in Guatemala City at Pastor Ely’s home.
This is Pastor Ely’s church there in Guatemala City.
The whole team enjoying one of many fabulous meals prepared by Maressa Pastor Ely’s daughter.
I was interpreting while John Howard delivered a powerful message on Easter Sunday at Pastor Ely’s church.
This is a picture of the food we purchased to distribute to some of the families in the villages.
This is some of the kids who came to our VBS class in Armenia Tejutla. Some traveled for several miles on foot to come hear the gospel.
This is the food bagged and ready to be delivered the next day to families in Armenia Tejutla.
John Howard and Lewis Thomas, founder of When Will We Cry? Ministry, passing out food to families in Armenia Tejutla. Again, these people traveled on foot for miles to come and be blessed. What they didn’t know was we were the ones being blessed!!!
While we were waiting for what we thought was an inconvenience due to a flat tire. God gave me the opportunity to minister to this gentleman Mr. Baptista. Talk about a divine appointment!!!
This is a picture of a church that the Bridge was able to help build a couple of years ago in Choanla. God is doing great things in this village with pastor Juan Marroquin.
Our experience at Choanla & Armenia will be one not soon forgotten. Children, who had never seen Americans, a bit apprehensive at first soon warmed our hearts with their smiles and humble appreciation. I pray that this story in some way has touched your life. We are a blessed people called to go and share the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. To Him be all glory!
As you can see there is still so much work to be done in these villages of San Marcos Region in Guatemala. Continue to pray for Pastor Ely, Rosa and their family that God would continue to give them the strength to do the work He has called them to do!!
Please keep us in your prayers as we journey to Guatemala in June. Pray for more divine appointments from God and that we’ll be able to do what He’s called us to do!!
God Bless!
Hermano Rodrigo
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