refuge students

2009-08-03T11:33:00.001-04:00

2009-08-03T11:33:00.000-04:00

2009-07-12T21:53:00.002-04:00

SPLASH INFO

2009-07-10T14:17:00.008-04:00

SPLASH Bartow Adult Leadership Area of Service

*click picture to enlarge

SPLASH Bartow Need-To-Know Info

What to Bring:

· Bible

· Sleeping Bag/Air Mattress & Pillow

· Water bottles

· Towels & flip-flops for shower

· Sunscreen

· Work gloves

· Closed-toe shoes

· Appropriate clothing** (see below)

· Boys, we recommend swimming trunks for showers, just in case

· Long pants for construction

· Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, soap, etc.)

· A willingness to work, a desire to see God glorified, and a readiness to be used by Him to impact the lives of those around you

What NOT to bring:

· Alcohol, tobacco, drugs, weapons, fireworks, etc.

· Any inappropriate clothing (i.e. tank tops, short shorts, bikinis, etc.) **

· The focus is on God, not on you.

· iPods, mp3 players, radios, video games

· a negative attitude

· a mind or heart closed against God’s changing power and His desire to use you to impact the world in an awesome way this summer

A Word About the Dress Code:

SPLASH is about Showing People Love and Sharing Him, not about showing people your body in inappropriate ways. Shorts must come down past the fingertips when you hold your arms down by your sides. Absolutely NO short ‘soffee’ shorts at any time, or shorts with writing across the backside. No tank tops, no bikinis, no clothing with curse words or inappropriate images, no showing midriff or underwear. Thank you!

Tonight-Night of Worship

2009-07-10T13:00:00.000-04:00

First Baptist Woodstock

Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Tonight's Bullpen

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Refuge Tonight@6:30

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TONIGHT

2009-06-17T16:29:00.005-04:00

There Will Be No Refuge Tonight

SPLASH Bartow

2009-06-15T16:15:00.002-04:00

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY SUNDAY JUNE 21st!!!

SUNDAY

2009-06-12T15:07:00.001-04:00

Just a reminder! I need all MFUGE students at church @9:15 for a walk through of the service. We will practice our cardboard gig and make sure everyone knows their role.

Please spread the word! I am pumped about Sunday and think its going to be a great day in the life of Grace...

Be praying for all those involved in the service. Love you guys!

Muchas Cosas

2009-06-09T09:37:00.002-04:00

ok so camp was great and i hope to get some details posted soon. but right now i am in prep for sunday morning. the MATT TILLMAN BAND will be joining us sunday morning for worship and the plan is to call grace to a higher standard!

pray God continues to speak to me this week as i put this service together and that in all things we will strive for excellence for HIS GLORY!

Camp Info

2009-05-30T19:32:00.002-04:00

Refuge News

MFuge Camp Information

Contact Information

Craig: (404) 915-2559

Donna: (770) 548-3915

Kendra: (770) 363-6792

Grace Office: (770) 382-6446

MFuge On-Site Cell: (615) 483-7135

In case of an emergency please hang up and dial 911

Departure Time:

Monday June 1^st - Pulling Out @8:30AM from church

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before that to load luggage and get all your final hugs, kisses, & tears taken care of.

Travel Time:

3 hours 27 minutes

Arrival:

You will receive a phone tree call once we have arrived.

Return Time:

Saturday June 6^th - Leaving Greenville @10:30AM

Stopping for sit-down lunch on the way home.

Special Note – I need the students to give me $15 as they get on the bus. I will return this money on Saturday for them to purchase lunch.

Student Cell Phone Policy:

The kids can take their cell phones but are EXPECTED to use them appropriately. Failure to do so will result in me taking up their phone until the end of camp.

I have struggled with this decision and I just ask that you stress with your student the importance of not taking advantage of this privilege. Otherwise, I will adopt a permanent no cell phone rule!

Spending Money:

You can send EXTRA spending money if you so desire.

Meals and necessities are already covered.

Snacks:

You are welcome to send snacks with them.

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION PACKET!!! PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!!

New Website

2009-05-23T12:37:00.002-04:00

Getting Closer!

studentsofrefuge.com

Shouldn't be too much longer before the Refuge site is up and running! Well just as soon as I can get this HTML code figured out.

New Series

2009-05-20T14:28:00.002-04:00

REFUGE TONIGHT @6:30

New Series Begins

The Truth of Crucifixion Exposed

CAMP

2009-05-19T10:43:00.003-04:00

Ok I just got a call from Lifeway and full payment is due!!!! Like due, due!!! So with that all of you who signed up for camp if you do not submit your payment in full TOMORROW night then unfortunately you will not be going to camp. I have been handing out the due date every week for well over a month so there should be no excuses for not know when the payment was due.

PAYMENT DUE

2009-05-19T10:19:00.002-04:00

GUYS! I need money! Your camp payment was due on Sunday and half of you have not turned in your money! I have to submit the final payment like now so I need your money no later than Wednesday! If there is a problem please let me know asap!

Refuge@6:30PM

2009-05-06T15:32:00.004-04:00

Tonight - New Series

I'm A Coward, So I Hope You Burn in Hell!

Strong language and an offensive title I know, but the reality of Hell is often overlooked because of the unbelievable horror and torment that exists there. Satan has convinced us that Hell is mere myth and symbolic of future events. However, this is contrary to the teaching of the Bible and tonight we will begin a new series that will unpack the truth about Hell and the eternal destination of you and your friends apart from Jesus Christ.

Virgin Lips Movement

2009-05-05T17:11:00.002-04:00

A step beyond True Love Waits

The following was taken from www.albertmohler.com.....

This will come as no news to most younger evangelicals, but The Tennessean [Nashville] has just taken notice of the fact that a sizable number of younger evangelical couples are saving their first kiss for their wedding ceremony.

As the paper reports, "In a culture where casual sex is the norm, some Tennesseans have taken the purity pledge to a whole new level, through a practice that some teens refer to as the 'Virgin Lips Movement.'"

Reporter Claudia Pinto began her article with the fact that Katy Kruger, who was married on December 13 of last year, experienced her first kiss at the moment her new husband kissed his bride. "The 22-year-old woman, who was married at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ in Brentwood, admits to being nervous and a bit self-conscious about having her first kiss in front of 200 people," Pinto reported. "I wasn't sure what to do," said the bride, "I thought I would mess up."

The Virgin Lips Movement will sound absolutely nuts to a culture that has openly embraced the sexual revolution. Sexual virginity is controversial enough, with authors like Jessica Valenti arguing that the expectation of virginity until marriage is unfair to girls and young women. In The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women, Valenti presses her case, suggesting that when young women aim for virginity and fail, they suffer a loss of self-esteem. Valenti's argument is all the evidence any sane person should need to see that the world has gone crazy when it comes to sex.

Over the past thirty years Western civilization has undergone a near total transformation in sexual morality. Sex education programs assume that teenagers (and increasingly pre-teens as well) simply will be involved in sexual activity. Sexual purity, abstinence, and sexual denial are written off as unrealistic, unfair, and repressive.

Even so, the Virgin Lips Movement will come as a shock to some older evangelicals. For older Christians, the expectation was, as the Bible makes clear, for sex to wait until marriage. As for kissing, that was considered to be another matter altogether. To some of these older Christians, the Virgin Lips Movement sounds like overkill and over-reaction.

Listen to Katy Kruger, as reported in The Tennessean: "It was so important to me because I felt a kiss was something very intimate, and something I wanted to give only to one man, to my husband," said Kruger. "He thought it was so special, and he was so proud to be able to be the only man I will ever kiss."

While sexual abstinence until monogamous marriage is the biblical standard, these young Christians see virginity as requiring more than reserving sexual intercourse for marriage. They see kissing as an act of physical intimacy -- a gateway drug to greater physical intimacy and involvement.

As any minister who works with youth and young adults knows, the "how far is too far question" is a constant. The Virgin Lips Movement represents a determination to stop that train before it leaves the station, so to speak.

Consider this: In the space of little more than a single generation, we have seen the breaking down of virtually every social and cultural support for sexual abstinence. Arousal and intimacy come with the romantic longing that marks the deepening relationship between a man and a woman. Young couples no longer court on the porch swing with the girl's parents sitting inside and very close at hand. Now, most young couples face the temptation of romantic contexts in which intimacy--and this means sexual intimacy--is a likely outcome.

The Virgin Lips Movement represents a serious effort to push back against this expectation and to create boundaries that will protect virtue and honor marriage.

Alec Cort, Minister to Students at Tulip Grove Baptist Church in Nashville, told the paper that a significant percentage of the young couples in his ministry have taken the "no kiss until marriage" pledge. "I have always encouraged those people," he said. "It sets the ultimate bar." Well, perhaps not an ultimate bar, but a recognizably significant bar.

There is no explicit biblical ban on premarital kissing, but any honest person knows that there are kisses that can only be considered sexual, naturally leading to the sex act itself. These young Christians are not afraid of their bodies, they are afraid of sinning against God and losing something precious to themselves as well.

In a world that has made monogamy an embarrassment, these young Christians want to offer their future spouse the gift of monogamous lips. In an age of instant sexual gratification, these young believers believe that true lips wait. This is what a counter-revolution looks like.

I'm A Coward, So I Hope You Burn

2009-05-04T10:42:00.000-04:00

This is the new series we will be starting Wednesday night. It should last at least two weeks maybe longer. Be prepared for a slap in the face, punch in the nose, and a gut wrenching reality check about the eternal fate of the human soul, possibly even yours!

This Summer

2009-05-04T10:41:00.000-04:00

Starting Wednesday night Refuge will be meeting in large group in the Attic through the whole summer. Several topics will be covered including this one on the reality of Hell along with a series on the crucifixion following that.

I'm excited about all the things God has in store for Refuge this summer! I hope to have a summer schedule ready for you guys within in a couple weeks, at the latest before school gets out.

Remember, you are a missionary!

True Love Waits

2009-05-04T10:38:00.002-04:00

I want to thank you guys for a great study! I hope you were blessed by the service last night. If it wasn't what you had expected or hoped for I apologize. My prayer is and was that you guys would come face to face with the love of God and His divine plan for your life of purity! I'm proud of this commitment and pray God will guard you on your journey and that your light will shine for Jesus!

I deeply love each of you and thank God for the privilege of serving as your student pastor!

Reminder

2009-04-30T15:00:00.001-04:00

MFuge - Deadline

2009-04-29T15:00:00.001-04:00

TONIGHT IS THE DEADLINE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMITMENT TO MFUGE JUNE 1-6

Dr. Terry Williams

2009-04-29T14:59:00.000-04:00

will be speaking tonight on sexual purity

Renew@9:30AM

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Refuge@6:30PM

2009-04-22T15:37:00.004-04:00

News Just for YOU – 4/22/09

2009-04-22T11:37:00.003-04:00

News Just for YOU – 4/22/09

MFuge

When: June 1-6

Where: Greenville, SC

Total Cost: $266

Available Slots: 30 Students

Commitment Deadline: April 29^th

Total Payment Due: May 17^th

Twitter:

Don’t forget we are using twitter.com as our primary means of communication.

Also, check out twitpic.com/photos/refugestudents

Pictures:

If you have any relevant Refuge pictures email them to refugestudents.1829@twitpic.com

and they will be posted online.

True Love Waits:

April 29^th – Dr. Terry Williams is an OB/GYN in Chattanooga and will be coming to speak to both students and parents.

Commitment Ceremony May 3 @6:00PM

Links to rings can be found on the blog.

tomorrow@6:30

2009-04-21T17:45:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday

2009-04-21T17:44:00.001-04:00

Josh Cline

pray for all those who will be meeting him on the highway!

Summer Camp

2009-04-21T12:09:00.002-04:00

MFuge Details

When: June 1-6

Where: Greenville, SC

Total Cost: $266

Available Slots: 30 Students

Commitment Deadline: April 29^th

Total Payment Due: May 17^th

If possible please try and give me a commitment on 4/22/09 (tomorrow night).

You have until the 29th to verbally commit. Those who worked the Spaghetti Dinner (20 students) you can take an even $70 off your total.

Sermon Title

2009-04-20T19:37:00.005-04:00

Below are four sermon titles that I would like for you guys to help me pick. Comment or Twitter your favorite title and the one with the most votes will win. This is the opening message I will be preaching Friday night in South Georgia and the the following week here at Grace.

The main point of the sermon is obviously the reality of Hell and the inevitability that lost people are headed that way.

It isn't going to be a fun and happy message so the sermon title is important for me to shock some folks right off.

Option 1: "When You See His Face will He Give You Hell, will He Give You Hell"

Option 2: "They're on the Highway to Hell"

Option 3: "A Letter from Hell"

Option 4: "I'm Too Busy so I Hope You Burn"

suggestions

2009-04-17T09:25:00.004-04:00

what do you guys think? it has a long way to go and its more difficult than i first thought, but for the sake of money this blog is going to have to be our central website at least until the fall.

so with that if you have any suggestions that you think might add to it or some changes that should be made don't worry about hurting my feelings. the truth is i only cry when nobody is looking so to your face i will be ok.

thanks guys

don't forget

2009-04-15T14:24:00.000-04:00

True Love Waits Rings

2009-04-13T10:43:00.000-04:00

Below are links to different websites that offer various types of purity rings. There are some cheap and some not so cheap. The options are plenty and I would suggest you order yours now to ensure its there on May 3rd for the Commitment Ceremony.

Don't forget the open door in Cartersville has some for like $10.

Guys: Your options are much more limited but there are some out there. I think you can find something in your price range if you search hard enough.

LINKS TO TLW RINGS

James Avery

-(guys here is the ring i wore that i showed you Hebrew Text)

C28 (i buy a lot of clothes and stuff from these guys)

Lifeway

Girls Ring

Here is a cheaper option for guys - c28 mens

graphics

2009-04-10T14:47:00.000-04:00

for refuge graphics click here

SIx Flags

2009-04-10T09:25:00.000-04:00

well i hope all of you enjoyed your day yesterday... it was fun getting a chance to just chill in line for several hours with you guys. anyway i thought some of you might get a kick out of this picture joanna and i snapped while in transit to meet up with the middle school students.

FYI

2009-04-09T08:27:00.000-04:00

SIX FLAGS ETA an hour and half

Refuge

2009-04-08T14:03:00.000-04:00

TONIGHT@6:30PM

Tomorrow Night

2009-04-07T14:25:00.000-04:00

Hey Guys!

I hope you are all enjoying your spring break, well winter break seems more appropriate. Anyway, I wanted to let you know what will be doing tomorrow night. Since it is spring break we will be hanging out most of the night enjoying a night off. But before we leave I want to sit down and just have a casual conversation with all who are there about some of the upcoming activities I am working on for the rest of the year. Should only take about 15 or 20 minutes.

Some of the questions will be....

How does a rafting trip sound?

What about a weekend retreat led by college students at a resort with paintball, ropes courses, basketball, volleyball, pedal boats, climbing wall, and tons more?

What about an official launch date in the fall for Refuge on a Saturday night with live music and worship for students in Bartow County to see what we are about?

How about a Saturday devoted totally to Middle School students?

I also plan to share with you our plans for the summer. I'm considering doing a 4 weeks series in June were we have an in-depth study of the Crucifixion of Jesus. What really happened on the cross not just spiritual but physically! THOSE WITH A WEAK STOMACH BEWARE!

In July will be "The Bullpen" and I have already lined up several guest speakers that will rock your world!

So anyway tomorrow night I want you to come prepared to bring your ideas and suggestions to the table. ANYTHING AT ALL!!!!

What needs to happen for Refuge to be something you can be proud of?

What will it take for you take OWNERSHIP of this ministry?

IMPORTANT TAKE NOTE

2009-04-07T10:42:00.000-04:00

Everyone going to six flags thursday must get a waiver signed before you can load the bus on Thursday! You can pick them up anytime before thursday or your parents can sign them that morning! NO WAIVER NO SIX FLAGS! Sorry that your just getting this I was too jazzed up about going to think about it.

I also have room for TWO more students if you have had last minute changes in plans and are now able to go!

REFUGE

2009-04-05T17:08:00.000-04:00

REFUGETONIGHT@6:00

meeting in lee daniel's classroom b/c mr. bill the thrill is using the attic

Two Things

2009-04-02T10:06:00.000-04:00

Sunday: I will not be at the morning service b/c Joanna and I are on our way to New Orleans right now. However, WE WILL MEET SUNDAY NIGHT! I hope to see you there.

Pray: Please pray for my brother Ben Whittinghill. Ben is a friend from seminary and member of First Woodstock. He is a dear brother who passionately loves the Lord and will be speaking at Refuge in July. But in a couple hours he will be flying to Germany where he and his dad will be speaking to a group of missionaries. Ben will be addressing the topic of, The Persecuted Church. Pray God uses Ben in a supernatural way to minister to these sweet solders of God.

Remember: You are a missionary!

Don't Forget...

2009-04-01T22:20:00.001-04:00

to sign up on twitter so you can be in the know. find us by searching for refugestudents. i hope you guys had a great night tonight at Refuge because i did.

Note to Student: i just want you guys to know that i love you all and i am so encouraged when i see such a great turn out like we had tonight. it is a tremendous joy to serve as your student pastor.

Note to Adult Leaders: you guys are awesome!!! without you we would not have made the progress that we have and for that i applaud you. remember that whatever i can do to supplement your leadership or whatever the need may be i would be happy to do so. i love you guys and thanks again for all the hard work and effort that you are investing into our students.

Remember: We shall not rest until every student in Bartow County has heard the Gospel! Everyone of them!!!

True Love Waits

2009-04-01T16:56:00.000-04:00

Tonight is our third session in our True Love Waits series. I pray that you have enjoyed TLW thus far but more importantly I hope you have seen that God has a special and loving reason for wanting you to remain sexual pure.

Often times we think God’s call to sexual purity is a cruel and difficult task that only adds stress to our life, but this is certainly not the case. Like the Corinthians of the first century many today focus on the reality that sex is a pleasurable and amazing thing. They think that because we are created as sexual beings and living under grace we should have the freedom to experience sex as often as we want and with as many partners as we want (1 Corinthians 6). But again this isn’t true. You see, throughout the Scripture God has laid boundaries that regulate sexual behavior. These boundaries are not there as a burden, but are there to bless us and save us from the guilt and hurt that comes from sexual immorality. Understand that just as there is sexual immorality there is also sexual morality. Sex is a great thing! But it must be done inside the parameters God has set in Scripture; otherwise we will suffer the grave consequences of our sin.

I encourage you right now to ask yourself this question: Does God love me? I imagine you answered yes to that question. If you did you must realize that as the Heavenly Father He wants nothing but the very best for you, His child. A proper Biblical perspective of God allows one to view the call to sexual purity much different than a post-modern would view God. A right understanding of the reality of God’s love empowers us to obey His command to remain pure because we trust in His plan for our life! If you believe that God is sitting in Heaven thinking up rules to make life difficult and stressful then you do not believe God is love and therefore have made God out to be a liar. Scary thought!

So with that I challenge you to remember that although sexual temptation is hard God’s love for you is greater. He calls you to purity because of that love and the blessings that are to come.

2009-03-31T19:28:00.000-04:00

wednesdays@6:30 in the Attic

welcome

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to the blogspot of Refuge Student Ministry. I hope that this blog will serve as a wealth of information that will help you get to know us better and help you grow deeper in love with Christ.

updates coming soon

we are

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Refuge Student Ministry a ministry based out of Grace Baptist Church in Cartersville, Ga. We are here to offer students a place of refuge and grace. It is our prayer that Bartow County will forever be changed because of the work God is doing through this ministry.

Ministry Times:

Student Life: Sunday@9:30AM

Bible Study: Sundays@6:00PM

Refuge: Wednesdays@6:30PM

Come join us for a time of fellowship, worship, and relevant teaching and be a part of the next big thing in Bartow County!