A few weeks ago we had a 6th Grade scavenger hunt and some of the 6th Grade girls won!  Tonight we took them out for Ice Cream and a Limo Ride.  They had a blast!!!

On January 22nd we will kick-off a new “Student Life” program called Amplify!  Amplify will meet during normal “Student Life” times from 9:15 – 10:20.  Middle school and High school students both will meet in the Youth Room.  Amplify is a kick off to each new series in “Student Life” We hope that you’ll come be apart of what God is wanting to teach us!

You guys need to know how much I’m going to miss you. This isn’t just a “Well that was a job and now I’m moving on, no big deal” moment for me. This is a VERY BIG DEAL. There are no amount of words that will ever describe just how precious you are to me. You’ve filled my life with such joy and love. I loved when you guys picked on me and joked around with me. I looked forward to every moment we had a program so I could spend time with you. I loved learning things from you. I loved playing games with you. Not a single moment of the last 2 1/2 years has escaped my mind.

To the parents, thank you for toiling with me as we showed your kids Christ. I hope I did right by you. I hope your students felt they had a safe place to come when they stepped inside our doors. I pray for all of your kids daily, that they will continue to grow and learn and live lives that God is proud of. Thank you so much for trusting and investing in our ministry, we couldn’t do this without you.

To the leaders, you all are some of the hardest working people I know. Most of you come from full time jobs to small groups or Student Life, and we don’t hear you complain or fuss about how hard it is for you. You love those kids so much, you did before I was here, and you will after I leave. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I leave knowing that you will support Jon and Matt, and that is so comforting.

For all of you, please keep in touch! If you come down to do Christmas shopping at Concord Mills, let me know! If you need to be picked up from Charlotte airport, let me know! If you do an Ikea run, let me know! I’ll be excited to see every one of you. If you’re interested in what I’m doing, friend me on Facebook. You can also look at the church’s web site, which is www.kineticchurch.com. Maybe there will even be a picture of me on there soon! Most of all, I really appreciate your prayers and support as I begin this new adventure. I love you guys, always and forever.

Katie

Do you ever wish you could just grow up? Maybe you yearn for the day you will get your driver’s license. Or graduate from high school. Or go away to college. You don’t really want to be a kid anymore. You want to be seen as an adult. You want to feel like you’ve moved on, grown up. We all know how that happens physically, but what about spiritually? How do we know we’re growing in our faith? How do we know that we’re moving forward in that area of our lives? The good news is that God is just as passionate about growing our faith as we are. And there are five ways He will use to do that-some involving things that we probably already know, and other ways that we may have never thought about before.

August 28: Big Faith
Bottom Line: The foundation of how much you grow in your relationship with God is based on your trust in Him.

Sept 4: Big Life
Bottom Line: When it comes to growing our faith, doing, not knowing, is what makes the difference.

Sept 11: Big Team
Bottom Line: God uses relationships to impact and grow our faith.

Sept 18: Big Give
Bottom Line: Spiritual disciplines grow our faith and show us both God’s heart and ours.

Sept 25: Big Serve
Bottom Line: There is a direct connection between your faith and your serve.

Oct 2: Big Moments
Bottom Line: When going through a pivotal circumstance, God is doing something in you so that He can do something through you.

We left Kings Island and drove to Grayson, KY, where we are now. Mushed into four rooms, we’re all laying low and trying to rest. I don’t know about the rest of the group, but as I sit here, I can’t help but have memories of Cincinnati wash over me. Not only memories of this year, but our last missions trip to Cinci, too. The entire week, the phrase “last year” became a running joke. The veterans prodded the new kids, asking them if they remembered things, people, and events from “last year.” “That’s what we did last year,” “When we were here last year,” “We did this last year…”

Well, the truth is, this year is most likely my last year doing summer missions trips with Pinedale. At some point in the next few months, I will be spreading my proverbial wings and changing careers. So every time the kids mentioned “last year,” I was reminded of the short time I have left with them. I noticed things on this missions trip that I’ve never noticed before, no matter how long I’ve known or interacted with these students. Parents, let me assure you that your teens are some of the most compassionate, hardworking, generous, insightful, and encouraging people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and leading.

Caleb Smith can meet any person where they are, and he always walks away with a new friend.
Kaitlin Sizemore never has to be asked again to accomplish a task; she listens and jumps in.
Annalee Glatus is a quiet force that calms everyone.
Emily Nifong is an incredible advocate for the unloved.
Justin Baker is intense and focused, and I never once heard him complain this week.
Nate Rumley is secretly one of the funniest guys ever. You can tell from how the other boys talk about him that he is also a great friend.
Josh Pollard is a straight-up trooper. He overcomes personal, emotional, and physical obstacles with perserverance, and he dedicates his entire heart to whatever he’s doing.
Olivia Romesburg is giving and loving. She is also available for genuine hugs anytime you need them.
Nathan Glatus is cooperative and straightforward.
Brittany Haste is joyful and just the right amount of silly.
Hannah Spoloric invites hard work and is incredibly persistent.
Shanna Stewart is trustworthy, and she doesn’t throw a fit when she doesn’t get her way.
Tyler Keeton is respectful, intentional, and anticipates needs without having to be asked.
Amy March is kind and open-hearted.

I am teetering on the emotional brink tonight, knowing that “this year” will become “last year” in 24 hours. So when the kids ask me if I remember “last year,” the answer is YES, I will.

Submitted by Katie Rath