We recently sat down with Tyler (middle school), John M (high school) and Jeremy (college) and asked them four questions about their ministries and what the future looks like. Check out their responses below!

What is one thing happening in your ministry you're excited about right now?

Tyler: In The Middle right now, we are excited about the leaders, they are doing an amazing job. We are growing because of the leaders that are investing in our students. For example, one of our volunteers is a junior in high school who consistently comes to serve and goes a step further by intentionally supporting students. She goes to their games and invests in their lives.

John: In Catalyst Student Ministries, we are most excited about our student leadership team. They are mostly peer-led. The students take ownership of events and volunteering. This gives validity to student voices within the ministry. One student leader started out as a semi-regular attender. Once we gave her the opportunity to step up, she jumped in with both feet and has taken the team and is leading her peers. It is great to see students flourish!

Jeremy: We are excited about the CYa class at 11:00am on Sunday mornings in Room 222. We have started a 2-year cycle of curriculum to help college and young adult students better understand the Bible and how to read it.

What is one thing you wish the congregation knew more about when it comes to your ministry?

Jeremy:  We wish the congregation and church community knew that there are people at Sherwood Oaks investing in and mentoring college students and young professionals. Through the Life Coach network, we have seen strong mentoring relationships form.

John: We wish the congregation/general church knew that the high school students are not just the church of the future. They are much more. They are the kingdom workers of now and are serving in several areas around the church.

Tyler: I wish the congregation/general church knew how much the youth is being the church right now, not in the future. High school students are serving our jr. high students, which is making the jr. high students excited and want to serve in other areas.

What would Sherwood Oaks look like without your ministry?

John: Without Catalyst Student Ministries, the church would suffer from a lack of young, influential leaders.

Tyler: Without The Middle, the impact on 6-8^th grade students would be less.

Jeremy: Through the CYa ministry, college students and young adults have had the opportunity to volunteer, serve in the church, go on mission trips, get involved in small groups, and connect with families in the congregation through the Adopt-A-Student ministry. Without CYa, there would be less involvement from college students and young adults in the church.

How can people get more involved in student ministries?

Tyler: If someone is interested in helping with our ministry, they can contact Tyler Cadwell at . We are always looking for core group leaders and The Middle small group leaders for Sunday mornings.

John: If someone is interested in helping with our ministry, they can contact John Muffler ( ) or Sarah Bynum ( ). Either would love to get coffee and talk about volunteering!

Jeremy: If someone is interested in helping with our ministry, they can contact Jeremy Earle ( ). He would love to grab coffee and talk about their potential involvement!

Click here to view this weeks Student Ministry Weekly E+Letter!

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We have four new lock screens for you that reflect what we're talking about in Catalyst High School Ministry and the middle Jr. High Ministry! 

Summer is quickly approaching and Catalyst has a full lineup of trips and events for you to be a part of! Read below for more information!

The 6 The 6 will meet on the following Sunday evenings this summer: June 4, July 9, and July 23. On June 4 we'll meet at The Pourhouse Cafe located on Kirkwood Avenue from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Meet in the Fellowship Hall from 6:00pm-8:00pm on the other two dates. The 6 incorporates food, games, worship, teaching and more into two hours dedicated to high school students and this season of their lives. 

Exchange Discussion based biblical truths are shared with peers and youth coaches in a casual atmosphere. Exchange meets at 11:00am in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings.

Promotion Sunday Students will promote to the next grade level on Sunday, June 4.

Graduation Recognition Weekend Students graduating from high school will be recognized at all services on Saturday, June 3 at the Bedford location and Sunday, June 4 at Bloomington East and West. Graduates and parents can register here to be a part of this special event.

Volunteer at VBX Elementary aged kids come to VBX at Sherwood Oaks each morning on June 5-9 and they love hanging out with high school students! Go to www.socc.org/vbx to sign up! This is a great way for our high schoolers to serve others!

BigStuf Summer Conference Florida, here we come! BigStuf Ministry holds an amazing summer conference in Panama City Beach just for high school students! Dates are June 22-26 and cost, now through May 28, is $375. Click here for more information and to register online. 

Kings Island We'll head to Kings Island on Monday, July 17. Meet at Sherwood Oaks at 6:00am that morning. We'll return the next day around noon. Cost is $99 and parents can register online here.

High School Lock-in Join us all night long for our summer lockin! Meet at the church at 9:00pm on Friday, July 28. We'll wrap things up at 7:30am Saturday morning.

Tuesday Lunches We get together each Tuesday for lunch during the summer. Join us on the following Tuesdays from noon to 1:00pm:

• June 6 at Chick-fil-a (East 3rd)
• June 13 at Five Guys
• June 20 at McAlister’s
• July 4 at Chipotle (College Mall)
• July 11 at Noodles and Company (E. 3^rd)
• July 25 at Taco Bell (South Walnut)
• August 1 at the College Mall Food Court

SOCC Student Ministry eNews

 
the middle - for students in 6-8 grades

• Fuse will meet in the Fellowship Hall at 9:30am this Sunday! Join us as Tyler continues our discussion on the book of Acts.
• Just a few spots left! We'll head to Anderson, IN for CIY Believe on Friday, April 7-Saturday, April 8. Click this link to register: https://www.socc.org/event/892170-2017-04-07-the-middle-ciy-believe/.

 
Catalyst - for students in 9-12 grades

• Exchange will meet this Sunday in the Fellowship Hall. Join us at 11:00am! 
• The Six meets this Sunday night! See you in the Fellowship Hall at 6:00pm.
• Making summer plans? We'll head to BigStuf Summer Camp in Florida on June 22-26. Cost is $375. Register online at www.socc.org/catalyst. 

Five ways to make a difference at school

How to be a light for Jesus in the classroom. -KELLY CARLSON 

No matter whether your school year is just beginning - or you're right in the middle of it - it's always a great time to use your life, words and actions to show the love of Jesus to those around you. Here are five ways you can make your school years count:

1. Learn people’s names

Our names are the word we long to hear most. It indicates intimacy, friendship, and being known. Learn people’s names and use them as often as possible. Seek out hidden people like maintenance workers. Welcome outcasts, new students, and quiet peers with personal greetings. Use their name in the hallways no less than you would your closest friends.

2. Thank your teachers and pray for them

Occasionally ask your teachers how their lives are going, and keep track of when they share aspects of their struggles with you. Keep a list of their requests and choose a moment to pray for them.  Follow up in the future to ask about the topic or situation happening in their life. Let’s not forget teachers are real people. They go through struggles, sickness and hurt just like we do, and prayer is powerful!

3. Defend against cruelty with encouragement

Fighting cruelty with cruelty is never a good idea. God just won’t have it. Seek out those who are bullied and intentionally build them up. Tell them who they are becoming and speak truth so loudly, insecurities are drowned in Christ’s love. Pray for bullies and invite the hurting to join you at lunch or in social activities.

4. Invest fully in what matters

How do basketball or art club matter? Alone, they don’t. But your participation, treatment of teammates or use of your gifts - these matter a lot! Jim Elliot, a famous missionary murdered by those he went to reach, writes “Wherever you are, be all there.” Don’t spread yourself so thin you cannot be fully present.

5. Be concerned for people, not popularity

Athletic team try-outs, grades, and goals can leave us clothed with competition instead of compassion. Dances, dates, and smiles in the hall can leave us wooed by wordly acclaims rather than making our Saviour known in this world. Be a light in your school. Enjoy the dances, work hard, and reach goals. Just make sure you’re looking vertically and not horizontal.