Welcome toThe Gathering

Purpose:

Our desire is for shared dialogue between ministers and parents as we explore together matters related to the larger Christian CULTURE, our particular CONTEXT within this framework, and our intentional, specific

COMMITMENTS toward a healthy and fruitfulStudent Ministry here at West Houston.

Why Gather?

West Houston Vision:

*Disciple – Follower, student, apprentice, committed learner

In the future, the family at West Houston will be known as disciples

who make disciplesin West Houston and around the

world.

Explore

Experiment

Evaluate

Embrace

Evolve

1. Explore ideas and possibilities

2. Experiment with methods and models

3. Evaluate alternatives

4. Embrace the best option

5. Evolve into something better

The (Student Ministry) Five-Fold Process:

Three Prior Discussions:

October 5 - Gathering One: CULTURE.“Getting a Feel for the (Spiritual) Neighborhood.”

November 2 - Gathering Two: CONTEXT.“Comparing Model Homes.”

December 7 - Gathering Three: COMMITMENTS.“Creating a Blueprint of Our Own.”

1. The Drop-out Statistic“Where are our students?”

2. Systemic Abandonment“How are our students?”

3. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism“What are our students?”

Notes from Gathering OneCulture: Contemporary Issues

Re-visited

Model 1: Student Focused“We need a separate ministry designed specifically for our teenagers.”

Model 2: Family Based“We need a ministry for our teenagers that involves parents too.”

Model 3: Home and Church Partnership“We need a ministry for students of all ages that equips parents to nurture faith at home, complimented by a strategically-designed, church-based ministry.”

Notes from Gathering TwoContext: Comparing Model

Homes

1. We will create a “Purpose-Driven” Culture

2. We will embrace an “Orange” philosophy

3. We will uphold discipleship as our primary goal

4. We will practice “Relational Discipleship”

Notes from Gathering ThreeCommitments: Creating a Blueprint

of Our Own

Our Goal:

To make disciples by means of a purpose-driven ministry for students and their families

that equips and empowers parents to nurture faith at home in partnership with an

intergenerational church community committed to a relational-discipleship

process of spiritual formation.

Church: The Relational Matrix of Tommy The Teenager

Tommy

Adults

Church FriendsKids

School Friends

Outreach Discipleship

Encouragement

Relational Discipleship: Two Groups for Tommy

1. Peer-based, student small groups.• Adult leader with students of similar age,

gender, interest or school.

2. Intergenerational Missional Communities.• Current MC groups, emphasizing

integration of people in all life stages together in shared gatherings.

Missional Communities: Four Strategies

1. Include your student in your current MC.• Assemble together intentionally for a portion of your

gathering.

2. Involve your student with one of their friends in a different MC.• Welcome and accept similar students into your own MC.

3. Transition with your student into a different MC.• Find a group that better enables you to participate with

your student.

4. Partner with others to begin a new MC that involves your student(s).• Strategically assemble with others to create an

intergenerational MC.

West Houston Vision (Again):

*Disciple – Follower, student, apprentice, committed learner

In the future, the family at West Houston will be known as disciples

who make disciplesin West Houston and around the

world.

Imagine our Future…

The FutureStudent Ministry @ West

Houston

of

Scope Regional Equipping

Student Development

Regional Equipping

Parent Support

Student Developm

ent

• Sunday and Wednesday Bible Study and Worship

• Small Group and MC Participation

• Service and Mission Trips

• Outreach and Evangelism Initiatives

Parent Support

Regional Equipping

Parent Support

Student Developm

ent

• Print and Online Resources

• Reading Groups

• Workshop and Training Opportunities

• Forums for Communication, Idea-Sharing and General Support

Congregational Initiatives

Regional Equipping

Congregational

Initiatives

Parent Support

Student Developm

ent

• Vacation Bible School

• Fall Festival

• Celebrate Jesus

• Christmas Town, First Wednesdays at WHCC

Local Projects

Regional Equipping

Parent Support

Student Developm

ent

• Habitat for Humanity

• Independence Hall

• Impact Church

• C.A.M.S.

Regional Equipping

Regional Equipping

Parent Support

Student Developm

ent • Development of Reproducible Programs and Materials

• Workshop and Training Events

• Students• Parents• Volunteers• Ministers

• Expanded Intern Program

West Houston Vision (One Last Time):

*Disciple – Follower, student, apprentice, committed learner

In the future, the family at West Houston will be known as disciples

who make disciplesin West Houston and around the

world.

[ Thank you for being here. Thank you for loving our students and investing in

their lives. ]