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- IMPORTANT LINKS:
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- EXPECTATIONS
& GUIDELINES
We
realize that expectations and guidelines can be quite ambiguous in many areas of
life. Therefore, we believe that it is important to make it known to you as a
teen or parent what you can expect from us and we will expect from you. We will
also provide guidelines that will be followed for all that we will do within the
Downtown Youth & Family Ministry.
- WHAT YOU
CAN EXPECT FROM US
- (The Downtown Youth & Family Ministry
Team)
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FRIENDS
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We will provide a
Christian peer group. We will make every effort to provide an environment
where spiritual growth and fellowship can occur in the midst of Christian
friendships.
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LEADERS
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We will strive to provide
a team of responsible adult leaders who desire to serve others with hearts and
hands and model a devoted and passionate relationship with Christ.
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TRANSPORTATION
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You can expect safe,
efficient, and dependable transportation while traveling with the Downtown
Youth Group. All drivers of the buses have passed the CDL test and gone
through training driving our Downtown buses. Your safety is paramount to us!
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RESPONSIBILITY
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While on youth functions,
we will take the responsibility of the teens in our care. We take that
responsibility very serious while they are under our supervision. However,
responsibility of teens during worship service, before and after classes, on
the church parking lot, etc. lies in the hands of parents. When teen actions
are brought to our attention during these times, we will direct those comments
to you as parents.
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COMMUNICATION
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We will make every effort
to communicate to you as a family in every way. This will include
communicating things that come to our attention about what is going on in your
teen(s) life. It will also include communicating with you ways in which you
can grow as a family. Communication will also be provided to you concerning
what is going on in the Youth & Family Ministry (i.e., Calendars/Newsletters,
Year-at-a-Glance, Newsline, Web site, and so forth).
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COOPERATION
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We will involve you in any
discipline situation that may arise involving your teen(s) (see “Discipline
Policy & Procedures” sheet). We strongly believe that a cooperative
approach to correction returns the God-given responsibility of discipline to
you as parents.
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WHAT WE EXPECT
FROM PARENTS
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PRAYER
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We covet your prayers as
ministers and for this ministry. We will only move forward as God’s people if
we petition Him daily for strength, humility, growth, and the ability to look
beyond ourselves. Pray for your teen(s), the youth group, the Youth & Family
Committee, and the Downtown Youth & Family Ministry Staff.
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SUPPORT
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We ask you to help and
support us in this ministry. When decisions are made that the teens may not
like, please help us by supporting us (knowing that we are making these
decisions to help the group as a whole). If there is something that we do that
you do not agree with, please come to us personally and share it with us so
that we can grow and learn together. Please do not go to someone else and
share it with them. You can be assured that we are supporting you and
will also come to you with disagreements that may arise. This is a
Biblical principal that we must all work hard to follow (Matthew 5:22-24 &
18:15-17). We are making every effort with the teens to help them in the area
of gossip and talking about others. We need your help in this as we model this
principle to our teens.
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RESPONSIBILITY
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As we always say, parents
are the number one influence in a teen’s life. We ask that you remember that
you bear the primary responsibility for spiritual growth in your teen(s).
There is little we can do to replace the training and instruction of a Godly
parent (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
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INVOLVEMENT
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We NEED your help. Please
make every effort to be involved in this ministry for your teen(s) and all the
other families in this ministry. We are not perfect and we definitely do not
have all the answers. But if we work together as a team, we feel confident
that God will use us all as instruments in helping our teens grow in the Lord.
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO ATTEND OUR ANNUAL YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY FAIR TO FIND
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED. Look at our “Ministry Opportunities & Involvement” sheet
in this manual for more information.
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FEEDBACK
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Please provide us with any
feedback that could be beneficial to us and this ministry as a whole. Let us
know of special needs and prayer requests for your teen(s) and your family.
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RULES & DISCIPLINE
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Please make sure to read
through the “Discipline Policy & Procedures” sheet in this manual. We expect
your support and understanding in the enforcing of these guidelines and rules.
Please remember that these are in place for reasons that benefit the group as
a whole and not necessarily your individual teen(s). Please also support us in
conveying to your teen(s) the importance and Biblical principle of respect to
all the adult leaders that help out in this ministry. If we cannot receive
your support in these areas, then we ask that your teen(s) not accompany us on
any of our Youth & Family Ministry sponsored activities and events. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS!!!
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PROBLEMS
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As unforeseen problems
arise, please do not hesitate to contact Jeremy or Phil and let us know. We
are here for YOU. Communication is key to all aspects of life and ministry. We
realize that there are things that cannot be helped and situations that must
have special attention. Please let us know when those come up. WE UNDERSTAND!
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PUNCTUALITY
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It is important when
working with a group this size that we get going on time. We will always
communicate a time of departure and arrival. This is to help both you as
parents and us as ministers/leaders. If your teen(s) are late, they may find
that we have already left. We do not wish to leave anyone behind, but we also
have reasons for leaving at a designated time. We need your help in this. We
also commit to you to be on time ourselves. We will be early to meet the teens
and we will make every effort to arrive back at the designated time. If, for
some unseen reason, we will not make it back at the designated time, we will
communicate to you through the Newsline. That is our easiest way to
communicate to you while on trips.
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ONE OTHER
NOTE:
After events we have adult leaders who are tired and ready to go home.
Please make sure to be here promptly to pick up your teen to help us out with
this.
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WHAT WE EXPECT
FROM TEENS
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RESPONSIBILITY
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We expect each teen to
take responsibility for his/her own actions.
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RESPECT
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1)
We expect each teen to cooperate and respect all adults and adult leaders.
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2)
We expect each teen to respect other teens by lifting each other up rather
than tearing them down.
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3)
We expect each teen to respect the property of others, the church building,
and the areas and property we visit while away.
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PARTICIPATION
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We expect each teen to
participate in all activities with the entire group when deciding to be a part
of a particular event, trip, or class. Exceptions for this are made in case of
illness, injury, and other special circumstances.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Rules and guidelines are
not put into place just to hold people down and use authority over them, but to
help maintain the group and shine as Christian examples out of love for God. The
following are rules & guidelines that we will work from in everything we do in
order minimize conflicts among the group and maximize spiritual growth. Most of
these are common sense Christian guidelines.
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1)
All teens are expected to ride the church vehicles when it is running (ha-ha)
and when space is available. Those driving to the church will be able to leave
their vehicles on the church property. Some exceptions will be made, but only
by the permission of a Youth & Family Minister.
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2)
No drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, fireworks, weapons, pornographic material
or anything of the sort will be allowed on ANY event.
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3)
Prescription and non-prescription medicines should be discussed between a
parent and appropriate adult leader attending the event. Instructions in
writing are always preferred.
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4)
No disruptive behavior is allowed. That includes, but is not limited to
fighting, cussing, vandalism, pranks, disrespect of authority, etc.
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5)
Provisions are made to satisfy basic first aid needs.
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6)
“Medical Release/Commitment to Christ”
forms must be signed for your teen for each event in order to attend.
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7)
Dating couples should remember to set a Christian example to everyone.
Physical contact should be kept to a minimum. Holding hands is the limit of
PDA that is allowed of all dating couples in the youth group.
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8)
When audio players and video games are allowed, we ask that there be nothing
in question played or listened to (USE COMMON SENSE AND CHRISTIAN
PRINCIPLES!).
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9)
Clothing should be modest. The following guidelines must be kept while on
youth events or the teen(s) will be sent home:
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1.
Shorts must reach
the bottom of your fingers when arms are down, fully extended and close to
your side.
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2.
Shirts must go
below the belt area by three inches or have a t-shirt that is tucked in
underneath. We do not wish to see bellies.
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3.
Shirts must have
a modest neckline. NO CLEAVAGE!
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4.
Sleeveless shirts
must be tight around the arm. We should not see bras. No “wife-beaters”
gentlemen.
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5.
Skirts must be no
further than two inches above the knee.
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6.
No low-rise pants
unless shirts are tucked in.
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7.
Pants must be
worn at your waist and not at your knees (ha-ha).
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8.
No clothing
promoting alcohol, drugs, or obscenities.
We understand that each
family determines what is modest for their teen(s). However, while on youth
group events, these are the guidelines that must be followed or the teen(s) will
be asked to change clothes or leave.
HANDBOOK NAVIGATION
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VERSE OF THE WEEK |
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Psalm 37:4
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he
will give you the desires of your heart."
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