Full House at Blair Student Venture

Feeling a draft of cold air graze me over and over again, I kept turning around to see who had left the door open. To my surprise it wasn't teenage negligence at all. The door was opening and closing over and over because people just kept coming in!

Last night 17 teenagers came together to throw Cheetos at each other, take turns at the DJing stereo with their iPods, and process how they can apply what they are learning about spiritual living. All that and a little billiards and pogo-stick jumping too-- we mustn't forget that.

Although Blair Student Venture's attendance levels fluctuate just like any other group, it's been a while since we've seen what used to be 30+ teenagers getting together on a weekly basis. Over a dozen highly active seniors graduated back in May. Although we have many committed students who want to grow in their faith and show love and truth to their peers, it has been difficult this Fall to plug in new students and help the underclassmen step into leadership. I am soooo thankful to many core students for their devotion to God and living honest lives-- It is enthralling to see them choosing wisdom and becoming young men and women of good character and integrity.

Last night our 19 was made up of a couple of the Spring graduates who were back for Thanksgiving break and we had 5 new students, 4 of which who had never been to anything Student Venture related before. it was exciting to see new faces and connect with new souls-- Although , obviously, numbers and attendance are not the most important goal for me or this ministry, it is exciting to see new faces light up when they process God's Word.

Halloween-AnnaSophia is 2!

Just a few days ago, AnnaSophia turned 2!

We had some fun in the afternoon at Chuck-E-Cheese's. The little rides were her favorite!

Then we went trick-or-treating! She was Nemo, complete with her little 'lucky fin' like they say in the movie! :) She would knock on the doors and at each person's house, she had to step in and look around and wanted to play. Of course she thought it was great that someone would come to the door and offer her candy, so she made sure to take 2 handfuls if they let her!

Earlier in the day, she helped me decorate her birthday cake with M&Ms in the shape of a 2. As well as some extras sprinkled on! (It didn't look like a 2 after that).

It was fun to sing Happy Birthday and she blew little tentative puffs at the candles at first. Then, after I told her to blow hard, she gave out a big gust and blew them out one at a time! Yay!

On the SV front

One of our area Student Venture goals this year is to establish an effective discipleship strategy within the Blair High School campus students. Andy has begun leading the students on Monday nights in The Essentials, a discipleship study by Campus Crusade for Christ. We are praying that this study will equip our students to grow deeply in their faith and learn to multiply their faith by sharing the Good News of their faith. Andy has taught a lesson from The Essentials for a couple weeks now.  Please pray that God would use The Essentials and Andy to grow these students in taking the initiative and leadership in their personal spiritual life as well as in reaching their peers for Christ.