Mark Hunnicutt

'09 Student Winter Retreat Wrap Up

One word could describe our ’09 Student Winter Retreat, incredible!  I want to thank the parents for the confidence you have in our Student Ministry Staff.  Ryan and his team really know how to pull off life changing events. 

Ryan left Letha, his pregnant wife that was just diagnosed with gestational diabetes, at home.  She has been encouraged by her doctors to be on “bed rest” for the rest of her pregnancy.  Little Peyton Grace is due in March.  I just got off the phone with Ryan and he just got back from taking his 3yr old Grayson to the doctor.  Strep throat was the diagnosis.  Please pray for Ryan and his family.  Ryan, you are a great husband and father. 

 Ryan could not quit braggin’ on the adult leaders on this trip.  He said they were a dream team.  Their leadership in the small groups was the highlight of the weekend.  Six students gave their lives to Jesus and several others revealed some serious issues that they are dealing with.  One student actually received a phone call from their parents informing the student that they were getting a divorce.  Ryan testified how the student’s friends rallied around in true fellowship. 

Make sure to stay connected with Mud Creek Student Ministries.  We have some huge plans that will be revealed in the coming weeks.  God is good and I want to make sure He gets all the praise for His protection and provision as we close out ’09 Student Winter Retreat.  

'09 Student Winter Retreat

Our '09 Student Winter Retreat kicked off great this afternoon.

Thank you parents for the confidence you have placed in our Student Ministry Team lead by Ryan.

To the right are some "twideos" that Ryan is sending me from Pigeon Forge. Click on the link and view the fun.

Tonight's session is Made: Being Clay In God's Hand will reveal to your students how God wants to mold them into the person He intends for them to be. Pray parents, pray!

Students Taking Ownership

One of my favorite quotes is from Josh Hunt.  He states, "Nobody washes rental cars."  I love it.   Bottom line is that if someone doesn't take ownership they feel like a spectator instead of a team member.  One of our values for student ministry is ownership.  This generation of students are creators.  They develop web pages, playlist and viral communities.  It doesn't matter how incredible of an environment you create if they don't have ownership they just sit and stare.  You must lead but let them help build momentum by listening and letting them create. 

Last Wednesday I visited Blue Ridge View Baptist Church and ministered in a great youth environment.  The student could not wait to escort me to their pad.  Great job Joey and youth team.  I took the picture on the right and asked Joey to text me the name of the High School girl who painted it background.  Her name is Kathyrn Maquire a senior at Picken High School. Joey sent me the picture on the left of her actually doing the painting.  Kind of a iTunes theme and even looked better live.  Yes, those are 60" plasmas on the wall. 

How are you giving students ownership of ministry?

Encouraging Students & Adults to Do Life Together

Joey Capps the youth minister at Blue Ridge View Baptist Church has gathered a group of students and adults together ready to be challenged to do life together.  He has a mentor, coaching vision in which adults are matched with students and they start a growth journey together.  He has given me the opportunity to connect to that vision and communicate some next steps to help get the journey started.

Here is the central focus of my talk.

We have come to Jesus to become like Him.

Becoming Christ like involves...

• a progressive relationship with Jesus
• that practices spiritual disciplines
• which result in a first hand faith.

How do you measure your progression and growth?  What is your spiritual workout plan?  Do you love Jesus more than anything or anyone and is He enough?  These questions reveal your becoming.

In The Trenches

Last night I was invited to speak at a back to school youth rally.  My friend and a former student Jeremy Beauford gave me this opportunity.  He and his wife Holly are serving in downtown Gvegas at Calvary First Baptist.  Under Jeremy's leadership the church has converted a store front and named it "The Barracks."  It has a cool military vibe and the kids seem to really like it.  Jeremy has a passion for youth far from God and is truly serving in the trenches.

I drove myself because Cheryl, my regular driver, was attending a "girls" night.  I didn't mind because I needed the time to study.  If you saw a gray Tacoma swerving down Hwy. 25, it was me looking at my notes.   The elements of the evening were the normal youth stuff: pizza, youth workers that are pretty much adults that got kicked out of adult Sunday School, 70 to 80 kids made up of churched and unchurched, loud music and the message.  God took a guy serving in the trenches and all of those elements and changed seven youth's eternity.  I loved it!  Jeremy, the army of God needs more guys like you.  Do you know anybody serving in the trenches?  Get in touch with them this week and let them know how incredible they are.