Guest Blogger: Robbie McLaughlin

This Wednesday ministry spotlight is our Student Ministry, which is simply the finest I have seen in over twenty years of being a pastor. Our incredible team of volunteers, led by Student Pastor Robbie McLaughlin, loves on our middle and high school students and provides them with amazing environments in which to connect to God and get to know Him better. I asked Robbie to post about what's up these days in student ministry, so here goes...

FROM ROBBIE:
Our students just wrapped up the year with one of their highlight events, the "Christmas BonFire." It's as simple as students inviting their disconnected friends to a free bonfire with cookies, hot chocolate, smores, and a live band. But its about as impactful as you can get. That night, nearly 110 students were exposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and numerous lives were changed.

WinterCampTwentyEleven is just around the corner, January 21-23, at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. You definitely don't want your middle or high school student to miss this. Nearly 100 people will be "TAKING OVER" Black Mountain for a weekend filled with authentic worship led by our own student ministry band, practical teaching from Pastor Jared Kirk, INSANE games, and great opportunities for students to connect with GOD, each other, and some great leaders. Email robbiem1985@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Right now, our students are engaged in a series called "CRAZY GRACE." It's all about breaking down, simplifying, and explaining this sometimes overcomplicated concept called Grace. Our students are finding out how CRAZY it is the way God loves them, and has lavished Grace upon their lives, and how that can, on a very practical level, change the way they interact with their friends and classmates.

Student Ministry at NLC is more exciting than ever! This past Sunday, there were over 125 people gathered in the student center for our Middle & High School services. And if last semester was any indication, we expect nearly that many engaged in Connection Groups and LifeGroups this Spring. If you are the parent of a middle school or High School Student, encourage your student to get involved in Wi-Fi Student Ministries. You'll be soooo glad you did.