TCC Youth

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As we look at on our First message in our new Series Satan’s Plan for your Life, we see that the first step to following Satan’s plan is to Doubt God’s Word and His Goodness.  If Satan Can get you to doubt His Word and not trust that God’s plans are good, then we fall into a trap and it pushes us away from God.  Click here for our Weekly Group & Personal Study Guide from week 1 of our Series.  This study guide is full of discussion questions, thoughts & ideas about this message, scripture memory and more.  Check it out and stay connected to what God is doing in our TCCYouth!

Ken’s Korny Corn Maze -5:30 pm on Sunday Night October 30th For all Youth & Parents. Meet at Ken’s Corn Maze Cost: $10 a person. Eat dinner before you come. All Students will be responsible for their rides. Please don’t just drop off Middle School Students unless they are with another adult or older sibling. Pick up no later than 7:30pm if you drop a HS student off.

As we finished our series on religions and God’s truth be sure to check out  http://www.carm.org to go deeper in apologetics and study of other religions.  We have looked at how important it is to seek God’s truth and discover what His Word says.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

If you look at the Bible, it is very clear that there is only one way to heaven.  It is simply understanding a few things:

1) God Created us to be with Him.  There is a God and He desires a relationship with us.  He is Holy and Perfect and determines right and wrong.  He gets to because He made the world.  We don’t have a right over God to make the rules on what is right and wrong.

2) Our Sin separates us from God.  Everybody sins.  Everybody has times where we have broken God’s laws.  Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Because God is perfect and Holy He can’t live in union with imperfect sinful people.  All of us sin and because of that we are in need of God.

3) Sins can’t be repaid by Good deeds.  No matter how hard we try our sin can not be fixed by trying to be better the next time.  We can’t do enough good to become perfect.  If any religion says that you can earn your acceptance by God through your behavior then they are in disagreement with the Bible.  The Bible is very clear that our efforts are not good enough to be accepted by God.  God being a perfectly Just God must punish every sin.  He must separate everyone who sins from Him.  There is no hope in any effort we have in being made right with God.  Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death..but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.”

4) Paying the Price of our Sin, Jesus Died and rose again.  The only thing we could hope for is if there was a perfect person who would be willing to die for us, in our place, and satisfy, God’s righteous punishment of sin being death.  That is why God sent His son (who has been with God forever) to earth to live a perfect life and be that sacrifice for us.  God accepts Jesus as payment of our sin.  If we believe.

5) Everyone who believes in Jesus alone will have eternal life.  God is Just, but God is also Love.  He desires for everyone to be with Him but if he just ignores our sin then he is no longer Just and no longer perfect.  So the only solution was to provide a way for us to be accepted by God by His love and goodness.  Jesus, as God’s son, lived a perfect life and his death on the cross was a perfect substitute for us.  All we have to do is put our dependence, trust, faith in Jesus and what He did on the cross.

6) Life Eternal means to live forever with God in Heaven.  John 14 talks about how Jesus is now in heaven preparing a place for us to live.  For those who believe we will have a place with God forever.

So as you look at religions, realize this:  Any religion that says you must earn your way to God or do something to be accepted by Him other than your faith in Jesus is adding to the Bible and Gospel.

If God were to look at you and ask you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?”  Your response should be nothing other than, “You Shouldn’t! I don’t deserve it.  But I am counting on what Jesus did on the Cross as enough for me to be accepted by you.  Would you accept Jesus death on the cross as a substitute for my sin and what I deserve?”

God would say, “Yes, my beloved child!”

Meet people with stories to share and take a second to listen…

LEAD children through a summer’s worth of adventure and discovery

COACH sports while building strong relationships

SERVE in meaningful ministry with local partners doing what we must to make them successful.

We’re using twenty two years of experience to discover ministry partners old and new that will get your group in the trenches. We are scouting the best opportunities for them to see face to face with children, the elderly, the outcast, the homeless, teenagers, mothers, and orphans.

The people of Appalachia need Jesus and the hope His message brings.

Who is this for? All current 6th-12th Grade, Leaders needed (college, adult & Parents)

How much is the cost? $450 Includes mission trip, lodging, food, & transportation (will need spending money & traveling food money).

When is it? June 17th – June 23 or 24th (TBD)

We will work with you on the preparations for the mission trip and answer any questions.

Register today to reserve your spot!

Dear Families,
Kevin was able to give me a quick call last night to check in and pass on the message that all of your kids are doing well, and are amazing! They are working hard, having great attitudes, and thoroughly enjoying the entire experience.
Yesterday, God placed several people just in the right place at the right time again. Shawn Brisendine’s group was working at one spot where they uncovered an enormous rock that had to be moved. Shawn and some other very strong team members were able to get it moved. Some teams (dedicated as they may be) would just not have had the muscle to do that! Kathryn Verburg and Diana Wallace (our 2 nurses on the TCC team) have been moving around to different work areas. Several times, they happened to be right there when several of the Jamaican kids at the Kid’s Club got hurt, so they were able to help them right away.
The Kid’s Club has gone very well. Our team is staying right in the middle of a Jamaican Community, so they are getting to interact with the people – kid’s especially. Our team led the Club Meetings (kind of like our VBS Meetings) for the first two days, then another US team that is there this week took over. Our team is now focusing on the work sites.
The work site where they are spending most of their days is about a 25 minute walk each way. They carry along their tools and lunches, and head to work each morning. Yesterday was a bright, sunny day, so they did not have to stop work because of rain. They are having to carry 40 foot lengths of bamboo from the bottom of the mountain to near the top. Lots of them are also digging the holes for the outhouses, putting in rebar, etc. Hard work, but they are loving doing it together!
Market Day was a treat for them. The locals brought out their “goods” to the trainstation to sell to our team. Kevin said that the interaction with the people was as fun as shopping. The waterfall showers continue to be a hilight of their days. Kelsey and Madi both say that this was an item on their “Bucket List” of things they’ve always wanted to do! Cross that one off, girls!
Today is their last day of work. Tomorrow they will travel to Montego Bay, where they will check into a nice hotel for their last night in Jamaica. It will be a vast difference from the environment that they have been in for the past week. There, they will have time to debrief together about the trip and what God has done, as well as relax and enjoy being together. They fly out of Montego Bay on Sunday morning at 11:40AM, have a layover in Miami, then arrive in Raleigh Airport at 7:05PM Sunday evening (Flight #0820).
Please continue to pray our whole team, as well as the people that they are reaching. What an amazing way to serve as the hands and feet of Christ!
Warmly,
Becca Deming

Dear Families,

Newest message from Jamaica is that everything and everyone there is great.  They are all doing well, and are enjoying ministry!

* As soon as our team arrived, they were asked if there happened to be an artist along, because they have been hoping for someone to do some mural work.  Of course, Jeff McSwain (who has done much of the outstanding artwork on TCC’s Noah’s Landing hallway) is along, and has jumped right in.  He is doing an amazing job, and the people are thrilled!

* The students are loving the showers at the springs.  It is about a 10 minute walk from where they are staying, and is cool, refreshing water for them to clean up in.

* Thanks for the prayers for the weather.  They had no rain yesterday!  There was some rain this afternoon, but no thunder and lightning, so they were able to keep working through it.

* They are building great relationships with the people there.

* Last night, they attended a Jamaican Church service, which was an amazing experience that they can’t wait to tell you about!

* Tomorrow is “Market Day” where the locals gather to sell their souvenirs and goods.  The students are very excited to experience this and to interact with lots of locals.

Please continue to pray for safety, good health, good weather and opportunities (and confidence) to share their faith with those they meet and interact with.
Warmly,

Becca Deming  (Kevin’s Wife)

Jamaica Update 2

With no internet access after today our updates may be llimited…
We are good. Had cornbeef and rice for dinner last night. Lanier led
worship for the group time and 1 of the experience mission girls
shared her faith journey story. We got into groups and prayed, talked
about Philipians 1:19-26 and debriefed about our day. Everybody
pretty much went across the street to get some fresh bread for a
bedtime snack. It is delicious. Everybody is doing well. Quiet time
this morning is Philippians 1:27-30. You should read along with
Philippians with us this week. We are reading a section in the
morning, at lunch and at night. Looking forward to a great day. Nice
weather this morning. Keep praying for limited storms in the
afternoon so we can keep working.

Grace & Peace,

Kevin Deming

Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings from Jamaica!  Our team got through the airports just fine.  We all arrived in
Jamaica with all of our luggage, went through customs with minor
hassels and got loaded in our buses to head to Catadupa.  Before we
left Montego Bay we stopped at Burger King.

We had about an hour ride to the church here in Catadupa which it was
very different traveling here than at home (ask your kids about that).
It started pouring rain and we had to unload all of our stuff in the
rain.

We got unloaded and settled in our rooms.  They are rooms above the
church where we all have our air mattresses and stuff laying all over
the floor.  We ate dinner here using our mess kits (some sort of sweet
chicken, and rice and beans).  It was very good.  We had an
orientation meeting and then a leaders meeting afterwards.  Our
students got into small groups to talk and pray while the leaders met.
Afterward some kids and adults went across the road where there is a
little room/house that a man sells breads out of.  The kids bought
some and it was delicious.  They also sell Pepsi and Ice cream here at
the church for a dollar.  We also are using Jamaican money which is
about $1 is 80 Jamaican dollars.

Everyone went to bed between 9 and 10 as we were all exhausted from the day.

We woke up at 6:30am and had our quiet time.  We are working through
Philippians this week.  We at breakfast which was eggs, dumplings
(basically like sweet hush puppies), and porridge (sweet cream of
wheat).  It was good.  We heading off to our work sites and a group of
us stayed at the church for a Kids club.  At our sites we dug holes
for the outhouses.  You dig 4×4 foot holes about 8-10 feet deep and
then put a wood structure around it and add a concrete floor.  It
lasts for 6-8 years.

We had a rainstorm this afternoon (which I think will be every
afternoon) so we had to cut our work short.  We came back and went to
the springs to shower.  We all go dressed in our shorts and t-shirts
to water coming down the mountain into a rocky area.
It is definitely different than what we are used to. The water was
really cold at first but then was really refreshing.  We are making
sure that we are not going anywhere without being in groups.  The town is
really safe as there are a lot of Jamaicans who are helping from the
church.  They are great people who really make us feel at home.

Keep praying for us.  For no sickness, for good weather to finish the
outhouses and for us to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of
God’s truth.

Grace & Peace,

Kevin

Yesterday we completed a month-long study on the book of Philippians. This month has been a great opportunity both for the students and the teaching team to take a deeper look at God’s word in Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. As we moved through the book chapter by chapter it was evident that our them of being radically content permeated Paul’s words to the Philippians. Each major theme that arose seemed to link perfectly with being content in Christ. Paul’s seemingly crazy ideas of valuing a relationship with God over any earthly things (3:7) are a valuable lesson for today’s believers. In a society where health, wealth, beauty and fame are paramount it is so important for Christians to cling to these counter-culture lessons from Paul. Paul reminds us that our citizenship is not on earth, but in heaven (3:20) and therefore we are not to act like the people who are citizens of a broken, fallen world. He challenges believers further to live in a way that is “worthy of the gospel” (1:27).

It is important to remember throughout the study of any of the Epistles that Paul is writing these letters to Christians. We do not hold non-believers to the standards set by Paul in his letters to Christians. These are guidelines for those who already have an understanding of the gospel, and faith in Jesus. We can’t look down on people who do not adhere to this lifestyle when they have no reason to adhere to it. The standards laid out by Paul can only be followed by those who are inhabited by the Holy Spirit of God that counsels and convicts them towards a more righteous way of living.

As we enter in to the heart of the holiday season, we as a youth staff are excited that we have completed a study on a book about joy, thanksgiving, and contentment. This should give our students a renewed perspective on the holidays not only in how they respond to God, but in how they view time spent with family and friends. Our hope is that they will become more like Paul who has “learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (4:11).

We look forward to entering our next series in December- No Ordinary Baby: A Savior for all People. In the coming three weeks before Christmas we will take a look at the life of Jesus.  Happy Holidays!