Dear parents,


I just wanted to bring you up to date on some exciting new developments with our youth group as well as let you know what's happening for the reminder of the Advent/Christmas season.

·        As you may know I stepped in as a youth team leader when Brian Condra stepped down. Brian, by the way, is doing well.  I had breakfast with him this week to catch up on where he is and things are going very well for him.  However, he feels that it is not right for him to return as our Youth Team leader next semester, as he needs to focus on his studies and work out where God is leading him next.   Please pray for Brian as he goes though this searching process.

·        When one door closes, God opens another, new youth team leaders to step in allowing me to step out; in this case a vibrant young couple named Ian and Michelle Johnson.  Ian grew up at RCP as the son of Tim and Connie Johnson.  During his teen years he was an active member of the youth group.  In his late teens he worked with Eric Buteyn as a youth leader.  He is a gifted musician and artist, now running his own graphic design business.   In July he married Michelle who grew up both in Plano and her native Brazil.  Michelle has done drama and music at the community college level.  She brings a vitality, vibrancy and sense of fun that allows her to connect well with our "kids."

·        Todd Schmidt has also come on board as an adult sponsor, a role that he played for many years.  He joins Eric Devonport, the two of whom will be helping to organize events and help out where needed in an organizational/supportive role.  Kristina Stacy has also stepped into to help out with events.  They have large shoes to fill as Lyle and Lisa have felt the need to step down from this role, but we believe they are the right persons at the right time for this new phase of development in the life of our youth group.   God's hand is in this.

·        One of our youth group members, who got actively involved after a life-changing experience at Rocky Mountain High, Taylor Tate, even after he started attending Colin County Community College, where he is now a sophomore, has stepped into a leadership role, as well.  He joins Ian and Michelle as leaders of our high school/senior high group on Wednesday evenings.

·        Our leadership team is now in place:    Ian, Michelle and Taylor work with the high school/senior high group.   Deedra Seekatz (our paid team leader) and Abby Johnson (no relation to Ian and Michelle!) work with our Middle School group.  This separation of ages is a critical part of our new approach to youth work as we believe that each age group faces different challenges and needs to be able to share with peers.

·        Thanks to some generous donors the main Youth Room is now equipped with a new air hockey table, a Wii and X-Box 360.  This will allow the kids to use the room for a game room, as well.   This will be done both for this week's Christmas party and in the new year when we will have one of our team leaders on hand at the church as early as 6 pm so kids can come and hang out before youth group gets started with organized events.

If your son/daughter hasn't been for awhile, please encourage them to come.  What they'll find is a youth group that has just undergone an extreme makeover in a good way.


Praise God from whom all blessings flow!


Blessings,

Pastor John Hubers