RSM 2015 Spring Caldendar

Check out the details to other activities on the Events Page.
Make sure to join our facebook group here or join our email list here. Read More!

Ski Retreat 2015 - Register Today!

Come join us along with many different youth from other church around Florida for an amazing encounter with God in His creation of the beautiful snow covered mountains. We will be taking a charter bus full of students and leaders to Wisp Ski Resort on January 22-25, 2015 to have a blast with All Souls, Christ the King, and Servants of Christ. I am looking forward to what God does this year. Last year we got to stay in a huge house on the slopes of Winterplace Ski Resort and God was present the whole time. We got great snow, everyone was safe, and God really showed up in our prayer and worship times. We also got to do outreach projects and prayer walks around the resort. Some groups held the lodge doors open for people, some helped beginner skiers learn to ski, and some even made hot cocoa and handed it out for free. Now that's the gospel at work!

Sunset on the Mountain

 I know God will show up again this year, and I hope that you will join us when He does.

WHEN: January 22-25, 2015
WHERE: Wisp Ski Resort in Maryland
WHO: Any 6th - 12th graders
          College students as leaders
COST: $400 for skiers
          $430 for snowboarders
          $260 for non-skiers

 

Click here for more information and to register.

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Fall 2014 Calendar

Here are some upcoming events:

Wednesday Night Kickoff - September 10
High School Open House - September 21, October 12, November 16
Adventure Weekend - October 18-19
Autobaun Fundraiser - November 13 from 5-8pm
Dynamos High School Retreat - December 5-7
Ski Retreat - January 2015 Read More!

Spring 2014 Calendar

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Fall 2013 Calendar

With over 20 schools represented in the RSM Family, we are certainly spread out in neighborhoods all over Jacksonville. In order for us to truly be connected and unified we must continue to meet together and encourage one another. Hebrews 10:24-25 says:

²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

So that we can all be on the same page and know when every opportunity to connect is, I have put together a easy-to-read calendar. Print it out and put it on your refrigerator. Hope to see everyone at church on September 4th!

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Summer is Here!

Summer is officially here and we have some great things planned. Just take a look below. Please contact Shaun Lafferty if you have any questions or need more information.

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RSM's headed to the Mountains!

When: January 24-27, 2013

For: Middle & High School

Where: Snowshoe, West Virginia
Price: $430

Join us as head up to the beautiful mountains of Snowshoe West Virginia for an awesome weekend of fun and fellowship.

We will once again be going with All Souls and some other churches in our diocese. We will be doing some fundraisers and scholarships are available.

Contact shaun.lafferty@gmail.com for more information. 
Click Here to Register! Read More!

Youth Alpha - "Beginnings"

We have had an awesome start to our semester and to YOUTH ALPHA. On Wednesdays nights this semester we will be going through the "beginnings" of our faith with YOUTH ALPHA. Did you know that over 19.6 million people have gone through ALPHA worldwide. Imagine the impact that these people will have for the gospel in their lives. WOW! That's amazing. I am praying for that same kind of impact in our group as well. That the RSM students would "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (Philippians 2:12-13). May we all build the foundation of our faith on the Rock, our author and perfecter. This is going to be a great semester! Read More!

RSM is getting "RADICAL"

On the Wednesday after Lent RSM will begin an 8-week bible study from the book Radical by David Platt. From February 29th through April 18th all of our gatherings will be focused around learning about how God desires us to daily pick up our cross and follow Him. We will also be continuing this topic on Sunday Mornings before the late service at 9:30am for those who would like to go deeper. Make a commitment to come each week as we learn how to be more “RADICAL” for Jesus.

Check out this video below to get a glimpse into the book:

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RSM Summer Camp 2011 Video

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Soul Surfer Community Movie Event

Get your friends together and lets go see this inspiring movie. On Sunday, April 17th after Common Ground at 12:30 we'll get some lunch at Steak & Shake and head to the 1:40pm movie at the Regal Movie Theater on Phillips. Parents can pickup their students after the movie at 4pm.

Sign up to go in the Youth Room.
Bring some money for lunch.
Tickets will be $5.

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Guy Talk | Girl Talk

This semester during Common Ground we will be going through this study called "Guy Talk | Girl Talk". It biblically tackles some of the toughest issues that teenage guys and girls face everyday. We will be discussing these issues in a guys small group and a girls small group. The topics include:

• Identity
• Self Image
• Friendships
• Relationships
• Wounds
• Purpose
• Gossip
• Value & Worth
• Character
  
• Leadership

Students will begin to open up, share their thoughts and feelings, and witness the formation of deep and lasting friendships.

Please download and browse through the Guy | Girl Lesson Guide to see exactly what will be talked about in each small group.


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Our God is Greater

"And if our god is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our god is with us, then who could stand against?"

Since I heard Brett Younker sing this at Student Life Summer Camp this summer these words have been running in my head and my heart. Straight out of one of my favorite chapters in scripture, these lines give me so much hope.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose...What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?"-Romans 8:28,31

I'm not sure why teenagers die before they reach the age of 16, or why children have to go hungry, or why disasters strike in the lowest income countries, but I do know that OUR GOD IS GREATER than all of those things.

Watch this video of Brett Younker and the band leading us in worship to our great god this summer. I hope this will be a reminder to you today that our god is greater than anything that you could ever go through in your life.

On Sunday, September 5th the students of RSM will be reading, leading worship, and giving a living testimony that OUR GOD IS GREATER! Come and see what the Lord has done. Read More!

Does Evangelism Work Anymore?

I know this question might cause some controversy, I am confident that the answer to that question is a huge resounding YES. I think the real questions is "How does evangelism work?" Especially when we live in a multi-religion culture where people are going to the buffet of beliefs and picking what suits them best in their lifestyle.

Isaiah seems to be confident as well in Chapter 55:
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
...
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty.

God has given us the gift of salvation and redemtion through the message of the gospel. That message is powerful and will not return void. We are called to take that great story and share it to our friends, family, church, city, state, country, nation, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

However, Greg Stier, the founder of Dare 2 Share Ministries is a little worried,

"How can such a seemingly dated message compete with instant messaging? How can amazing grace compete with The Amazing Race? The old rugged cross pales in comparison to a shiny new Xbox. In a world of Myspace, Plasma TVs and iTunes how can a 2,000 year old message from a Middle Eastern carpenter be expected to compete?"

See the full article here.

But we get back to the question of HOW. How do we share the gospel with others? The bible is pretty clear about doing it with compassion, clarity, and grace. Think of Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well. He went to where she was and, in love, gave her a clear message from the Father. That is what the Great Commission coupled with the Great Commandment is all about.

This month we are going tackle this questions of HOW do we share our faith with the people around us and what is the right "Way To Go" into the world. How to follow THE Cause of Christ. Check out THE Cause here and get so many other resources on sharing your faith and helping your teenagers do the same.

Here's some questions you can ask your teenagers:
1. What is one of the hardest things about talking to others about your faith?
2. What are your relationships like at school, what do your friends believe in?
3. How can you share your testimony with someone who doesn't know it this month? Read More!

LIFT 2010 Ski Retreat Slideshow

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H.A.B.I.T.S.

In a book called "UNchristian" there are some alarming statistics from the Barna Group:

85% of 13-29 year-old non-christians know a christian.
15% of those people can see a difference in the way that they live.

When we obey our Creator people notice.
When we disobey our Creator people notice.

This month we are going through a series called Developing H.A.B.I.T.S. Will Change Your Life. We are going to be going through these 6 Habits:
H - Hang Time With God
A - Accountability With Another Believer
B - Bible Memorization
I - Involvement In The Church Body
T - Tithing You Time and Resource
S - Studying Scripture

As we come into this New Year, talk to your children about the ways in which they are living their lives for Christ.

Here are some more ideas:

• Do a bible study with your children.
• Memorize a Bible verse with them.
• Serve in the church along side them.
• Pray with them.
  

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We Are Cross-Culture Missionaries

The Center for Parent & Youth Understanding was born out of one Youth Leader's interest in culture and his church's parents desire to know more about the culture that their children where living in. As we get older, we naturally get farther and farther removed from the culture that teenage adolescents are immersed in. So we need some way of understanding what they are going through. CPYU and Walt Meuller have dedicated years to equipping parents and youth ministers to "Talk With" teenagers and help them develop into the Godly men and women they were created to be.

I am convenced, like Meuller, that as youth ministers and parents, we are called to be Cross-Cultural Missionaries, understanding the world that teenagers live in so that we can use God's Truth to help them along in this world that desires to bring them down.

Check out the CPYU Website for a great resource on Youth Culture or Walt Mueller's latest book that comes highly recommended for parents, "The Space Between Us."

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Do Something...for God

This week we had our first night of our November Series, "Do Something". God challenges us all to do something with the lives he has blessed us with. During this month we will learn that God calls his followers to be "Noticers" of everything that He does and act in the same loving way towards our friends, enemies, frenemies, neighbors, classmates, families, and those we've never met.

Week 1 - Noticing Needs
Week 2 - Overcoming Numbness
Week 3 - Confronting the Afflicted
Week 4 - Made in God's Image

This month we are challenging students and families to "Do Something" by packing shoeboxes for children in need in other countries through Operation Christmas Child. You can get all information by clicking the image to the right. We will be collecting the shoeboxes on November 22nd. Read More!

Most Extreme Makeover of Our Lives

These days everyone is getting makeovers, from new fashionable wardrobes, to plastic surgery, to botox. I don't think this is what God had in mind when he created us in His image. Do we really think we can be more attractive than God? This makeover that God offers us isn't about our look, it's about our heart. It's about the way that we treat ourselves, the way that we treat others, and the way that we treat God. He wants us to be made over to look more and more like Him on a daily basis. The challenge for us is to completely rely on God to change us, because a fashion consultant can't do it, doctors can't do it, and we can't do it on our own. We need God's help.

Here's some questions to start discussion with your teens:
1. Do people at school pick on you for any reason?
2. If they are your enemies what can you do to love them?
3. Who would God say you are? Who is God to you?

Here's some activities you can do with your teens:
1. Let them pick out one outfit for you at a store.
2. Pray with them before they go to school each morning.
3. Have a meal together and talk about the HIs and LOWs of that day. Read More!

God Gives Us a Fresh Start

Since we just started a new school year, and we just moved into a new place, what topic would be more appropriate than God Giving Us a Fresh Start. This is a 4-week series focuses on the basics of our faith like our spiritual identity, salvation, redemption, and forgiveness. Each and every day, God gives us a Fresh Start to follow his lead. The challenge is to allow God to make you a new creation daily so that you may follow him with all of your life. We'll get a chance to make a Fresh Start with each other and with God during this time.

Here's some questions you can ask you teen:
1. What new challenges have you faced entering into this new school year?
2. How would you like God to make you new this year?
3. What is something I can pray for you about?

Here's some activities you can do with your teen:
1. Go to the beach and check out God's beautiful, fresh creation.
2. Tell your teen your testimony and how God gave you a fresh start.
3. Give a plant a fresh start in your back yard or neighborhood.
4. Make a commitment to do something together just the two of you.
(ex. homework, exercise, play a sport, cook dinner for the family, etc.) Read More!