School's Out For Summer!

Well, so far, it's been an awesome summer. VBS rocked! I still find myself singing the songs. Carrie Butler and I led the students (incoming 5th graders through outgoing 8th graders). We had between 45 and 50 each day just in our group alone. Wow, she was a huge help! Thanks Carrie!

Last Wednesday we rented a 12 foot outdoor movie screen and watched Transformers out on the grassy knoll. The students loved it! Thanks Kevin, Richelle, Carrie, and Meagan for helping set up the BIG screen and serving snacks, drinks, and cleaning up!

You may notice how much we appreciate our volunteers. That's because they ARE the backbone to our ministry...any ministry!!!

Reminder: this next Wednesday 6-7:30 is Human Air Hockey. It's one of AMPED's favorite games. Basically we put an enormous tarp in the grass and cover it with baby oil, shampoo, shaving cream, chocolate syrup, and anything else slimy and slippery we can get our hands on. We then take a watermelon (the "puck") and smear vaseline all over it. Two teams line up on each side of the tarp. When I call their number, members from each team rush out and try to score the "puck" through their goal.

AMPED and parents: Don't forget about "Just Lunch" at Sandy's on Thursday, July7 from noon to 1 p.m. Yes, it is what the title says: Just Lunch. It's a way for us leaders to meet with the students off the church campus to see how their summer is going, what they're up to, etc.

Wednesday, July 20 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. we are going to be serving at the Evansville Christian Life Center. Personally, I am most excited about this event. This will give our students the opportunity to serve the less fortunate in our own community and see that there are many people in need all around us.

We will be leaving for our summer mission trip to Newport, TN on July 31 and returning August 5. The average household income in the state of Tennessee is 43,000 a year. The city of Newport is just half that. While there, we will be hosting a kids club for two days to minister to younger children and also doing home projects for the locals the other two days. Please keep AMPED in your prayers, as this will be an eye-opening trip!

Jackie and I have been meeting with our small group leaders for this fall, and they are on fire! Parents, your kids will be in good hands with these leaders! We have also started a student leadership program. We've only chosen two students to start with. After all, this is new to us as well. The goal of AMPED is to make disciples that make disciples. We have been watching for about the last 6 months or so, and the two we chose to start with have shown very good leadership capabilities. These include: good attendance to class and events, serving others, having a good attitude, praying and speaking up during lessons, and, of course, love for Jesus and giving Him their time daily. We have given them some material to study throughout the summer and are meeting with them periodically to touch base with them. We are very excited about this!

And finally, the LOUDHOUSE Back-to-School Bash is Sunday, August 21 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. We will be grilling out, having blowups, and worshiping Jesus. I'm stoked for this because each Sunday evening after this, we will be having LOUDHOUSE weekly! This will be AMPED's very own church service. We will be beginning and ending with worship as well as a sermon given by your's truly each week. We will also be taking up an offering.

Sorry for the novel. There is just so much going on in AMPED and at The GBC! The best is yet to come!
Love. Grow. Serve.

Bart Wagner
Student Minister
students@thegbc.net