PARENT RESOURCE
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Our Theme Verse But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
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VISION
A movement of disciple-making students changing the world with the Word of God for the glory of God.
PURPOSE
Taylors Students exists to glorify God by lifting high His Word so that middle and high school students become culture-shaping disciple-makers with the Gospel of Jesus.
MISSION
Create an environment of excellence where any student can‌ ENCOUNTER God through worship and the Word. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24 be EQUIPPED as a disciple of Jesus through the Word and authentic relationships. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 ENGAGE people with the Word and become a leader who shapes the culture. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16
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OUR WEEKLY Rhythms
Our student ministry, grades 6-12, meets every Sunday morning and Wednesday night for worship, teaching, fun, and small groups.
SUNDAYS WEDNESDAYS
9:15 - 10:15 am
6:15 - 7:45 pm
OUR ENVIRONMENTS
There are three environments for students in our ministry. Each one is designed to strategically invite students on a journey into deeper relationships with Jesus, their leaders, and their peers. These are also designed with every student in mind — those who have grown up in church as well as first-time guests.
EVENTS Throughout the year, we will host larger events designed to help students connect with Christ, their peers, and their leaders. Events are often the environment where students will walk into our ministry for the very first time. Four of these events are our cornerstone events, which you can find on our dates and rates document.
RHYTHMS Our weekly rhythms occur every single week. They are designed to help students grow in the four spiritual habits on which we want to focus (we will get to those in a minute).
GROUPS Life Groups and Small Groups are two of the most important gatherings in our student ministry. They are a part of our weekly rhythms, but the relationships built in these groups extend outside the walls of our church. They are designed to connect every student with a consistent trustworthy adult, and community of their peers.
Jesus’ concern was not with programs to reach the multitudes, but with men whom the multitudes would follow. Robert E. Coleman
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OUR Core Values
GOD’S WORD
It’s alive
The Bible is the foundation of our faith, full of grace and truth. It is God’s message to transform the lives of His people. • All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 • For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. — Hebrews 4:12 • If we want to know the Glory of God, if we want to experience the beauty of God, and if we want to be used by the hand of God, then we must LIVE in the WORD of God.” — David Platt
RELATIONSHIPS
You are not meant to do life alone
Jesus didn’t do life alone, so why would we? We need an authentic community of believers who will challenge and encourage us to walk with Jesus. • Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. — Hebrews 10:24-25 • And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. — Ecclesiastes 4:12 • “A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
EVANGELISM
Found people find people
Jesus cares about the lost. If we love Him, then we will care for those He cares about. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more time we will spend talking about Jesus. • For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. — Luke 19:10 • Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. — Matthew 28:19 • “Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.” — Charles Spurgeon 6
DISCIPLESHIP
God doesn’t save anyone He doesn’t change
Discipleship isn’t a program or event, it is the way of life we were created for. • And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. — 2 Timothy 2:2 • Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. — Matthew 28:20 • “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
LEADERSHIP
You are not the church of tomorrow, You are the church of today
True culture-shapers are leaders. We believe students can shape the culture today by living with a posture of worship and serving others. • Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say; in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. — 1 Timothy 4:12 • …whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. — Matthew 20:26 • “Jesus’ concern was not with programs to reach the multitudes, but with men whom the multitudes would follow.” — Robert E. Coleman
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DISCIPLING STUDENTS
Do you know the last thing that Jesus said to His followers while He was on earth? We call it The Great Commission: “Go and make disciples.” Duplicate yourselves. Go and make more of you. Take your faith and pass it on to someone else. When we talk about helping students begin to own their faith, we are really just talking about discipleship. So, what is discipleship?
DISCIPLESHIP IS ABOUT LIVING, NOT LEARNING Rather than asking, “What can we teach a student about God?,” we ask, “How can we help a student live out their faith?” It is not just about teaching them about Jesus – it is about modeling what faith in Jesus looks like. That is why we want our groups spending so much time together…because discipleship is not taught in a big room from a stage — it is modeled in everyday life.
DISCIPLESHIP HAPPENS IN COMMUNITY In the Gospels, we rarely see Jesus doing one-on-one discipleship. That is because discipleship happens best in a community of people. That is why we focus so much energy on getting students plugged into consistent small groups, why we emphasize the role of parents and families, and why we surround students with tons of Jesus followers…because discipleship takes community!
DISCIPLESHIP IS A PROCESS Discipleship is never complete because learning to live out our faith is a lifelong process. Since we know discipleship takes time, we want to put people in the lives of teenagers who will invest in students long-term. That is why we expect our leaders to commit to the student ministry long-term.
...and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Timothy 2:22
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PARTNERING WITH PARENTS We believe that, in every student’s life, this is true…
The primary disciple-makers are the parents. Jim Burns, author of Partnering with Parents in Youth Ministry, says this: “Long after students stop attending youth groups, they are still connected to their families.” A student’s family will likely be the biggest influence in their lives. So, it logically would make sense for us to partner with the most powerful, influential people in a student’s life in order to influence their faith. For this reason, Taylors Students is committed to serving, supporting, partnering with, and engaging you, the parents of the student in our ministry.
“Long after students stop attending youth groups, they are still connected to their families.” Jim Burns
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OUR Big Win
It can be difficult to identify when you are winning in student ministry. Is anything we are teaching actually sinking in? Are students really growing in their faith? We have decided to go ahead and define the big win for our ministry. It is the one thing that we, as a ministry team, want to achieve. It is the goal we want to keep in mind at all times. In Student Ministry...
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WE WIN WHEN A STUDENT TAKES A STEP TOWARD OWNING THEIR FAITH. _______________________________________ TAKING A STEP We say “takes a step” for a reason. It is because there is no finish line or certificate of completion when it comes to spiritual growth. Instead, spiritual growth is a life-long journey and no two journeys are identical. That is why our big win does not have anything to do with a specific skill or achievement. Instead, we win anytime we see a teenager take a single step closer to owning their faith.
OWNING THEIR FAITH What, exactly, does it look like for a student to own their faith? We believe there are four spiritual habits that lead to a transformed, Christ-like life. These are the four spiritual habits on which we want to focus. 1. SPEND TIME WITH GOD This is number one for a reason! If students are ever going to make their faith their own, they have to start spending time with God on their own. It means opening the Bible on their own, having conversations with God on their own, and discovering how they best connect with God through worship on their own. 2. SPEND TIME WITH OTHER BELIEVERS Engaging in healthy community can, and should, be a spiritual habit we help our students develop. However, “healthy community” does not just mean “hanging out” with Christians. This spiritual habit is about growing in Christ-like relationships with other believers. 3. USE THEIR GIFTS Students need to know that God made them unique, special, and with specific gifts, talents, passions, and resources. Then, they need to use those gifts to love God, love others, and influence the world around them. When students begin to discover who God made them to be and use their unique identity to love both God and others, they grow. 4. SHARE THEIR STORY Students need to learn how to talk about God. Sharing your story is the spiritual habit of making faith a regular, every day, go-to topic of conversation in our lives. When we talk about God and His place in our story (or more accurately, our place in His story), it helps us believe, helps us understand, and helps us take ownership of our faith. We count it as a win whenever a student takes a step toward owning their faith by practicing one, or maybe even all four, of these spiritual habits. 10
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LEADERS
LEADER EXPECTATIONS EMBRACE VISION – Unifies The Body MODEL CHARACTER – Fruits of the Spirit increasingly evident GUARD TRUTH – Sound understanding and ability to teach Scripture LOVE PEOPLE – Putting the interest of others above our own SHARE JESUS – Fulfills the great commission MULTIPLY LEADERS – Develops and empowers future leaders
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LEADER SAFETY GUIDELINES As a member of our ministry team, it is absolutely essential that leader practice healthy boundaries with students at all times, for the safety of everyone. These guidelines exist to protect students from harm and to protect leaders from false allegations.
NEVER BE ALONE WITH A STUDENT IN A PRIVATE SETTING If you need to have a private conversation with a student, have the conversation in a public place - not behind closed doors or in a room or vehicle alone. Here are some tips to help you navigate this particular guideline... • Do not set up one-on-one meetings with students without the knowledge and consent of their parents. • Avoid initiating one-on-one meetings with students. Allow the student or their parents to be the initiators. • Do not transport a teenager anywhere alone. If a student needs a ride, arrange to have another adult or student ride with you including students of the same gender.
MAINTAIN PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES Be wise. Maintain healthy and safe physical boundaries with students at all times. This means setting boundaries for yourself, but it may also mean setting and enforcing boundaries with any students who push physical limits. If you have any questions about what is or is not appropriate, talk to Josh, and always err on the side of caution.
LOG ELECTRONIC CONVERSATIONS If you find yourself in the midst of a sensitive conversation with a student, keep in mind that words and intentions can be misconstrued — intentionally or unintentionally. Any time you are engaged in a conversation with a student, log your conversations (take screen shots, save text messages, DMs, and emails). This may seem excessive, but if you are ever falsely accused of misconduct from a student or parent, you will be glad you did it.
REPORT DANGEROUS SITUATIONS As a member of our ministry team, you are a mandated reporter. This means you are legally required to report any dangerous or potentially dangerous situations to Josh immediately. Including... • If a teenager is being harmed, neglected, or abused. • If a teenager is harming or abusing someone else. • If a teenager is, or at risk of, harming themselves. 13
MEET The Staff Josh Duncan, Minister of Students I am originally from and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. I am the youngest of four siblings. I have been at Taylors since 2019. I have been married to my wife, Brittany, for 6 years and we have a beautiful 3-year-old daughter, Selah. I love hot sauce and Tom Brady. La Croix is poison, and I’m indifferent towards college football.
Amanda McKenna, Ministry Assistant I am from Taylors and have been at Taylors FBC since I was in the 6th grade. I came to know the Lord as a sophomore in high school and Taylors Students was instrumental in my story. I have been married to Mark for 6 years and we have a precious son, Caleb, who is a year and a half. I love all things Disney, Marvel and Star Wars. La Croix is amazing and GO TIGERS!
COMING Soon
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Middle School Students
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High School Students
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Josh Duncan, Minister of Students joshd@taylorsfbc.org | 864-292-4052 Revised 9/2020
