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Theme of the night!
Our students can get caught up in trying to fill the “boredom” that we feel in life with various “thrills” and “adventures” but often it doesn’t bring the satisfaction we were looking for.

Jon stated three tendencies that we fall into in regard to boredom
We desire to worship, We forget experiences, We search for new gods
Here are 3 questions to follow up with your student about!
1. In the story Jon shared from exodus 32 the people got bored and built a calf, How do you fill your “bored” time
2. When was a time you felt like you had purpose in your life?
3. What made that time not boring?

Next week we are meeting a little bit early at Genesis and headed to our TROY campus to join all edge campuses.

Thanks for partnering with our ministry!
-Justin

We identified 3 barriers that hold us back from experiencing the Love of Jesus that allows for freedom.
1.Secrecy (instead of having vulnerability)
2.Believing Lies (instead of hearing truth)
3.Depending on Self (instead of Trusting Jesus)

Here are 3 questions to follow up with.
1.What did you think of Angela’s Story? How did it surprise you about what people are going through and what assumptions you make about them?
There are two parts to her story, her struggle and then God’s REDEMPTION!
Part 1

Part 2

2.What Barrier most resonates with you?
3.How can we as parents encourage an environment of Vulnerability, Encouraging you with Truth and continuing to focus upon Trusting Jesus?
a.I would HEAVILY ENCOURAGE LISTENING AND NOT REACTING TO THIS QUESTION… you may be surprised, there may be hurts and sensitivities but I believe this will allow for more opportunity for growth than anything else.

My hope is that as a community, edge, leaders and parents; we would be fighting for vulnerable relationships that encourage truth to combat lies and that focuses upon trusting Christ instead of our own talents & abilities.

If you have any questions please email me at justin.warns@kensigntonchurch.org

Thanks
Justin

Here are a few questions that may help your dialogue.
1. What was it like driving from the Airport to Mission of Hope? (what did you see, what surprised you?)
2. I heard the Tuesday evening church service was different… how was it different, what stood out about the way the Haitian people worshipped?
3. What were the village prayer times like? Who were some of the people you met? what was their home like?
4. What did you think of Leveque (the houses that were painted)? What was so unique about the deaf community there?
5. What was your most memorable moment?

These were all questions our team dialogued about! They will be great to get a perspective.
Finally, I would challenge your main desire of follow up to ask the following questions.
What was the impact on your faith? How do you feel your relationship with Jesus changed? And what have you decided to walk away doing differently?

I hope that you get to hear the joy and hope that we saw in the midst of destruction. Your kids were awesome! They worked hard, engaged with kids and prayed for the broken. My Prayers is that you would get a glimpse of their trip and potentially it would challenge your faith as it has ours!

Thanks
Justin

Hello!
This is Claudia Greening, a student on the trip this week. I personally have been completely changed by this experience. Haiti is an incredible nation that has been tormented by a lot of bad situations, but blessed by places like Mission of Hope and the positive attitude of so many of the citizens here. We experienced several small Haitian villages this week, all with different situations- from a deaf community (the only one in Haiti) to a village called Leveque, that has seen a complete turn around since the earthquake of 2010. I have seen the people who are living with conditions most Americans (including myself) couldn’t even dream of who have so much hope for the future, so much faith in God and his plans for them. It is so inspiring to see, but as I reflect on the week, as well as plan for my future, it has become very difficult for me to imagine my life back home. Am I going to remember to look of so many of these kid’s faces when we picked them up? Am I going to remember what the homes of Haitian villages looked like? Am I going to be able to relay these messages that I have personally experienced here? I hope I can do all of that, and I have faith that I will be able to- but the journey, so far, has been tough. When I come back to America, I hope I am just able to speak the words of God that I saw this week, I hope that I am able to think twice about complaining about a math test, and I hope I can recognize how blessed we all truly are. Here in Haiti, there is no sign of negativity- everyone seems to have a smile on their face and hope in their heart (with a few notable exceptions). But for the most part, people are so grateful to see us and just talk- we don’t need to save them from Haiti, but to experience what they have experienced (whether that be their faith, their children, their pet donkey, everything and anything). I’m excited to bring that hope home with me, through my messages and what I am able to accomplish through the changes within myself. I’m not quite sure I know what that’s going to look like yet, and that will certainly be the biggest challenge for me. But despite the difficulties ahead- I will use the challenges I faced this week (from the language barrier to having to put a 2 year old child down after carrying her for two hours) to further what God tells me to share. I truly believe that this experience has changed our entire team for the better, and that we will continue to grow stronger and share louder- making an impact on those around us, while sharing our stories.

Hey Friends and Family,

This is Ryan Scheidemantel, a leader here on the trip as well as the resident moral booster and joke teller, and this is going to be the first of a few blog posts written by the members of our team. We’ve been here for a bit over 48 hours now and even in that time God has been working in the lives of our students and leaders, as well as those of the Haitian people. We have met some amazing people and you will hear about that from our students during these posts. What I have also seen, and am amazed by is the beauty of this country. The land is gorgeous; there are mountains, hills, and miles of water, but what is most beautiful is the joy and spirit found in the Haitian people. Now I want to leave it up to some of our students to tell you more about them.

Hey, this is Bryce McClelland, sophomore at Lahser High School. Haiti so far is incredibly hot and while we are all complaining about how we “have” to wear too much clothes, the locals are perfectly comfortable in either jeans and a long sleeve or just nothing at all which seems to be a favorite clothing style for young boys. The people here are so happy despite their position contrary to typical Americans who are hardly happy in any economic position. The language barrier is sometimes tough to work past especially when trying to dialogue with people about Jesus. Earlier today (Monday) we tried to have a conversation with a woman named Rosetta through a translator. Contrary to what the bright one-toothed smile that welcomed us into her home, Rosetta’s story was heartbreaking. She lived in a house with her children and grandchildren no bigger than my living room and had arthritis in her knees to the point where she hasn’t left that place for years. She explained to us that she was even there when the earthquake hit and she just wants her home to be fixed because it was damaged during the disaster. When we asked if she knew Jesus she said that she went to a church for a while but didn’t feel accepted there and she was not interested in what we had to say. It was a bit challenging to understand but we believe that she was angry at God because of her situation but we prayed over her nonetheless, something she did not seem to appreciate. But even though this woman was at least 70 years old, the holy spirit still can work through her. So if you folks state-side could pray for Rosetta like we are, that would be great.

Hey, it’s Mickayla Brown freshman at Royal Oak High. This week so far has been so amazing. The small groups are becoming so close and everyone is loving everyone. The little kids I’ve met so far have been so blessed with knowing Jesus at this young age and knowing the great power he has and that they all are loved by him. Tonight I’ve never felt more loved in my life. Opening up with my small group felt so great and getting on that new level with these kids and leaders is reassuring knowing I’m not alone in my walk with Jesus. These little kids really are showing me how great I have it back at home and how amazing family really is. Not only the little kids but older women have told us how they’ve always known Jesus and it made me over joyed when they said we could pray for them. I feel most powerful in prayer when I’m praying for someone who is in a great need but still loves Jesus so much. Their love for God and Jesus is so great and powerful it helps me know I never need to feel like I need to turn away from God or Jesus when things don’t go right or even when I’m going through a really tough time. The Haitians have taught me more then what I can show them. The hope they have is amazing and I really can’t wait to bring it back to everyone around me. Keep us all in your prayers and wish us the best for the rest of the week!

Hey, it’s Savannah Dupin senior at Seaholm high school. The first two days of this trip have shown me that God’s plans for me are so much bigger and greater than my plans for myself. I have always known that I connect best with God through serving other people and it has taken a trip like this and a few previous ones to teach me to trust him in all things. We have had three small groups so far and I am amazed by how many different stories are represented in our small group of nine and how those differences can somehow bring us all together. Being in Haiti is not all about blessing the Haitian people, it is also about the blessing they are to us and the blessing that we can choose to be to each other and continue to be when we return home. This week has been the first time I have deeply connected with one child in particular. Here at the orphanage on MOH Haiti’s campus there is a boy named Piere who is three years old but is still in diapers and needs to have his head supported and be cared for just like a newborn baby. Since I met him on Saturday evening I have visited him whenever possible. We sing Every Move I Make and I have taught him to say I love you in English. He is a very smart boy in a small, underdeveloped body. There is currently a family trying to adopt him but it is a long process. My prayers have revolved around this boy and his family. It is the first time my heart has ever been continually broken for one human being in particular and I don’t even know how to handle it. I love to hold and love on Piere and I know that he is making more of an impact on my life than I am on his. Please keep him in your prayers so that he may have a family who can provide him the medical and emotional attention that he needs. This is only the beginning and we are experiencing amazing things!

1. We have a Baptism Service at Kensington Birmingham on May 6th coming up. We want to invite your students, as they have made decisions to follow Christ, to take the next step and get baptized. We believe baptism is a symbol of their decision and we want you to be part of that day. Come join us that morning and experience one of the most celebrated moments of a students life!
You can get more information and sign up for baptism at Kensingtonchurch.org/baptism

2. This Summer Edge is going to NTS CAMP. Our Teaching Pastor, Clint Dupin, helped launch this camp a decade ago and we are excited to be part of it this year. Here is a video of last year.

NTS Camp FAME 2011 from NTS Camp on Vimeo.

The camp is filled with fun, challenge, community and great opportunities to experience a camp that is unlike others! We will join our Middle School ministry Breakaway and head out together.
The dates are July 16-20th and the estimated cost right now is $399 including transportation!
We will have informations meetings on April 15th and 22nd on Sunday morning following the 1030am service at Birmingham. We are inviting you to come hear more about the camp and to answer any question that you may have!

Those are the announcements!!! Here are a few follow up questions and ideas.

Last night we talked about the most interesting death of Jesus, where we talked about the greatest sacrifices always displays the greatest loves, here are a few follow up questions!

1. What sacrifices have you seen in our family or in your life that has left an impact?
2. Here is a verse we studied: 2 corinthians 5:21 – God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
a. What is so interesting about Jesus’ death?
3. Does Jesus’ sacrifice change how you and I live? (maybe take some time to talk about when you first asked this question, what were you worried about letting go? What helped you get over that?)

Our hope is that this service and discussion would lead right into Easter Services at Kensington. Come check out what this season of hope really looks like!
You can get tickets at http://kensingtoneaster.com/
Check out the trailer here:

“Reverse the Irreversible” Easter 2012 Trailer from Kensington on Vimeo.

HAPPY EASTER!!!!! Have a great spring break!

Here is the video that we shot on the streets of RO. Check out peoples reactions to hanging out with Obama, Justin Bieber, Eminem and Jesus!

This is what makes Jesus interesting, no matter what people believe you can tell their is an interest in the opportunity to hang with him! This is 2000 yrs after he walked the Earth!!!

Friday Night MOS from Edge Video on Vimeo.

Here are a few questions to dialogue with your students about their edge experience!
1. What or who is your main influence in your faith?
2. we used the statement our “CONNECTIONS INFLUENCE our DIRECTION” – What are you connecting (people or things) to right now that is the main influence of your life?
3. If Jesus, who from the video we can see people are interested in just hanging with him, connected first with his Father – How can we begin to shape our time around that same connection?
4. this is more of a challenge than a question: how does the Lord’s Prayer reflect Jesus’ connection with God and his model for us to connect with God too?
– Here is the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.

Next week, we are talking about the interesting relationship with people that Jesus had with Dan Sadlier as the guest teacher. Be sure to come back and hear what he has to say about how unique Jesus’ relationship with others was and why we are still talking about it!

Have a great week!!

We meet Sunday Nights from 6:30pm – 830pm at Genesis Church in Downtown Royal Oak – 309 N. Main Street.

Come check it out!