Dear Parents, As we continue our series on building solid spiritual habits, we will be spending this fourth weekend talking about Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and the value of good, healthy friendships. It takes time and energy to build and keep friendships.…
Author: Mike
January 16-22, 2021
Dear Parents, This week we’re continuing our series titled HABITS. Each week, we’re discussing specific habits that help students in 5th-8th grades become more like Jesus as they follow him. In this third lesson, we will be looking at Luke…
January 9-15, 2021
Dear Parents, Last week we launched a new series with our 5th-8th graders, titled HABITS. (Read more here or watch the teaching here.) Each week, we’re looking at a different habit that will help our students establish healthy patterns as…
January 2-8, 2021
Dear Parents, We’re launching a new series with our 5th-8th graders, titled HABITS. Every person in this world has a mix of good habits and bad habits. Our good habits might help us stay healthy, make wise choices, or be…
Recommended Bibles for Preteens and Middle Schoolers
We have three different print Bibles we recommend for students as their "default" Bible. Girls Life Application Study Bible NLT We recommend this for girls age 10-12. This Bible for girls includes over 800 Life Application notes plus Foundations for…
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Wacky Weekend – September 12/13, 2020
If you're not familiar with one of our "Wacky Weekends," here's the quick explanation: this is a weekend where we usually don't tell you what we have planned but we do tell you it's not a weekend you want to…
Middle School Ministry Small Groups
Evaluation As we have been honestly evaluating our Middle School Ministry, here are the challenges that keep bubbling to the surface: Students, (and their families), are inconsistent at how often they participate in our weekend services and which service they…
Language
In the mid to late 2000's, a preteen ministry was formed at Mount Pleasant Christian Church and was called "fifty-six" to designate that it included fifth and sixth grade students. In 2007, I (Mike Sheley), came on staff as the…
Logos
With this school year, we are shifting from "fifty-six" and "seventy8" into "Middle School Ministry - MSM" with the alternate "mpcc5678". "Middle School Ministry" is the better terminology that is easier for verbal communication. Simultaneously "mpcc 5678" clarifies in the…
QUESTIONING FAITH: HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR TEEN IN A CRISIS OF FAITH
In adolescence, teenagers develop a new way of thinking: the ability to understand abstract concepts. This growth brings about questions. Lots of questions…about everything, including their faith. And as teenagers question their faith, parents can feel uncertain, even scared. Because…
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