College Community Group Fall 2008 UPDATE

A Note from Misty:

Welcome back, students!

For those who have not yet heard, our College-Age Community Group is moving to Monday nights starting on September 29, 2008. Our Tuesday night effort failed this semester when I learned that about half of those who would have liked to attend had classes on Tuesday nights! Also, you may have heard Pastor Don (or Big P) during his sermons in the past couple of weeks talking about small groups. He is recruiting leaders as I type this, and he wants a number of small groups to be offered beginning in October. Since our Tuesday night study died anyway, we decided to just cancel and start over again.

SO

On Monday night, September 29th, we will again begin our college-age small-group effort. This group will be a non-"couple", coed college-age community group. That basically covers anyone between 18 and 26ish who is in college, a graduate, or a career-oriented person within the same age range. Also, to clarify, it is okay if couples attend, but the study will not be based on coupley-type issues. Also, we are looking to offer some gender-specific community groups in the future. I believe those are still in the making, but when they become available, you will be notified, in case you are interested.

On September 29th, meet at my house at 7:00 PM.


This will be an "Introduction" session to our small group venture. I will feed you dinner. Notice that we will be meeting an hour earlier than usual, because I don't want you to have to wait until 8:00 PM to eat dinner. Please send an email to mistylynnfoster@gmail.com, if you plan to attend. Let me know if you'll be eating, so I'll have enough food. This meal will be free to anyone, but if you want to contribute a few bucks, you may do so. Also, if you want to bring a drink or a side item, let me know. This first meeting will just be an informal and fun time. We will not start the study until the following Monday. This will give us a chance to relax and have some down time with one another.

THEN

On Monday night, October 6th at 8:00 PM, we will begin the study "Where Faith and Culture Meet." This is an intriguing study on the Church's role and responsibility to get involved with our culture and how to offer a positive AND RELEVANT counter-culture, and NOT perpetuate the self-sustaining sub-culture we've created over the last 50 years that has rendered the Church almost completely irrelevant to the vast majority of those who live within our culture. (Notice, I said the Church, not the Gospel.) Culture. I just wanted to say it one more time. Hahaha!!

If you have no idea what I just said... you should come and check out the Bible study!! On the other hand, if you totally understand what I just said and would like to discuss more about it, then you come on out, too. :) The study is comprised of a short DVD presentation to get us started, followed by a series of intriguing discussion questions. This community group will be held weekly at my house at 8:00 PM.

If you have questions, need directions or whatever, give me a call at 850-273-2741.

~Misty Lynn Foster


P.S. This semester, we are trying something a little bit different. Instead of a week-to-week Bible study, I would like us to concern ourselves with building relationship and community almost as much as we concern ourselves with learning. For that reason, we will be staggering two back-to-back weeks of Bible study, followed by one week of something fun where we can just hang out and get to know each other. You can find the schedule for the first Bible study below.

09/29/2008 - Introduction to small group, FREE dinner provided - 7:00 PM @ Misty's

10/06/2008 - Faith and Culture: Session 1 - 8:00 PM @ Misty's
10/13/2008 - Faith and Culture: Session 2 - 8:00 PM @ Misty's

10/20/2008 - Fun Night: Bowling - 7:45 PM @ Capital Lanes

10/27/2008 - Faith and Culture: Session 3 - 8:00 PM @ Misty's
11/03/2008 - Faith and Culture: Session 4 - 8:00 PM @ Misty's

11/10/2008 - Fun Night: ROCK BAND!!! - 8:00 PM @ Misty's

11/17/2008 - Faith and Culture: Session 5 - 8:00 PM @ Misty's
11/24/2008 - Faith and Culture: Session 6 - 8:00 PM @ Misty's

12/01/2008 - Fun Night: Dinner @ Pitaria - 7:00 PM, Playing pool @ Halligan's - 8:00 PM

College Community Group Fall 2008

A Note from Misty:

Welcome back, students!!! I hope that you enjoyed your summer, wherever it was spent. Those who stayed back in Tallahassee enjoyed a break from our "hardcore" Bible study... ;) ... and we spent many a fun Tuesday night doing things such as playing Rock Band, putt-putt golfing, or just hanging out and watching movies. But now, it is time to get back down to business!!

Tonight, we begin part one of a 6-session study on the Church and its role and responsibility to get involved with our culture and how to offer a positive AND RELEVANT counter-culture, and NOT perpetuating the self-sustaining sub-culture we've created over the last 50 years that has rendered the Church almost completely irrelevant to the vast majority of those who live within our culture. (Notice, I said the Church, not the Gospel.) Culture. I just wanted to say it one more time. Hahaha!!

If you have no idea what I just said... you should come out tonight and check out the Bible study!! On the other hand, if you totally understand what I just said and would like to discuss more about it, then come on out. :)

We begin tonight, Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 8:00 PM. Each week, we will go one hour. The study is comprised of a short DVD presentation to get us started, followed by a series of intriguing discussion questions. This community group will be held weekly at my house. My address is:

3363 Argonaut Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32312

Find me here:
Map to Misty's House

If you have questions, need directions or whatever, give me a call at 850-273-2741.

~Misty Lynn Foster


P.S. This semester, we are trying something a little bit different. Instead of a week-to-week Bible study, I would like us to concern ourselves with building relationship and community almost as much as we concern ourselves with learning. For that reason, we will be staggering two back-to-back weeks of Bible study, followed by one week of something fun where we can just hang out and get to know each other. You can find the schedule for the first Bible study below.

09/02/2008 - Church and Culture: Session 1 - 8:00 PM
09/09/2008 - Church and Culture: Session 2 - 8:00 PM

09/16/2008 - Fun Night: Bowling - 7:45 PM

09/23/2008 - Church and Culture: Session 3 - 8:00 PM
09/30/2008 - Church and Culture: Session 4 - 8:00 PM

10/07/2008 - Fun Night: ROCK BAND!!! - 8:00 PM

10/14/2008 - Church and Culture: Session 5 - 8:00 PM
10/21/2008 - Church and Culture: Session 6 - 8:00 PM

10/28/2008 - Fun Night: Dinner @ Pitaria - 7:00 PM, Playing pool at Halligan's - 8:00 PM

Youth Wednesday Evening Community Group

This summer the youth ministry at Parkway will start meeting in homes around town. With the pending sell of our building and the desire to utilize a more missional approach to ministry, I fell this to be a positive step. Speaking very practically, when we sell the building we will have to meet in homes, there will simply be no alternative. Likewise, meeting in homes plants or ministerial efforts closer to the culture in which we minister. We have already seen success with home based community groups during the spring semester. Now is as good a time as any to begin a full-scale transition from meeting once at the church building to meeting multiple times in the community.

How will we do this, you likely ask? Here is the plan. Beginning Wednesday June 4 at 6:00 in the evening, we will be having a youth (grade 6 – grade 12) community group at my house. The next week there will be another youth community group at Misty’s house. Now, what you are about to read is quite important, read carefully. With this new plan the intention is that we get out into the community, be closer to the students of Tallahassee. While we are starting with just two houses I hope to see this grow. It begins with Misty’s and my house because our two houses are both easily available for use and just happen to be centrally located in the north and south of town. Now, I realize that if you live in the east and west of town you might be thinking, “great, this helps me none.” You are correct; it is equally difficult to get to my house, Misty’s house, and the church building for you. Do not forget, however, there is no reason that a community group cannot be established in your part of town, maybe even your house if there are enough people interested in coming. Again the goal is to get out in our community. We want to see new people and give them a place to discuss spiritual maters and at the same time make new friends.

Now, logistics; beginning Wednesday June 4 we meet at my house at 6:00 pm to study session 1 of our summer study. The next week, Wednesday June 11 we will meet at Misty’s house, again studying session 1 of the same study. The week following, June 18, we meet at my house to study session 2, June 25 is at Misty’s for session 2, July 2 is at My house with session 3, and on and so forth. It is not intended for the same students to meet every week for bible study. Though you are welcomed to come to both, it might be better to use the time in other ways which I shall discuss later.

The every other week cycle might be a little confusing. It is meant to aid with the transition to the new community group concept. When school begins next fall I hope that we can bring more community groups on line and ultimately fall in to a regular weekly schedule. For the summer I am thinking that a two-week schedule will be a bit easier to handle, helping us get the process down and make the necessary adjustments. Also, we might find that the off week is a nice time to get together to swim, watch a movie, play some form of sport at the park, maybe cook a meat, some how find ways to engage our culture.

Also, feel free to comment on this article or email me with questions or concerns.

Click for Map to my house (Remember I live in apartment 78).
Click for Map to Misty’s house.

July 12 Wakulla Family Day

The Parkway Student Ministry has a Wakulla springs family day planned. The date for this latest incarnation of the student ministry family day will be Saturday July 12, starting at 10:30 and wrapping up at 3:30. However, this latest family day extravaganza will be a bit different. While we will still cook food for you, this year you will have to pay for it. Not to worry, you can still come if you do not wish to eat the food we cook; it is perfectly permissible for you to bring your own food. The cost for the food I cook will be $4.00 per person, it will be better than McDonalds and that is the only place, besides our picnic at Wakulla Springs on Saturday July 12, you can eat for $4.00. If you plan to come please to put your name on the list. There are two ticket options: Would Like to Eat and Will Not Eat/Bring my own food. Make your choice, if you would like to eat the food we cook bring your money and pay at the picnic.

This event is open to all students (middle school, high school, and college), their parents and family, and student ministry volunteers. The idea is for everyone even remotely related to the student ministry at Parkway Baptist Church (student attendees of The Well, our various student bible study attendees, youth and college Sunday school attendees, and other students who attend or interact with our ministry in some way) to feel welcomed to come and if they wish bring their family for a big picnic and fellowship. Come to eat, meet friends, swim, take the boat tour, or otherwise get to know new people and hang out.

Please note: students and parents are welcomed and if parents come with their students then younger non-youth aged siblings are welcomed. But, non-youth aged siblings should not come without mom or dad.

Good Job Students

We normally run anywhere between 9 and 15 students on a typical Wednesday evening. On a recent Wednesday evening we ended up with 14 students in Bible study. That was good, but what really impressed me were the rolls we took that night for the other two Bible study classes we had that week. On Tuesday evening there are two Bible studies; one for middle school girls and one for college students. That week the college group had 10 students and the middle school girls had 8. By adding up the three classes there were 32 class members, comprised of 27 different individuals at three different bible studies on two different nights one week. I was impressed.
Being that we rarely ever see more that 15 students at any single bible study, my interest was peeked. I counted the total number of individuals we had in any small group Bible study that particular week, including Sunday school and our weeknight studies. Between three Sunday school classes, two Tuesday night classes and one Wednesday night classes we had 40 students made up of 35 individuals in our various youth and college classes.
While it looks like I might be bragging. More so, I am advertising. This is what goes on in the student ministry. But, keep this in mind; the classes that reach the most students outside of our immediate crowd are completely student lead. I help where I can, I provide guidance and help keep us all moving in the same direction, but the students do the legwork. The middle school girl’s class and the college class routinely interact with new people. So, if I am bragging, I am bragging on those students. They are on their respective campuses, rubbing elbows, striking conversations and inviting folks into community.
Each number is a life, a life that interacts with untold numbers of other lives. Students, you are doing a good job. Reach out, love, and obey Christ. Who knows who we will be counting in six months?

Halo 3 Tournament

Here you go Halo 3 fans. The long discussed Halo 3 tournament details:

Friday May 2 at 6:00 pm at Parkway.

There will be two ways to play, there will be a classic slayer bracket (no teams) and a multi-flag team bracket.
Both brackets will be double elimination, with best two players move up in slayer bracket.

Slayer rules:
Four opponents per game.
Top two move to next round.
Map defaults will be used.
Maps will be determined prior to event.
Game ends at 25 kills.
Final game will play to 50 kills with game place determining slayer tournament place.

Multi-Flag Team rules:
Map defaults will be used.
Maps will be determined prior to event.
Teams will consist of at least two but not more than four members.
You may field teams prior to the event or you will be placed at the tournament.
Three possessions wins.

You must sign up before Wednesday April 30.
Please note, we cannot make any guarantees as to television quality or size, if you have one you would like to use and you do not mind sharing you are welcomed to bring it. Also, we must supply our own xbox 360s and Halo 3 discs. This is by no means a CPL or MLG caliber event. I mean, right now there are no prizes.
ALSO PLEASE NOTE: The intent of this tournament is competitive, but by no means professional. This tournament is intended for players of all skill levels. Competition is encouraged, but maturity and sportsmanship are required.


(If you need the password, please email me)

College Sunday School Adjustments

College Sunday school will undergo a few changes. Beginning Sunday April 6 we will introduce some new options for the college, young adult, young professional, single, newly wed, thinking about getting married, not in college but not old enough to go anywhere else crowd.

We sense a need to broaden the scope of the college aged Sunday school. So, we will begin a new style of class. Now, instead of there being only Amanda’s class, we will offer two other discussion groups following a large group introduction of the week’s topic of discussion. For the first month I will introduce the week’s discussion topic, and you will have the option to sit at a table with Amanda, Kathy McLaughlin, or myself to discuss the weeks topic in greater detail.

At the same time we are starting some new fellowships. The first fellowship is planned; lunch after church on Sunday April 20 at my apartment’s social room. Also, we will be having men and ladies only fellowships on a regular basis too. We have found there to be a desire for these single sex fellowships. Amanda and Kathy will be working on a women’s fellowship and I am currently working to schedule a men’s time.

We plan to address the needs of a broadening demographic of students and young professionals with this effort. We invite you to come Sunday April 6 to experience this new concept.