Well we like to think that we do :)
Not at all. I didn't elaborate on how we actually do things now, which would lead us in to figuring out how we would handle things in the new setup. Currently all of our grade levels meet together and "hang out" together but small groups are broken down by grades. We also do different retreats than are "normal" we do jr. high & sr. high evangelistic weekends and then we do "guys weekend" & "girls weekend" where the registration is open to all grade levels and we use that time to teach the guys and girls about mentoring those younger than them (along with whatever our topic is for that weekend, that year.)
I wonder if the events might be better split. Maybe the high school students would be more willing to invite their friends knowing that they won't be hanging out with 6th & 7th graders.
Mostly it's about keeping things relevant to the ages. We've had a history of noticing that our 6th graders are a world apart from our 8th graders and the same holds true for our 9th graders & 12th graders. Most of the schools from which we draw students do not include 9th grade in the high school and almost all of our 6th graders are still in an elementary school.
I've said for the last few years that once I develop the staff to do it I'm making the switch and moving 4th & 5th grade out of children's ministry and having three groups in the youth ministry. 4,5,6 graders, 7,8,9 graders, & 10,11,12 graders.
It's gotta be top down. As tsmith0095 state, Jesus didn't sit around and get a sense of where the disciples would want to go, Moses didn't go with the consensus vision when the got to a little problem at the Red Sea, the prophets didn't communicate their word based on what the people's "vision" was.
The communication of the vision and implementation of the vision is a whole other matter though.
Tim, you should mention that the film is rated PG-13, so for a lot of us bringing most jr. highers will not go over well with parents anyway. Other than that I'd say your review is right on. I too have seen the film and I am really looking forward to bringing a bunch of sr. high students to it and engaging in conversation after.
Great stuff TIm! I'll just add that I need a computer because rendering video on a phone could take a while :-)
Thanksgiving was great! Got to hang out with my grandmother, my brother & sister-in-law, and my parents!
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