POG Student Ministries

New Summer Series: ONE PRAYER 2010

2010-06-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, June 13th, we will be starting our new Summer series called ONE PRAYER. In John 17, Jesus prayed that His followers would join together and be ONE, just as He and God are ONE. That is the heartbeat behind ONE PRAYER... That churches and Christ-followers from literally across the globe would come together and learn, pray, give and serve, not for their glory or to promote their church, but simply to love like Jesus.

For this series we will join with over 10,000 other churches, with a combined attendance of over 1 million people to lift Him high. We will hear from some of the most influential pastors in America, (and even one that has a funny accent) and be challenged to become UNSTOPPABLE! We hope that you will join us for this incredible series experience!

Move Up Weekend!

2010-06-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

Don't Miss this weekend! It's the first week of Summer and it is always a blast! For Junior Highers (new 6th - 8th graders) the new 6th graders will be welcomed into Student Ministries and get to experience The Spark for the first time! After The Spark we will have a Move Up Party to celebrate the beginning of Summer and to welcome the new incoming 6th graders to The Spark. This party is from 12:00-2:00p out on the front lawn of Point of Grace and is for all new 6th-8th graders! Join us for tons of free food (Shane's Rib Shack!), fun games, prizes, great music and tons of water slides and inflatables! Bring an appetite, a swimsuit and a friend!

And then, from 3:00-5:00p is the 4ORTY 2WO Move Up Party to welcome the new Freshmen to 4ORTY 2WO! Join us for tons of free food (Shane's Rib Shack!), fun games, prizes, great music and tons of water slides and inflatables! Bring an appetite, a swimsuit and a friend! This party is also out on the front lawn of Point of Grace and is for all new 9-12th graders and graduating seniors! After the Move Up Party, we will have 4ORTY 2WO, where we welcome new freshman and celebrate what God is doing in the lives of our graduating Seniors! Its going to be an incredible weekend that you will not want to miss!

No Student Services This Weekend!

2010-03-30T13:13:00.001-07:00

Due to the Easter holiday, we will not be having The Spark or 4ORTY 2WO this Sunday, April 4th. We hope that you enjoy this weekend to celebrate Jesus' resurrection as a family. We will resume The Spark and 4ORTY 2WO on Sunday April 11th, with a weekend that you will not want to miss, as we wrap up our Invisible Kingdom series! Have a great weekend!

30 Hour Famine!

2010-03-26T04:36:00.000-07:00

Don't forget! 30 Hour Famine is today (Friday, March 26th) from 8am until 3p tomorrow (Saturday, March 27th)! Be sure that you eat breakfast before 8am & then only drinks water and juice after (We recommend Apple Juice, not anything citrus... Its easier on the stomach!)! Then we meet @ church for all the fun stuff tonight 6pm! If you haven't filled out a permission slip, they will be available at the door. The cost for this event is free, however you will only be allowed to bring 3 (three) personal items in with you. For example, a clean shirt, deodorant and a pillow. (Medications, glasses/contacts, or specific needed items do not count as 1 of the 3 items. Can't wait to see you tonight for the 30 Hour Famine. Students, You can change the world!

Purity Celebration - Friday, April 9, 2010

2010-03-09T09:53:00.001-08:00

On Friday, April 9th, 2010, we will be hosting an incredible night of celebration and inspiration, as students pledge themselves to pursuing purity in their sexuality. This will be a great night for parents to stand with their students and express their words of challenge and encouragement and for students to be honored for making this promise. For more information, to learn how to have your student/family involved, or to buy tickets, please visit the Student Zone or contact us at students@pointofgrace.com or call the church office at 515.987.9595. You will not want to miss out on this incredible evening for your student and your whole family!

NO 4ORTY 2WO TONIGHT!! (2/7/10)

2010-02-07T11:36:00.000-08:00

No 4ORTY 2WO tonight because of the snow storm. Stay safe and see you next week for the beginning of our new series on dating and sexual purity called "PURE."

Chick Night 2010 Is This Friday!

2010-02-03T16:04:00.000-08:00

Chick Night 2010!
Ladies, Chick Night is THIS Friday, February 5th through Saturday, February 6th! Student Ministry presents an event for GIRLS ONLY! (Sorry guys...) Through fun videos, engaging discussion, lots of fun games and activities, and meaningful interaction between students and adult women of all ages and life stages, our goal is to help you feel comfortable in your own skin and know how to survive and thrive as you navigate through adolescence. And it's a ton of fun! Grab a permission slip from the Student Zone, and get signed up! The cost is $10, but any new girl friend you bring gets in FREE! It's going to be a phenomenal event that you will not want to miss out on! Contact Katie at 515.987.9595 ext. 122 or email her at katie@pointofgrace.com for more information.

Give to the Victims in Haiti this Weekend...

2010-01-14T09:27:00.001-08:00

The images coming in from Haiti are truly horrific (which is why we chose the image above).

It’s easy to watch an hour of CNN and be left worse than when you started. That level of intensity and catastrophe can tend to lead us down one of two paths:

A numbed sense of powerlessness and detachment
or
A harried sense of temporary responsive activism

We are praying instead that God leads us and leads you to a God Given, Holy Spirit Driven, Sustainable and Responsible Response that reflects the way of Jesus.

We are asking that you

Pray Now (For those suffering, for those serving, for families, new orphans, new widows)
Give Some (This weekend, bring some money to The Spark or 4ORTY 2WO for our special offering to give to Compassion International. Whatever amount you have in your head, add 25%)

We are praying for Haiti. We are praying that we would live a Gospel that has always been for the poor, the outcast, the forgotten.

Chick Night 2010!

2010-01-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

Chick Night 2010!
Ladies, mark you calendars for Friday, February 5th through Saturday, February 6th! Student Ministry presents an event for GIRLS ONLY! (Sorry guys...) Through fun videos, engaging discussion, lots of fun games and activities, and meaningful interaction between students and adult women of all ages and life stages, our goal is to help you feel comfortable in your own skin and know how to survive and thrive as you navigate through adolescence. And it's a ton of fun! Grab a permission slip from the Student Zone, and get signed up! The cost is $10, but any new girl friend you bring gets in FREE! It's going to be a phenomenal event that you will not want to miss out on! Contact Katie at 515.987.9595 ext. 122 or email her at katie@pointofgrace.com for more information.

Student Ministry Baptism Service!

2009-12-08T09:53:00.001-08:00

We are having a Student Ministry Baptism service on Wednesday, December 16th, from 7:00-8:30p in the Student Zone. This is an occasion for the entire family to celebrate the life change that Jesus has done in the lives of our students! It will be a great night of celebration with worship, testimonies and baptisms. If you would like to be baptized, please email us at students@pointofgrace.com, and we hope to see you all there to celebrate what God has done in our ministry! Hope to see you next Wednesday night, December 16th!

NEW CHRISTMAS SERIES!

2009-12-04T08:14:00.000-08:00

Our new Christmas Series, called "When Love Comes To Town" begins on Sunday December, 6th and we will be talking about the Christmas story for three weeks! We are excited to tell the story of Jesus' birth and focus our attention on the real meaning of Christmas! We hope you will join us!

CAPTIVATE. Is Only A Month Away!

2009-10-10T11:05:00.001-07:00

CAPTIVATE. - Nov. 6th-8th

2009-09-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

CAPTIVATE.
The theme for this year's Student Fall Retreat is "Captivate." During this incredible weekend, students will be drawn into the greatest story ever told: The epic story of God's relentless love for His people. This story has the power to capture our hearts and transform our lives forever, sending us on an adventure to change the world as God changes our hearts and lives.

When is it…
Captivate is November 6th – 8th, 2009

Where is it…
Hidden Acres Christian Conference Center in Dayton. Tucked away in the Hills about an hour west of Des Moines, the stage will be set for a true weekend getaway with God and friends. But don’t let the rustic scenery fool you - this is not your average wilderness weekend! Stocked with an indoor pool, gym, lake, paintball course, high ropes, horseback riding trails and a coffee shop, it's gonna be the biggest and best weekend of the year!

What do I need to bring…
A sleeping bag, close-toed shoes, toiletries, pants, Bible, pen, journal, clothes that can get dirty/ruined, spending money and your PLAID clothes for Super Spirit Saturday!

What should I not bring…
Cell phones, cigarettes, fireworks, iPods or other portable electronic
devices, offensive clothing or bad attitudes.

When and where do I need to be…
Register at Point of Grace at 3:00pm on Friday, November 6th Convoy leaves for CAPTIVATE around 3:30pm. Return to Point of Grace around 5:00pm on Sunday, November 8th.

What if I have questions…
Feel free to call the Student Ministry office at 987.9595, or you can ask questions by email at students@pointofgrace.com.

How much is it? When is my money due…
Paid before October 1st, 6th Graders = $99 7th – 12th Graders = $119
Paid before November 1st, 6th Graders = $119 7th – 12th Graders = $139

Your money is due in full when you sign up for CAPTIVATE and unfortunately, because we have to reserve space and rent equipment, there can be NO refunds of any kind after you sign up for CAPTIVATE. Thank you for understanding…

Casey Darnell's Music Video from this past Sunday...

2009-08-23T17:39:00.000-07:00

Many of you have been asking about Casey Darnell's music video to the song, "Can You See Me?" that we showed this past Sunday during Katie's message on "Access."

Well here it is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy5WxNtn3rE

Life Group Sign Ups begin this weekend!!

2009-08-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

This coming weekend, August 16th, you will be able to sign up to be in a Life Group. This is a very important step in your spiritual journey!

Our goal is to create environments where students begin to "See and God sees, and Love as God loves." We do this through helping you build purposeful relationships, experience God for themselves and engage in opportunities to be actively involved in the cause of Christ by serving others. Each week at The Spark or 4ORTY 2WO, you will experience fun games, great food, rocking worship, a challenging talk, and most importantly a meaningful connection in a Life Group with other students your age and caring adult leaders.

Life Group is the environment where students can connect with other peers and a caring adult in our to process what God is doing in their lives and what they are learning. Our program is changing so that Life Groups will no longer be on Wednesday evenings, but will now be an integrated part of your Sunday experience. This is to ease the schedule of your family, as well as enable leaders to have more time to focus on the students in their group, hopefully creating an even better environment for life change!

To get the most out of this environment, in it more important than ever for you to consistently attend the same service, every week. So, for example, if you typically come to the 9:00am service, at The Spark you would be placed in a Life Group with students in the same grade and gender as you. If one week you attend the 10:30am service, you will not be able to be in a Life Group, instead you would have to participate in the "On Deck" group. There is only one service time for 4ORTY 2WO.

With that in mind, we hope that over the next few days, you will discuss with your your parents the goal of Life Groups as discussed above, and express your desire to sign up for a group. Then, you can sign up this weekend and following weekends at The Spark or 4ORTY 2WO, or you can sign up at the Habit Shack in The Student Zone during any of our weekend services. We hope to have sign ups available online as well in the very near future. Look for more information regarding that on this website.

Looking forward to having you connect with other students by getting involved in Life Groups this year!!

Flip Camp is a week away?

2009-07-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe, but FLIP Summer Camp 2009 is only about a week away! We are so pumped to have you joining us for this amazing trip! It promises to be one of the best trips of the year and we are sure it will be life changing for you as you experience the beauty of the Ozarks, community with your friends and leaders and experience God through worship and the teaching of His world by some of the best worship leaders and communicators in the country! We can't wait!!

New Series Start This Weekend!

2009-06-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

One Prayer starts this weekend!

This is an incredible series where we will experience God together in a new and very cool way! In John 17, Jesus prays that His church would be ONE, that we would unite together and make Him famous and so that is what this series is all about! We are joining almost 1 Million people from over 200,000 churches across the whole world to learn, pray and serve together.

During this series we will be looking at who God is and who He wants us to become and we will learn together from some of the best communicators from across the nation! This is an incredible opportunity for God to move in and through your life... Don't Miss Out! Be sure to be at The Spark or 4ORTY 2WO every weekend from June 14th - July 19th! See you there!

4ORTY 2WO is moving times!

2009-06-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

4ORTY 2WO (our High School Ministry) is changing times! In order to be more Family-Friendly, we are changing times of our High School Ministry.

Starting June 7th, 4ORTY 2WO will begin meeting from 5:00p - 7:00p.
Doors will open at 4:45p and will be closed at 7:45p.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at students@pointofgrace.com or call us at 515.987.9595 and we will help in any way that we can! We know that all change in hard, but we hope that this is a helpful change for your family that enables you all to spend more time together with your parents and other friends.

Tell Your Parents...

2009-05-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

That this Sunday (March 31st) from 12:00-1:00p in the Student Zone is our Summer Parent Meeting! You do not want your parents to miss this meeting as we will be discussing our plan for Summer as well as unveiling some new plans and strategies for Student Ministries that you will DEFINITELY want them to hear! Also if you are friends with any current 5th graders who will be moving up on June 7th, tell them that they will want their parents to be at this as well!
Thanks!

4ORTY 2WO is moving times!

2009-05-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

4ORTY 2WO (our High School Ministry) is changing times! In order to be more Family-Friendly, we are changing times of our High School Ministry.

Starting June 7th, 4ORTY 2WO will begin meeting from 5:00p - 7:00p.
Doors will open at 4:45p and we will be over by 7:30p.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at students@pointofgrace.com or call us at 515.987.9595 and we will help in any way that we can! We know that all change in hard, but we hope that this is a helpful change for your family that enables you all to spend more time together with your parents.

30 Hour Famine!

2009-05-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

30 HOUR FAMINE - FRIDAY, MAY 15th @ 6:30p - SATURDAY, MAY 16th @ 3:00p

This Friday is the 30 Hour Famine! You will not want to miss this incredibly powerful overnight experience! This life-changing event will help you and your friends become more aware of the situation that millions of children, women and men live in around the world. During this event you will experience hunger and poverty, raise awareness and money to solve the poverty crisis around the world, as well as do community service projects in our own community to help the less fortunate. This experience will be unlike any other that we have ever done. You will not want to miss the first one! There is only a first time once! For more information, be sure to contact students@pointofgrace.com or call Dawn at 515.987.9595 ext. 130.

Here's what you need to know:
- Eat breakfast on Friday morning before 8:00am and then don't eat lunch at school.
- Show up at Point of Grace at 6:30p
- You are only allowed to bring 3 personal items... this includes clothing, deodorant, camera, pillow etc... so for example you could bring a shirt to change into, a sleeping bag and a toothbrush, but no toothpaste or pillow... (medications do not count, but please turn them into an adult leader upon arrival with your name printed on them.)
- No Cell Phones, iPods, DVDs, Video games or players or other personal media devices.
- Please bring your signed permission slip with you if you have not filled it out yet.
- We will provide Juice and Water breaks throughout the evening and make sure that you are well hydrated.
- Pick will be at Point of Grace Church at 3:00p after our Service Projects in the morning and our "BREAK-FAST" Celebration...

FIGHT CLUB!

2009-04-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend we are starting our new series called "FIGHT CLUB" about Family Relationships. This two week series will focus our attention on the need for us to FIGHT FOR our relationships with our parents and siblings, rather than FIGHTING WITH them. We hope that you will join us for this two week series!

The Spark (6th-8th Grade)
Sunday Mornings @ 9:00 and 10:30 am

4ORTY 2WO (9th-12th Grade)
Sunday Nights @ 7:00pm

NO STUDENT SERVICES FOR EASTER!

2009-04-07T12:53:00.001-07:00

This weekend we will not have Student Ministries services due to the Easter Holiday. Please take this opportunity to hang out with your student and celebrate Easter together as a family in the main service. They are starting a new series on parenting called "PARENTHOOD," and we hope that it will be very enjoyable as well as helpful. We will restart Student Ministries services next weekend (April 19th) with our new series on Family Relationships called "FIGHT CLUB." We hope that your student will join us next Sunday!

No 4ORTY 2WO Tonight (4/5)

2009-04-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Just to let you know that we will not be having 4ORTY 2WO this evening due to the snow storm. Sorry for the late notice but the storm snuck up on us. Hope you have a great and safe night and have a Happy Easter Next Week! If you have any questions, please call 515.577.2696 or email students@pointofgrace.com

No Life Groups Tonight! Come Bowling With Us!

2009-03-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

There are no Life Groups tonight because of Spring Break. So come bowling with us tonight at Warrior Lanes from 8p to 10p. It costs $10 and it includes 2 hours of Xtreme Blackout Bowling and shoe rentals. Bring your own money for food if you want. Hope to see you there!

SPRING BREAK MADNESS 2009!

2009-03-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

Some people think that the Madness has to do with Basketball this March, but we know that it's really about Student Ministries and all the fun stuff we have going on this week! So be sure to join us for all the fun and invite your friends to come with you! There's no reason to be bored!

Here is the Line Up:

TUESDAY – March 17th TOKENS ARCADE
11:30am – 4:00pm
Meet & Pick Up at the Church (Parent Drivers Needed)
Cost: $20
Includes Lunch, Transportation, 1 Game of Lazer Tag, 1 Round of Mini Golf and 10 Game Tokens

WEDNESDAY – March 18th
XTREME BOWLING @ WARRIOR LANES
7:30pm – 10:00pm
Meet & Pick Up at Warrior Lanes
190 Laurel Street, Waukee (Across Hickman from POG)
Cost: $10 plus bring money for food if you want

THURSDAY – March 19th LUNCH AND A MOVIE @ JORDAN CREEK
11:30m – 3:00pm
Meet & Pick Up at Jordan Creek Dew Zone
Cost: $10-20 for Food and Movie Ticket
More Details to follow when movies are released

If you have any questions or if your parents want to help out with any of these events, email us at students@pointofgrace.com. Thanks and hope to see you at all the fun activities! Bring a friend with you!

30 Hour Famine Postponed!

2009-02-27T08:44:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that the 30 Hour Famine has been postponed until Spring in order to allow more people to get involved in the experience. So if you have been raising money, then keep up the good work, and if you haven't getten involved yet, be sure to pick up a packet this weekend from the Habit Shack! Look forward to more details to be announced soon! For more information please feel free to email students@pointofgrace.com and we will get back to you!

New Series's Start This Weekend!

2009-02-25T10:02:00.001-08:00

This weekend we start talking about SEX!
Don't miss any of the four weeks of the new series on dating sexual purity starting March 1st and going through the 22nd. This will be an incredible series, full of practical wisdom, fun stories and honest conversation about an awkward topic.

The series for The Spark (6th-8th Grade) is called:

The series for 4ORTY 2WO (9th-12th Grade) is called:

You won't want to miss this. See you Sunday!

NO STUDENT SERVICES THIS WEEKEND! (2/22)

2009-02-19T14:18:00.000-08:00

There will be no Student Ministry Services this weekend because we are going to be gone at SNOWFEST! So please enjoy the morning services with your parents this weekend and we will be back next weekend (March 1st) for the beginning of our new series called "BIRDS & BEES" (for the Spark) or "UNCENSORED" (for 4ORTY 2WO).

Last Week to Sign Up for SNOWFEST 2009!

2009-02-10T09:56:00.000-08:00

This weekend is your last chance to sign up for SNOWFEST 2009! It is only 2 weeks away and only costs $200 for the whole weekend, including transportation, life tickets for 2 days on the slopes, hotel, and food. If you would like to go, please pick up a sign up sheet at the Habit Shack in the Student Zone this weekend! Hope that you can join us!! For more information feel free to email us at students@pointofgrace.com or call us at 515.987.9595 ext. 116.

Chick Night - THIS FRIDAY!

2009-02-05T09:17:00.001-08:00

If you are a girl....DO NOT MISS CHICK NIGHT!

This is one of the premier events for girls in the DSM area each year. This Friday, February 6th, from 7pm until 8am on Saturday, February 7th. This overnight event is filled with fun, food, games, friends, prizes and tons of memories! The goal of this night is to help girls to develop a positive self image as well as learn the value of partnering with other girls as friends, rather than seeing them as competition. We do this through conversation, door prizes, videos and great student a leader interaction. It's a great night and you do not want you to miss it!

For more information call Katie at 515.987.9595 ext. 122 or email her at Katie@pointofgrace.com or you can pick up a permission slip at the Habit Shack during a weekend service!

*Chick*Night*
February 6-7th, 2009
7:00p - 8:00a
$10.00 and a permission slip due at check in...
First time guests get in for free!

Chick Night!

2009-01-20T13:51:00.000-08:00

If you are a girl....DO NOT MISS CHICK NIGHT!

This is one of the premier events for girls in the DSM area each year. This year it is from 7pm on Friday, February 6th until 8am on Saturday, February 7th. This overnight event is filled with fun, food, games, friends, prizes and tons of memories! The goal of this night is to help girls to develop a positive self image as well as learn the value of partnering with other girls as friends, rather than seeing them as competition. We do this through conversation, door prizes, videos and great student a leader interaction. It's a great night and you do not want you to miss it!

For more information call Katie at 515.987.9595 ext. 122 or email her at Katie@pointofgrace.com or you can pick up a permission slip at the Habit Shack during a weekend service!

*Chick*Night*
February 6-7th, 2009
7:00p - 8:00a
$10.00 and a permission due at check in...
First time guests get is for free!

NO LIFE GROUPS THIS WEDNESDAY (1/7/08)

2009-01-05T11:48:00.000-08:00

This Wednesday (January 7th) we will not be having Life Groups. They will resume next Wednesday, January 14th at normal time in your host homes. If you are not in Life Groups and would like to join, then grab a Life Group Sign Up card this weekend and bring it home for your parent to sign. Next Wednesday is the Jump In Point for Life Groups for this upcoming series on Temptation. If you do not make it in this time the next Jump In Point is March 4th. Hope you will make it on Sunday for the beginning of our new series on temptation called, "ALL IN."

A Note from Katie and Kurt...

2008-12-28T12:55:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that we will not be having Student Ministry Services (The Spark - Sundays @ 9:00 and 10:30a or 4ORTY 2wo - Sundays @ 7:00p) the next two weeks. So on Dec. 28th and Jan. 4th you can chill at home or go with your family to "big church," but we won't be doing anything. We will see you January 11th for the start of our new series, "ALL IN." Have a great break!

NEW SERIES!!

2008-12-24T20:15:00.000-08:00

We hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! We will not have Student Ministry Services until January 11th, so that you can spend the holidays with your parents, and be together as a family! We hope that you will take advantage of this time to be together, make memories and share in the wonder of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We will begin having The Spark (6th-8th Grade) and 4ORTY 2WO (9th-12th Grade) on January 11th, 2009 when we will start our new series on temptation called "ALL IN" We hope that you will join us!

Life Group Christmas Party!

2008-12-15T09:17:00.000-08:00

Don't miss out on the Life Group Christmas Party! This Wednesday, December 17th from 7-9pm in the Student Zone at Point of Grace! We will have a ton of good food, fun games, festive music and gift exchange! So come and hang out with us and bring a wrapped White Elephant gift to participate in the gift exchange. Don't spend more that $5 on something (or even better, find something in your basement!) Can't wait to celebrate with you!

ADVENT CONSPIRACY

2008-11-25T14:34:00.001-08:00

On December 6th, we will start our new Christmas series called ADVENT CONSPIRACY. Don't miss out on this two week series, as we re-examine the Christmas story and it's implications in our lives today. For more insight on the topic of ADVENT CONSPIRACY, check out this video:

NO LIFE GROUPS THIS WEDNESDAY (11/26) OR STUDENT SERVICES THIS WEEKEND! (11/30)

2008-11-25T14:13:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that due to Thanksgiving, we will not be having Life Groups this Wednesday (Nov. 26th) or Student Ministry Services this Sunday (Nov. 30th). Please enjoy the main service with your family this Sunday in the Main Auditorium, and eat a whole lot of turkey on Thursday! See you in two weeks on December 6th for the start of ADVENT CONSPIRACY. See you then!

Summer Camp - I know right?

2008-11-23T15:04:00.000-08:00

Check out this video for Summer Camp! The cost is only $499 per person until February 1st, 2009! That includes everything, 5 days in Branson, MO in a sweet hotel, a trip to Silver Dollar City, charter bus ride, t-shirt and three shows/concerts! You will not want to miss out on Kristian Stanfill, Francis Chan, Leeland and the David Crowder Band, who will all be at camp this year! Its going to be amazing, so graba permission slip from the Habit Shack during a weekend service and get signed up before its sold out!

Student Life Camp 2009 Branson from Student Life on Vimeo.

Dont Miss This Weekend!

2008-11-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, we learned how we can get in the game and participate in the cause of Christ rather than just be spectators. This coming weekend is one that you do not want to miss! We are finishing out our INVERTED series, and we will be turning in our commitment cards with the whole church as we sacrifice together to advance God's presence in our community!

This weekend, come prepared to fill out a commitment card to tell the church how you will get in the game and be a part of the WHYi Campaign. Let's live this INVERTED life together and show the church and the community that students don't just focus on themselves but will sacrifice so that others can be reached!

POG Student Ministry Staff

TWLOHA Tour is Tomorrow Night!!

2008-10-09T17:07:00.000-07:00

The TWLOHA Tour will be at Point of Grace TOMORROW NIGHT!! (Friday, October 10th) from 7-10:30p. Tickets cost $5 at the door. Between the Trees, Nevertheless, and Dan Evans from NBC's "The Biggest Loser" will be playing, and Renee Yohe will be speaking about her battle with depression, self-image and cutting and how she found healing in Christ from her new book "Purpose for the Pain."

This is ONE TIME EVENT, unlike the Valley/Waukee football game which happens every year and the outcome is always the same! If Cody Tennison (who is PLAYING in the game) is coming as soon as it's over, you can make it too! You do not want to miss this!

Purpose for the Pain is the inspiring story of a young woman’s battles through addiction, depression and self-mutilation. In heartbreaking detail and poetic outpourings, Renee Yohe (the inspiration behind the non-profit movement, To Write Love On Her Arms) chronicles her journey from self destruction to new life. Over four years of journal entries, she takes readers through her deepest moments of despair to the hope on the other end. Renee’s story is a light of possibility to anyone who feels trapped by darkness.

You do not want to miss this night! Grab some flyers and bring all your friends!
http://www.twloha.com

FUSE - Fall Getaway is only 1 week away!

2008-09-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

There is only one week left until the deadline to sign up for FUSE! You do not want to miss this event! Our Fall Getaway is up in Boone, at the YMCA Camp and we bring it all! It's an incredible weekend where you will be challenged to grow closer to your friends, more in love with God and more passionate about changing their campus. It's an incredible weekend! It's only $120 which includes programing elements, food, lodging, transportation, games, prizes and a t-shirt! There are also optional activities available at a small extra cost. Registration is at 3:30p on Friday, October 3rd at Point of Grace and we leave from camp at 4:00p. We will return at 5:00p on Sunday October 5th. A signed parent permission slip is due at the time of registration. The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, October 1st! Don't miss out. There is a huge difference in the connectedness of students who go on this trip and those who do not. Set a great trajectory for the year and sign up for FUSE!

Also, our band KEY TO THE CITY will be recording a live worship album at FUSE, and you will want your voice on that!

TWLOHA Tour - October 10th

2008-09-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

The TWLOHA Tour will be at Point of Grace on Friday, October 10th from 7-10:30p. Tickets cost $5 in advance or $8 at the door. Between the Trees, Nevertheless, and Dan Evans from NBC's "The Biggest Loser" will be playing, and Renee Yohe will be speaking about her battle with depression, self-image and cutting and how she found healing in Christ from her new book "Purpose for the Pain."

Purpose for the Pain is the inspiring story of a young woman’s battles through addiction, depression and self-mutilation. In heartbreaking detail and poetic outpourings, Renee Yohe (the inspiration behind the non-profit movement, To Write Love On Her Arms) chronicles her journey from self destruction to new life. Over four years of journal entries, she takes readers through her deepest moments of despair to the hope on the other end. Renee’s story is a light of possibility to anyone who feels trapped by darkness.

You do not want to miss this night! Grab some flyers and bring all your friends!
http://www.twloha.com

Life Group Kick Off Party!

2008-09-17T08:15:00.001-07:00

TONIGHT IS THE LIFE GROUP KICK OFF PARTY!
If you want to be in Life Groups, be sure that you are at the Kick Off Party tonight, Wednesday, September 17th at Point of Grace in the Student Zone from 7 - 9 pm. You will find out who is in your group, who your leader is and where they will meet. If you have signed up be sure to be there, and feel free to come and get involved tonight. Don't miss out on this chance to get plugged in!

Pool Party!

2008-08-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that if there is a thunderstorm tomorrow the pool party will be cancelled. If it is raining at noon please do not come to the clice pool. If the weather holds up then we will see you tomorrow if not then we will see you all at church for Takeover Service 2.0 this weekend!

High School Camping Trip!

2008-08-06T11:01:00.001-07:00

This weekend, the High School Group is heading out for a camping trip at Ledges State Park. The cost is $10 for food and fun. Please bring your own sleeping bag, tent, pillow and toiletries as well as clothes for the trip. We will meet at 12:30 pm in the Student Zone (Theater) at Point of Grace and leave for the campground. We will return to Point of Grace around 2 pm on Monday, August 11th. Also if your parents can drive please let us know. Hope you all can make it to the trip! If you do not come on the camping trip, we will not have 4ORTY 2wO on Sunday night August 10th, so don't show up... you will be all alone. If you have any questions, please feel free to call 515.987.9595 ext. 116. Thanks!

Oceans of Fun Trip!

2008-08-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

Attention Junior Highers!! Looking for something fun to do the last week before school starts up again? Be sure to join us as we head down to Oceans of Fun in Kansas City! It's Wednesday, August 13th from 8am until 10pm. The cost is $40 and this includes admission to the park, all you can eat BBQ lunch and transportation. Bring extra money for souvenirs and dinner on the way home! Please fill out a permission slip by Sunday, August 10th and turn it in with your money. Also if your parents would like to drive please let us know by calling us at 515.987.9595 ext. 116 or emailing students@pointofgrace.com. Thanks a lot!

Big Stuf: Day 1 Update

2008-07-20T02:12:00.000-07:00

Well as we wrapped up the first day, we are all very tired and maybe a little sunburned, but it has already been an incredible experience, even though we have only been here for about 8 hours. The opening session totally blew the students away with the amazing set, flashing lights and creative and fun games. The theme this year is "Broadcast" and the whole week we are asking ourselves "What am I broadcasting to the world around me?" It's really going to be amazing! Tonight we heard from Jared Heard and he challenged us to live out loud for God and to look at our life like a puzzle, and truly be honest about whether our life is a bunch of pieces or is it a complete, beautiful picture. Often times we each hold a piece of our life puzzle that we refuse to give God control of. Usually this is the piece that we desire the most; we think that because this thing is so valuable, that we have to hold on to it and have control of it, so that it is taken care of, rather than put that thing in the hands of the One who truly can control and change that one thing, that one thing that we care about the most.

As we go on through this week, your friends will be asking themselves, "What am I broadcasting, not just with my words, but with my life?" Maybe you could ask you self the same question...

Please pray for God to move in their hearts and change our lives as we all fall deeper in love with Him!

Big Stuf Countdown: 4 Days!

2008-07-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that we leave for Big Stuf in only 4 days!! Here is the information that we covered in the meeting and all the details for what you need to bring, and what not to bring, to camp this weekend:

Registration begins at 10:00 am this Friday, July 18th, in the Atrium at Point of Grace. Please arrive as soon after 10:00 am as possible as we have almost 100 people to check in. We will be leaving by 11:00 am. A parent or legal guardian must sign in every student going on this trip, and stay for the short Parent Meeting. At registration, Parents will be giving the Parent packet with information about details at camp, your room leader and their cell phone number to contact them in the case of an emergency. Your parent or guardian will also have to sign the Big Stuf Release Form. If they do not sign you in and fill out this form, you cannot get on the bus.

We will be stopping on the way down to Florida at the City Museum in St. Louis, MO, and the cost for that is $6. We will also be stopping at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, TN, on the way home.

You will need spending money for this trip. We suggest between $75 and $100 for food on the way down and back (6 meals total) souvenirs while at camp, admission to the City Museum, as well as snacks and food while at camp. Also there are extra optional activities while at camp that cost money such as parasailing, Jetski rentals, Shipwreck Island Water Park and the Movie Theater, which are all options on Tuesday during Free Time. Please ask your parents for spending money as we will not be able to cover students who do not have money for food.

Please bring:
Toiletries
Pillow and blanket for the bus ride
One piece swim suit
Bible and pen
iPod, CD player, and other personal media devices (please put your name on them because they are for the bus ride only. They will be collected when we arrive at camp and returned the night before we leave for home)
Camera
Spending money (we suggest between $75 and $100)

Please DO NOT bring:
Cellular phones (if you are caught with your phone, it will be confiscated and you will not get it back until we meet with you and your parents)
Tankinis
Cigarettes, alcohol or other drugs not prescribed by a doctor
Bad Attitudes

If you have any last minute questions, please feel free to contact us at students@pointofgrace.com, or check out bigstuf.com and we will see you Friday morning at 10:00 am for registration and then it's off to Florida! It's going to be a great week. We are looking forward to it!

Gold Medal Monday!

2008-07-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

Come hang out with us this Monday, July 14th, at Jordan Creek Mall! We will be having lunch and seeing Wall-E. Bring $12 or so for lunch and your movie ticket. We will meet at the Dew Zone at noon and pick up is at 3:30p. Hope to see you there!

Week One Review

2008-06-30T12:14:00.005-07:00

Hello All! We are so thankful for your prayers and so excited to be a part of what God is doing down here in South Africa! We wrapped up an incredible week of VBS style outreach club for the children that live around the Pines. We had over 60 children on Tuesday when Katie taught on the story of Noah's Ark and how we can trust God's promises to us, and ended the week with over 12 children praying to ask Jesus to come into their lives through the explanation of the gospel through the 5 color bead bracelet. It truly has been an indescribable week so far! Next week we are headed to the Public High School in Thabong, the townshi

p right near Whelkom, to speak to the senior class for a week about American, education, AIDS awareness and prevention and social issues such as gender, race, and basic human rights from God's perspective. Should be a great time! Thanks again for you prayers and please enjoy the pictures....

Katie teaching the Children

The Gospel bracelets the Children made

Week One Review

2008-06-30T12:14:00.003-07:00

2008-06-30T12:14:00.001-07:00

We Arrived in South Africa!

2008-06-23T09:31:00.000-07:00

Well, we all made it safe to Chicago, then to London, and finally to Johannesburg, South Africa. After a long drive we showed up at the Pines with 12 kids in tow! After getting settled we took a tour of the property and got the schedule for the week. So we are settled in and we are having a Bible Club for the kids at the Pines as well as the children that live at the #7 camp down the road. We are excited to be here and even more excited to see what God will do in and through us over then next 2 weeks! Thanks for your support and prayers and be sure to look for updates and pictures to be posted as the activities get going!

Gold Medal Monday! - June 16th

2008-06-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

Gold Medal Mondays are just fun activities during the summer to generate community and have fun as a group. We hope you will join us for all three this summer! The first one in this Monday, June 16th and its a pool party at Katie and Kurt's apartment. It is from 12-3pm and costs $5 for Jimmy John's Lunch! Here are the directions to the pool:

Take I-35 to Mills Civic Parkway. Go east on Mills Civic to 50th Street and turn left on 50th. Turn Left on EP True Parkway. Go under the Interstate and then turn left on Prairie View Drive. Take the second left into the apartment complex and look for the balloons. The pool is through the clubhouse (1000 building) which is directly in front of you.

See you there!

Move Up Parties!

2008-05-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

MOVE UP WEEKEND is coming!
June 1st is the day! Current 5th graders will move up to Junior High and current 8th graders will move up to High School! It's going to be an exciting day! Here are the details for each group:

THE SPARK (Junior High: Current 5th-7th graders)
Show up to you normal room on June 1st, and then the new sixth graders will come over to the Student Zone all together! We will have a very special service to welcome them! After second service, at 12:00 noon, we will have our Move Up Party out on the West Lawn! You will not want to miss it! We will have tons of free food, fun games and special prizes! Be sure to bring your swimsuit and a towel and change of clothes, because we will have a Dunk Tank, where you can dunk the Student Ministries Staff, and an Inflatable Water Slide! This party is for new 6th - 8th graders only! Pick up is at 2:00p.

We will also have a brief New 6th Grade Parent Orientation Meeting from 12:15 - 1:00p in the Student Zone (Theater). If you are the Parent of a new 6th grader, please make plans to attend this short meeting so that you can ask any questions that you have, and be up to speed on way for you child to get connected to the Student Ministry this summer!

4ORTY 2WO (High School: Current 8th-12th graders)
Be sure to show up at 5pm for your MOVE UP PARTY! We will have free dinner, ice cream, music and fun games! Bring a swim suit and a change of clothes because we will have a Dunk Tank and Water Slide so you can get nice and soaked before 4ORTY 2WO. Then at 7:00p we will have our Welcome Service to bring in the new freshman, as well as celebrate the exiting Seniors! You will not want to miss it! This party is for new 9th-12th graders and graduating seniors only! The night will end at 9:00p after 4ORTY 2WO.

We hope that you will be there! It won't be the same without you!

NO STUDENT SERVICES THIS WEEKEND! (4/27)

2008-04-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

There will be no Student Ministries services this weekend because the Student Ministries staff will be in Atlanta at the ORANGE Conference. Please enjoy this weekend with your parents as they celebrate the Live Like You Were Dying series in the Main Auditorium. Also please pray for us as we travel, and that God would bring us fresh insights and creativity as a team to create even more irresistible environments where you and your friends can experience God, connect with others and serve your community. Have a great week and we will see you next weekend (May 4th) for the start of our new series:

EXPOSED! the naked truth about sex and dating

2008-03-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

We are starting a new series this weekend called EXPOSED! the naked truth about sex and dating. It is going to be an incredible series as we discover together what God says about sex and dating. (Hint: It may not be what you think...) We hope that you will invite your friends to come with you for this exciting four week series! You won't be disappointed!

SPRING BREAK!

2008-03-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

Spring Break is only 1 week away!! And we have a ton of fun activities each day to keep you excited and connected! So now you have no excuse...

Here is the break down:

MONDAY: Movie and Jordan Creek Century 20 Theaters
Meet at the DEW ZONE at Jordan Creek Town Center and we will have lunch in the food court and then see Penelope (PG). You need about $12 for movie ticket and lunch. Pick up will be at 3:00pm.
TUESDAY: Bowling at Warrior Lanes
Meet at Warrior Lanes (Across Hickman Road from Church) at 12:00 noon to have some fun bowling! Bring $10 for bowling, shoe rental, or more for the arcade and snacks. Pick up is at 2:00pm at Warrior Lanes.
WEDNESDAY: Sports Day at Sports Plex West
Meet at Sports Plex West (890 SE Olson Drive, just west of Alice's Road between Hickman and University) at 11:00am and we will have 2 hours of sports (Dodgeball, Basketball, Indoor Soccer and Rock Climbing Wall). This event is FREE!! So invite a bunch of friends! Every student must have a signed parent permission slip, which you can download from the Sports Plex West website. Even though this event is free, if any student doesn't have a signed permission slip, they cannot participate. Sorry, no exceptions.
THURSDAY: Girl's Only Breakfast
Meet at Point of Grace at 9:30a for a free Breakfast in the Hub! Bring your girlfriends for a great time of food and community! Sorry guys, girls only!
FRIDAY: XBOX Tournament, DDR, Guitar Hero, Games and Pizza Lunch
Finish out the week hanging out in the Student Zone at Point of Grace from 11:00am to 2:00pm. There will be prizes for the winners and a pizza lunch. Bring $3 if you want to eat pizza.

Hope to see you all there!

No Student Ministries Services This Weekend!

2008-02-21T13:56:00.001-08:00

There will be no Student Ministries Services this Sunday (Feb. 24th) because we will be at SNOWFEST '08! If your student is not coming with us to SNOWFEST '08 then please join you in the main service this weekend. (They are finishing up the PUREsex series) If you (or they) would rather not be in the adult service, then they can help out in Children's ministry. Have them talk to Debbie or Jodi at church this weekend to volunteer. We will return to normal service times next Sunday, March 2nd with the start of our new series: MYSPACE.

NO 42 DUE TO THE BLIZZARD!

2008-02-17T10:10:00.000-08:00

There will be no 42 Service tonight because of the snow storm!

No Life Groups Tonight!

2008-02-06T09:02:00.001-08:00

Hopefully you get this in time, but there will be no Life Groups tonight (Wednesday, Feb. 6th) due to the Snow storm. Please enjoy the night with your family and stay safe! We will see you on Sunday!

Bless Back Project!

2008-01-16T08:26:00.000-08:00

Be sure to tell us how God used you this week to bless back! Visit the website and fill in your comments to tell us what you did with the money! Hope you had a great time!

http://blessbackproject.blogspot.com

Student Ministries South Africa Meeting

2008-01-10T14:44:00.000-08:00

If you or your student would like to come with us to South Africa this summer, you will want to be at this meeting! All your questions will be answered and you will be able to get a better idea of where we are going and what we will be doing. We will be having a meeting at 12 noon on Sunday January, 27th in the Student Zone (Theater) to discuss the South Africa trip. If you want to go, you need to come to this meeting! Let us know by emailing students@pointofgrace.com. Hope to see you there!

Student Ministry Weekly Podcast Is Live!

2008-01-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

Now you can listen to the weekend message on your iPod! Did you miss a week of the series? Have a friend who wants to hear what your church is like? Just like hearing the sound of Katie or Kurt's voice as you go to sleep? Well you can download the weekend message from The Spark or 42 and listen to it on your computer, iPod, or other mp3 players! Check it out by clicking the link on the right in the menu bar!

Said in (RED)

2008-01-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

This weekend we are starting up a new series called Said in (RED) and we will be talking about Jesus' words, and why they are so important that they are printed in red ink. You will not want to miss any week of this series! It's going to be huge!!

No Spark or 4ORTY 2WO until 2008!

2007-12-19T14:00:00.001-08:00

We will not be having any Student Ministry services on December 23rd or December 30th so that you can join your family for your Christmas Celebrations. We encourage you to worship together as a family and celebrate Christ's birth and the new life He provides for us! Be sure to attend The DIVINE at Point of Grace on Saturday night, Dec. 22nd at 5:30p or Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30 am or 5:30 or 7:00 pm. From all of us on the Student Ministries Team, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We will resume our normal schedule on Sunday January, 6th for the beginning of our new series: Said In (RED). See you in 2008!

SNOWFEST 2008

2007-11-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

Don't miss out on the biggest event of the winter! We will be heading up to Afton Alps, Minnesota to enjoy a whole weekend of snowboarding and skiing, great fun and new memories with friends! The cost for this trip is $200 if you have your own equipment and $245 if you need to rent it, and you will need to fill out a signed permission slip to turn in with your money to hold your spot. This trip is going to be a great time to get away and get connected! Charter bus transportation, lodging, most meals and lift tickets are included! If you drop your spot after December 1st, you will be refunded all but $50. There are only 45 spots for this trip and it will sell out, so sign up quick! For more info, you can email students@pointofgrace.com or come to the Habit Shack in the Student Zone during any weekend service. We hope you will come with us!

DON'T MISS ONE!!!!

2007-10-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

You will not want to miss this event! We are headed up to the incredible Y-Camp in Boone, Iowa for a weekend getaway with a ton of fun games and activities, great music, inspiring messages and plenty of free time to connect with all your friends from The Spark and 4ORTY 2WO. In addition to all that, you can choose from additional activities like Horseback Riding, Ropes Course or the daring Zip Line. You will not want to miss this retreat! Sign up at the Habit Shack at a weekend service by turning in a permission slip and money. The cost for the ONE Retreat is only $89! But you must register by October 10th... which is only ONE WEEK AWAY!! For more information please email students@pointofgrace.com or call Dawn at 515.987.9595 ext. 130. Don't miss this once a year opportunity to grow deeper with others and with God! It's gonna be a blast!

FACE THE MUSIC - New Series

2007-09-11T09:28:00.001-07:00

Starting this Sunday, September 16th, we are beginning our new series called "Face the Music" and its going to be awesome! We will be discussing the spiritual implications from popular songs by artists like Switchfoot, Relient K, Fergie, Paramore, Linkin Park and others. Throughout the series you will get a raffle ticket for every week you come, and if you bring a friend you get an extra ticket and at the end of the series we will raffle off and give away a brand new iPod and other iTunes prizes! Don't miss one week of this exciting 6 week series!

ONE Retreat: October 12th-14th

2007-09-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

You do not want to miss this event! We are headed up to the incredible Y-Camp in Boone Iowa for a weekend getaway with a ton of fun games and activities, great music, inspiring messages and plenty of free time to connect with your friends from The Spark and 4ORTY 2WO. In addition you can choose from additional activities like Horseback riding, Ropes Course or the daring Zip Line. You will not want to miss this retreat! You can sign up at the Habit Shack at a weekend service by turning in your permission slip and money. The cost for the ONE Retreat is $79 if you register by September 16th or $89 if you register by October 10th. For more information please email students@pointofgrace.com or call Dawn at 515.987.9595 ext. 130. Don't miss this once a year opportunity to grow deeper with others and with God.

Life Groups - Coming Soon!

2007-09-04T15:32:00.000-07:00

Life Groups are starting up again soon! The goal of our Student Ministry is to get as many of you as possible into a small group with other students and a caring adult. Life Groups are our system of small groups that meet in homes throughout the Des Moines area from September to May. This coming weekend, September 9th, we will be discussing the importance of being in community with other Christ-followers.

We will also have our Life Group Kick-Off Party on Wednesday, September 12th at 7:00p in the Student Zone (Theatre) at Point of Grace. We hope that you can make it! Be sure to fill out a Life Group commitment card and have your parents sign it to join in a Life Group. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Katie at katie@pointofgrace.com

Day Two at Big Stuf Camp!

2007-07-30T17:46:00.001-07:00

We had an incredible night last night and an amazing session this morning! We are learning how to live in rhythm with both God and ourselves, and then tonight we are learning about how to live in rhythm with other people. Last night after the main session we got to meet as a church group (we are one of the bigger groups here) and talk about what the student caught from the message. Jared Heard challenged them to live a life that puts God in the center so that everything else flows in its natural rhythm. Many of our student opened up about what they were struggling with and what needed to change in their life. It was a great starter! Many of them were still chewing on what we learned two weeks ago back at POG, about who we are trusting more than God. It was really cool to see that they are catching the things that God is doing and speaking into their hearts. Tonight after the session we will meet again and split up into guys and girls and go deeper in to how we can practically love ourselves and others. I cant wait! We are having a blast and the students are being blown away by the speakers and the music and all the cool stuff, like the ocean! We are loving it! Look for more updates tomorrow! :)

Midweek - BOWLING!!

2007-07-10T18:42:00.001-07:00

This Wednesday we are having Midweek at Warrior Lanes (right across the street from Church, behind the Dairy Queen). We are meeting at 6:00p and we will be done at 8:15p and it will cost $7 which includes X-treme bowling, shoes rental and pizza! Hope you can make it! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 515.987.9595.

New Series: STORIES!

2007-06-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, July 17th we are starting our new Summer Super Series called "Stories" and its going to be amazing! You will not want to miss July 17th! Our whole summer series is going to be a comic book/superheroes theme! Be sure to pick up a Student Ministries Summer Calendar as well. They are flippin' sweet! (And informative, the perfect combination...)

NO 42 THIS SUNDAY (5/27)!

2007-05-22T08:55:00.001-07:00

Attention all high schoolers! There will be no 42 this Sunday (May 27th) due to the intense graduation party season that is upon us, as well as the Memorial Day holiday on Monday! So enjoy your weekend and congratulations on graduation! We will see you back on June 3rd, for the final week of our Beyond.Ordinary series. Also, June 10th is Move-Up weekend, and you wont want to miss it!

Beyond Ordinary

2007-04-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend we start our new series: Beyond.Ordinary...

Ever feel like you are just not good enough..? Have you ever said, "Well if I just had his talent, I could do that." or "Well if I was as smart and pretty as her, then that would be easy!"? God wants us to learn He designed us to be just who we are, but we can learn from the mistakes of others in order to grow into the people God dreams for us to become. Who you are is not who you have to be forever! What makes the Bible different from any other religious book, is that it shows the mistakes and flaws of its heroes! Most prophets and teachers from other religions are portrayed as perfect and almost superhuman... but the Bible shows us that God uses people who are very human. Some of the greatest and most recognized names in the Bible are ones that made huge mistakes and messed up, just like us. So for the next 9 weeks we will be looking at what we can learn from some of these Bible characters. Extraordinary lessons from ordinary people! Hope you can make it!

April 15th – Moses (Extraordinary Leadership)
April 22nd – David (Extraordinary Effort)
April 29th – Esther (Extraordinary Courage)
May 6th – Job (Extraordinary Patience)
May 13th – Jonah (Extraordinary Misunderstanding)
May 20th – Rahab (Extraordinary Risk)
May 27th – Mary (Extraordinary Love)
June 3rd – Peter (Extraordinary Faith)

Also... don't forget to check out and befriend the MySpace pages of every single one of these characters! Look for them, new each week!
http://www.myspace.com/mosesfromthebible

LOCK IN!

2007-04-03T20:29:00.001-07:00

April 20th-21st from 7pm to 7am we are having a LOCK-IN! 12 hours of craziness for only 5 bucks! We will have food, games, competitions, prizes and more food! You will not want to miss out on this event! And be sure to bring your friends, because we get 150 people to come out, then Kurt is going to shave his armpits! You will need a signed permission slip to participate. You can download that permission slip here:Once you're locked in you will not be allowed to leave until 7am on Saturday, NO EXCEPTIONS... sorry!

What to bring: $5, close toed shoes, a change of clothes, a pillow (for the wusses who’ll fall asleep), a desire to win prizes, a good attitude, and an empty stomach!

SPRING BREAK MADNESS!

2007-03-18T05:50:00.000-07:00

STUDENTS!

If you are bored this Spring Break... the excuses are over! We have set up activities every day for us to hang out and have fun together, even during this week off of school! Here are the details:

Tuesday: Lunch at Jordan Creek Town Center Food Court (12-1p)
Cost: Lunch Money

Wednesday: SPORTSPLEX WEST NIGHT! (7-9p)
This event will take place INSTEAD of Life Groups.
Cost: Free if you are in a Life Group, otherwise $5
You will also need a signed SPW Waiver to participate, it can be picked up from Kurt or Katie or downloaded and brought with you.

Thursday: Come see "Believe In Me" (PG) at Century 20 Theaters (inside Jordan Creek Town Center) Show up at 1:30, movie from 2-4p
Cost: $5.50 for movie ticket

Friday: Pizza, Xbox Tournament and Hang out at POG
Meet in the Theatre (Student Zone) from 11a-1p
Cost: $3 for food

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Katie at 515.987.9595 ext. 133 or Kurt at 515.987.9595 ext. 134. hope to see you at all our Spring Break Madness Activities!

Ever Stays Red at Weekend Services!

2007-03-09T17:50:00.000-08:00

Ever Stays Red will be performing at all three student services this weekend (March 10/11)! For those of you who missed the concert on Thursday night, come and see one of the freshest new bands in Christian alternative music! They came all the way from Arizona, so come out and support them! We will be continuing our "Do You Like Me? Yes...No...Maybe..." series, and talking about "I've Messed Up... Now What?" So bring your friends for a great message and a great band! See you this weekend!

Do You Like Me? Yes...No...Maybe...

2007-02-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

Starting this weekend (February 10/11th) we will be beginning our most exciting series yet! It is called "Do You Like Me? Yes...No...Maybe..." and will address the topics of dating, love, relationships, sex and purity from God's perspective. We hope that you will be able to attend all 6 weeks of this series about these important, and often misunderstood topics.

Also to go along with this series, our Life Groups will be reading through "Every Young Man's Battle" and Every Young Woman's Battle" and learning and discussing together the need for sexual purity and a right view of relationships with the opposite sex.

Here is a schedule of the topics that will be discussed during this 6-week series:
Feb. 10/11th - Boy Meets Girl - How to relate to the opposite sex...
Feb. 17/18th - The Dating Game - When, why and who to date...
Feb. 24/25th - SNOWfest '07 - No Student Ministries services
March 3/4th - How Far is Too Far? - The need for sexual purity...
March 10/11th - I've Messed Up... Now What? - Trusting God for fulfillment and forgiveness...
March 17/18th - Q&A with Kurt and Katie - Real life answers to student's real questions..

Hope to see you for the whole series!! Have a great day!

Kurt and Katie

Too Bad, So Sad...

2007-01-16T10:39:00.001-08:00

I have some bad news...

Unfortunately, not enough students signed up for WinterFest (High School Colorado Ski Trip) to happen. The bummer is the people that signed up are the ones who suffer the most, so if you signed up to go to Colorado, here's the deal:

You can either get your money back, or you can transfer your registration to SNOWFest '07 and come to Afton Alps in Minnesota with us instead... the choice is yours, but we hope you will come to SNOWFest! It's from February 23-25th and we will be taking the same style charter bus and staying in a Hotel near the resort. The cost is only $199 so if you put down the $100 deposit, you only owe $99, and that includes EVERYTHING! Lodging, lift tickets, rental, transportation and loads of fun! We hope you will go. You will have to fill out a new permission slip for SNOWFest, but that's no big deal. If you have any questions please call Kurt at 515.987.9595 ext. 134. Hope that clears everything up, and again we are sorry but WinterFest '07 has been canceled! SIGN UP AND COME TO SNOWFest '07 BEFORE IT FILLS UP!!

Baggage Check...

2006-12-22T22:51:00.000-08:00

While there will be no Student Ministries services the next two weekends, Dec. 23/24 and Dec. 30/31, beginning Jan. 6/7th we embark on a new journey. We will be starting a new series in Student Ministries called "BAGGAGE CHECK" to deal with the junk that we all carry in our lives, and together we will look to God to help, and heal us as we become real and authentic with each other. Make sure you and your friends don't miss this powerful series as we discover the life that God has intended us to live, as we release our junk and "Check our Baggage..." into God's care.

Jan. 6/7 - "Who Me?" (Dealing with Denial)
Jan. 13/14 - "Above the Influence" (Overcoming Addictions)
Jan. 20/21 - "Re-Record the Tapes" (Escaping Emotional Baggage)
Jan. 27/28 - "I'm Not Special" (Overcoming Depression)

Here Come the Snow Trips!!

2006-12-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

Hey Students! We got two of our biggest events of the year coming up! Don't miss out on our winter extravaganza events! Be sure to sign up for either of these events at 42 on Saturday nights or at the Spark on Sunday morning! Be sure to get your parents to fill out the permission slips and put down the deposit. Be sure to invite your friends to jump in on the fun as well!

Here are the details:

Jr. High - SNOWFEST 2007
Feb. 23-25, 2007
Afton Alps in Minnesota
Cost: $199 ($50 deposit due at registration, entire balance due on or before Feb. 18th)
Come by the Student Zone for a registration form, and to get signed up!
Any questions call Kurt at 515.987.9595 ext. 134 or Katie at 515.987.9595 ext. 133

High School - WINTERFEST '07
March 20-24, 2007
Winter Park in Colorado
Cost: $399 ($100 deposit due at registration, entire balance due on or before Feb. 18th)
Come by the Student Zone for a registration form, and to get signed up!
Any questions call Kurt at 515.987.9595 ext. 134 or Jake at 515.987.9595 ext. 135

LIFE 360!

2006-10-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Don't miss out on the new series in Student Ministries starting this Sunday, October 22nd at both the Waukee and Ankeny campuses!!

Life 360 will be a powerful series on life, friendships, money, risk, identity and faith. Be sure to attend all six weeks to get your raffle tickets for a chance to win an XBOX 360 and other sweet prizes! Thats right! Every week that you attend, you will receive a raffle ticket for the XBOX 360. Bring a new friend and you will receive an extra ticket that week, and your friend will receive 5 tickets! So the more friends that you bring the more tickets you earn! Good luck! Even if you don't win the XBOX 360, you will learn about yourself, your friends and God and be able to experience Him in a more real way, so you wont want to miss it! Hope to see you this weekend! It's going to be amazing!

Help out with the Fall Festival!

2006-10-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hey students! What are you doing on October 27th? Oh... well this is better than that!

Come and help out with the Fall Festival at Point of Grace! The Fall Festival is a community outreach event for families with elementary age children and we need your help! You will be leading carnival games (the real deal!) for the kids from 6:30-8:30p and to thank you for your help we will feed you pizza dinner before and you will get to play on the inflatables after the Festival! Also as a thank you we will throw an outrageous Halloween Party for the Student Ministries on Halloween Night! You won't want to miss out on any of the fun!

If you want to be involved either email Kurt at kurt@pointofgrace.com or sign up this weekend at 42 or The Spark, and then show up Friday night, October 27th at 5p for pizza!

Please attend dressed up in costume, however we ask that what you wear is appropriate for little children, so nothing gross, scary or scandalous. Thanks so much and we will see you there!

LIFE GROUPS KICK OFF PARTY!

2006-09-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!
You will not want to miss the Life Group Kick Off Party!! It's this Wednesday night, at 7 pm in the Student Zone! There will be free food and games and worship, and you will find out who is in your Life Group with you! You will not want to miss it! If you have not signed up for a Life Group yet, ITS NOT TOO LATE! There is still time to get plugged in and invest in your spiritual life. We really hope that you will get in a Life Group because we believe that spiritual growth happens best in community and we want all of you to get connected!!

Again here are the details:
LIFE GROUP KICK OFF PARTY
Wednesday, October 4th @ 7 pm
Student Zone @ POG
Don't forget to bring your sign up card with a Parent signature or Drivers license number!

See you there!

Kurt and Katie

Big Week For Us...

2006-09-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

Check this out...

This was a big week for Point of Grace! We were featured in an article in Des Moines "CityView" Magazine on megachurches in the MidWest. Jeff Mullen, our lead pastor was interviewed and there were a ton of pictures, all but one, of our church in the article. You can view the article here. Super cool!

Also, the Student Ministry was featured in Waukee Today and The Dallas County News showcasing our ministry for young families in our area. Pretty sweet for the first two months! Its exciting that the community is seeing us as a movement of hope for students and families in the Des Moines area. Nothing like some free publicity!

CRUD WARS! - Sept. 17th 5-7p

2006-09-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION ALL JR. HIGHERS!!
Don't miss this big event! For those of you who don't know, CRUD WARS is a huge, team-based food fight! You and your friends will not want to miss this!! Bring clothes that you don't care about getting dirty... because you will get dirty!! When we are done with the food fight, we will rinse off and have pizza dinner. This event is designed for you to bring new friends to so please bring some new faces! Remember, its free with a new friend, or cost $5 if you come alone. You can get your permission slip at church or at the event. DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS ONE!

CRUD WARS!!
Sunday, Septmeber 17th 5:00 - 7:00p
@ Point of Grace Church
$5 or free with a new friend

Got more questions? Call Kurt at 515.987.9595 ext. 134 or Katie at 515.987.9595 ext. 133. See you Sunday Night!

NEW SERIES STARTING SEPT. 9th & 10th

2006-09-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

DON'T MISS THE NEW SERIES CALLED THE ESSENTIALS!
Sept. 9/10th - ENTER
Sept. 16/17th - MERGE
Sept. 23/24th - CONSTRUCT
Sept. 30th/ Oct. 1st - ACCESS
Oct. 7/8th - ELEVATE

We will be discussing why we do what we do. There will be great music, fun activities and FREE FOOD throughout the series, so be sure not to miss any of the five weeks, and bring your friends out to experience the fun too!!

The Countdown Has Begun!

2006-08-31T13:28:00.000-07:00

STARTING THIS SATURDAY (9.2.06)!!
Don't miss out on the fun, excitement and encouragement of 42. We will have fun activities, great music and FREE FOOD, so invite your friends and don't miss out!! See you Saturday!

No Wednesday Night Meetings!

2006-08-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday (August 30th) we will not have any meetings! With the first full week of school and the big STUDENT MINISTRY LAUNCH coming up on the Septemeber 2nd and 3rd, we wanted to give students and families time to relax and get their schedules worked out.

42 will be on Saturday night September 2nd starting at 5:30 pm and Jr. High Small Groups are taking a break until October. Repeat, there will be no meetings this Wednesday night.

Fair and Pool Party

2006-08-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION STUDENTS!
Be sure to come and check out the cool "End of Summer" Events we have for your grades!

MIDDLE SCHOOLERS (6th-8th):
Pool Party at the Scott's!
Friday, August 18th - 4:30 - 8 PM
FREE FOOD, GAMES AND POOL TIME!
Dress in your favorite Luau costume and don't foget sunscreen!
(New freshman may attend this event as their last event with the Middle School Ministry...)

Directions to the Scott's: 9505 Catalina Circle, Johnston
Take the NW 86th Street exit for Johnston, pass the Wynsong Theaters and continue to head north for approximately 4 miles. Pass NW 62nd Street (road closed sign) and continue on passed Beaver Creek Elementary School on the left (or west) side of the road. Go to the entrance for Green Meadows North housing development, which has a brick entrance with a sign, and turn left (west) off of NW 86th St. onto NW Newgate Dr. It is a curvy road, and follow it up until you see NW 95th Court on the right and the next left is NW 95th Street. Turn left (or south) on NW 95th St. and the next stop sign is Catalina Circle. The house on the corner of NW 95th St. and Catalina Circle. Look for signs and balloons along the way!

Contact:
Kurt's Cell 949.254.0231
Katie's Cell: 805.705.7250
Scott's House: 515.986.4118

HIGH SCHOOLERS (9th-12th):
Iowa State Fair Trip!
Wednesday, August 16th - 10:0 AM - 6:00 PM
Meet at the church at 10 am and be ready for some fun!
It's special Midway day!
$25 get you into the fair and free rides all day!
Bring extra money for food and any other carnival games!
We will be back in time for 42 at 7:00 PM...

If you have any questions about these events, call Kurt at 515.987.9595 ext. 134 or Katie at 515.987.9595 ext. 133 or email at kurt@pointofgrace.com and katie@pointofgrace.com. See you there!

Programs!

2006-08-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

HEY EVERYONE!
Dont miss out on all the fun activities we will have going on for the rest of the summer... Only 3 weeks left so lets make the most of it!

High Schoolers:
Don't miss 42! Every Wednesday night at 7 pm at the church for the rest of the month!
In September it will move to Saturday nights! Stay tuned for more information on that change...

Iowa State Fair Trip! We will be getting a group together to go on "Ride Day" to the Iowa State Fair. More info. coming soon!

Middle Schoolers:
Don't miss Ignite! Every Sunday Morning at both 9:00 and 10:30 am we have a program designed specifically for you Middle Schoolers! Filled with creativity, media and fun, its a place to experience friends and God! Don't miss out!

End of Summer Pool Party - August 19th at 4:30 pm. Pool, Games, Fun and Sun! All soon-to-be 6th through 9th graders at invited! Look for more details coming soon!

CRUD WARS!! You dont know what it is yet, but you wont want to miss it... BIG THINGS HAPPENING IN SEPTEMBER!

BEYOND THE YEARBOOK!

2006-08-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

Attention Students:
Don't miss the next three weeks at Point of Grace! Starting Sunday, Sunday August 6th for Jr. High, and Wednesday August 9th for High School, we will be exploring how you can make a name for yourself this year at school. You wont want to miss the exciting things in store as we explore how to live BEYOND THE YEARBOOK!

BEYOND THE YEARBOOK: a 3 week series
August 6th - 23rd, 2006

SO EXCITED!!

2006-07-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

Hey kids!

We are so excited to be here! We look forward to many fun memories with you all! Be sure to check back often for up to date info. on Student Minstries as we will be having a ton of activities between now and school starting! Ok well, we will see you on Sundays and Wednesdays!

Kurt and Katie

Hey Everyone!

2006-07-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

This is Kurt and Katie and we are so excited to move out to Iowa and meet all of you! We cant wait to see all the fun things God has in store for each of you! Feel free to email us with any thoughts, questions or comments at kurt@pointofgrace.com or katie@pointofgrace.com. We would love to hear from you.

If you would like to get to know us better, check out Kurt's Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/kduggleby. Look forward to seeing you all in a few days!

Here's what we look like: