Inside (HSM) - Spring Edition

eres nothing quite like the New Year.
Youre
basically halfway through the academic year but
starting a new calendar year. eres nothing bet-
ter than a new beginning. Heres why Im excited
about what God is going to do this year:
A CHANCE TO START OVER
(MOVE ON FROM THE PAST)
ank goodness for the New Year. Although it
is really just a new 24-hour day and just a ip of
a page on the calendar it can really be SO much
more than that. It is a chance to put the old year
behind us, and to start fresh. For some of us, that
opportunity cant come soon enough. Maybe
take a step to repair a relationship with someone
(you know who they are) or make something
right as you start over. Remeber every day with
Jesus is a chance to start anew. Its the perfect
opportunity to move on from the past and focus
on the promises of the cross.
A CHANCE TO START SOMETHING NEW
(FOCUS ON THE PRESENT)
e New Year is also a great chance to branch
out into something new youve never tried
before. is could be the time to take a risk in an
area youve thought about but have never taken
that dicult rst step. What would you do if
you could do anything and not fail? What risks
HIGHSCHOOLMINISTRY.COM / 4 3 / INSIDE[HSM] SPRING 13
A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR
hope you enjoy reading about whats
coming up in HSM this Spring
weve got some exciting new stu
including some returning favorite
events and speakers as we start 2013.
would you take if you knew it would work out?
What would your life look like if you started
to read the Bible, and live it out? e New Year
is a perfect chance to nd out. Remember to
focus on the PRESENT and what you can ac-
complish in Him right here and now.
A CHANCE TO START A FRIENDSHIP
(PAVE THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE)
One of the phrases I like to say to our student
greeters is no one sits alone. One of my goals
is that a student who sits alone quickly nds
new friends at HSM and to become part of our
Christian community. is will be foundational
in helping them continue to come to church
and grow in their faith. is year, I hope youll
reach out to someone at your school, your Life
Group or with someone you already know.
Take a chance this year. You can help pave the
FUTURE of HSM. Remember that every leap
of faith you take aects not only you, but the
people around you. Be that light shining in
the darkness. You never know who is searching
for it.
is year, I hope you take the challenge to move
on from the PAST, embrace the PRESENT,
and pave way for the FUTURE of HSM.
What will 2013 bring for you? Ill be so excited
to nd out!
Josh Grin
High School Pastor
Saddleback Church
INSIDE
THE OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRY MAGAZINE
Spring 2013, Issue 2
Director | Josh Grifn
Editor-in-Chief | Monica Ware
Assistant Editor, Advertising | Travis Prouty
Editorial Assistant | Colton Harker
Contributing Writers: Sean McDowell, Ashley Donahue, Hannah Rich, Sean
McDowell, Kurt Johnston, Chance Espinoza, Justin Knowles, Bryce Kelley
Senior Designer/Creative Director | Dillon Phommasa
Contributing Designers: Parker Stech, Shea Lewis
Cover: Parker Stech
Contributing Photographers: Dillon Phommasa, Emily Arnold,
Eddie Rios, Melanie Kim, Danny Roy, Capture Ministry.
Stylist: Hannah Rich
Special Thanks: HSM Staff, Doug Fields, John Cassetto, Betty Hopkins, Rick
Warren
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES:
CONTACT Travis Prouty at travisp@saddleback.com
NOT SURE WHAT
THESE BOXES
ARE?
Theyre QR codes.
Heres what to do
with them.
1. DOWNLOAD A FREE APP
QR codes are barcodes that can be read by
smart phone cameras. Search QR code in
your appstore to nd a free QR app for your
mobile device.
2. SCAN THE CODE
Open the app, hold your camera over the box,
and BOOM. The app will use your camera to
read the code!
3. ENJOY
The code will instantly direct your mobile device
to the internets equivalent of Narnia. Have fun.
THE NEW YEAR BRINGS
CONTENTS
FEATUREs
27
12
14
10 STEPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL QUIET TIME
Hannah Rich gives us 10 tips to challenge and strengthen our relation-
ship with the Lord.
THIS YEAR I WILL...
e New Year means new resolutions. Find out about keeping your
goals for the year and what our students have in mind for 2013.
CLUSTER OF WHAT?
What is Cluster of Students and what exactly do they do? Find out
in this article as we explore this incredible ministry.
HOW TO SHARE JESUS WITHOUT FREAKING OUT YOUR FRIENDS
Talking about your relationship with the Lord may be scary, but
its worth it. Justin Knowles shares his perspective on how to share
your faith without fear.
HOW TO GET WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED
Kurt Johnston shares his take on freedom, parents and how to balance
it all without losing your mind.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: ENCOURAGE EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION WHY WORSHIP TOGETHER
WEEKEND?
VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT:
BRETT & AMY PROUTY
RECENT INSTAGRAMS
22
24
THE STORY OF HSMS HISTORY 43
22 19 17 39
eres nothing quite like the New Year. Youre
basically halfway through the academic year but
starting a new calendar year. eres nothing bet-
ter than a new beginning. Heres why Im excited
about what God is going to do this year:
A CHANCE TO START OVER
(MOVE ON FROM THE PAST)
ank goodness for the New Year. Although it
is really just a new 24-hour day and just a ip of
a page on the calendar it can really be SO much
more than that. It is a chance to put the old year
behind us, and to start fresh. For some of us, that
opportunity cant come soon enough. Maybe
take a step to repair a relationship with someone
(you know who they are) or make something
right as you start over. Remeber every day with
Jesus is a chance to start anew. Its the perfect
opportunity to move on from the past and focus
on the promises of the cross.
A CHANCE TO START SOMETHING NEW
(FOCUS ON THE PRESENT)
e New Year is also a great chance to branch
out into something new youve never tried
before. is could be the time to take a risk in an
area youve thought about but have never taken
that dicult rst step. What would you do if
you could do anything and not fail? What risks
A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR
hope you enjoy reading about whats
coming up in HSM this Spring
weve got some exciting new stu
including some returning favorite
events and speakers as we start 2013.
would you take if you knew it would work out?
What would your life look like if you started
to read the Bible, and live it out? e New Year
is a perfect chance to nd out. Remember to
focus on the PRESENT and what you can ac-
complish in Him right here and now.
A CHANCE TO START A FRIENDSHIP
(PAVE THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE)
One of the phrases I like to say to our student
greeters is no one sits alone. One of my goals
is that a student who sits alone quickly nds
new friends at HSM and to become part of our
Christian community. is will be foundational
in helping them continue to come to church
and grow in their faith. is year, I hope youll
reach out to someone at your school, your Life
Group or with someone you already know.
Take a chance this year. You can help pave the
FUTURE of HSM. Remember that every leap
of faith you take aects not only you, but the
people around you. Be that light shining in
the darkness. You never know who is searching
for it.
is year, I hope you take the challenge to move
on from the PAST, embrace the PRESENT,
and pave way for the FUTURE of HSM.
What will 2013 bring for you? Ill be so excited
to nd out!
Josh Grin
High School Pastor
Saddleback Church
INSIDE
THE OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRY MAGAZINE
Spring 2013, Issue 2
Director | Josh Grifn
Editor-in-Chief | Monica Ware
Assistant Editor, Advertising | Travis Prouty
Editorial Assistant | Colton Harker
Contributing Writers: Sean McDowell, Ashley Donahue, Hannah Rich, Sean
McDowell, Kurt Johnston, Chance Espinoza, Justin Knowles, Bryce Kelley
Senior Designer/Creative Director | Dillon Phommasa
Contributing Designers: Parker Stech, Shea Lewis
Cover: Parker Stech
Contributing Photographers: Dillon Phommasa, Emily Arnold,
Eddie Rios, Melanie Kim, Danny Roy, Capture Ministry.
Stylist: Hannah Rich
Special Thanks: HSM Staff, Doug Fields, John Cassetto, Betty Hopkins, Rick
Warren
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES:
CONTACT Travis Prouty at travisp@saddleback.com
NOT SURE WHAT
THESE BOXES
ARE?
Theyre QR codes.
Heres what to do
with them.
1. DOWNLOAD A FREE APP
QR codes are barcodes that can be read by
smart phone cameras. Search QR code in
your appstore to nd a free QR app for your
mobile device.
2. SCAN THE CODE
Open the app, hold your camera over the box,
and BOOM. The app will use your camera to
read the code!
3. ENJOY
The code will instantly direct your mobile device
to the internets equivalent of Narnia. Have fun.
THE NEW YEAR BRINGS
CONTENTS
FEATUREs
27
12
14
10 STEPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL QUIET TIME
Hannah Rich gives us 10 tips to challenge and strengthen our relation-
ship with the Lord.
THIS YEAR I WILL...
e New Year means new resolutions. Find out about keeping your
goals for the year and what our students have in mind for 2013.
CLUSTER OF WHAT?
What is Cluster of Students and what exactly do they do? Find out
in this article as we explore this incredible ministry.
HOW TO SHARE JESUS WITHOUT FREAKING OUT YOUR FRIENDS
Talking about your relationship with the Lord may be scary, but
its worth it. Justin Knowles shares his perspective on how to share
your faith without fear.
HOW TO GET WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED
Kurt Johnston shares his take on freedom, parents and how to balance
it all without losing your mind.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: ENCOURAGE EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION WHY WORSHIP TOGETHER
WEEKEND?
VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT:
BRETT & AMY PROUTY
RECENT INSTAGRAMS
22
24
THE STORY OF HSMS HISTORY 43
22 19 17 39
STAFF BIOS
STAFF BIOS
tattoos being related to a sense of low self esteem?
Totally baseless! Please remove the comic from the
next issue if you have a sense of decency.
SINCERELY, PROBABLY JUSTIN
FEEDBACK FOR THE ASSISTANT EDITOR
I DID SOMETHING THIS WEEK THAT IM NOT PROUD OF, AND HAVE
TOTALLY LOST ALL OF MY PARENTS TRUST. HOW DO I GET IT BACK?
It takes a lot of time to build trust, but only seconds to destroy it, as you
already know. A lot of times people think trust is built when you are truthful
about the big things that are dicult to hide. Telling the truth when it cant be
hidden isnt building trust at all. Trust is built when you are truthful about the
stu that can be hidden.
ese are some ways that you can start to rebuild trust:
1. Speak truthfully about things that might not always be easy for you to
admit.
2. Tell the truth even when theres the possibility of a negative response.
3. Tell the whole truth and not just fragments of the truth.
4. You have to go overboard in telling the truth. For example, giving your
parents more info then they ask for.
Your parents dont want you to just tell the truth, but they want to know you
understand the importance of being honest and truthful. Here are a few things
you need to realize and a few things you need to apply to your life:
Luke 16:10 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with
much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
- Be trustworthy and honest in the little things because that's where it
counts.
- Being dishonest is a progressive behavior. e more you lie, the worse it
gets. Ifyou allow lying into your life, even in little ways, the behavior will
become easier and will denitely aect larger areas.
- Being trustworthy is a progressive behavior. It will improve your life to be
an honest person. Being honest will improve your relationships and the way
people perceive you when you are truthful in the small things.
Proerbs 12:19 Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.
- In the end, truth will prevail, so just be truthful!
- You can only lie for so long before the truth is exposed. Dishonesty is like
a tornado. It starts small then it gets bigger and stronger before its over. e
length of time the tornado last determines how much can be damaged. e
question is how much will you allow it to destroy?
2012 FALL ISSUE
DEAR ASSISTANT EDITOR,
No oense, but I thought your comic totally
sucked. First o, if you knew anything about
sharks, you would know that their skin is rough
like sandpaper, which in fact would make getting
a tattoo impossible. And the whole thing about
DEAR PROBABLY JUSTIN,
PROVE IT BRO.
I noticed that in the last issue, if you look carefully you can see
the faces of the HSM sta in the clock on the front cover. Was
that intentional?
THANKS, ATTENTION TO DETAIL
DEAR ATTENTION TO DETAIL,
Wow! Youre right! I never noticed that before. It was in fact
NOT intentional, and actually is really creeping me out right
now. Im also a little annoyed that Coltons head is more
prominent than mine.
Sometimes when Im home alone, I like to ll my bathtub
with spaghetti sauce and pretend Im a meatball.
SINCERELY, SOMETIMES WHEN IM HOME ALONE I ALSO
PAINT MYSELF ORANGE AND PRETEND IM A CARROT.
DEAR SOMETIMES WHEN IM HOME ALONE I ALSO
PAINT MYSELF ORANGE AND PRETEND IM A CARROTT.
I have no idea how your question? got in here and Im
going to have a serious talk with Monica, the editor.
I want to bring to the attention of the Inside:HSM magazine
readers a very serious and important issue that deserves our
consideration and thought. I am of course referring to the
reintroduction of timber wolves into the Montana wilderness.
is is a hot topic for many, for while it is laudable to encourage
wildlife populations to grow back to their former stature, the
sheep farmers remember all too well the wolf attacks of the early
1990s that nearly decimated the entire industry. While Im
aware that most of the readers probably have already discussed
this with their loved ones around the dinner table, it is vital that
such an important platform like Inside:HSM raise awareness of
this issue. It is up to us, the people of this great nation, to do our
best in caring about and for the great natural beauty that God
has granted us, and to make sure that wildlife have proper habi-
tation. at is why I propose that we all stop wearing cotton,
and we let the entire state of Montana be turned into a giant
federal wildlife preserve. is would no doubt allow the wolves
to regain their former stature in the animal kingdom, and also
allow for sheep to get a break. Fellow readers of Inside:HSM,
let us rally together. Lets give sheep a break. Lets let wolves be
wolves. Whos with me?
SINCERELY, POLYESTER 4 LYFE
DEAR POLYESTER 4 LYFE,
Sounds good.
HOW DO I STOP THE CRAZINESS OF LIFE FROM

DERAILING ME FROM MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST?
Derailment is inevitable if your relationship with Christ isn't right in the rst place. I
had to realize that one of the benets of my relationship with Christ is his guidance and
comfort during the craziness of life. We must lean and rely on our relationship with Him.
So here are a few things Ive had to correct in my own life.
I had to stop viewing my relationship with Christ as an item on my list of things
to do. e time I spent with Him had to be about growing closer in relationship
with Him and not about just checking o an item on the list of chores I had to
complete. I had to make this relationship a priority in my life, so that when the
craziness did come, it wouldnt shake my faith and I wouldnt run from Him
but to Him.
Nahum 1:7 e Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those
who take refuge in him.
I had to remember that God is working on my behalf during the craziness of
life. Ive been through some crazy things in my life and I have found much
comfort in the fact that Im not alone but God is with me, and that He works
everything out for my good. ere are two verses that come to mind.
James 1:2-3 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
loe him, who have been called according to his purpose.
I had to learn that everything that I go through has a purpose. As hard as it is I
had to come to terms with the fact that I may never know why crazy things hap-
pen but I can denitely be condent in the fact that the God I love and trust
knows and is in control.
Life Group leaders are like your own, personal, Dr. AC that you can meet with every
week during the school year. At HSM, we are passionate about doing life together. If
you would like to get connected with a small group, go to HSMLIFEGROUPS.COM
I really liked your interview with Rick Warren in your Fall
2012 issue. Warren said, What I wish I had known in high
school was that everything I thought was important in high
school wasnt, and everything I though wasnt important
was. I think thats so huge. Its so important to not get
caught up in the little details of high school that dont
ultimately matter for the rest of your life. Im going to care
about eternal things instead and develop my character and
identity in Christ instead of trying to make people like me
for 4 years.

SINCERELY, WHAT MATTERS MOST
BY TRAVIS PROUTY
BY AARON CRUMBEY
tattoos being related to a sense of low self esteem?
Totally baseless! Please remove the comic from the
next issue if you have a sense of decency.
SINCERELY, PROBABLY JUSTIN
FEEDBACK FOR THE ASSISTANT EDITOR
I DID SOMETHING THIS WEEK THAT IM NOT PROUD OF, AND HAVE
TOTALLY LOST ALL OF MY PARENTS TRUST. HOW DO I GET IT BACK?
It takes a lot of time to build trust, but only seconds to destroy it, as you
already know. A lot of times people think trust is built when you are truthful
about the big things that are dicult to hide. Telling the truth when it cant be
hidden isnt building trust at all. Trust is built when you are truthful about the
stu that can be hidden.
ese are some ways that you can start to rebuild trust:
1. Speak truthfully about things that might not always be easy for you to
admit.
2. Tell the truth even when theres the possibility of a negative response.
3. Tell the whole truth and not just fragments of the truth.
4. You have to go overboard in telling the truth. For example, giving your
parents more info then they ask for.
Your parents dont want you to just tell the truth, but they want to know you
understand the importance of being honest and truthful. Here are a few things
you need to realize and a few things you need to apply to your life:
Luke 16:10 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with
much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
- Be trustworthy and honest in the little things because that's where it
counts.
- Being dishonest is a progressive behavior. e more you lie, the worse it
gets. Ifyou allow lying into your life, even in little ways, the behavior will
become easier and will denitely aect larger areas.
- Being trustworthy is a progressive behavior. It will improve your life to be
an honest person. Being honest will improve your relationships and the way
people perceive you when you are truthful in the small things.
Proerbs 12:19 Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.
- In the end, truth will prevail, so just be truthful!
- You can only lie for so long before the truth is exposed. Dishonesty is like
a tornado. It starts small then it gets bigger and stronger before its over. e
length of time the tornado last determines how much can be damaged. e
question is how much will you allow it to destroy?
2012 FALL ISSUE
No oense, but I thought your comic totally
sucked. First o, if you knew anything about
sharks, you would know that their skin is rough
like sandpaper, which in fact would make getting
a tattoo impossible. And the whole thing about
DEAR PROBABLY JUSTIN,
PROVE IT BRO.
I noticed that in the last issue, if you look carefully you can see
the faces of the HSM sta in the clock on the front cover. Was
that intentional?
THANKS, ATTENTION TO DETAIL
DEAR ATTENTION TO DETAIL,
Wow! Youre right! I never noticed that before. It was in fact
NOT intentional, and actually is really creeping me out right
now. Im also a little annoyed that Coltons head is more
prominent than mine.
Sometimes when Im home alone, I like to ll my bathtub
with spaghetti sauce and pretend Im a meatball.
SINCERELY, SOMETIMES WHEN IM HOME ALONE I ALSO
PAINT MYSELF ORANGE AND PRETEND IM A CARROT.
DEAR SOMETIMES WHEN IM HOME ALONE I ALSO
PAINT MYSELF ORANGE AND PRETEND IM A CARROTT.
I have no idea how your question? got in here and Im
going to have a serious talk with Monica, the editor.
I want to bring to the attention of the Inside:HSM magazine
readers a very serious and important issue that deserves our
consideration and thought. I am of course referring to the
reintroduction of timber wolves into the Montana wilderness.
is is a hot topic for many, for while it is laudable to encourage
wildlife populations to grow back to their former stature, the
sheep farmers remember all too well the wolf attacks of the early
1990s that nearly decimated the entire industry. While Im
aware that most of the readers probably have already discussed
this with their loved ones around the dinner table, it is vital that
such an important platform like Inside:HSM raise awareness of
this issue. It is up to us, the people of this great nation, to do our
best in caring about and for the great natural beauty that God
has granted us, and to make sure that wildlife have proper habi-
tation. at is why I propose that we all stop wearing cotton,
and we let the entire state of Montana be turned into a giant
federal wildlife preserve. is would no doubt allow the wolves
to regain their former stature in the animal kingdom, and also
allow for sheep to get a break. Fellow readers of Inside:HSM,
let us rally together. Lets give sheep a break. Lets let wolves be
wolves. Whos with me?
SINCERELY, POLYESTER 4 LYFE
DEAR POLYESTER 4 LYFE,
Sounds good.
HOW DO I STOP THE CRAZINESS OF LIFE FROM

DERAILING ME FROM MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST?
Derailment is inevitable if your relationship with Christ isn't right in the rst place. I
had to realize that one of the benets of my relationship with Christ is his guidance and
comfort during the craziness of life. We must lean and rely on our relationship with Him.
So here are a few things Ive had to correct in my own life.
I had to stop viewing my relationship with Christ as an item on my list of things
to do. e time I spent with Him had to be about growing closer in relationship
with Him and not about just checking o an item on the list of chores I had to
complete. I had to make this relationship a priority in my life, so that when the
craziness did come, it wouldnt shake my faith and I wouldnt run from Him
but to Him.
Nahum 1:7 e Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those
who take refuge in him.
I had to remember that God is working on my behalf during the craziness of
life. Ive been through some crazy things in my life and I have found much
comfort in the fact that Im not alone but God is with me, and that He works
everything out for my good. ere are two verses that come to mind.
James 1:2-3 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
loe him, who have been called according to his purpose.
I had to learn that everything that I go through has a purpose. As hard as it is I
had to come to terms with the fact that I may never know why crazy things hap-
pen but I can denitely be condent in the fact that the God I love and trust
knows and is in control.
Life Group leaders are like your own, personal, Dr. AC that you can meet with every
week during the school year. At HSM, we are passionate about doing life together. If
you would like to get connected with a small group, go to HSMLIFEGROUPS.COM
I really liked your interview with Rick Warren in your Fall
2012 issue. Warren said, What I wish I had known in high
school was that everything I thought was important in high
school wasnt, and everything I though wasnt important
was. I think thats so huge. Its so important to not get
caught up in the little details of high school that dont
ultimately matter for the rest of your life. Im going to care
about eternal things instead and develop my character and
identity in Christ instead of trying to make people like me
for 4 years.

SINCERELY, WHAT MATTERS MOST
BY TRAVIS PROUTY
BY AARON CRUMBEY
WHAT IS HSM?
THIS IS HSM

v
MISSION STATEMENTS
Our ministry exists to help students become exposed to, experience and express Christ, His kingdom and the Biblical purposes of His church.
HSM students put these mission statements together as a way of unifying their vision at their school.
WHAT IS HSM?
THIS IS HSM

v
MISSION STATEMENTS
Our ministry exists to help students become exposed to, experience and express Christ, His kingdom and the Biblical purposes of His church.
HSM students put these mission statements together as a way of unifying their vision at their school.
HIGHSCHOOLMINISTRY.COM / 12
am a big fan of having goals. e New Year has always been a great time
to rene and reimagine what the next year will hold. Ive oen been
incredibly wrong about what ends up occurring in that year. is fact has
never stopped me from watching the countdown and holding my breath
with excitement about the chance to start over.
Ive recently found out that Im not alone in this excitement. Over 60%
of Americans eagerly await the New Year so that they can begin a new
chapter in their lives (according to the Journal of Clinical Psychology).
However, in that same study I discovered, to my horror, that only 8% end
up keep their resolution aer a handful of months.
Aer chatting with some students about their goals for 2013 (you can
see some awesome resolutions from our students on the next page), Ive
realized that we all need some encouragement in order to fulll our goals
for the year.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS IVE FOUND THAT HELP IN MAINTAINING YOUR
RESOLUTIONS.
Before deciding on a goal, make a pro/con list about why you are
choosing this goal for the year. Not only will this help encourage you
when your goal gets harder to maintain, but it will also help you narrow
down your resolutions to those that are the most attainable and realistic.
While January 1 is a great time to start afresh and challenge yourself,
there is always room for improvement throughout the year. Never feel
like you have to wait until the next year if your goal isnt turning out the
way you had hoped. In fact, dont feel like you HAVE to have a goal on
the rst day of the year. Every day is a chance to start over.
Talk about what youre planning on achieving with those that you are
close to. is will keep you accountable and will also be a great source of
encouragement.
Find a way to track your progress. Even if its not as concrete as exer-
cising more frequently, keep a journal so that you can see your improve-
ments. Reward yourself when you reach certain benchmarks. is will
keep you focused on the end goal you have for yourself or keep you going
if you feel like youre lagging behind.
Avoid rigid and restrictive goals but DO have a clear plan to achieve
your resolutions. For example, your goal may be to run a marathon. Of
course, this resolution is pretty demanding and would require running
almost every day. While a plan is necessary, make sure its exible so you
dont feel defeated. Saying that you are going to run 20 miles every day
starting January 1 just may not be that realistic. It is important to have
some exibility while maintaining a clear end goal.
Beyond a 1 year goal, the New Year is a perfect time to make a vision
board. I LOVE vision boards because you can have them for many years.
is way, they can include more long term goals. I created a list of goals
for myself during my second year of college. It took more than 2 years to
complete everything, but it was well worth it. I achieved all of my goals
right before I graduated, so being able to take it down, having succeeded,
was incredible. ese boards can be anything from specic achievements
or long-term goals (such as maintaining close friendships).
BY MONICA WARE
am a big fan of having goals. e New Year has always been a great time
to rene and reimagine what the next year will hold. Ive oen been
incredibly wrong about what ends up occurring in that year. is fact has
never stopped me from watching the countdown and holding my breath
with excitement about the chance to start over.
Ive recently found out that Im not alone in this excitement. Over 60%
of Americans eagerly await the New Year so that they can begin a new
chapter in their lives (according to the Journal of Clinical Psychology).
However, in that same study I discovered, to my horror, that only 8% end
up keep their resolution aer a handful of months.
Aer chatting with some students about their goals for 2013 (you can
see some awesome resolutions from our students on the next page), Ive
realized that we all need some encouragement in order to fulll our goals
for the year.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS IVE FOUND THAT HELP IN MAINTAINING YOUR
RESOLUTIONS.
Before deciding on a goal, make a pro/con list about why you are
choosing this goal for the year. Not only will this help encourage you
when your goal gets harder to maintain, but it will also help you narrow
down your resolutions to those that are the most attainable and realistic.
While January 1 is a great time to start afresh and challenge yourself,
there is always room for improvement throughout the year. Never feel
like you have to wait until the next year if your goal isnt turning out the
way you had hoped. In fact, dont feel like you HAVE to have a goal on
the rst day of the year. Every day is a chance to start over.
Talk about what youre planning on achieving with those that you are
close to. is will keep you accountable and will also be a great source of
encouragement.
Find a way to track your progress. Even if its not as concrete as exer-
cising more frequently, keep a journal so that you can see your improve-
ments. Reward yourself when you reach certain benchmarks. is will
keep you focused on the end goal you have for yourself or keep you going
if you feel like youre lagging behind.
Avoid rigid and restrictive goals but DO have a clear plan to achieve
your resolutions. For example, your goal may be to run a marathon. Of
course, this resolution is pretty demanding and would require running
almost every day. While a plan is necessary, make sure its exible so you
dont feel defeated. Saying that you are going to run 20 miles every day
starting January 1 just may not be that realistic. It is important to have
some exibility while maintaining a clear end goal.
Beyond a 1 year goal, the New Year is a perfect time to make a vision
board. I LOVE vision boards because you can have them for many years.
is way, they can include more long term goals. I created a list of goals
for myself during my second year of college. It took more than 2 years to
complete everything, but it was well worth it. I achieved all of my goals
right before I graduated, so being able to take it down, having succeeded,
was incredible. ese boards can be anything from specic achievements
or long-term goals (such as maintaining close friendships).
BY MONICA WARE
CLUSTER
OF WHAT?
BY CHANCE ESPINOSA
there are countless resources that you can access to grow
exponentially as an instrumentalist and/or vocalist.
INSIDE GOING OUT.
Besides having a great ministry that extends all the way from
junior high through high school, the impact of Cluster of
Students does not stop there. Many of the students that go
through this ministry become worship pastors and paid
musicians. Some even end up in bands that are a light in the
music scene. Bands such as e Bolts, Summer Wilshire, e
Royal Sons, and J. oven have all been started by Cluster
alumni. Each band has the rare chance to be the light of God
in the music scene to inuence people with their music and
lifestyle. Not only are they making great music using the skills
that they acquired through the mentorship of the Cluster
sta, but theyre using that music to meet and encounter
people that theyd normally not have the chance to associate
with. God is using all of these and many other people that
have grown up in the ministry to make a huge impact for
Gods Kingdom beyond high school.
THE JESUS.
It is absolutely vital that things always point towards Jesus.
Worship bands are more than music. In fact, they are more
than bands. ey are teams--teams that are devoted to lead-
ing and teaching people to encounter the God that loves us.
ats why we call it Cluster of Students. Its a group, or
Cluster, of students that work together to lead people in
worship through music. ese teams grow together musically
and spiritually through the community of students and the
mentorship of the sta. Weve had a myriad of artists come
in to teach about the role of music in worship including
Tim Timmons, Future of Forestry, and Gungor. ere is a
seemingly endless fountain of experience and wisdom that
is at your service to help you further understand worship to
the fullest. We have speakers like this come in so that were
reminded that worship isnt music, its everything we do.
Music is another unique way in which we worship.
THE MUSIC.
As Christians, we are called to do everything to the best
of our abilities. With Gods image living in and through
us, there is a beauty and light that cant help but burn
excellently. We take excellence seriously. Although our
primary goal is not to show o or impress, its important
that we train in such a way that we can give God
everything that we have as an act of worship. We believe
that practicing alone in your room is just as much an
act of worship as playing on stage in the band during
the weekend. e Cluster of Students bands are heavily
trained by Tay and Cluster sta to be the absolute
best musicians they can be. We dont just want you to
reach your potential; we want you to exceed it. rough
in-house conferences, workshops, and band practices,
has actually seen his birth certicate (with the excep-
tion of his mother and father of course). Tay is the
energized, passionate pastor of the Cluster of Students,
that can oen be seen wearing a Chubby Ninja shirt.
He, as well as his interns (including yours truly), work
with students to help them learn how to serve the Lord
with the gis that God has given them. In doing this,
they are able to have a place to learn how to lead others
in worship. is ministry wants to be a resource that
you can use to grow in your musical skills and, more
importantly, to grow in your relationship with God.
HERES THE DEAL:
We exist to empower you to grow in your gis so that you can give them back to Him,
and help lead others to His presence. If you want to get involved in the Cluster of
Students ministry, be sure to talk to or e-mail Tay at tay@saddleback.com or Keeley
Reed at Keeleyr@saddleback.com. Wed love the opportunity to serve with you.
ur worship bands, cleverly titled as
Cluster of Students are all run by a
man named Tay. Nobody really knows
if thats his birth name because nobody
HERE ARE SOME HSM STUDENTS GOALS FOR THIS YEAR.
Junior; Cameron Ashbaugh:
is year I will Get involved in
another ministry, be more consis-
tent with my quiet times, & get calf
muscles as big as Josh Grins.
Sophomore; Annie Heaslet:
is year I will Learn something
I didnt know about someone every
weekend at HSM.
Sophomore; Aubrey Payne:
is year I will go outside my com-
fort zone by striking up conversation
with people sitting alone at lunch.
SENIOR; DANIELLE FOCKLER
JUNIOR; NICO MCKELLIPS
Freshman; Sawyer Genoway:
is year I will... be more respectful
towards my parents, and get a hot
senior date to Missions prom... So
ladies get at me!
Freshmen; Courtlyn Glatz:
is year I will bring/show 5 people
what my relationship with the Lord
is like.
Senior; Melanie Kim:
is year I will... stop procrastinating
when doing my school work.
Junior; Zack Lopez:
DOWNLOAD FOUR FREE CLUSTER OF STUDENTS
SONGS AT WWW.CLUSTEROFSTUDENTS.COM!
13/ INSIDE[HSM] SPRING 13
Junior; Kelly Jones:
is year I will manage my stress
better, be thankful for the friends and
family I have, and to give God full
control of my life each day.
Freshman; Shane DuCharme
is year I will stop drinking soda
and and memorize a new verse from
my Bible every week.
Senior; Lauren Meyering
is year I will grow further in my
relationship with Christ, and create a
lm that changes the world.
Senior; Darren Geenen:
is year I will limit my seles on
Instagram to one a week and a shirt-
less one every month.
Sophomore; Chase Hudson
CLUSTER
OF WHAT?
BY CHANCE ESPINOSA
there are countless resources that you can access to grow
exponentially as an instrumentalist and/or vocalist.
INSIDE GOING OUT.
Besides having a great ministry that extends all the way from
junior high through high school, the impact of Cluster of
Students does not stop there. Many of the students that go
through this ministry become worship pastors and paid
musicians. Some even end up in bands that are a light in the
music scene. Bands such as e Bolts, Summer Wilshire, e
Royal Sons, and J. oven have all been started by Cluster
alumni. Each band has the rare chance to be the light of God
in the music scene to inuence people with their music and
lifestyle. Not only are they making great music using the skills
that they acquired through the mentorship of the Cluster
sta, but theyre using that music to meet and encounter
people that theyd normally not have the chance to associate
with. God is using all of these and many other people that
have grown up in the ministry to make a huge impact for
Gods Kingdom beyond high school.
THE JESUS.
It is absolutely vital that things always point towards Jesus.
Worship bands are more than music. In fact, they are more
than bands. ey are teams--teams that are devoted to lead-
ing and teaching people to encounter the God that loves us.
ats why we call it Cluster of Students. Its a group, or
Cluster, of students that work together to lead people in
worship through music. ese teams grow together musically
and spiritually through the community of students and the
mentorship of the sta. Weve had a myriad of artists come
in to teach about the role of music in worship including
Tim Timmons, Future of Forestry, and Gungor. ere is a
seemingly endless fountain of experience and wisdom that
is at your service to help you further understand worship to
the fullest. We have speakers like this come in so that were
reminded that worship isnt music, its everything we do.
Music is another unique way in which we worship.
THE MUSIC.
As Christians, we are called to do everything to the best
of our abilities. With Gods image living in and through
us, there is a beauty and light that cant help but burn
excellently. We take excellence seriously. Although our
primary goal is not to show o or impress, its important
that we train in such a way that we can give God
everything that we have as an act of worship. We believe
that practicing alone in your room is just as much an
act of worship as playing on stage in the band during
the weekend. e Cluster of Students bands are heavily
trained by Tay and Cluster sta to be the absolute
best musicians they can be. We dont just want you to
reach your potential; we want you to exceed it. rough
in-house conferences, workshops, and band practices,
has actually seen his birth certicate (with the excep-
tion of his mother and father of course). Tay is the
energized, passionate pastor of the Cluster of Students,
that can oen be seen wearing a Chubby Ninja shirt.
He, as well as his interns (including yours truly), work
with students to help them learn how to serve the Lord
with the gis that God has given them. In doing this,
they are able to have a place to learn how to lead others
in worship. is ministry wants to be a resource that
you can use to grow in your musical skills and, more
importantly, to grow in your relationship with God.
HERES THE DEAL:
We exist to empower you to grow in your gis so that you can give them back to Him,
and help lead others to His presence. If you want to get involved in the Cluster of
Students ministry, be sure to talk to or e-mail Tay at tay@saddleback.com or Keeley
Reed at Keeleyr@saddleback.com. Wed love the opportunity to serve with you.
ur worship bands, cleverly titled as
Cluster of Students are all run by a
man named Tay. Nobody really knows
if thats his birth name because nobody
HERE ARE SOME HSM STUDENTS GOALS FOR THIS YEAR.
Junior; Cameron Ashbaugh:
is year I will Get involved in
another ministry, be more consis-
tent with my quiet times, & get calf
muscles as big as Josh Grins.
Sophomore; Annie Heaslet:
is year I will Learn something
I didnt know about someone every
weekend at HSM.
Sophomore; Aubrey Payne:
SENIOR; DANIELLE FOCKLER
JUNIOR; NICO MCKELLIPS
Freshman; Sawyer Genoway:
is year I will... be more respectful
towards my parents, and get a hot
senior date to Missions prom... So
ladies get at me!
Freshmen; Courtlyn Glatz:
is year I will bring/show 5 people
what my relationship with the Lord
is like.
Senior; Melanie Kim:
is year I will... stop procrastinating
when doing my school work.
Junior; Zack Lopez:
DOWNLOAD FOUR FREE CLUSTER OF STUDENTS
SONGS AT WWW.CLUSTEROFSTUDENTS.COM!
13/ INSIDE[HSM] SPRING 13
Junior; Kelly Jones:
is year I will manage my stress
better, be thankful for the friends and
family I have, and to give God full
control of my life each day.
Freshman; Shane DuCharme
Senior; Lauren Meyering
is year I will grow further in my
relationship with Christ, and create a
lm that changes the world.
Senior; Darren Geenen:
is year I will limit my seles on
Instagram to one a week and a shirt-
less one every month.
Sophomore; Chase Hudson
God and church? What were you doing with
your life? Where were you headed? How did
you feel?
THE NEXT STEP IS TO TELL HOW YOU MET CHRIST.
What was said? Who told you about Jesus?
Where were you? What were you thinking?
How were you feeling? What did you say or
pray? is part is critical because non-believers
need to know that its pretty simple to develop
a relationship with Christ. ey need to realize
that they dont have to have money, a church
membership, a perfect past, or a dress code in
order to put their trust in Christ.
FINALLY, YOU WANT TO TELL WHAT YOUR LIFE HAS
BEEN LIKE AFTER TRUSTING CHRIST TO BE THE
LORD OF YOUR LIFE. BE HONEST!
Don't think you have to make your life look
neat and pretty. You wont hurt Jesus reputa-
tion if you admit you still have struggles. Even
in the midst of your struggles, Jesus can teach
you incredible things, so share what youve
learned and where you hope to be as you fol-
low Jesus every day.
So now youve learned about the importance
of telling your story!
YOU MAY BE ASKING YOURSELF
WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?
Basically, a testimony is your story! Its a story about you and your relationship
with Jesus. Every single person has a story. You may be wondering, Why should
I share my story? e answer is easy enough; others need to hear the unique
examples of how God works. ere is a mutual blessing when a testimony is
shared. In Romans 12:2 Paul tells us that it is benecial for us to be mutually
encouraged by each others faith.
Its easy to lose sight of what the Lord is doing in our lives. e process of writing
down how much the Lord has shown up in your life will serve as a reminder
to you when youre struggling to gure out His plan, or the next right step you
should take.
Your testimony serves as encouragement to others as they are reminded of how
great God is and how important it is for them to keep their faith, even in the
most challenging times. Non-Christians, in hearing your story, get a tangible
example of how God has made a dierence in your life. Many non-Christians
dismiss their need for God because they dont see how God is relevant in their
daily life. However, they cant dismiss your story. Sharing your testimony reveals,
immediately, that God is real and alive in your life.
Most people come to know Christ through the process of asking questions, get-
ting answers, watching other Christians and accepting Gods free gi of forgive-
ness and eternal life. is doesnt mean your story has to be extravagant. In order
to tell your story, you need to be genuine and real. Maybe you dont have a story
that will make someone cry or stand to their feet and applaud, but if you know
Jesus, your story will encourage someone elses faith journey.
In thinking about your journey in getting to know the Lord, its important to
remember that the Christian faith isnt a one-time event. Your testimony is an
ongoing, ever-changing relationship with God. In sharing your testimony, you
can talk about how you became a Christian and/or share what God has been
teaching you more recently.
THERE ARE THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS TO SHARING YOUR STORY.
YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO SHARE WHAT YOU WERE LIKE BEFORE YOU MET CHRIST.
What issues did you wrestle with? What were your thoughts about Christians,
HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW CHRIST?
I grew up in a Christian home, but started to seek a closer relationship
with Christ in the past few years. It really began when I decided that I
wanted to make my faith my own and completely give my life to God.
WHAT TYPES OF CHALLENGES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME?
Ive encountered plenty of struggles in my life, but the biggest one was
when I was diagnosed with depression sophomore year. I was in such
a dark and scary place, I wasnt sure where this unending sadness came
from. But in that darkness, I started searching for a light and I picked up
my bible one day and started reading it. I found that God brought me to
that dark place in my life so that I would pursue a relationship with Him.
HOW DID YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST HELP YOU IN THAT?
I now know that the Creator of the Universe holds my future in His
hands and that I dont have to worry about anything because Hes got it
under control. Its so comforting to realize that. Sometimes God leads
you into rough waters not to drown you, but to cleanse you. I have hope
because I know that I am deeply loved by God and that helps me love
myself.
WHAT TYPE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE IF THEY WERE
GOING THROUGH WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH?
I would tell them that they are here for a reason, so do not forget that.
Even when God feels far away and distant, Hes there with you. Keep
praying and keep searching in His word. As cheesy as it is, there is a light
at the end of your tunnel and the light is Jesus. Romans 8:18 is the verse
I always read when I feel stressed. Know that everything happens for a
reason, and God uses everything for good.
DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST TODAY.
My relationship today is mostly centered around Galatians 5:6 e only thing
that counts is faith expressing itself through loe. Im big on serving, I co-lead
a Wildside life group and I can already see how God is not only using me to
teach them, but theyre teaching me as well. Im constantly in conversation
with God and Ive been trying to be a light for Him at my school. I trust Him
with my entire life and know that He loves me more than I could ever imagine.
I know Hes got big plans for me and Im so excited to see them happen! Im
also taking the next step in my faith by being baptized soon!
testimony is an exciting way to proclaim how God has been at work
in a persons life. A testimony is many things. It is your statement
of faith, your spiritual life-story, a map of your spiritual journey and
a compilation of thoughts that reveal your relationship with Jesus
Christ.
Aer youve decided what kind of testimony
youd like to give, you can use a workbook
called e 2nd Greatest Story Ever Told by
Doug Fields available in the HSM grow booth.
or through an online PDF. It will give you a
step-by-step guide on how to compose and
organize your very own story.
Get some feedback. Does it make sense
What ideas might be helpful? Be quick to
listen, but dont feel like you need to include
all the suggestions. Remember, its your
story.
WRITE IT OUT:
SHOW IT TO SOMEONE
SHARE IT!
Remember to tell others about your story
and be encouraged that every time you share
your journey, you are helping others see
Christ for themselves .
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WOULD LIKE
TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT SHARING YOUR
TESTIMONY EITHER ON THE WEEKEND OR IN
THE NEXT ISSUE OF INSIDE[HSM] CONTACT
AC AT AC@SADDLEBACK.COM
We can all relate in some way to someone
elses story. Sometimes we think that God
is sitting back saying , You deserve the
pain that youve been through in life.
Hes not saying that at all! He under-
stands your pain better than anyone. So
no matter what is happening or what has
happened in your life, know that God
loves you and cares for you. Hes right
there in your pain, sharing it and holding
your hand. I love the part in Catherines
story where at her darkest hour she
realizes God is working on her behalf. I
pray that her story encourages you, and
that you realize God is always working on
your behalf in every situation!
-AC
I call on you, my God, for you will answer
me;turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show me the wonders of your great loe,
you who save by your right hand those who
take refuge in you om their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
om the wicked who are out to destroy me,
om my mortal enemies who surround me.
-Psalm 17:6-9
Take Heart!
BY AARON CRUMBEY
God and church? What were you doing with
your life? Where were you headed? How did
you feel?
THE NEXT STEP IS TO TELL HOW YOU MET CHRIST.
What was said? Who told you about Jesus?
Where were you? What were you thinking?
How were you feeling? What did you say or
pray? is part is critical because non-believers
need to know that its pretty simple to develop
a relationship with Christ. ey need to realize
that they dont have to have money, a church
membership, a perfect past, or a dress code in
order to put their trust in Christ.
FINALLY, YOU WANT TO TELL WHAT YOUR LIFE HAS
BEEN LIKE AFTER TRUSTING CHRIST TO BE THE
LORD OF YOUR LIFE. BE HONEST!
Don't think you have to make your life look
neat and pretty. You wont hurt Jesus reputa-
tion if you admit you still have struggles. Even
in the midst of your struggles, Jesus can teach
you incredible things, so share what youve
learned and where you hope to be as you fol-
low Jesus every day.
So now youve learned about the importance
of telling your story!
YOU MAY BE ASKING YOURSELF
WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?
Basically, a testimony is your story! Its a story about you and your relationship
with Jesus. Every single person has a story. You may be wondering, Why should
I share my story? e answer is easy enough; others need to hear the unique
examples of how God works. ere is a mutual blessing when a testimony is
shared. In Romans 12:2 Paul tells us that it is benecial for us to be mutually
encouraged by each others faith.
Its easy to lose sight of what the Lord is doing in our lives. e process of writing
down how much the Lord has shown up in your life will serve as a reminder
to you when youre struggling to gure out His plan, or the next right step you
should take.
Your testimony serves as encouragement to others as they are reminded of how
great God is and how important it is for them to keep their faith, even in the
most challenging times. Non-Christians, in hearing your story, get a tangible
example of how God has made a dierence in your life. Many non-Christians
dismiss their need for God because they dont see how God is relevant in their
daily life. However, they cant dismiss your story. Sharing your testimony reveals,
immediately, that God is real and alive in your life.
Most people come to know Christ through the process of asking questions, get-
ting answers, watching other Christians and accepting Gods free gi of forgive-
ness and eternal life. is doesnt mean your story has to be extravagant. In order
to tell your story, you need to be genuine and real. Maybe you dont have a story
that will make someone cry or stand to their feet and applaud, but if you know
Jesus, your story will encourage someone elses faith journey.
In thinking about your journey in getting to know the Lord, its important to
remember that the Christian faith isnt a one-time event. Your testimony is an
ongoing, ever-changing relationship with God. In sharing your testimony, you
can talk about how you became a Christian and/or share what God has been
teaching you more recently.
THERE ARE THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS TO SHARING YOUR STORY.
YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO SHARE WHAT YOU WERE LIKE BEFORE YOU MET CHRIST.
What issues did you wrestle with? What were your thoughts about Christians,
HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW CHRIST?
I grew up in a Christian home, but started to seek a closer relationship
with Christ in the past few years. It really began when I decided that I
wanted to make my faith my own and completely give my life to God.
WHAT TYPES OF CHALLENGES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME?
Ive encountered plenty of struggles in my life, but the biggest one was
when I was diagnosed with depression sophomore year. I was in such
a dark and scary place, I wasnt sure where this unending sadness came
from. But in that darkness, I started searching for a light and I picked up
my bible one day and started reading it. I found that God brought me to
that dark place in my life so that I would pursue a relationship with Him.
HOW DID YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST HELP YOU IN THAT?
I now know that the Creator of the Universe holds my future in His
hands and that I dont have to worry about anything because Hes got it
under control. Its so comforting to realize that. Sometimes God leads
you into rough waters not to drown you, but to cleanse you. I have hope
because I know that I am deeply loved by God and that helps me love
myself.
WHAT TYPE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE IF THEY WERE
GOING THROUGH WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH?
I would tell them that they are here for a reason, so do not forget that.
Even when God feels far away and distant, Hes there with you. Keep
praying and keep searching in His word. As cheesy as it is, there is a light
at the end of your tunnel and the light is Jesus. Romans 8:18 is the verse
I always read when I feel stressed. Know that everything happens for a
reason, and God uses everything for good.
DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST TODAY.
My relationship today is mostly centered around Galatians 5:6 e only thing
that counts is faith expressing itself through loe. Im big on serving, I co-lead
a Wildside life group and I can already see how God is not only using me to
teach them, but theyre teaching me as well. Im constantly in conversation
with God and Ive been trying to be a light for Him at my school. I trust Him
with my entire life and know that He loves me more than I could ever imagine.
I know Hes got big plans for me and Im so excited to see them happen! Im
also taking the next step in my faith by being baptized soon!
testimony is an exciting way to proclaim how God has been at work
in a persons life. A testimony is many things. It is your statement
of faith, your spiritual life-story, a map of your spiritual journey and
a compilation of thoughts that reveal your relationship with Jesus
Christ.
Aer youve decided what kind of testimony
youd like to give, you can use a workbook
called e 2nd Greatest Story Ever Told by
Doug Fields available in the HSM grow booth.
or through an online PDF. It will give you a
step-by-step guide on how to compose and
organize your very own story.
Get some feedback. Does it make sense
What ideas might be helpful? Be quick to
listen, but dont feel like you need to include
all the suggestions. Remember, its your
story.
WRITE IT OUT:
SHOW IT TO SOMEONE
SHARE IT!
Remember to tell others about your story
and be encouraged that every time you share
your journey, you are helping others see
Christ for themselves .
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WOULD LIKE
TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT SHARING YOUR
TESTIMONY EITHER ON THE WEEKEND OR IN
THE NEXT ISSUE OF INSIDE[HSM] CONTACT
AC AT AC@SADDLEBACK.COM
We can all relate in some way to someone
elses story. Sometimes we think that God
is sitting back saying , You deserve the
pain that youve been through in life.
Hes not saying that at all! He under-
stands your pain better than anyone. So
no matter what is happening or what has
happened in your life, know that God
loves you and cares for you. Hes right
there in your pain, sharing it and holding
your hand. I love the part in Catherines
story where at her darkest hour she
realizes God is working on her behalf. I
pray that her story encourages you, and
that you realize God is always working on
your behalf in every situation!
-AC
I call on you, my God, for you will answer
me;turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show me the wonders of your great loe,
you who save by your right hand those who
take refuge in you om their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
om the wicked who are out to destroy me,
om my mortal enemies who surround me.
-Psalm 17:6-9
Take Heart!
BY AARON CRUMBEY
n the rst weekend of every month, the Renery closes its doors and
HSM joins the entire church in the main worship center for Worship
Together Weekend. We sat down with John Cassetto who is the Worship
Pastor at Saddleback Church to better understand the heart behind these
weekends. At Saddleback Church, Cassetto explains that
e idea for these special weekends started out as a simple thought, to see week-
ends, not just student weekends, but integrated worship experiences for the whole
church. Student Ministries Pastor Kurt Johnston saw this concept resonate with the
ministry philosophy of the church. us, Worship Together Weekend was born.
Launching in the rst week of July ( July 7/8, 2012), Saddleback Church saw the
door open to parents of students who have never set foot in a church and saw
students worshipping with their families in community. Cassetto explains that, from
the start, these weekends have opened the door to multi-generational worship. e
fact that this has created the opportunity for attenders of every age to be serving,
worshipping and leading together is an incredible blessing.
rough this time together as a church family, the visions for the services is to
constantly remind them [students] of stories in the Bible that use young and unex-
pected people to do signicant things. It is foundational in these weekends to give
students a high level of responsibility, to let them step up and discover their unique
SHAPE.
Because of this leap of faith in the ministry, Cassetto explains that even outside of
Worship Together Weekend, we are able to see students have access to the platform
in the Worship Center. Fortunately, this risk in letting students have the opportu-
nity to step up onto a massive platform, Cassetto has seen the positives, noting that
With the condence instilled in the students through these weekends, Cassetto sees
many more opportunities arising for students, stating that, even outside of Worship
Together Weekend, we can have students 52 weeks a year contributing in the main
service through things like song selection, tech, lighting ese weekends give
students the opportunity to step up as leaders equipping them to lead and serve the
WHOLE church, not just a portion of it. Letting students shine in their abilities as
leaders in the church is an important facet of Saddleback Church and these weekends
emphasize the ability students have to transform not only their ministry, but the
ministries throughout the entire congregation.
SADDLEBACK HAS ALWAYS VALUED STUDENTSTHIS IS JUST AN-
OTHER STEP IN INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION, NOTING THAT
STUDENTS ARE NOT A CHURCH OF TOMORROW, BUT TODAY!
STUDENTS COME WITH OPEN HANDS TO BE SHAPED, MOLDED AND
READY TO SERVE ITS BEEN INCREDIBLE TO SEE.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE SEEING STUDENTS ENTHUSIASM, JOY AND THE
FRESH PERSPECTIVE THEY BRING TO THE SERVICES THEY REALLY
STEP UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.
Seeing students who may not attend the main church services every weekend,
sprinkled throughout the main worship center is an incredible testament to the suc-
cess of these weekends. e results from these weekends have been signicant and
there is no end in sight to thoroughly integrating student ministries throughout the
church. Worship Together Weekends have been the starting point to a greater vision
of combining missions trips, ministry teams and discipleship classes in the church.
Really, these incredible weekends are just scratching the surface to uniting the many
generations of Saddleback Church with the students of HSM.
On a personal level, Cassetto explains
John Cassetto is the Pastor of Worship at
Saddlebacks Lake Forest campus. When he
isnt leading worship, hes hanging out with
his wife, Stefanie and their two beautiful
children, Noah and Hayden.
17 / INSIDE[HSM] SPRING 13
BY MONICA WARE
n the rst weekend of every month, the Renery closes its doors and
HSM joins the entire church in the main worship center for Worship
Together Weekend. We sat down with John Cassetto who is the Worship
Pastor at Saddleback Church to better understand the heart behind these
weekends. At Saddleback Church, Cassetto explains that
e idea for these special weekends started out as a simple thought, to see week-
ends, not just student weekends, but integrated worship experiences for the whole
church. Student Ministries Pastor Kurt Johnston saw this concept resonate with the
ministry philosophy of the church. us, Worship Together Weekend was born.
Launching in the rst week of July ( July 7/8, 2012), Saddleback Church saw the
door open to parents of students who have never set foot in a church and saw
students worshipping with their families in community. Cassetto explains that, from
the start, these weekends have opened the door to multi-generational worship. e
fact that this has created the opportunity for attenders of every age to be serving,
worshipping and leading together is an incredible blessing.
rough this time together as a church family, the visions for the services is to
constantly remind them [students] of stories in the Bible that use young and unex-
pected people to do signicant things. It is foundational in these weekends to give
students a high level of responsibility, to let them step up and discover their unique
SHAPE.
Because of this leap of faith in the ministry, Cassetto explains that even outside of
Worship Together Weekend, we are able to see students have access to the platform
in the Worship Center. Fortunately, this risk in letting students have the opportu-
nity to step up onto a massive platform, Cassetto has seen the positives, noting that
With the condence instilled in the students through these weekends, Cassetto sees
many more opportunities arising for students, stating that, even outside of Worship
Together Weekend, we can have students 52 weeks a year contributing in the main
service through things like song selection, tech, lighting ese weekends give
students the opportunity to step up as leaders equipping them to lead and serve the
WHOLE church, not just a portion of it. Letting students shine in their abilities as
leaders in the church is an important facet of Saddleback Church and these weekends
emphasize the ability students have to transform not only their ministry, but the
ministries throughout the entire congregation.
SADDLEBACK HAS ALWAYS VALUED STUDENTSTHIS IS JUST AN-
OTHER STEP IN INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION, NOTING THAT
STUDENTS ARE NOT A CHURCH OF TOMORROW, BUT TODAY!
STUDENTS COME WITH OPEN HANDS TO BE SHAPED, MOLDED AND
READY TO SERVE ITS BEEN INCREDIBLE TO SEE.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE SEEING STUDENTS ENTHUSIASM, JOY AND THE
FRESH PERSPECTIVE THEY BRING TO THE SERVICES THEY REALLY
STEP UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.
Seeing students who may not attend the main church services every weekend,
sprinkled throughout the main worship center is an incredible testament to the suc-
cess of these weekends. e results from these weekends have been signicant and
there is no end in sight to thoroughly integrating student ministries throughout the
church. Worship Together Weekends have been the starting point to a greater vision
of combining missions trips, ministry teams and discipleship classes in the church.
Really, these incredible weekends are just scratching the surface to uniting the many
generations of Saddleback Church with the students of HSM.
On a personal level, Cassetto explains
John Cassetto is the Pastor of Worship at
Saddlebacks Lake Forest campus. When he
isnt leading worship, hes hanging out with
his wife, Stefanie and their two beautiful
children, Noah and Hayden.
BY MONICA WARE
EVIDENCE FOR THE
RESURRECTION
BY SEAN MC DOWELL
IN OUR AGE OF SCIENCE CAN WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT
JESUS DIED 2, 000 YEARS AGO, WAS BURIED FOR THREE
DAYS, AND THEN CAME BACK TO LIFE? AND IF SO, WHAT
DOES IT MATTER?
Last week I asked my students to write down the
most dicult question they could imagine about
God. While there were some great questions
about evil, other religions, and reincarnation, the
question that most caught my attention was about
the historical Jesus. One girl asked,
I told her that if she was an open-minded person who
wants to follow the evidence, then she would likely nd the
evidence both compelling and hopeful.
THE POSSIBILITY OF MIRACLES
Some people discount the possibility of the resurrection be-
cause it is a miracle. Aer all, isnt the world a closed system
of cause and eect? Obviously, if miracles are impossible
then the resurrection must have a natural explanation (e. g.
Jesus had a twin who died in his place, or the story is just a
legend). But why begin with the assumption that miracles
are impossible? How can we knowwithout some prior
evidence for the non-existence of Godthat miracles cannot
happen? Aer all, if God created the world simply by speak-
ing it into existence, then it should be easy for him to raise
someone from the dead. e question of the resurrection
of Jesus can only be determined by examining the evidence.
Deciding ahead of time that miracles are impossible only
begs the question against the resurrection. Lets allow the
evidence to speak for itself.
HERE ARE THREE QUICK FACTS THAT SUPPORT THE
CLAIM THAT JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD.
Jesus died on the cross. e evidence for Jesus death by
crucixion is overwhelming. First, there is the fact that all
four gospels report Jesus death. Second, the nature of the
crucixion virtually guaranteed death. Crucixion was
scientically honed by the Romans to utterly torture victims.
ird, the spear in the side reported by John (ch. 19), in
which water and blood recede, is medical evidence that Jesus
was dead. Fourth, there is extra-biblical evidence (Tacitus
and Josephus) who report that Jesus died by crucixion.
FACT ONE
FACT TWO
e tomb of Jesus was found empty on the third day. While
there are multiple arguments for the empty tomb, lets
consider one of my favorites. Amazingly, the tomb was dis-
FACT THREE
covered by women. In Palestine around the time of Christ women were not educated or
considered reliable sources of information. In fact, Josephus reports that women could
not even testify in a court of law. us, if the disciples simply fabricated the story of
the resurrection they never would have chosen women to be the rst eyewitnesses. is
embarrassing account by the disciples is convincing proof that, when they wrote about
the empty tomb of Jesus, they were recording truth.
Jesus appeared to people aer his death. One of the best evidences for the appearances
of Jesus is in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. Paul recites a creed that can be traced back to within
3-5 years of the death of Jesus. Historically speaking, this is an incredibly early account.
Paul records that Jesus appeared to the disciples and also to 500 people. Some claim
that Jesus only appeared to his followers. But this is not true. Jesus appeared to James,
who did not believe in him during his life ( John 7:5). Jesus also appeared to Paul, who
was persecuting Christians (Galatians 1). Some have tried to explain the appearances
away as hallucinations, but hallucinations dont appear to groups (anymore than groups
of people can share the same dream). e disciples were also not ripe candidates for
hallucinations.
ere is so much more that could be said about why the
resurrection of Jesus is credible. e question we have to ask
is, What explanation best accounts for all the facts? When
all the facts are taken into consideration, the biblical account
stands far above the rest. If you are interested in studying the
topic further, you may want to check out my recent book
Evidence for the Resurrection (co-written with my father,
Josh McDowell).
But why does the resurrection matter? For one thing, Paul
says that if Jesus did not resurrect then our faith is in vain (1
Corinthians 15:14, 17). But the resurrection also shows that
God can be trusted. e disciples were utterly scared and
confused at the arrest of Jesus. All of their hopes and dreams
were shattered. ey thought that God had abandoned
them. But God never let go of the steering wheel, even when
everything seemed hopeless! In fact, God was completely
in charge the entire time. And the same is true for us. e
resurrection tells us that God is good, God can be trusted,
and that the pain and evil in the world will ultimately be
redeemed for good.
RECCOMENDED READS BY SEAN
If you are interested in exploring the topic of Jesus and the truth of the resurrection, check out these recommended resources:
Lee Strobel writes from
a journalists perspective
regarding the evidence of
Jesus being the son of God.
He challenges the reader
with questions like: How
reliable is the New Testa-
ment Does the evidence
for Jesus exist outside the
Bible? Is there any reason
to believe that the resurrec-
tion was an actual event?
THE CASE FOR CHRIST
Former skeptic Josh
McDowell is joined by his
son Sean as they examine
the evidence about Jesus.
Is he really the Lord he
claimed to be? How can we
know for sure? More than a
Carpenter oers arguments
for faith from a skeptic
turned believer.
Available for ee in the Grow
Booth
MORE THAN A
CARPENTER
Sean McDowell is a gied communicator with a passion for reaching the younger genera-
tion with the Gospel message. He connects with youth in a tangible way through humor
and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life
through a Biblical worldview. He serves as Head of the Bible Department at Capistrano
Valley Christian Schools where he teaches Philosophy, eology, and Apologetics.
EVIDENCE FOR THE
RESURRECTION
BY SEAN MC DOWELL
IN OUR AGE OF SCIENCE CAN WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT
JESUS DIED 2, 000 YEARS AGO, WAS BURIED FOR THREE
DAYS, AND THEN CAME BACK TO LIFE? AND IF SO, WHAT
DOES IT MATTER?
Last week I asked my students to write down the
most dicult question they could imagine about
God. While there were some great questions
about evil, other religions, and reincarnation, the
question that most caught my attention was about
the historical Jesus. One girl asked,
I told her that if she was an open-minded person who
wants to follow the evidence, then she would likely nd the
evidence both compelling and hopeful.
THE POSSIBILITY OF MIRACLES
Some people discount the possibility of the resurrection be-
cause it is a miracle. Aer all, isnt the world a closed system
of cause and eect? Obviously, if miracles are impossible
then the resurrection must have a natural explanation (e. g.
Jesus had a twin who died in his place, or the story is just a
legend). But why begin with the assumption that miracles
are impossible? How can we knowwithout some prior
evidence for the non-existence of Godthat miracles cannot
happen? Aer all, if God created the world simply by speak-
ing it into existence, then it should be easy for him to raise
someone from the dead. e question of the resurrection
of Jesus can only be determined by examining the evidence.
Deciding ahead of time that miracles are impossible only
begs the question against the resurrection. Lets allow the
evidence to speak for itself.
HERE ARE THREE QUICK FACTS THAT SUPPORT THE
CLAIM THAT JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD.
Jesus died on the cross. e evidence for Jesus death by
crucixion is overwhelming. First, there is the fact that all
four gospels report Jesus death. Second, the nature of the
crucixion virtually guaranteed death. Crucixion was
scientically honed by the Romans to utterly torture victims.
ird, the spear in the side reported by John (ch. 19), in
which water and blood recede, is medical evidence that Jesus
was dead. Fourth, there is extra-biblical evidence (Tacitus
and Josephus) who report that Jesus died by crucixion.
FACT ONE
FACT TWO
e tomb of Jesus was found empty on the third day. While
there are multiple arguments for the empty tomb, lets
consider one of my favorites. Amazingly, the tomb was dis-
FACT THREE
covered by women. In Palestine around the time of Christ women were not educated or
considered reliable sources of information. In fact, Josephus reports that women could
not even testify in a court of law. us, if the disciples simply fabricated the story of
the resurrection they never would have chosen women to be the rst eyewitnesses. is
embarrassing account by the disciples is convincing proof that, when they wrote about
the empty tomb of Jesus, they were recording truth.
Jesus appeared to people aer his death. One of the best evidences for the appearances
of Jesus is in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. Paul recites a creed that can be traced back to within
3-5 years of the death of Jesus. Historically speaking, this is an incredibly early account.
Paul records that Jesus appeared to the disciples and also to 500 people. Some claim
that Jesus only appeared to his followers. But this is not true. Jesus appeared to James,
who did not believe in him during his life ( John 7:5). Jesus also appeared to Paul, who
was persecuting Christians (Galatians 1). Some have tried to explain the appearances
away as hallucinations, but hallucinations dont appear to groups (anymore than groups
of people can share the same dream). e disciples were also not ripe candidates for
hallucinations.
ere is so much more that could be said about why the
resurrection of Jesus is credible. e question we have to ask
is, What explanation best accounts for all the facts? When
all the facts are taken into consideration, the biblical account
stands far above the rest. If you are interested in studying the
topic further, you may want to check out my recent book
Evidence for the Resurrection (co-written with my father,
Josh McDowell).
But why does the resurrection matter? For one thing, Paul
says that if Jesus did not resurrect then our faith is in vain (1
Corinthians 15:14, 17). But the resurrection also shows that
God can be trusted. e disciples were utterly scared and
confused at the arrest of Jesus. All of their hopes and dreams
were shattered. ey thought that God had abandoned
them. But God never let go of the steering wheel, even when
everything seemed hopeless! In fact, God was completely
in charge the entire time. And the same is true for us. e
resurrection tells us that God is good, God can be trusted,
and that the pain and evil in the world will ultimately be
redeemed for good.
RECCOMENDED READS BY SEAN
If you are interested in exploring the topic of Jesus and the truth of the resurrection, check out these recommended resources:
Lee Strobel writes from
a journalists perspective
regarding the evidence of
Jesus being the son of God.
He challenges the reader
with questions like: How
reliable is the New Testa-
ment Does the evidence
for Jesus exist outside the
Bible? Is there any reason
to believe that the resurrec-
tion was an actual event?
THE CASE FOR CHRIST
Former skeptic Josh
McDowell is joined by his
son Sean as they examine
the evidence about Jesus.
Is he really the Lord he
claimed to be? How can we
know for sure? More than a
Carpenter oers arguments
for faith from a skeptic
turned believer.
Available for ee in the Grow
Booth
MORE THAN A
CARPENTER
Sean McDowell is a gied communicator with a passion for reaching the younger genera-
tion with the Gospel message. He connects with youth in a tangible way through humor
and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life
through a Biblical worldview. He serves as Head of the Bible Department at Capistrano
Valley Christian Schools where he teaches Philosophy, eology, and Apologetics.
HIGHSCHOOLMINISTRY.COM / 22 A / INSIDE[HSM] SPRING 13
I WANT MY PARENTS TO GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE FREEDOM.
I WANT MY PARENTS TO LOAN ME THEIR CAR A LITTLE MORE OFTEN.
I WANT MY PARENTS TO GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE ALLOWANCE.
I WANT MY PARENTS TO ADD JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME TO MY CURFEW.
I WANT MY PARENTS TO GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE PRIVACY.
is is the stu many teenage daydreams are
made of and Im here to make your dreams
come true! Seriously. While I cant promise
that you will get everything you want from
your parents if you follow my advice, Im
pretty sure youll get a lot of it.

But before I share with you the universal,
tested and true formula for getting what you
want from your parents, let me tell you how
to ensure you wont get what you want: You
wont get what you want from your parents
when you whine, argue, stomp your feet, kick
the cat (as fun as that may sound) or play the
comparison game. Even worse is when you
combine all of this stu into one big explo-
sion of teenage angst that looks something
like this:
PARENT:
Gertrude, unfortunately you need to stay
home tonight because you missed your curfew
last night. Were sorry.

GERTRUDE:
WHAT?!?! Are you kidding me? is is
stupidin fact, Im kicking the cat! You guys
are so lame! Jakes parents dont even give him
a curfew! But you know what they did give
him? A normal name! Sheesh!
What are the odds Gertrude is going to
get her curfew extended? About one-in-a-
million. So Im saying theres a chance. Just
not a very good one. e crazy thing is most
teenagers use a similar tactic as Gertrude;
or a variation of itand they use it over and
over and over again. And wonder why
they dont get what they want from their
parents.

Wanna change that? Read on.

ere is one word that will unlock the
favor of your parents; one word that will
put car keys in your hand, extra allow-
ance in your pocket and extra time on
your curfew clock. e word? You know
its coming, and some of you have even
heard it before:
TRUST
ats it. Its that simple. When your
parents trust you good things begin to
happen. Maybe not everything at once
but trust is the key that unlocks the door
to a big fat roomful of teenage awesome-
ness. And unfortunately, without it that
door will stay locked.with the key
buried someplace.

You might be thinking, Okay, Kurt,
Im done kicking cats and ready to give
this trust thing a shot. Where do I start?
What will help my parents trust me?
is is where it can get a little bit tricky,
because dierent parents look for dif-
ferent things and some give their trust
more freely than others. So while theres
no universal formula, there are a few
things that just about every parent in
the universe is looking for. Here are the
three biggies:
HONESTY
Simply put, nobody trusts somebody
who isnt honest. When your parents
can trust that you are telling the truth;
that you are where you say you are doing
what you say you are doing, trust grows.
When they can get a direct answer when
they ask a direct question, trust grows.

RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility is simply owning up to
your actions. Its not making excuses or
pointing the nger at others. Respon-
KURT JOHNSTON is the student ministries pastor at Saddleback
Lake Forest. He and his wife Rachel have been involved in
student ministries for over 16 years. Kurt has two children; a
daughter Kayla, and a son Cole.
sibility does what needs to be done!
Responsibility refuses to play the
blame game. When your parents see
you developing responsibility, trust
grows.

MATURITY
is one is sorta hard to nail down,
because maturity isnt easily dened.
In fact, you might make the case that
honesty and responsibility are two of
the big markers of maturity. But there
are some others. Not arguing when
you dont get your way, doing your
chores without being asked, honoring
the curfew you think is unfair. ese
kinds of things are marks of maturity,
and they all help breed trust.

Your parents think about youa lot.
And they talk about youa lot. In
fact, they talk about you to just about
anybody who will listen: Each other,
their friends, other parents, their
parents, the old lady next door, the
mail man.

e point? Its simple: When your
parents think and talk about you, you
want them, in addition to thinking
and talking about your athletic skills,
college plans and fashion choices,
to think and talk about how honest,
responsibleand mature you are.
Because when your parents think and
talk about how honest, responsible
and mature you are they begin to see
you as trustworthy.

And then a little light bulb turns on
above their head; a light bulb full of
ideas about how maybe its time to
extend your curfew, loan you the car
more oen, increase your allowance
or give you some extra privacy and
freedom.

Try it, and if it doesnt work.Kick
the cat.
Actual Child Driv-
ing Car
I WANT MY PARENTS TO GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE FREEDOM.
I WANT MY PARENTS TO LOAN ME THEIR CAR A LITTLE MORE OFTEN.
I WANT MY PARENTS TO GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE ALLOWANCE.
I WANT MY PARENTS TO ADD JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME TO MY CURFEW.
I WANT MY PARENTS TO GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE PRIVACY.
is is the stu many teenage daydreams are
made of and Im here to make your dreams
come true! Seriously. While I cant promise
that you will get everything you want from
your parents if you follow my advice, Im
pretty sure youll get a lot of it.

But before I share with you the universal,
tested and true formula for getting what you
want from your parents, let me tell you how
to ensure you wont get what you want: You
wont get what you want from your parents
when you whine, argue, stomp your feet, kick
the cat (as fun as that may sound) or play the
comparison game. Even worse is when you
combine all of this stu into one big explo-
sion of teenage angst that looks something
like this:
PARENT:
Gertrude, unfortunately you need to stay
home tonight because you missed your curfew
last night. Were sorry.

GERTRUDE:
WHAT?!?! Are you kidding me? is is
stupidin fact, Im kicking the cat! You guys
are so lame! Jakes parents dont even give him
a curfew! But you know what they did give
him? A normal name! Sheesh!
What are the odds Gertrude is going to
get her curfew extended? About one-in-a-
million. So Im saying theres a chance. Just
not a very good one. e crazy thing is most
teenagers use a similar tactic as Gertrude;
or a variation of itand they use it over and
over and over again. And wonder why
they dont get what they want from their
parents.

Wanna change that? Read on.

ere is one word that will unlock the
favor of your parents; one word that will
put car keys in your hand, extra allow-
ance in your pocket and extra time on
your curfew clock. e word? You know
its coming, and some of you have even
heard it before:
TRUST
ats it. Its that simple. When your
parents trust you good things begin to
happen. Maybe not everything at once
but trust is the key that unlocks the door
to a big fat roomful of teenage awesome-
ness. And unfortunately, without it that
door will stay locked.with the key
buried someplace.

You might be thinking, Okay, Kurt,
Im done kicking cats and ready to give
this trust thing a shot. Where do I start?
What will help my parents trust me?
is is where it can get a little bit tricky,
because dierent parents look for dif-
ferent things and some give their trust
more freely than others. So while theres
no universal formula, there are a few
things that just about every parent in
the universe is looking for. Here are the
three biggies:
HONESTY
Simply put, nobody trusts somebody
who isnt honest. When your parents
can trust that you are telling the truth;
that you are where you say you are doing
what you say you are doing, trust grows.
When they can get a direct answer when
they ask a direct question, trust grows.

RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility is simply owning up to
your actions. Its not making excuses or
pointing the nger at others. Respon-
KURT JOHNSTON is the student ministries pastor at Saddleback
Lake Forest. He and his wife Rachel have been involved in
student ministries for over 16 years. Kurt has two children; a
daughter Kayla, and a son Cole.
sibility does what needs to be done!
Responsibility refuses to play the
blame game. When your parents see
you developing responsibility, trust
grows.

MATURITY
is one is sorta hard to nail down,
because maturity isnt easily dened.
In fact, you might make the case that
honesty and responsibility are two of
the big markers of maturity. But there
are some others. Not arguing when
you dont get your way, doing your
chores without being asked, honoring
the curfew you think is unfair. ese
kinds of things are marks of maturity,
and they all help breed trust.

Your parents think about youa lot.
And they talk about youa lot. In
fact, they talk about you to just about
anybody who will listen: Each other,
their friends, other parents, their
parents, the old lady next door, the
mail man.

e point? Its simple: When your
parents think and talk about you, you
want them, in addition to thinking
and talking about your athletic skills,
college plans and fashion choices,
to think and talk about how honest,
responsibleand mature you are.
Because when your parents think and
talk about how honest, responsible
and mature you are they begin to see
you as trustworthy.

And then a little light bulb turns on
above their head; a light bulb full of
ideas about how maybe its time to
extend your curfew, loan you the car
more oen, increase your allowance
or give you some extra privacy and
freedom.

Try it, and if it doesnt work.Kick
the cat.
Actual Child Driv-
ing Car
I dont know about you, but when I think of the word
evangelism I think about the people who stand
out on the street corner on a box yelling at people
about Jesus and hell as they walk by. ank you, but
no thank you. ats not my style, and probably not
yours either.
When we think about going to evangelize to our
friends, people at our school, or even our families, we
automatically get sweaty palms just thinking about it.
We can feel weird talking to them about our faith.
Why? Because talking about our faith is deemed as
weird to people who do not know about Christian-
ity. So how do we evangelize to our friends without
being that weird kid? Hopefully we can help unpack
how to do this and you can share the Gospel with the
people you are around on a daily basis.

First of all, as followers of Christ, we are expected to
share the news about Jesus life and resurrection. In
Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says, Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of
the age.
Now, this doesnt mean as soon as you meet someone
new you start to just blurt out facts about Jesus and
ask if they were ready to be Christian right at that
moment; that is, unless you love the sight of people
running away from you!
As Christians, we are responsible to share with others
about Jesus. ere are some great ways in which we
can explain Jesus to others without just blurting
it out like a freshmen asking a girl to a dance. Here
are just a few ways you can be a living example of the
Good News.

PRAY FOR THEM
e most important thing we can do is pray for them.
Pray that God would change their hearts and open
their eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4) to the truth of the gos-
pel. Pray that God would convince them of His love
for them and their need for salvation through Jesus
Christ ( John 3:16). Pray for wisdom as to how you
can minister to them ( James 1:5). In addition to pray-
ing, we must also live godly Christian lives in front of
them, so they can see the change God has made in our
own lives (1 Peter 3:1-2). As Saint Francis of Assisi
once said, Preach the gospel at all times and when
necessary use words.

LIVE IT FIRST
If we are studying the Bible, we know that living a
Christ-like life looks dierent compared to how the
rest of the world lives. e next time you study the
Bible, try to see how you can apply what you are reading to
your life. Not only will your own life be changed as a result
of studying scripture, but when it comes time to share what
you have learned to others, people will see your passion.
When your friends see how the Bible has changed your life
they will be more inclined to change their life based on the
life style you live.

You basically share Jesus through your lifestyle. is form
of evangelism focuses on building relationships with one
person at a time. rough friendship, opportunities arise to
share the gospel.

BE REAL
One of the most eective ways to minister to people around
you is just to be real. One of the top reasons why people are
so turned o to Christianity is because people are fake. It
is really hard to fake yourself with people. Especially those
who see your ups and downs, successes and failures; people
who hear how you talk in your best and worst times and by
people you see every single day for 8 hours at school. Be au-
thentic in the way to talk and you live and not just at church
or at school. When you mess up and use bad language, call
yourself out on it in front of everyone. Saying, Just be like
Jesus is not realistic. Jesus was perfect. Non-believers see
that you are just like them and mess up, but they will also
see how you handle the mess up physically, verbally and
mentally. ey will take note of that far more than anything
else you can do.
So long as lifestyle evangelism does not replace the verbal
sharing of the gospel, it is a legitimate ministry tool.
Lifestyle evangelism can be a wonderful way to show faith
in action in a world that needs to see what true Christianity
looks like.

SPEAK IT
Now, like I said in the beginning, the end all in evangeliz-
ing to the people around you is to eventually speak to them
specically about the Good News of Jesus.

Having prayed for them and by living out what you learn
from reading the Bible there will be opportunities which
come up to speak to them about Jesus. It is then up to you
to speak to them while being real. If you ask God to make
you bolder, does He automatically make you bold? Or does
He give you opportunities to be bolder? When you ask God
to give you more patience, does He automatically give you
patience? Or does He give you opportunities to be more
patient? You have to pray for the opportunities which come
up, while living your life in a real and authentic way. God
will then present opportunities for you to speak to those
around you, by sharing your faith in a real, authentic and
natural way.

I can tell you many stories of me actually taking these steps
to explain the Gospel to my friends and family around me.
JUSTINS RECOMMENDED RESOURCE:
e Tangible Kingdom gives you real life,
not standing on a soap box, ways to help
the people around you know who Jesus
is by your life style. It gives you tangible
ways to show Gods kingdom and share
the Gospel, hence the title. I loved it
and recommend it to everyone!
I dont know about you, but when I think of the word
evangelism I think about the people who stand
out on the street corner on a box yelling at people
about Jesus and hell as they walk by. ank you, but
no thank you. ats not my style, and probably not
yours either.
When we think about going to evangelize to our
friends, people at our school, or even our families, we
automatically get sweaty palms just thinking about it.
We can feel weird talking to them about our faith.
Why? Because talking about our faith is deemed as
weird to people who do not know about Christian-
ity. So how do we evangelize to our friends without
being that weird kid? Hopefully we can help unpack
how to do this and you can share the Gospel with the
people you are around on a daily basis.

First of all, as followers of Christ, we are expected to
share the news about Jesus life and resurrection. In
Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says, Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of
the age.
Now, this doesnt mean as soon as you meet someone
new you start to just blurt out facts about Jesus and
ask if they were ready to be Christian right at that
moment; that is, unless you love the sight of people
running away from you!
As Christians, we are responsible to share with others
about Jesus. ere are some great ways in which we
can explain Jesus to others without just blurting
it out like a freshmen asking a girl to a dance. Here
are just a few ways you can be a living example of the
Good News.

PRAY FOR THEM
e most important thing we can do is pray for them.
Pray that God would change their hearts and open
their eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4) to the truth of the gos-
pel. Pray that God would convince them of His love
for them and their need for salvation through Jesus
Christ ( John 3:16). Pray for wisdom as to how you
can minister to them ( James 1:5). In addition to pray-
ing, we must also live godly Christian lives in front of
them, so they can see the change God has made in our
own lives (1 Peter 3:1-2). As Saint Francis of Assisi
once said, Preach the gospel at all times and when
necessary use words.

LIVE IT FIRST
If we are studying the Bible, we know that living a
Christ-like life looks dierent compared to how the
rest of the world lives. e next time you study the
Bible, try to see how you can apply what you are reading to
your life. Not only will your own life be changed as a result
of studying scripture, but when it comes time to share what
you have learned to others, people will see your passion.
When your friends see how the Bible has changed your life
they will be more inclined to change their life based on the
life style you live.

You basically share Jesus through your lifestyle. is form
of evangelism focuses on building relationships with one
person at a time. rough friendship, opportunities arise to
share the gospel.

BE REAL
One of the most eective ways to minister to people around
you is just to be real. One of the top reasons why people are
so turned o to Christianity is because people are fake. It
is really hard to fake yourself with people. Especially those
who see your ups and downs, successes and failures; people
who hear how you talk in your best and worst times and by
people you see every single day for 8 hours at school. Be au-
thentic in the way to talk and you live and not just at church
or at school. When you mess up and use bad language, call
yourself out on it in front of everyone. Saying, Just be like
Jesus is not realistic. Jesus was perfect. Non-believers see
that you are just like them and mess up, but they will also
see how you handle the mess up physically, verbally and
mentally. ey will take note of that far more than anything
else you can do.
So long as lifestyle evangelism does not replace the verbal
sharing of the gospel, it is a legitimate ministry tool.
Lifestyle evangelism can be a wonderful way to show faith
in action in a world that needs to see what true Christianity
looks like.

SPEAK IT
Now, like I said in the beginning, the end all in evangeliz-
ing to the people around you is to eventually speak to them
specically about the Good News of Jesus.

Having prayed for them and by living out what you learn
from reading the Bible there will be opportunities which
come up to speak to them about Jesus. It is then up to you
to speak to them while being real. If you ask God to make
you bolder, does He automatically make you bold? Or does
He give you opportunities to be bolder? When you ask God
to give you more patience, does He automatically give you
patience? Or does He give you opportunities to be more
patient? You have to pray for the opportunities which come
up, while living your life in a real and authentic way. God
will then present opportunities for you to speak to those
around you, by sharing your faith in a real, authentic and
natural way.

I can tell you many stories of me actually taking these steps
to explain the Gospel to my friends and family around me.
JUSTINS RECOMMENDED RESOURCE:
e Tangible Kingdom gives you real life,
not standing on a soap box, ways to help
the people around you know who Jesus
is by your life style. It gives you tangible
ways to show Gods kingdom and share
the Gospel, hence the title. I loved it
and recommend it to everyone!
If youve spent any amount of time around HSM, youve prob-
ably heard the word Killball tossed around. While the name
oen mistakenly suggests a direct contradiction of Exodus
20:13, the sport of Killball is a time-honored tradition of the
highest caliber that has for centuries given young adolescents the
ability to prove themselves in the eld of battle. While our ancestors would
let their rst kill in a hunt be their rite of passage into adulthood, modern
western civilization and a shortage in global deer populations has led to
adaptations of sport to ll that role. Today, young men and women don
aerodynamic tights and gym shorts, chalk their hands for premium grip
and compete for the honor and glory that is so sweet yet eeting; all aer
spending months in physical, emotional and spiritual preparation for that
game that comes but 4 times a year.
e sport of Killball can be traced back in its earliest forms to the Meso-
american ballgame, llamaliztli (or Ulama), a sport with ritual associations
played since 1,400 B.C. by the pre-Columbian peoples of Ancient Mexico
and Central America. It is not known precisely when or where the Meso-
american ballgame originated, although it is likely that the game originated
earlierthan 1400 BC in the low-lying tropical zones home to the rubber
tree. Players would use a rubber ball weighing close to 9 pounds and hit it
back and forth across a center line in the court. e game was oen played
ceremonially, involving human sacrices during the closing ceremonies.
e game developed with dierent variations over time, as might be
expected, however in the most common version of the game the ball was
hit back and forth using only the players hips. is led to brutal injuries,
as one can only imagine. Nearly 500 years ago, Spanish chronicler Diego
Durn reported that some bruises were so severe that they had to be lanced
open. He also reported that players were even killed when the ball
HIT THEM IN THE MOUTH OR THE STOMACH OR THE INTESTINES.
Today, the sport of Killball remains largely the same. While the game has
developed into using opposing players as targets rather than a stone circle
or wall, the ferocity and intensity remains largely unabated. However, this
was not always the case. In the early 1990s, llamaliztli had been reduced
to a far weaker version of the sport, commonly referred to as dodge-ball
and was rising in popularity. Foreseeing a threat to the testosterone levels
of young male adolescents and a potential generation of weenie-men,
researcher and Historical Professer Emeritus Tay Tafalla found an ancient
Spanish manuscript detailing the essence of the sport. Introducing it back
into the modern world as Killball, Tay reclaimed the purity of the sport,
and while human sacrice is now illegal, the stakes of Killball remain just
as high.
PARKER STECH
If youve spent any amount of time around HSM, youve prob-
ably heard the word Killball tossed around. While the name
oen mistakenly suggests a direct contradiction of Exodus
20:13, the sport of Killball is a time-honored tradition of the
highest caliber that has for centuries given young adolescents the
ability to prove themselves in the eld of battle. While our ancestors would
let their rst kill in a hunt be their rite of passage into adulthood, modern
western civilization and a shortage in global deer populations has led to
adaptations of sport to ll that role. Today, young men and women don
aerodynamic tights and gym shorts, chalk their hands for premium grip
and compete for the honor and glory that is so sweet yet eeting; all aer
spending months in physical, emotional and spiritual preparation for that
game that comes but 4 times a year.
e sport of Killball can be traced back in its earliest forms to the Meso-
american ballgame, llamaliztli (or Ulama), a sport with ritual associations
played since 1,400 B.C. by the pre-Columbian peoples of Ancient Mexico
and Central America. It is not known precisely when or where the Meso-
american ballgame originated, although it is likely that the game originated
earlierthan 1400 BC in the low-lying tropical zones home to the rubber
tree. Players would use a rubber ball weighing close to 9 pounds and hit it
back and forth across a center line in the court. e game was oen played
ceremonially, involving human sacrices during the closing ceremonies.
e game developed with dierent variations over time, as might be
expected, however in the most common version of the game the ball was
hit back and forth using only the players hips. is led to brutal injuries,
as one can only imagine. Nearly 500 years ago, Spanish chronicler Diego
Durn reported that some bruises were so severe that they had to be lanced
open. He also reported that players were even killed when the ball
HIT THEM IN THE MOUTH OR THE STOMACH OR THE INTESTINES.
Today, the sport of Killball remains largely the same. While the game has
developed into using opposing players as targets rather than a stone circle
or wall, the ferocity and intensity remains largely unabated. However, this
was not always the case. In the early 1990s, llamaliztli had been reduced
to a far weaker version of the sport, commonly referred to as dodge-ball
and was rising in popularity. Foreseeing a threat to the testosterone levels
of young male adolescents and a potential generation of weenie-men,
researcher and Historical Professer Emeritus Tay Tafalla found an ancient
Spanish manuscript detailing the essence of the sport. Introducing it back
into the modern world as Killball, Tay reclaimed the purity of the sport,
and while human sacrice is now illegal, the stakes of Killball remain just
as high.
PARKER STECH
If you read about one of Gods commands, how do you think you should
respond? Write down your prayers and adoration; allow your words to be
praise to Him. Be vulnerable with God in your journaling.
PRAY
End your quiet time with a moment spent in prayer. Use this opportunity
approach God authentically, and give God the opportunity to respond to
you personally. Ask that God present you with opportunities to live out
what youve learned in His Word. For Jesus said in Luke 11:28, But even
more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.
Ask that the Holy Spirit use scripture to guide and convict you. Lastly,
use this time with Him to praise and adore the wonderful blessings Hes
given you, and to pray for others in your life.
STAY ON TRACK
Its easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and neglect our quiet time
with God. Choose someone in your life to be an accountability partner.
Ask this person to check with you weekly to make sure youre following
through with your commitment to spending time daily with the Lord!
We hope that these steps will help you on your way to a great quiet time! Remember
that your quiet time is not something that should be a chore or feel like a duty.
Remember that youre there to get to know Jesus Christ and that He wants to pour
into your life. If you need more ideas for a successful Bible study, check out Rick
Warrens Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock Gods Word. Or ask
for resources from a HSM sta member!
EXTRA TIPS FROM JUSTIN
uiet times are something I always wanted to be good at but took forever for
me to nd something that worked for me. Hope these tips can help get you
going on yours:
Don't do it at night. I fall asleep if its aer 5pm every time
without fail. I have to do it in the morning when I wake up if
I want to get anything out of it.
Always have something to write something down. You
remember more when you interact with what you read by
writing notes, thoughts, or highlight.
Do a YouVersion Bible Study on the Bible App for iPhone
or iPod. ey are a good way to help you navigate what you
read.
Put on Explosions in the Sky Pandora Radio station. Its
just music with no words so you have something, but you
cant sing along and get distracted.
You dont need to go somewhere special to have a quiet time with the Lord, but
sometimes its nice to be able to get away from all the hustle and bustle of our
lives to talk to Him in peace. We scouted out some great locations nearby where
you can spend time with the Lord in a relaxing environment. Let us know if
youve found any other cool places where youve been able to be alone with the
Lord in worship!
SPIRITUAL
RETREAT
GUIDE:
your mind is consumed by school work, family stresses, or other duties, write
them down on a piece of paper. is way you can set your worries aside, with
the knowledge that you can return to them later.
PREPARE YOUR HEART
Psalm 46:10, He says, Be still, and know that I am God. Solitude and silence
make space space in our souls and space in our lives for God to do a deep
work inside us and through us in our relationships with others. e point is
that at the beginning of our quiet time we do nothing, ask for nothing and just
allow God to ll us. We can allow God to speak to us, or guide us to a certain
place in scripture. We give this silence over to God to prepare us for what He
wants to teach us in our quiet time.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Start out slow and small so you dont let a large reading plan overwhelm you.
Some people choose to read just one or two verses; others choose to read a
whole section of Gods word. ere are all kinds of Bible reading plans available
to us online, but a good place to start might be the New Testament to read
about the life of Jesus Christ. For those who enjoy worship, Psalms might be a
great place to start. e key is that you delight in reading and studying Gods
word, not feel intimidated by it.
MEDITATE ON WHAT YOUVE READ
Read the passage over and over. Listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to you
through the words. Look for recurring words, promises, or commands. Try to
memorize the passage, or at least part of it. Become emotionally involvedal-
low yourself to feel what God feels, his desires expressed through his words. Sit
quietly with your eyes closed and think about what the passage means to you.
WRITE DOWN WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU
Aer youve meditated on what you read, return to the passage and write down
what stood out to you. Write down your raw thoughts and feelings about what
you read. If you read about one of Gods promises, how does it make you feel?
MAKE A DATE WITH GOD
Set some time apart in your everyday routine for God. You can set an
alarm on your phone or place a sticky note reminder on your mirror.
Most people enjoy having their quiet time in the morning. e mind is
less cluttered in the mornings, your thoughts fresh and its typically the
quietest time in the day. If you arent a morning person, nd another
time in the day where you are the most alert, focused, and quiet. Com-
mit to spending that time with the Lord.
BE PREPARED
Make sure you have all the tools you need for a successful quiet time.
is means that you come before the Lord prepared with a Bible, a jour-
nal, pen, and highlighter. Go into your quiet time with the expectation
that He wants to teach you something.
PICK A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE ALONE WITH THE LORD
Where you go, is up to you (a park, patio, bedroom, etc.). Jesus modeled
a daily quiet time, away from distractions, with the Father in his own
life; Luke 5:16 Jesus oen withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. Pick
a spot where you will be alone and uninterrupted.
GET RID OF DISTRACTIONS
In order to quiet your mind and prepare yourself to spend time with
God, get rid of anything that might interrupt you. is includes
cellphones, the internet and TV (even if these things are on in the
background). Commit to giving this time over solely to the Lord. If
SIMILAR TO OUR EARTHLY FRIENDSHIPS, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
DEEPENS AND IS STRENGTHENED BY SPENDING TIME TOGETHER. IT CAN
BE DIFFICULT TO MAKE GOD OUR PRIORITY, BUT THERE ARE DISCIPLINES
WE CAN PRACTICE THAT MAKE IT EASIER.
If you read about one of Gods commands, how do you think you should
respond? Write down your prayers and adoration; allow your words to be
praise to Him. Be vulnerable with God in your journaling.
PRAY
End your quiet time with a moment spent in prayer. Use this opportunity
approach God authentically, and give God the opportunity to respond to
you personally. Ask that God present you with opportunities to live out
what youve learned in His Word. For Jesus said in Luke 11:28, But even
more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.
Ask that the Holy Spirit use scripture to guide and convict you. Lastly,
use this time with Him to praise and adore the wonderful blessings Hes
given you, and to pray for others in your life.
STAY ON TRACK
Its easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and neglect our quiet time
with God. Choose someone in your life to be an accountability partner.
Ask this person to check with you weekly to make sure youre following
through with your commitment to spending time daily with the Lord!
We hope that these steps will help you on your way to a great quiet time! Remember
that your quiet time is not something that should be a chore or feel like a duty.
Remember that youre there to get to know Jesus Christ and that He wants to pour
into your life. If you need more ideas for a successful Bible study, check out Rick
Warrens Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock Gods Word. Or ask
for resources from a HSM sta member!
EXTRA TIPS FROM JUSTIN
uiet times are something I always wanted to be good at but took forever for
me to nd something that worked for me. Hope these tips can help get you
going on yours:
Don't do it at night. I fall asleep if its aer 5pm every time
without fail. I have to do it in the morning when I wake up if
I want to get anything out of it.
Always have something to write something down. You
remember more when you interact with what you read by
writing notes, thoughts, or highlight.
Do a YouVersion Bible Study on the Bible App for iPhone
or iPod. ey are a good way to help you navigate what you
read.
Put on Explosions in the Sky Pandora Radio station. Its
just music with no words so you have something, but you
cant sing along and get distracted.
You dont need to go somewhere special to have a quiet time with the Lord, but
sometimes its nice to be able to get away from all the hustle and bustle of our
lives to talk to Him in peace. We scouted out some great locations nearby where
you can spend time with the Lord in a relaxing environment. Let us know if
youve found any other cool places where youve been able to be alone with the
Lord in worship!
SPIRITUAL
RETREAT
GUIDE:
your mind is consumed by school work, family stresses, or other duties, write
them down on a piece of paper. is way you can set your worries aside, with
the knowledge that you can return to them later.
PREPARE YOUR HEART
Psalm 46:10, He says, Be still, and know that I am God. Solitude and silence
make space space in our souls and space in our lives for God to do a deep
work inside us and through us in our relationships with others. e point is
that at the beginning of our quiet time we do nothing, ask for nothing and just
allow God to ll us. We can allow God to speak to us, or guide us to a certain
place in scripture. We give this silence over to God to prepare us for what He
wants to teach us in our quiet time.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Start out slow and small so you dont let a large reading plan overwhelm you.
Some people choose to read just one or two verses; others choose to read a
whole section of Gods word. ere are all kinds of Bible reading plans available
to us online, but a good place to start might be the New Testament to read
about the life of Jesus Christ. For those who enjoy worship, Psalms might be a
great place to start. e key is that you delight in reading and studying Gods
word, not feel intimidated by it.
MEDITATE ON WHAT YOUVE READ
Read the passage over and over. Listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to you
through the words. Look for recurring words, promises, or commands. Try to
memorize the passage, or at least part of it. Become emotionally involvedal-
low yourself to feel what God feels, his desires expressed through his words. Sit
quietly with your eyes closed and think about what the passage means to you.
WRITE DOWN WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU
Aer youve meditated on what you read, return to the passage and write down
what stood out to you. Write down your raw thoughts and feelings about what
you read. If you read about one of Gods promises, how does it make you feel?
MAKE A DATE WITH GOD
Set some time apart in your everyday routine for God. You can set an
alarm on your phone or place a sticky note reminder on your mirror.
Most people enjoy having their quiet time in the morning. e mind is
less cluttered in the mornings, your thoughts fresh and its typically the
quietest time in the day. If you arent a morning person, nd another
time in the day where you are the most alert, focused, and quiet. Com-
mit to spending that time with the Lord.
BE PREPARED
Make sure you have all the tools you need for a successful quiet time.
is means that you come before the Lord prepared with a Bible, a jour-
nal, pen, and highlighter. Go into your quiet time with the expectation
that He wants to teach you something.
PICK A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE ALONE WITH THE LORD
Where you go, is up to you (a park, patio, bedroom, etc.). Jesus modeled
a daily quiet time, away from distractions, with the Father in his own
life; Luke 5:16 Jesus oen withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. Pick
a spot where you will be alone and uninterrupted.
GET RID OF DISTRACTIONS
In order to quiet your mind and prepare yourself to spend time with
God, get rid of anything that might interrupt you. is includes
cellphones, the internet and TV (even if these things are on in the
background). Commit to giving this time over solely to the Lord. If
SIMILAR TO OUR EARTHLY FRIENDSHIPS, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
DEEPENS AND IS STRENGTHENED BY SPENDING TIME TOGETHER. IT CAN
BE DIFFICULT TO MAKE GOD OUR PRIORITY, BUT THERE ARE DISCIPLINES
WE CAN PRACTICE THAT MAKE IT EASIER.
SERVING OTHERS
ending through the doorway as he entered,
Simon Peters sweaty palm smeared the thin layer
of dust caked to his face from the days travels.
e sweet aroma of hot food lled his nostrils:
he thought he heard Johns stomach let out a
small growl in anticipation. Removing his sandals, he pushed
past the others for a seat closest to the Master. His tired, cal-
loused, raw and cracking feet, protested, as he stepped upon
a coarsely woven mat upon which he sat. Supper began as
usual, the room bustling with conversation and recounting
of the days activities.
Suddenly, the room fell silent as the Master rose from his
seat and walked soly to the other side of the room. Jesus
removed his robe, and laid his garments aside as the disciples
watched him in confusion. He then wrapped a towel around
his waist and began to pour water into a nearby basin.
Peter met Matthews confused gaze across the table, equally
perplexed. Where were the servants that customarily took to
this lowly task? e twelve men around the table had so re-
cently pushed past each other for the position of honor, the
seat closest to the Teacher. ey had been so worried about
themselves, that surely they had missed something.
Suddenly, Jesus made his way around the table to the lowest
seat of the feast where Peter reclined. Taking Peters weary
feet in his hands, the Master began to pour water over
them, gently scrubbing the grime, lth, and impurities away.
Peter so revered and admired Jesus that his soul resented
the thought of his Master kneeling there before him in the
attitude of a menial servant and proposing to wash his feet
as would a slave.
At that realization, Peter blurted out, Lord, are you going to
wash my feet?! With a small smile Jesus replied, You do not
realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.
Peter pulled away exclaiming, No, you shall never wash
my feet! Tenderly, Jesus answered, Unless I wash you, you
have no part with me. At this, Peter plunged his feet back
into the water basin, showering the oor with droplets of
murky water exclaiming, en, Lord, not just my feet but
my hands and my head as well! Jesus chuckled at his friend
whom he so loved, giving Peter a gentle squeeze on his
shoulder as he stood up to wash the next mans feet.
Jesus loved his disciples, his friends, so much; it brought him
the utmost joy to hold their cracked and lthy feet in His
hands as He washed all twelve pairs. e feet His Father had
so uniquely craed, each set of toes extraordinarily unique,
unalike in shape and size, crookedly beautiful; the weary
feet that had followed him town to town without ceasing;
the strong feet that carried the Good News of his Father to
everyone who would listen.
When he nished, Jesus put on His robe again and returned
to His place at the table saying, Do you understand what
I was doing? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are
right, because thats what I am. And since I, your Lord and
Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each
other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I
have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater
than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than
the one who sends the message. Now that you know these
things, God will bless you for doing them.
Imagine being Peter and watching Jesus wash your feet. Seeing
His Master behave like a slave must have been confusing to
Peter. But what Jesus was trying to illustrate for his followers
was this: if even he, God in the esh, was willing to serve his
disciples, we his followers must also be servants. is means,
that we honor the needs of others before our own!
As we walk through life, imitating Jesus example of compas-
sion, kindness, selessness, and humility, should be our desire.
But above all, that our desire to serve others be rooted in
love. e acts of foot washing, along with all of Jesus acts of
service in the Gospels, were acts of love. Jesus dearly treasured
the broken, the least, the lost and the forgotten of this world.
And when we put Christs example of love and compassion
in action, the invisible God becomes visible to others and to
ourselves. So ask yourself, how you might be able to put oth-
ers before yourself ? Are there people in your community who
need love, care, and encouragement? Is there a pair of feet
(guratively or literally speaking!) that you need to wash?
Romans 12:9-13 Dont just pretend to loe others. Really loe
them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Loe
each other with genuine aection, and take delight in honoring
each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord
enthusiastically. Rejoice in our condent hope. Be patient in
trouble, and keep on praying. When Gods people are in need, be
ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
BY HANNAH RICH
SERVING OTHERS
ending through the doorway as he entered,
Simon Peters sweaty palm smeared the thin layer
of dust caked to his face from the days travels.
e sweet aroma of hot food lled his nostrils:
he thought he heard Johns stomach let out a
small growl in anticipation. Removing his sandals, he pushed
past the others for a seat closest to the Master. His tired, cal-
loused, raw and cracking feet, protested, as he stepped upon
a coarsely woven mat upon which he sat. Supper began as
usual, the room bustling with conversation and recounting
of the days activities.
Suddenly, the room fell silent as the Master rose from his
seat and walked soly to the other side of the room. Jesus
removed his robe, and laid his garments aside as the disciples
watched him in confusion. He then wrapped a towel around
his waist and began to pour water into a nearby basin.
Peter met Matthews confused gaze across the table, equally
perplexed. Where were the servants that customarily took to
this lowly task? e twelve men around the table had so re-
cently pushed past each other for the position of honor, the
seat closest to the Teacher. ey had been so worried about
themselves, that surely they had missed something.
Suddenly, Jesus made his way around the table to the lowest
seat of the feast where Peter reclined. Taking Peters weary
feet in his hands, the Master began to pour water over
them, gently scrubbing the grime, lth, and impurities away.
Peter so revered and admired Jesus that his soul resented
the thought of his Master kneeling there before him in the
attitude of a menial servant and proposing to wash his feet
as would a slave.
At that realization, Peter blurted out, Lord, are you going to
wash my feet?! With a small smile Jesus replied, You do not
realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.
Peter pulled away exclaiming, No, you shall never wash
my feet! Tenderly, Jesus answered, Unless I wash you, you
have no part with me. At this, Peter plunged his feet back
into the water basin, showering the oor with droplets of
murky water exclaiming, en, Lord, not just my feet but
my hands and my head as well! Jesus chuckled at his friend
whom he so loved, giving Peter a gentle squeeze on his
shoulder as he stood up to wash the next mans feet.
Jesus loved his disciples, his friends, so much; it brought him
the utmost joy to hold their cracked and lthy feet in His
hands as He washed all twelve pairs. e feet His Father had
so uniquely craed, each set of toes extraordinarily unique,
unalike in shape and size, crookedly beautiful; the weary
feet that had followed him town to town without ceasing;
the strong feet that carried the Good News of his Father to
everyone who would listen.
When he nished, Jesus put on His robe again and returned
to His place at the table saying, Do you understand what
I was doing? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are
right, because thats what I am. And since I, your Lord and
Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each
other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I
have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater
than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than
the one who sends the message. Now that you know these
things, God will bless you for doing them.
Imagine being Peter and watching Jesus wash your feet. Seeing
His Master behave like a slave must have been confusing to
Peter. But what Jesus was trying to illustrate for his followers
was this: if even he, God in the esh, was willing to serve his
disciples, we his followers must also be servants. is means,
that we honor the needs of others before our own!
As we walk through life, imitating Jesus example of compas-
sion, kindness, selessness, and humility, should be our desire.
But above all, that our desire to serve others be rooted in
love. e acts of foot washing, along with all of Jesus acts of
service in the Gospels, were acts of love. Jesus dearly treasured
the broken, the least, the lost and the forgotten of this world.
And when we put Christs example of love and compassion
in action, the invisible God becomes visible to others and to
ourselves. So ask yourself, how you might be able to put oth-
ers before yourself ? Are there people in your community who
need love, care, and encouragement? Is there a pair of feet
(guratively or literally speaking!) that you need to wash?
Romans 12:9-13 Dont just pretend to loe others. Really loe
them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Loe
each other with genuine aection, and take delight in honoring
each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord
enthusiastically. Rejoice in our condent hope. Be patient in
trouble, and keep on praying. When Gods people are in need, be
ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
BY HANNAH RICH
hird period hits and youre pretty sure you
just bombed your math test. Your friend just
cancelled on you for lunch. You nd out your
brother is getting deployed to Afghanistan,
again. Encourage Ministry knows that life has
its ups and downs. e students involved in Encourage
want to make those moments where you are really feeling
down a little bit easier to get through.

Encourage was founded by Michaela Coon, who says that
when she was extremely sick for over a year encouragement
om other believers truly helped [her] through her tough
journey. She was encouraged to use her spiritual gis, and
decided that she wanted to build others up around [her]
and give others an outlet to do the same. Because of that
goal, the Encourage ministry was born.
Once a month students involved in Encourage gather
together and brainstorm ways to encourage others. is
encouragement can be for anyone in the community,
whether it be the Starbucks Barista or the Janitors at
school, they want the community to know that everyone
matters to God. Romans 12:9 says
DONT JUST PRETEND TO LOVE OTHERS, REALLY LOVE THEM,
AND ENCOURAGE HAS THE GOAL OF DOING JUST THAT.
Becca Salgado got involved in Encourage because she
loes encouraging people and spreading joy... [She thinks
that] Its important because people need to know that they are
loed. Maddy Duggan, another member, agrees. Everyone
needs encouragement in their lives, especially in high school;
encouragement is the most important way to get through
[school] and without it none of us would make it.
Encouraging others is an easy, fun way to serve the
community. e Encourage Ministry believes that
building up others is a way of showing Christs
love in a tangible way. Aubrey Payne joined En-
courage not knowing what it was really about. e
rst thing she did with Encourage was to put up
sticky notes that had encouraging messages on the
lockers at Trabuco Hills High School. Encour-
age got together before the rst day of school to
accomplish this task. We got such great responses
om the students which made us all so happy... I fell
in loe with the ministry! explained Aubrey.
Michaela sees the importance of encouraging
others because of her relationship with the Lord;
He is a constant encourager in my life and His
loe compels me to then pour into others. She is
compelled to help others because of Hebrews
3:13 which says to
ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER DAILY.
rough Encourage she is able to do just that.
Whether its encouragement through post-it
notes on lockers, sending a text to a friend in
the morning or something as simple as smiling
at someone she passes in the hallways, she has
found, through Encourage that these small acts
can turn someones day around. Michaela loves
encouraging others because it gives her a chance
to loe selessly and truly pour into people. [She
explains that]
WE OFTEN UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT
WE CAN HAVE ON OTHERS.
BY ASHLEY DONAHUE
ASHLEY DONAHUE
is a senior at Mission Viejo High School, a
HSM student leader and the leader of the
Create Ministry. is le-handed freckled-
face lady loves waes, Harry Potter, forests,
ice cream, and laughing.
he evangelical norm is that the Gospel (the good news of Jesus Christ)
is for the nonbeliever and the duties of discipleship for believers.
However, the Gospel is as much for believers as it is for nonbelievers.
We must remember that the Gospel is for sinners both believers and
nonbelievers are sinners. As believers, we must pursue the life Jesus
called us to in the light of the Gospel. First, we must rmly grasp what exactly the
Gospel is and preach it to ourselves everyday. Once we start preaching ourselves
the Gospel each day, we will begin to understand the incredible power it can
have in our own lives. en, we will learn to live and be transformed by His grace
instead of having a performance/guilt based faith. is will enable us to take each
day as a step towards holiness and a more intimate relationship with Jesus. With
that in mind I will review the Gospel by taking a look at Romans 3:19-26.
19
Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is
to keep people om having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty
before God.
20
For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the
law commands. e law simply shows us how sinful we are.
21
But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keep-
ing the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and
the prophets long ago.
22
We are made right with God by placing our faith in
Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of Gods glorious standard.
24
Yet
God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this
through Christ Jesus when he eed us om the penalty for our sins.
25
For God
presented Jesus as the sacrice for sin. People are made right with God when
they believe that Jesus sacriced his life, shedding his blood. is sacrice shows
that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who
sinned in times past,
26
for he was looking ahead and including them in what
he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteous-
ness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his
sight when they believe in Jesus.
Gods laws are revealed to us throughout the Bible. When we look at the Law,
we see that its purpose is not to save, but to show us that we are sinful. at is
the point of the Lawit can only show you that you are sinful. e penalty for
breaking the Law is death, and because of sin we are separated from God. ere is
nothing we can do to bring about reconciliation on our own.
But, because ofHis deep love for us God has provided a way that allows us to be
reconciled to Him. God became man in the form of Jesus, and lived His life in per-
fect accordance to the Law. In total innocence, He gave His blood to atone for all
our past, present and future sins. en, conquering death, He rose again. rough
faith in Jesus Christ we are justied and made completely righteous.
Now to be clear, God does not grant a pardon in which He merely excuses the of-
fense ... He gives us justication because Jesus Christ satised the claims of justice
for the breakers of the law. God does not hand out justication arbitrarily; it is all
on the basis of Jesus Christs accomplished righteousness.
When we put our faith in Jesus shed blood and
righteous life, we are JUSTIFIED. e accom-
plished righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited
to us forever from the day we trust in Jesus
Christ as our Savior and throughout eternity.
Now, this is how I practically preach myself the
Gospel everyday:
I begin each day with the realization
that despite being justied by Jesus, I
still sin every dayin thought, word,
I acknowledge those sins to God,
and even if my conscience isnt
condemning me for specic sins, I
still acknowledge to God that I have not even
come close to loving Him with all my being
or loving my neighbor as myself.
deed, and motive.
I repent of those sins, and then apply
specic Scriptures that assure me of
Gods forgiveness to those sins I have
just confessed.
en, I apply the Scriptures promises
of Gods forgiveness to all areas of
my life, and declare that, My hope
is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and
righteousness.
Lastly, I pray and start my day.
Using the power of the Gospel in my own life,
by preaching it to myself each day, has changed
it in every single way. It has taken me away from
a performance driven/guilt based faith to a far
more genuine one.
When you learn to be transformed by e
Gospel, by His grace, you can leave your life of
feeling inadequate, powerless, and guilty, and
instead live out being loved by the God of the
Universe, in whom you have strength, power,
purpose, value, hope, love, and eternal life.
SOME SCRIPTURES TO PREACH
YOURSELF THE GOSPEL EACH DAY:
PSALM 103:12
ISAIAH 43:25
ISAIAH 53:6
ROMANS 4:7-8
ROMANS 8:1
PSALM 130:3-4
ISAIAH 1:18
ISAIAH 38:17
MICAH 7:19
EPHESIANS 1:7
COLOSSIANS 2:13-14
HEBREWS 8:12
HEBREWS 10:17-18
WHATEVER SCRIPTURES WE USE TO
ASSURE US OF GODS FORGIVENESS,
WE MUST REALIZE THAT WHETHER THE
PASSAGE EXPLICITLY STATES IT OR NOT,
THE ONLY BASIS FOR GODS FORGIVE-
NESS IS THE BLOOD OF CHRIST SHED
ON THE CROSS FOR US. AS THE WRITER
OF HEBREWS SAID,
WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD
THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS OF SINS
(9:22)
AND THE CONTEXT MAKES IT CLEAR
THAT IT IS CHRISTS BLOOD THAT
PROVIDES THE OBJECTIVE BASIS ON
WHICH GOD FORGIVES OUR SINS.
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL
(WHEN APPLIED TO EACH DAY)
BY DILLON PHOMMASA
hird period hits and youre pretty sure you
just bombed your math test. Your friend just
cancelled on you for lunch. You nd out your
brother is getting deployed to Afghanistan,
again. Encourage Ministry knows that life has
its ups and downs. e students involved in Encourage
want to make those moments where you are really feeling
down a little bit easier to get through.

Encourage was founded by Michaela Coon, who says that
when she was extremely sick for over a year encouragement
om other believers truly helped [her] through her tough
journey. She was encouraged to use her spiritual gis, and
decided that she wanted to build others up around [her]
and give others an outlet to do the same. Because of that
goal, the Encourage ministry was born.
Once a month students involved in Encourage gather
together and brainstorm ways to encourage others. is
encouragement can be for anyone in the community,
whether it be the Starbucks Barista or the Janitors at
school, they want the community to know that everyone
matters to God. Romans 12:9 says
DONT JUST PRETEND TO LOVE OTHERS, REALLY LOVE THEM,
AND ENCOURAGE HAS THE GOAL OF DOING JUST THAT.
Becca Salgado got involved in Encourage because she
loes encouraging people and spreading joy... [She thinks
that] Its important because people need to know that they are
loed. Maddy Duggan, another member, agrees. Everyone
needs encouragement in their lives, especially in high school;
encouragement is the most important way to get through
[school] and without it none of us would make it.
Encouraging others is an easy, fun way to serve the
community. e Encourage Ministry believes that
building up others is a way of showing Christs
love in a tangible way. Aubrey Payne joined En-
courage not knowing what it was really about. e
rst thing she did with Encourage was to put up
sticky notes that had encouraging messages on the
lockers at Trabuco Hills High School. Encour-
age got together before the rst day of school to
accomplish this task. We got such great responses
om the students which made us all so happy... I fell
in loe with the ministry! explained Aubrey.
Michaela sees the importance of encouraging
others because of her relationship with the Lord;
He is a constant encourager in my life and His
loe compels me to then pour into others. She is
compelled to help others because of Hebrews
3:13 which says to
ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER DAILY.
rough Encourage she is able to do just that.
Whether its encouragement through post-it
notes on lockers, sending a text to a friend in
the morning or something as simple as smiling
at someone she passes in the hallways, she has
found, through Encourage that these small acts
can turn someones day around. Michaela loves
encouraging others because it gives her a chance
to loe selessly and truly pour into people. [She
explains that]
WE OFTEN UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT
WE CAN HAVE ON OTHERS.
BY ASHLEY DONAHUE
ASHLEY DONAHUE
is a senior at Mission Viejo High School, a
HSM student leader and the leader of the
Create Ministry. is le-handed freckled-
face lady loves waes, Harry Potter, forests,
ice cream, and laughing.
he evangelical norm is that the Gospel (the good news of Jesus Christ)
is for the nonbeliever and the duties of discipleship for believers.
However, the Gospel is as much for believers as it is for nonbelievers.
We must remember that the Gospel is for sinners both believers and
nonbelievers are sinners. As believers, we must pursue the life Jesus
called us to in the light of the Gospel. First, we must rmly grasp what exactly the
Gospel is and preach it to ourselves everyday. Once we start preaching ourselves
the Gospel each day, we will begin to understand the incredible power it can
have in our own lives. en, we will learn to live and be transformed by His grace
instead of having a performance/guilt based faith. is will enable us to take each
day as a step towards holiness and a more intimate relationship with Jesus. With
that in mind I will review the Gospel by taking a look at Romans 3:19-26.
19
Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is
to keep people om having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty
before God.
20
For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the
law commands. e law simply shows us how sinful we are.
21
But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keep-
ing the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and
the prophets long ago.
22
We are made right with God by placing our faith in
Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of Gods glorious standard.
24
Yet
God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this
through Christ Jesus when he eed us om the penalty for our sins.
25
For God
presented Jesus as the sacrice for sin. People are made right with God when
they believe that Jesus sacriced his life, shedding his blood. is sacrice shows
that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who
sinned in times past,
26
for he was looking ahead and including them in what
he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteous-
ness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his
sight when they believe in Jesus.
Gods laws are revealed to us throughout the Bible. When we look at the Law,
we see that its purpose is not to save, but to show us that we are sinful. at is
the point of the Lawit can only show you that you are sinful. e penalty for
breaking the Law is death, and because of sin we are separated from God. ere is
nothing we can do to bring about reconciliation on our own.
But, because ofHis deep love for us God has provided a way that allows us to be
reconciled to Him. God became man in the form of Jesus, and lived His life in per-
fect accordance to the Law. In total innocence, He gave His blood to atone for all
our past, present and future sins. en, conquering death, He rose again. rough
faith in Jesus Christ we are justied and made completely righteous.
Now to be clear, God does not grant a pardon in which He merely excuses the of-
fense ... He gives us justication because Jesus Christ satised the claims of justice
for the breakers of the law. God does not hand out justication arbitrarily; it is all
on the basis of Jesus Christs accomplished righteousness.
When we put our faith in Jesus shed blood and
righteous life, we are JUSTIFIED. e accom-
plished righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited
to us forever from the day we trust in Jesus
Christ as our Savior and throughout eternity.
Now, this is how I practically preach myself the
Gospel everyday:
I begin each day with the realization
that despite being justied by Jesus, I
still sin every dayin thought, word,
I acknowledge those sins to God,
and even if my conscience isnt
condemning me for specic sins, I
still acknowledge to God that I have not even
come close to loving Him with all my being
or loving my neighbor as myself.
deed, and motive.
I repent of those sins, and then apply
specic Scriptures that assure me of
Gods forgiveness to those sins I have
just confessed.
en, I apply the Scriptures promises
of Gods forgiveness to all areas of
my life, and declare that, My hope
is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and
righteousness.
Lastly, I pray and start my day.
Using the power of the Gospel in my own life,
by preaching it to myself each day, has changed
it in every single way. It has taken me away from
a performance driven/guilt based faith to a far
more genuine one.
When you learn to be transformed by e
Gospel, by His grace, you can leave your life of
feeling inadequate, powerless, and guilty, and
instead live out being loved by the God of the
Universe, in whom you have strength, power,
purpose, value, hope, love, and eternal life.
SOME SCRIPTURES TO PREACH
YOURSELF THE GOSPEL EACH DAY:
PSALM 103:12
ISAIAH 43:25
ISAIAH 53:6
ROMANS 4:7-8
ROMANS 8:1
PSALM 130:3-4
ISAIAH 1:18
ISAIAH 38:17
MICAH 7:19
EPHESIANS 1:7
COLOSSIANS 2:13-14
HEBREWS 8:12
HEBREWS 10:17-18
WHATEVER SCRIPTURES WE USE TO
ASSURE US OF GODS FORGIVENESS,
WE MUST REALIZE THAT WHETHER THE
PASSAGE EXPLICITLY STATES IT OR NOT,
THE ONLY BASIS FOR GODS FORGIVE-
NESS IS THE BLOOD OF CHRIST SHED
ON THE CROSS FOR US. AS THE WRITER
OF HEBREWS SAID,
WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD
THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS OF SINS
(9:22)
AND THE CONTEXT MAKES IT CLEAR
THAT IT IS CHRISTS BLOOD THAT
PROVIDES THE OBJECTIVE BASIS ON
WHICH GOD FORGIVES OUR SINS.
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL
(WHEN APPLIED TO EACH DAY)
BY DILLON PHOMMASA
TAKING THE NEXT STEP
Even in my rst few months, I have developed
strong friendships that have formed into solid
group of support. Not only are we there for
each other, we also have a blast being together!
I feel like I have known most of them for years,
which makes being away from my family and
friends that much easier. However, I would
challenge every person reading this (especially
if youre about to go to college) to nd one or
two people in your group of friends and take
your friendship to the next level. Account-
ability is such a vital aspect of your walk with
Christ. I have a new guy friend and recently
we have become accountability partners and
its been incredible. Take the chance to reach
out and see how deep your friendships can go.

the biggest transitions you will make in your life.
Having survived my rst semester in college (Point Loma
Nazarene University), hopefully I can oer some words
of wisdom and encouragement to make the transition to
college that much easier.

STAY CONNECTED TO GOD
e rst couple months of freshmen year are absolutely
crazy. It is always go, go, go all the time and you rarely
have time to relax. One very important thing to re-
member is to, despite the craziness; keep your quiet time
consistent. Many days I just walk and talk to God, or
read my Bible in between classes and it makes the day so
much more enjoyable. If you stay connected with God,
everything will fall into place.

FIND A CHURCH
Even though I go to a Christian school, it is so important
to go to church every weekend. I have found a church
nearby where I already feel at home as soon as I walk
through the front doors. Being surrounded by Christians
of all ages (not just college students) is refreshing and
truly makes me eager to come back the next week.
NEW FRIENDSHIPS
Within the rst couple weeks, I guarantee you will have
over y new friend requests on Facebook and followers
on Instagram. Don't get me wrong, it's denitely great!
However, you have to sort through these new friends and
look for people that you can truly see becoming life- long
friends. Keep this in mind, because as great as it is to have
friends that are fun, its also important to build friend-
ships with people you know you can turn to when youre
having a rough day.
REMEMBER HOME
Even though you are going to be so excited about all your
new experiences and friendships, dont forget about your
family and friends back home. Ive gotten texts in the
morning before class from my friends from high school
just letting me know they are thinking about me and
it makes my day. Remember where you're from. Don't
forget about the morals and friendships you established
when you were in high school.
College will be some of the
best years in your life, so you
will want to start your experi-
ence o on the right foot. I am
praying for all of the seniors
going through acceptance
letters and decisions. I am
positive that God will put you
all on the right campus and be
able to have incredible, new
experiences.
veryone dreams of the day they start
a new adventure in college and are
able to ditch their lives back home.
Moving to college is fun and new but
it can also be a stressful and nerve-
wracking time. It is denitely one of
SLOW SHUTTER OF A COL
LEGE CAMPUS WITH STU
DENTS WALKING PAST ALL
OF STRUCTURES WILL RE
MAIN STILL WHILE THE STU
DENTS LOOK LIKE THEYRE
MOVING GHOSTS??? IDK.
BRYCES RECOMMENDED READ
Not A Fan is about committing
your life fully to God. Because there
are so many temptations in college
and its easy to just become a luke
warm christian and go through the
motions. is book challeneged me
not to do that in my rst semester.
BY BRYCE KELLEY
BRYCE KELLEY
Byrce is a HSM and Trabuco
Hills High alum. He likes
making real-life emojis, tak-
ing Netix watching to new
extremes, and lives solely o of
cookie dough.
PARKER STECH & SHEA LEWIS
TAKING THE NEXT STEP
Even in my rst few months, I have developed
strong friendships that have formed into solid
group of support. Not only are we there for
each other, we also have a blast being together!
I feel like I have known most of them for years,
which makes being away from my family and
friends that much easier. However, I would
challenge every person reading this (especially
if youre about to go to college) to nd one or
two people in your group of friends and take
your friendship to the next level. Account-
ability is such a vital aspect of your walk with
Christ. I have a new guy friend and recently
we have become accountability partners and
its been incredible. Take the chance to reach
out and see how deep your friendships can go.

the biggest transitions you will make in your life.
Having survived my rst semester in college (Point Loma
Nazarene University), hopefully I can oer some words
of wisdom and encouragement to make the transition to
college that much easier.

STAY CONNECTED TO GOD
e rst couple months of freshmen year are absolutely
crazy. It is always go, go, go all the time and you rarely
have time to relax. One very important thing to re-
member is to, despite the craziness; keep your quiet time
consistent. Many days I just walk and talk to God, or
read my Bible in between classes and it makes the day so
much more enjoyable. If you stay connected with God,
everything will fall into place.

FIND A CHURCH
Even though I go to a Christian school, it is so important
to go to church every weekend. I have found a church
nearby where I already feel at home as soon as I walk
through the front doors. Being surrounded by Christians
of all ages (not just college students) is refreshing and
truly makes me eager to come back the next week.
NEW FRIENDSHIPS
Within the rst couple weeks, I guarantee you will have
over y new friend requests on Facebook and followers
on Instagram. Don't get me wrong, it's denitely great!
However, you have to sort through these new friends and
look for people that you can truly see becoming life- long
friends. Keep this in mind, because as great as it is to have
friends that are fun, its also important to build friend-
ships with people you know you can turn to when youre
having a rough day.
REMEMBER HOME
Even though you are going to be so excited about all your
new experiences and friendships, dont forget about your
family and friends back home. Ive gotten texts in the
morning before class from my friends from high school
just letting me know they are thinking about me and
it makes my day. Remember where you're from. Don't
forget about the morals and friendships you established
when you were in high school.
College will be some of the
best years in your life, so you
will want to start your experi-
ence o on the right foot. I am
praying for all of the seniors
going through acceptance
letters and decisions. I am
positive that God will put you
all on the right campus and be
able to have incredible, new
experiences.
veryone dreams of the day they start
a new adventure in college and are
able to ditch their lives back home.
Moving to college is fun and new but
it can also be a stressful and nerve-
wracking time. It is denitely one of
SLOW SHUTTER OF A COL
LEGE CAMPUS WITH STU
DENTS WALKING PAST ALL
OF STRUCTURES WILL RE
MAIN STILL WHILE THE STU
DENTS LOOK LIKE THEYRE
MOVING GHOSTS??? IDK.
BRYCES RECOMMENDED READ
Not A Fan is about committing
your life fully to God. Because there
are so many temptations in college
and its easy to just become a luke
warm christian and go through the
motions. is book challeneged me
not to do that in my rst semester.
BY BRYCE KELLEY
BRYCE KELLEY
Byrce is a HSM and Trabuco
Hills High alum. He likes
making real-life emojis, tak-
ing Netix watching to new
extremes, and lives solely o of
cookie dough.
PARKER STECH & SHEA LEWIS
Hi ladies! We all know how important a rst date
is, right? is new and intriguing guy might end
up being the man you end up calling the father of
your children. Well maybe not. But still, dating
is important and knowing what you want from
the very rst moment is crucial to the start of your
entire relationship. Heres what an ideal date night
looks like from Mama Loves point of view:

GETTING READY
A small tip to getting ready for a rst date is to not
overdo it with your attractiveness. You want to set
a good rst impression, but you also want to keep
upping the ante. So dont pull out all the stops
right away. Ease your way into looking more awe-
some with each date. is will denitely keep your
man friend coming back for more!

THE PICK- UP
Never run out of the house to greet your date.
Youll look like a complete loser. ings a girl
shouldnt respond to as a pick-up for the rst
date: (1) your date honking their car horn, (2)
your date yelling your name from the front porch
of your house, (3) the Im outside text message.
Your date should get out of the car, come to the
door and patiently wait for you while you pretend
to take too long. is way, you can have the Cin-
derella Story, coming down the stairs moment.

DINING DONTS
Its a well-known fact that most rst dates involve
food. If your rst date doesnt involve food, make
that your last date. While eating, you must observe
the following rules:
Don't only order a salad or appetizer. Your date
asked to go out with a girl, not a birdso eat like
a human.
Don't order anything that might be too messy.
Need I say more?
Don't drink too much (water, soda, etc).
Getting up to use the restroom every ve minutes
interrupts conversation and gives your date more
opportunities to scope the restaurant out for other
cute ladies. Stay hydrated, but engaged.
THE FOLLOW- UP
Never be the one who makes the rst move aer
the date. I know many of you are tempted to send
the anks, I had a really great time text, but
stop yourself. Say thank you at the end of the night
and wait for him to contact you. Although you
might be thinking youre slick with a generic text,
guys know that there are far more women than
men in the world. ey have the advantage and the
odds are not in your favor. So play hard to getit
will pay o!
Sup fellas! If you aint careful, rst dates can a total
drag. But if you listen to my tips, you be just ne.
GETTING READY
Its all about the threads. As long as youre wearing
the essentials, youll be havin ladies swoonin all
over tha place. e essentials go as follows:
Floor length Mink coat
Fresh snapback
Crisp white kicks
Big Black Sunglasses (Its all about bein mysteri-
ous. She dont even know if yo eyes are open)
Keys to a Range Rover (You dont need to
own the car, just have the keys. It says, Hey, I got
money.)
Ice Breaker Gum (Cinnamon)
Altoids (Cinnamon)
Listerine Breath Strips (Cinnamon [Cinnamon
is the ocial avor of Papa Cool])

THE PICK UP
When your driver gets to her house, roll down yo
window and yell, YO! Im here. Before she gets
to yo car, put in the 1998 NOW CD. e songs
will remind her of when she was a baby. Babies
need to be taken care of; ipso facto she would want
you to be takin care of her. Aer she is in full baby
mode, switch the CD to da Wiggles. Babies love
the Wiggles.

DINNING DONTS
Make sure to take your girlie to get some food on
yo date. You can tell a lot about a girl by how she
feasts. End the date immediately if she does any of
the following:
She takes food o yo plate. She ordered her
food not yours. If she wanted fries, she shouldve
ordered them. She had her chance.
She eats all the free bread. You wanted some
too. Make sure you get yours.
She dont oer to pay. You know you dont have
enough money to take care of that check. Remem-
ber, you dont actually have that Range Rover.

THE FOLLOW- UP
the date. Wait it out. Remember, theres more girls
than guys out there. You know that. She knows
that. She wont let you go.

MAMA LOVE PAPA COOL
MAMAS LOVE PLAYLIST PAPAS LOVE PLAYLIST
MAMAS HOT DINNER SPOTS PAPAS HOT DINNER SPOTS
American? Burger King.
Fancy? Golden Corral.
Mexican? Taco Bell.
American? Wood Ranch.
Mexican? Tortilla Flats.
Fancy? Napa Rose.
CELINE DION
My Heart
Will Go On
BEYONCE
Crazy In Love
AL GREEN
Lets Stay
Together
ELLA FITZGERALD/
LOUIS ARMSTRONG
Dream a Little
Dream of Me
JUSTIN BIEBER
Die In Your Arms
SHE & HIM
You Really Got a
Hold on Me
JUSTIN BIEBER
As Long As You
Love Me
ENRIQUE IGLESIAS
Hero
SELENA GOMEZ
Love You Like
A Long Song
BRUNO MARS
Just the Way
You Are
ALICIA KEYS
If I Aint Got You
LEONA LEWIS
Bleeding Love
BY JESSICA TORRES & COLTON HARKER
37 / INSIDE[HSM] SPRING 13 HIGHSCHOOLMINISTRY.COM / 38
Hi ladies! We all know how important a rst date
is, right? is new and intriguing guy might end
up being the man you end up calling the father of
your children. Well maybe not. But still, dating
is important and knowing what you want from
the very rst moment is crucial to the start of your
entire relationship. Heres what an ideal date night
looks like from Mama Loves point of view:

GETTING READY
A small tip to getting ready for a rst date is to not
overdo it with your attractiveness. You want to set
a good rst impression, but you also want to keep
upping the ante. So dont pull out all the stops
right away. Ease your way into looking more awe-
some with each date. is will denitely keep your
man friend coming back for more!

THE PICK- UP
Never run out of the house to greet your date.
Youll look like a complete loser. ings a girl
shouldnt respond to as a pick-up for the rst
date: (1) your date honking their car horn, (2)
your date yelling your name from the front porch
of your house, (3) the Im outside text message.
Your date should get out of the car, come to the
door and patiently wait for you while you pretend
to take too long. is way, you can have the Cin-
derella Story, coming down the stairs moment.

DINING DONTS
Its a well-known fact that most rst dates involve
food. If your rst date doesnt involve food, make
that your last date. While eating, you must observe
the following rules:
Don't only order a salad or appetizer. Your date
asked to go out with a girl, not a birdso eat like
a human.
Don't order anything that might be too messy.
Need I say more?
Don't drink too much (water, soda, etc).
Getting up to use the restroom every ve minutes
interrupts conversation and gives your date more
opportunities to scope the restaurant out for other
cute ladies. Stay hydrated, but engaged.
THE FOLLOW- UP
the date. I know many of you are tempted to send
the anks, I had a really great time text, but
stop yourself. Say thank you at the end of the night
and wait for him to contact you. Although you
might be thinking youre slick with a generic text,
guys know that there are far more women than
men in the world. ey have the advantage and the
odds are not in your favor. So play hard to getit
will pay o!
Sup fellas! If you aint careful, rst dates can a total
drag. But if you listen to my tips, you be just ne.
GETTING READY
Its all about the threads. As long as youre wearing
the essentials, youll be havin ladies swoonin all
over tha place. e essentials go as follows:
Floor length Mink coat
Fresh snapback
Crisp white kicks
Big Black Sunglasses (Its all about bein mysteri-
ous. She dont even know if yo eyes are open)
Keys to a Range Rover (You dont need to
own the car, just have the keys. It says, Hey, I got
money.)
Ice Breaker Gum (Cinnamon)
Altoids (Cinnamon)
Listerine Breath Strips (Cinnamon [Cinnamon
is the ocial avor of Papa Cool])

THE PICK UP
When your driver gets to her house, roll down yo
window and yell, YO! Im here. Before she gets
to yo car, put in the 1998 NOW CD. e songs
will remind her of when she was a baby. Babies
need to be taken care of; ipso facto she would want
you to be takin care of her. Aer she is in full baby
mode, switch the CD to da Wiggles. Babies love
the Wiggles.

DINNING DONTS
Make sure to take your girlie to get some food on
yo date. You can tell a lot about a girl by how she
feasts. End the date immediately if she does any of
the following:
She takes food o yo plate. She ordered her
food not yours. If she wanted fries, she shouldve
ordered them. She had her chance.
She eats all the free bread. You wanted some
too. Make sure you get yours.
She dont oer to pay. You know you dont have
enough money to take care of that check. Remem-
ber, you dont actually have that Range Rover.

THE FOLLOW- UP
the date. Wait it out. Remember, theres more girls
than guys out there. You know that. She knows
that. She wont let you go.

MAMA LOVE PAPA COOL
MAMAS LOVE PLAYLIST PAPAS LOVE PLAYLIST
MAMAS HOT DINNER SPOTS PAPAS HOT DINNER SPOTS
American? Burger King.
Fancy? Golden Corral.
Mexican? Taco Bell.
American? Wood Ranch.
Mexican? Tortilla Flats.
Fancy? Napa Rose.
CELINE DION
My Heart
Will Go On
BEYONCE
Crazy In Love
AL GREEN
Lets Stay
Together
ELLA FITZGERALD/
LOUIS ARMSTRONG
Dream a Little
Dream of Me
JUSTIN BIEBER
Die In Your Arms
SHE & HIM
You Really Got a
Hold on Me
JUSTIN BIEBER
As Long As You
Love Me
ENRIQUE IGLESIAS
Hero
SELENA GOMEZ
Love You Like
A Long Song
BRUNO MARS
Just the Way
You Are
ALICIA KEYS
If I Aint Got You
LEONA LEWIS
Bleeding Love
BY JESSICA TORRES & COLTON HARKER
37 / INSIDE[HSM] SPRING 13 HIGHSCHOOLMINISTRY.COM / 38
HSM volunteers are the backbone of our
ministry and the gateway to spiritual growth
and service to Christ. Volunteers create a
safe place where students feel accepted and
cared for as they are encouraged to grow in
spiritual maturity. Volunteers are able to talk to students
about their lives and oer advice. ey are a so place
for students to fall and serve as an example of Christs
love in the lives of students.
Jessica Torres is the Adult Volunteer Coordinator at
HSM. When Jessica started in youth ministry 9 years
ago, she never thought that she would be leading adults
as well as students, but leading volunteers quickly
became one of her favorite parts of ministry! ere are
thousands of students connected to HSM and 10 HSM
AMY IS MORE THAN JUST MY LEADER; SHE HAS BECOME LIKE A BIG SISTER TO ME. WE MET DURING
SUMMER CAMP TWO YEARS AGO AT MURIETTA HOT SPRINGS!, AND HAD AN INSTANT CONNECTION.
SHE HAS SO MUCH INTO ME AND LARGELY UNDERSTANDS WHERE IM COMING FROM. I AM SO THANK-
FUL FOR HER INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE. IM NOT SURE KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT HER!
sta members employed by the church to care for them.
You can do the math; it would be impossible for HSM
to function without the adult leaders who sacricially
and joyfully serve week aer week! Jessica loves seeing
adult volunteers fall more in love with seeing students
come to know Christ and meet Him in a very real and
personal way. Our adult volunteers do just that with so
much passion and commitment!
Two volunteers that have served for over a year with
HSM are incredible examples of our ministry in action.
Brett and Amy Prouty are a dynamic, servant-hearted
married couple that express the love of Jesus through
not only being present with students, but in meeting
them right where they are.
At nearly event HSM has had in the past year, Brett is
there, helping sta with literally any and everything.
From manual labor, to relational ministry, his willing-
ness to serve and ability to solve last minute needs has
made him an integral person to lean on within HSM.
Not only is he there for big events and weekend services,
he is also a life group leader for freshmen guys. In talk-
ing to him, it is clear how much he loves pouring into the lives of students
not only during the weekend, but every week when they meet to grow
closer to God and each other. During summer camp he was on the winning
maroon/grey team! e victory of this particular team was, no doubt, driven
by Bretts incredible enthusiasm for competitiveness and his fun-loving
nature. His passion comes from knowing how important this time in life is
for students. As he was challenged the most in his walk with the Lord during
high school, he dedicates his time to helping students navigate the rough
waters of growing up. We are so thankful for volunteers like Brett Prouty.
Our ministry could not serve students as it is able to without leaders like
him, shining the light of Christ into the lives of leader and students alike.
Amy Prouty serves alongside her husband, pouring into the lives of students
through our ministry. She is a beloved mentor and life group leader to
sophomore ladies. One of her life group members, Makenna Williams
explains Amys eect on her life, saying
If youre interesting in helping us serve
our students better, please contact Jes-
sica Torres at JessicaT@saddleback.com.
She has opened the door to her home, having her life group ladies over for
movie nights and to bond with one another. Her gi for relational ministry
is so strong and we are so thankful that her heart is with high school stu-
dents. During weekend services, Amy is there, with a big smile, greeting stu-
dents and making them feel welcome as soon as they walk through the doors
at the Renery. During and in between the services, Amy is oen spotted
having heart-to-heart conversations with students, lled with encourage-
ment, love and a tender spirit. Her love for the students she encounters
creates a safe haven for important conversations. We are so thankful for her
ability to speak into the lives of students and be such an amazing blessing to
them.
Brett and Amy are just two of over a hundred adult volunteers we have, serv-
ing alongside us at HSM. ere is never enough time or room to thank our
volunteers for how much they contribute and give to this ministry. It would
be impossible to have a ministry without volunteers like Brett, Amy, and all
of our other many volunteers. If youre currently a volunteer at HSM; thank
you, from the bottom of our hearts for being there for our students.
BRETTS LIFE GROUP
AMYS LIFE GROUP
Volunteer Tips
LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND WITH WORDS.
Preach and promote from rst hand experience. Would you buy a Ford
from a salesman who drove a Chevy?
NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO POINT THE STUDENT TO CHRIST.
We believe Christ is the answer, the cure, the end all be all. In my experi-
ence a lot of the students problems are centered around where Christ is
in their life. You still have to be mindful of your approach but all roads
should lead back to Christ.
NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN.
I cannot stress enough how important it is you become a listener. I know some
people are good at it naturally and some of us have to work at it. It is truly a
quiet mega strength that connects you with any student.
NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCE.
Nothing makes a point like a life experience. When you share your aws and
failures it gives hope to others. God does not waste our hurts but he uses them
in powerful ways.
BE HONEST AND A LEARNER.
Its hard to fake interest so dont try. You do not have to have anything in com-
mon with the student to connect with them. Take this as an opportunity to
learn something new. Allow them to teach you about their hobbies, sports or
activities. Example: I had an hour and a half conversation with two students
who loved screamo music. (Google it) I didnt even know it existed. I was
honest that I had never heard it but interested in learning about it. We had a
conversation that went from screamo to Christ. I learned how they grew up,
what type of music their parents liked and found out that they both had ques-
tions about Christianity. I believe connecting with students has everything to
do with you and little to do with them.
DONT MAKE CONNECTING WITH THEM ABOUT THE DEEP TALK EVERY TIME.
ey also need to know that they can just talk to you without expectations.
Discussing movies, music, fashion and funny stu should be a normal thing.
My rst experience in youth ministry was taking a group of guys out for pizza, and
then a sleepover full of snacks, movies, video games and conversation. No one in the
church I was attending told me to do it, I just did it. e time I spent with those stu-
dents and the things we did were simply what I would have loved when I was a student
myself. I wanted to be someone they could share their struggles with but also enjoy a
lighthearted conversation. I wanted to be able to speak Gods truth into their lives and
also be someone they could come to when they had questions.
My motive behind connecting with students was not just to be their friend, but also
be someone who they could connect with when they needed guidance in the spiritual
and the natural areas of life. Some people would say that the best way to connect with a
student is nd a leader who shares their tastes and interests. I know that the majority of
youth groups dont have that luxury, and personally I dont think they need to.
Connecting with students has more to do with the leader than the student. e cool
kids, geeks, jocks, cheerleaders, the indie kids, the gamer and all of the other students
we stereotype could care less about what youre in to. ey just want to know that you
care.
is doesnt only apply to adult volunteers! Many HSM students volunteer their time
as leaders in Wildside and Saddleback Kids as Life Group leaders and mentors. No one
is too young to reach out to the next generation.
I LISTED SOME TRANSFERABLE THINGS THAT IVE LEARNED THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR,
THAT HAVE HELPED ME CONNECT WITH ALL TYPES OF STUDENTS ON A DEEPER LEVEL.
I hope this gets you thinking about ways to connect on a deeper level with students.
Here at HSM, our volunteers ability to meet students right where they are is incred-
ible. We are blessed to have such incredible examples of Christs love!
If you want to learn more about volunteering at HSM or if youre a Junior or Senior
interested in volunteering in Wildside, our Jr. High ministry at Saddleback Church
contact Jessica Torres at JessicaT@saddleback.com
HSM volunteers are the backbone of our
ministry and the gateway to spiritual growth
and service to Christ. Volunteers create a
safe place where students feel accepted and
cared for as they are encouraged to grow in
spiritual maturity. Volunteers are able to talk to students
about their lives and oer advice. ey are a so place
for students to fall and serve as an example of Christs
love in the lives of students.
Jessica Torres is the Adult Volunteer Coordinator at
HSM. When Jessica started in youth ministry 9 years
ago, she never thought that she would be leading adults
as well as students, but leading volunteers quickly
became one of her favorite parts of ministry! ere are
thousands of students connected to HSM and 10 HSM
AMY IS MORE THAN JUST MY LEADER; SHE HAS BECOME LIKE A BIG SISTER TO ME. WE MET DURING
SUMMER CAMP TWO YEARS AGO AT MURIETTA HOT SPRINGS!, AND HAD AN INSTANT CONNECTION.
SHE HAS SO MUCH INTO ME AND LARGELY UNDERSTANDS WHERE IM COMING FROM. I AM SO THANK-
FUL FOR HER INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE. IM NOT SURE KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT HER!
sta members employed by the church to care for them.
You can do the math; it would be impossible for HSM
to function without the adult leaders who sacricially
and joyfully serve week aer week! Jessica loves seeing
adult volunteers fall more in love with seeing students
come to know Christ and meet Him in a very real and
personal way. Our adult volunteers do just that with so
much passion and commitment!
Two volunteers that have served for over a year with
HSM are incredible examples of our ministry in action.
Brett and Amy Prouty are a dynamic, servant-hearted
married couple that express the love of Jesus through
not only being present with students, but in meeting
them right where they are.
At nearly event HSM has had in the past year, Brett is
there, helping sta with literally any and everything.
From manual labor, to relational ministry, his willing-
ness to serve and ability to solve last minute needs has
made him an integral person to lean on within HSM.
Not only is he there for big events and weekend services,
he is also a life group leader for freshmen guys. In talk-
ing to him, it is clear how much he loves pouring into the lives of students
not only during the weekend, but every week when they meet to grow
closer to God and each other. During summer camp he was on the winning
maroon/grey team! e victory of this particular team was, no doubt, driven
by Bretts incredible enthusiasm for competitiveness and his fun-loving
nature. His passion comes from knowing how important this time in life is
for students. As he was challenged the most in his walk with the Lord during
high school, he dedicates his time to helping students navigate the rough
waters of growing up. We are so thankful for volunteers like Brett Prouty.
Our ministry could not serve students as it is able to without leaders like
him, shining the light of Christ into the lives of leader and students alike.
Amy Prouty serves alongside her husband, pouring into the lives of students
through our ministry. She is a beloved mentor and life group leader to
sophomore ladies. One of her life group members, Makenna Williams
explains Amys eect on her life, saying
If youre interesting in helping us serve
our students better, please contact Jes-
sica Torres at JessicaT@saddleback.com.
She has opened the door to her home, having her life group ladies over for
movie nights and to bond with one another. Her gi for relational ministry
is so strong and we are so thankful that her heart is with high school stu-
dents. During weekend services, Amy is there, with a big smile, greeting stu-
dents and making them feel welcome as soon as they walk through the doors
at the Renery. During and in between the services, Amy is oen spotted
having heart-to-heart conversations with students, lled with encourage-
ment, love and a tender spirit. Her love for the students she encounters
creates a safe haven for important conversations. We are so thankful for her
ability to speak into the lives of students and be such an amazing blessing to
them.
Brett and Amy are just two of over a hundred adult volunteers we have, serv-
ing alongside us at HSM. ere is never enough time or room to thank our
volunteers for how much they contribute and give to this ministry. It would
be impossible to have a ministry without volunteers like Brett, Amy, and all
of our other many volunteers. If youre currently a volunteer at HSM; thank
you, from the bottom of our hearts for being there for our students.
BRETTS LIFE GROUP
AMYS LIFE GROUP
Volunteer Tips
LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND WITH WORDS.
Preach and promote from rst hand experience. Would you buy a Ford
from a salesman who drove a Chevy?
NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO POINT THE STUDENT TO CHRIST.
We believe Christ is the answer, the cure, the end all be all. In my experi-
ence a lot of the students problems are centered around where Christ is
in their life. You still have to be mindful of your approach but all roads
should lead back to Christ.
NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN.
I cannot stress enough how important it is you become a listener. I know some
people are good at it naturally and some of us have to work at it. It is truly a
quiet mega strength that connects you with any student.
NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCE.
Nothing makes a point like a life experience. When you share your aws and
failures it gives hope to others. God does not waste our hurts but he uses them
in powerful ways.
BE HONEST AND A LEARNER.
Its hard to fake interest so dont try. You do not have to have anything in com-
mon with the student to connect with them. Take this as an opportunity to
learn something new. Allow them to teach you about their hobbies, sports or
activities. Example: I had an hour and a half conversation with two students
who loved screamo music. (Google it) I didnt even know it existed. I was
honest that I had never heard it but interested in learning about it. We had a
conversation that went from screamo to Christ. I learned how they grew up,
what type of music their parents liked and found out that they both had ques-
tions about Christianity. I believe connecting with students has everything to
do with you and little to do with them.
DONT MAKE CONNECTING WITH THEM ABOUT THE DEEP TALK EVERY TIME.
ey also need to know that they can just talk to you without expectations.
Discussing movies, music, fashion and funny stu should be a normal thing.
My rst experience in youth ministry was taking a group of guys out for pizza, and
then a sleepover full of snacks, movies, video games and conversation. No one in the
church I was attending told me to do it, I just did it. e time I spent with those stu-
dents and the things we did were simply what I would have loved when I was a student
myself. I wanted to be someone they could share their struggles with but also enjoy a
lighthearted conversation. I wanted to be able to speak Gods truth into their lives and
also be someone they could come to when they had questions.
My motive behind connecting with students was not just to be their friend, but also
be someone who they could connect with when they needed guidance in the spiritual
and the natural areas of life. Some people would say that the best way to connect with a
student is nd a leader who shares their tastes and interests. I know that the majority of
youth groups dont have that luxury, and personally I dont think they need to.
Connecting with students has more to do with the leader than the student. e cool
kids, geeks, jocks, cheerleaders, the indie kids, the gamer and all of the other students
we stereotype could care less about what youre in to. ey just want to know that you
care.
is doesnt only apply to adult volunteers! Many HSM students volunteer their time
as leaders in Wildside and Saddleback Kids as Life Group leaders and mentors. No one
is too young to reach out to the next generation.
I LISTED SOME TRANSFERABLE THINGS THAT IVE LEARNED THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR,
THAT HAVE HELPED ME CONNECT WITH ALL TYPES OF STUDENTS ON A DEEPER LEVEL.
I hope this gets you thinking about ways to connect on a deeper level with students.
Here at HSM, our volunteers ability to meet students right where they are is incred-
ible. We are blessed to have such incredible examples of Christs love!
If you want to learn more about volunteering at HSM or if youre a Junior or Senior
interested in volunteering in Wildside, our Jr. High ministry at Saddleback Church
contact Jessica Torres at JessicaT@saddleback.com
I sat down with Parker Stech and Travis Prouty om High School Ministry to talk about just what all that goes on in making one of their crazy videos. I met Parker at Starbucks because it
was conenient for him, mostly because he practically lives there. We waited 15 minutes for Travis to show up and then I realized that I AM Travis, so we got started.
Its 100% me.
Right. (glares)
Haha no its really a very collaborative
eort. Ill come up with a basic ideastop
glaring at me! One of us will come up with
a basic idea, and well all just start adding
to it, throwing stu at it and seeing what
sticks. Im usually sitting in my oce
working on something completely dier-
But where do you guys get these crazy ideas Do
you have some secret spot, somemagical forest
glade of vision?
For me, all my greatest ideas have come in the
shower. eres something about hot water and
shampoo that unlocks the creative force in me.
All my best ideas have also happened in the
shower, but so many bits of ours have just hap-
pened while we were just hanging out. (Not in the
shower) Ahem. Cough sohow long have you
Ive been making videos since I was 10 years
old. I was always the kid with the camera
who made videos throughout elementary
school, junior high and high school. I went
to Mission and was on Diablo Heat for 3
years. It was incredible and a lot of fun! And
thats really where I picked up my video, Id
guess or type that I make all the time, like
the funny videos. I really had the chance to
do that and its always been something Ive
A lot of the videos seem pointless, what is the
purpose of the videos that you guys make?
Well, theres a lot of thought behind
the videos we make. Part of my job is
to disarm students. What that means
is that when they come into the service
we want to make them feel like church
How long does it typically take to lm
an HSM video?
to edit, add special eects
or whatever we may need.
In most situations well
actually have an idea
and then change it last
minute and do something
completely dierent just
because a better idea
came up or the original
one didnt pan out.
en when you add the
additional hour it takes
to make up for Travis
apparent inability to
act, these short 2 minute
videos take a long time
to make!
Okay, lets say Im a high
school student and I want
to start a killer Youtube
account and amass
thousands of followers
and become an internet
sensation. What advice do
you have in making vid-
eos Do I need a bunch
of expensive equipment?
What do you use?
Easy there tiger! One
question at a time! I use
a Canon 5D with mostly
a wide angle lens, and
then edit the footage in
FinalCut Pro and use
programs like AerEects
for explosions and stu.
(Except for the time we
blew up a dry ice bomb
in Joshs oce for a video
and all his stu got wet.
at was real. And Im
still not sure he knows
about it.) But the two
most important things
when it comes to making
a video are timing and
content. Videos, funny or
not, all have a rhythm to
them, almost like playing
music. Awkward, oeat
cuts or ill-timed jokes can
ruin a potentially great
video. And if your con-
tent is good, then chances
are your video will be
too. All of our best videos
start sitting around a
table and planning it
out. Of course we add
and tweak things along
the way, but the more
preplanning that happens
before a video shoot, the
better the lm. If you
have a really solid idea,
it wont matter how great
your camera is, or if you
use iMoie vs. FinalCut
If there is one piece of advice you could give to aspiring lmmakers, what
is it?
Just get out there ad try dierent things! Dierent angles, dierent
lenses, dierent techniques. Watch videos online on sites like vimeo.com
and ask yourself, How did they get that shot? How can I replicate
that? And most of all have fun with it! ats the best part!
Pro. Some of the greatest lms of all time were lmed on cameras that
were way below the standard of most cellphones today.
You guys sure make some funny videos.
Where do you get all these crazy ideas?
ent, and Travis will come in and say enthusiasti-
cally, Dude, what if we did this? and then Ill
say, What if we do this? and we go back and
forth saying What if we did this? and then
once I shoot down every idea Travis has inol-
ing puppets, we moe forward om there.
is a fun place, not a boring place where
we just sit there and quote scripture
all day. We want them to realize that
we actually have a sense of humor and
fun. My hope is that these videos would
be shared throughout the high schools
and that one day a student would real-
ize, Oh wait these are church videos?
ese are hilarious! and then come
check us out.
People dont realize this, but since we
have Mondays o, we get into work
on Tuesdays and we dont actually
start shooting the video until about
ursday. en we have all day Friday
I sat down with Parker Stech and Travis Prouty om High School Ministry to talk about just what all that goes on in making one of their crazy videos. I met Parker at Starbucks because it
was conenient for him, mostly because he practically lives there. We waited 15 minutes for Travis to show up and then I realized that I AM Travis, so we got started.
Its 100% me.
Right. (glares)
Haha no its really a very collaborative
eort. Ill come up with a basic ideastop
glaring at me! One of us will come up with
a basic idea, and well all just start adding
to it, throwing stu at it and seeing what
sticks. Im usually sitting in my oce
working on something completely dier-
But where do you guys get these crazy ideas Do
you have some secret spot, somemagical forest
glade of vision?
For me, all my greatest ideas have come in the
shower. eres something about hot water and
shampoo that unlocks the creative force in me.
All my best ideas have also happened in the
shower, but so many bits of ours have just hap-
pened while we were just hanging out. (Not in the
shower) Ahem. Cough sohow long have you
Ive been making videos since I was 10 years
old. I was always the kid with the camera
who made videos throughout elementary
school, junior high and high school. I went
to Mission and was on Diablo Heat for 3
years. It was incredible and a lot of fun! And
thats really where I picked up my video, Id
guess or type that I make all the time, like
the funny videos. I really had the chance to
do that and its always been something Ive
A lot of the videos seem pointless, what is the
purpose of the videos that you guys make?
Well, theres a lot of thought behind
the videos we make. Part of my job is
to disarm students. What that means
is that when they come into the service
we want to make them feel like church
How long does it typically take to lm
an HSM video?
to edit, add special eects
or whatever we may need.
In most situations well
actually have an idea
and then change it last
minute and do something
completely dierent just
because a better idea
came up or the original
one didnt pan out.
en when you add the
additional hour it takes
to make up for Travis
apparent inability to
act, these short 2 minute
videos take a long time
to make!
Okay, lets say Im a high
school student and I want
to start a killer Youtube
account and amass
thousands of followers
and become an internet
sensation. What advice do
you have in making vid-
eos Do I need a bunch
of expensive equipment?
What do you use?
Easy there tiger! One
question at a time! I use
a Canon 5D with mostly
a wide angle lens, and
then edit the footage in
FinalCut Pro and use
programs like AerEects
for explosions and stu.
(Except for the time we
blew up a dry ice bomb
in Joshs oce for a video
and all his stu got wet.
at was real. And Im
still not sure he knows
about it.) But the two
most important things
when it comes to making
a video are timing and
content. Videos, funny or
not, all have a rhythm to
them, almost like playing
music. Awkward, oeat
cuts or ill-timed jokes can
ruin a potentially great
video. And if your con-
tent is good, then chances
are your video will be
too. All of our best videos
start sitting around a
table and planning it
out. Of course we add
and tweak things along
the way, but the more
preplanning that happens
before a video shoot, the
better the lm. If you
have a really solid idea,
it wont matter how great
your camera is, or if you
use iMoie vs. FinalCut
If there is one piece of advice you could give to aspiring lmmakers, what
is it?
Just get out there ad try dierent things! Dierent angles, dierent
lenses, dierent techniques. Watch videos online on sites like vimeo.com
and ask yourself, How did they get that shot? How can I replicate
that? And most of all have fun with it! ats the best part!
Pro. Some of the greatest lms of all time were lmed on cameras that
were way below the standard of most cellphones today.
You guys sure make some funny videos.
Where do you get all these crazy ideas?
ent, and Travis will come in and say enthusiasti-
cally, Dude, what if we did this? and then Ill
say, What if we do this? and we go back and
forth saying What if we did this? and then
once I shoot down every idea Travis has inol-
ing puppets, we moe forward om there.
is a fun place, not a boring place where
we just sit there and quote scripture
all day. We want them to realize that
we actually have a sense of humor and
fun. My hope is that these videos would
be shared throughout the high schools
and that one day a student would real-
ize, Oh wait these are church videos?
ese are hilarious! and then come
check us out.
People dont realize this, but since we
have Mondays o, we get into work
on Tuesdays and we dont actually
start shooting the video until about
ursday. en we have all day Friday
doing and bringing it to the youth ministry.
THE FOUNDATIONS OF STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Something that is pretty unique at Saddleback Church is Student Leadership and
ministry involvement, which is currently managed by Colton Harker. e concept
of making every student involved in a ministry was conceptualized by Doug Fields
who created ministry teams early on. My goal was to get every student doing some
ministry. I wanted to make sure that everyone was serving somewhere. So, in order to
do that, we had to come up with teams and trips.
Getting every student involved presented some obstacles, but making sure everyone
had the responsibility to serve was important in the ministry. ere was one student
who was in my high school group and I would ask him hey what ministry team are
you on? and he would never give me a clear answer so I said ok, youre in charge of
lights! When we would show a video [during the weekend services] we would need
someone to turn the lights o and on there were literally like three light panels and
that was his ministry. He started, seriously, just turning o lights but I would say to
the students if you want to help with the light ministry- well, we dont really have a
need just yet but he had the opportunity to serve. It was his serving opportunity for
HSM. It got him involved.
Basically, the goal was to break away from the actual task but stick with the concept
that
EVERY STUDENT HAD TO HAVE A MINISTRY. IT DIDNT MATTER IF IT WAS
PICKING UP PAPER WHEN YOU LEAVE THAT IS YOUR MINISTRY.
Student leadership started through Fields observing students who were really leaning
in or showing interesting in ministry. I would gather students and we would meet at
my house in the beginning . Getting students involved in serving ministries is a vision,
started by Fields himself, and still a key component of HSM today.
THE REFINERY/EXTENDING THE VISION
In building the Renery, Doug Fields had a specic vision I denitely wanted to build
something that would have a relational feel to it. He made this a priority by focusing
on the idea that when you walked in, it would feel warm, like Starbucks. at was my
phrase in the beginning I want a Starbucks on steroids!... so a huge, warm feel. e
plans for the massive building project had humble beginnings. ere were many meet-
ings at Taco Bell with the original sketches being drawn on the restaurant napkins.
Fields was the key gure behind this project, though he claries it wasnt just me, it
was a bunch of people collective ideas. I mean, I was just a part of it. I got to be the
point person [for the building of the Renery] from A to Z.
In designing the Renery, the goal early on in the process was always making the
building as relational as possible. So when you walk in you can see the seating areas.
at was kind of the idea in the dining room, the restaurant booths everything was
igh School Ministry at Saddleback Church is a place where over a thousand
students worship together every weekend and during the week in life
groups throughout Orange County. is ministry has had phenomenal
growth within the past few years and continues to be dynamic; changing in
every season.
ese changes havent been easy. Growing pains, location changes and building
projects make up the rich history of HSM. In order to explore where HSM has been
in the past, where it currently is in the present and where it seeks to go in the future,
we talked to Doug Fields and Josh Grin. Doug Fields, who by all accounts is the
founder of HSM and the reason why HSM has become what it is today, was gracious
enough to give us some insight on the early days of HSM and draw out the foundation
of the ministry as we see it today.
THE EARLY DAYS
HSM was not always housed in the incredible facility which is known to HSM
students as the Renery. In May of 1992, HSM met in at Trabuco Hills High School.
Doug Fields was one of the rst youth pastors called specically by Rick Warren to
lead the early days of the youth ministry at Saddleback Church. He explains, e rst
time I ever spoke was out by the bleachers... by the pool outside! is was in the early
summer months. At that time, there were only about 35 students in the ministry on
Fields rst Sunday.
WE HAD TO KEEP EVERYTHING IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR!
WE DIDNT HAVE STORAGE OR ANYTHING!
While the ministry was small, the heart of the ministry was large. Outreach programs
were key in making students in the community surrounding Saddleback aware of the
church as a whole and HSM in particular. is required the HSM sta and students
to get creative. We would just do outreach events aer football games these events
called Overtime aer the football games we would just invite people to throw a par-
ty on church property. ey got SO huge! During this time, we would also teach the
students that were regular attenders to invite their friends to those outreach events.
With outreach being a key focus of the ministry at that time, Fields came up with fun
activities to draw students into the community of HSM and to have fun! We would
do things like car rallies I would basically put a scavenger hunt together all over the
county [on Saturday nights] via cars so students would get in their cars and invite
their friends and theyd do their scavenger hunt wed end up at a pizza place, all
hanging out then wed invite [everyone there] to church on Sunday morning.
An important factor in creating a large, comfortable environment for students, Fields
explains, was breaking up what he refers to as the holy huddle. is is a term he uses
for ingrown kids; students that were comfortable with their own group. He says that
some students at that time were basically saying lets US be a group and I came and
said that if you want to be a part of a youth group that doesnt grow, go somewhere
else! He further emphasizes I was bringing a new kind of growth vision to [HSM]
but that growth vision is what the church is all about. I mean, I was singing the same
song as Rick Warren, he explains. I wasnt bringing something to Pastor Rick [that he
wasnt already doing in the church]. I was basically taking what he [Pastor Rick] was
APRIL 6, 1980:
SADDLEBACK CHURCH HAS
ITS FIRST PUBLICE SERVICE.
JANUARY 8, 1992:
HSM MEETS AT TRABUCO
HILLS HIGH SCHOOL.
MAY 12, 1992:
DOUG FIELDS IS HIRED
AS THE HSM PASTOR.
JUNE 21, 1992:
REACHING OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY BECOME A
HUGE PART OF HSM.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1994:
SMALL GROUPS, CALLED AREA BIBLE STUDIES
(ABS) ARE LAUNCHED IN HOMES FOR THE FIRST
TIME!
MAY 12, 1999:
JOSH GRIFFIN VISITS SADDLEBACK CHURCH TO
HEAR DOUG FIELDS SPEAK AT A YOUTH
CONFERENCE.
doing and bringing it to the youth ministry.
THE FOUNDATIONS OF STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Something that is pretty unique at Saddleback Church is Student Leadership and
ministry involvement, which is currently managed by Colton Harker. e concept
of making every student involved in a ministry was conceptualized by Doug Fields
who created ministry teams early on. My goal was to get every student doing some
ministry. I wanted to make sure that everyone was serving somewhere. So, in order to
do that, we had to come up with teams and trips.
Getting every student involved presented some obstacles, but making sure everyone
had the responsibility to serve was important in the ministry. ere was one student
who was in my high school group and I would ask him hey what ministry team are
you on? and he would never give me a clear answer so I said ok, youre in charge of
lights! When we would show a video [during the weekend services] we would need
someone to turn the lights o and on there were literally like three light panels and
that was his ministry. He started, seriously, just turning o lights but I would say to
the students if you want to help with the light ministry- well, we dont really have a
need just yet but he had the opportunity to serve. It was his serving opportunity for
HSM. It got him involved.
Basically, the goal was to break away from the actual task but stick with the concept
that
EVERY STUDENT HAD TO HAVE A MINISTRY. IT DIDNT MATTER IF IT WAS
PICKING UP PAPER WHEN YOU LEAVE THAT IS YOUR MINISTRY.
Student leadership started through Fields observing students who were really leaning
in or showing interesting in ministry. I would gather students and we would meet at
my house in the beginning . Getting students involved in serving ministries is a vision,
started by Fields himself, and still a key component of HSM today.
THE REFINERY/EXTENDING THE VISION
In building the Renery, Doug Fields had a specic vision I denitely wanted to build
something that would have a relational feel to it. He made this a priority by focusing
on the idea that when you walked in, it would feel warm, like Starbucks. at was my
phrase in the beginning I want a Starbucks on steroids!... so a huge, warm feel. e
plans for the massive building project had humble beginnings. ere were many meet-
ings at Taco Bell with the original sketches being drawn on the restaurant napkins.
Fields was the key gure behind this project, though he claries it wasnt just me, it
was a bunch of people collective ideas. I mean, I was just a part of it. I got to be the
point person [for the building of the Renery] from A to Z.
In designing the Renery, the goal early on in the process was always making the
building as relational as possible. So when you walk in you can see the seating areas.
at was kind of the idea in the dining room, the restaurant booths everything was
igh School Ministry at Saddleback Church is a place where over a thousand
students worship together every weekend and during the week in life
groups throughout Orange County. is ministry has had phenomenal
growth within the past few years and continues to be dynamic; changing in
every season.
ese changes havent been easy. Growing pains, location changes and building
projects make up the rich history of HSM. In order to explore where HSM has been
in the past, where it currently is in the present and where it seeks to go in the future,
we talked to Doug Fields and Josh Grin. Doug Fields, who by all accounts is the
founder of HSM and the reason why HSM has become what it is today, was gracious
enough to give us some insight on the early days of HSM and draw out the foundation
of the ministry as we see it today.
THE EARLY DAYS
HSM was not always housed in the incredible facility which is known to HSM
students as the Renery. In May of 1992, HSM met in at Trabuco Hills High School.
Doug Fields was one of the rst youth pastors called specically by Rick Warren to
lead the early days of the youth ministry at Saddleback Church. He explains, e rst
time I ever spoke was out by the bleachers... by the pool outside! is was in the early
summer months. At that time, there were only about 35 students in the ministry on
Fields rst Sunday.
WE HAD TO KEEP EVERYTHING IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR!
WE DIDNT HAVE STORAGE OR ANYTHING!
While the ministry was small, the heart of the ministry was large. Outreach programs
were key in making students in the community surrounding Saddleback aware of the
church as a whole and HSM in particular. is required the HSM sta and students
to get creative. We would just do outreach events aer football games these events
called Overtime aer the football games we would just invite people to throw a par-
ty on church property. ey got SO huge! During this time, we would also teach the
students that were regular attenders to invite their friends to those outreach events.
With outreach being a key focus of the ministry at that time, Fields came up with fun
activities to draw students into the community of HSM and to have fun! We would
do things like car rallies I would basically put a scavenger hunt together all over the
county [on Saturday nights] via cars so students would get in their cars and invite
their friends and theyd do their scavenger hunt wed end up at a pizza place, all
hanging out then wed invite [everyone there] to church on Sunday morning.
An important factor in creating a large, comfortable environment for students, Fields
explains, was breaking up what he refers to as the holy huddle. is is a term he uses
for ingrown kids; students that were comfortable with their own group. He says that
some students at that time were basically saying lets US be a group and I came and
said that if you want to be a part of a youth group that doesnt grow, go somewhere
else! He further emphasizes I was bringing a new kind of growth vision to [HSM]
but that growth vision is what the church is all about. I mean, I was singing the same
song as Rick Warren, he explains. I wasnt bringing something to Pastor Rick [that he
wasnt already doing in the church]. I was basically taking what he [Pastor Rick] was
APRIL 6, 1980:
SADDLEBACK CHURCH HAS
ITS FIRST PUBLICE SERVICE.
JANUARY 8, 1992:
HSM MEETS AT TRABUCO
HILLS HIGH SCHOOL.
MAY 12, 1992:
DOUG FIELDS IS HIRED
AS THE HSM PASTOR.
JUNE 21, 1992:
REACHING OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY BECOME A
HUGE PART OF HSM.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1994:
SMALL GROUPS, CALLED AREA BIBLE STUDIES
(ABS) ARE LAUNCHED IN HOMES FOR THE FIRST
TIME!
MAY 12, 1999:
JOSH GRIFFIN VISITS SADDLEBACK CHURCH TO
HEAR DOUG FIELDS SPEAK AT A YOUTH
CONFERENCE.
built like how can we just get a bunch of people sitting around places, hanging out and
talking?
Josh Grin told us about some of his favorite aspects of the Renery. He says I love the
baptismal area and waterfalls outside of the building. Some of my favorite moments are
when a small group leader is right there with their students and everyone is cheering and
going nuts. I absolutely LOVE it. Josh likes to think of the Renery as an aircra carrier
for launching students into ministry and mission, explicitly stating if it becomes a cruise
ship, Ive failed. Weve been given SO much, we have to make sure we are using it wisely
for Gods Kingdom.
WHATS IN A NAME? THE REASONING BEHIND THE NAME THE REFINERY
Before the Renery got its name, the building was referred to as the Student Zone.
Doug Fields came up with three fresh, new ideas. He went to lunch with Pastor Rick War-
ren to discuss the ideas but he didnt make it far into the conversation with Pastor Rick
before the decision was made. I showed him some pictures of what some of the outside
[of the building] was going to look like and I explained the rst idea for the name is the
Renery and Pastor Rick said
THATS IT! I DONT EVEN WANT TO HEAR THE OTHER TWO! THATS IT! SO THE NAME
OF THE BUILDING WAS DECIDED PRETTY EASILY AND FROM THAT POINT ON WAS
THE REFINERY: REFINING YOUNG MINDS FOR CHRIST.

TRANSITION OF LEADERSHIP
Doug Fields le Saddleback in 2009, knowing through prayer and consideration that the
building of the Renery was a great nish line for him and his ministry at Saddleback.
He emphasizes I told Pastor Rick Im not going to go do anything else, Gods just saying
your time is done you never feel like its time to leave but it was great to leave [Student
Ministries as a whole] with Kurt, Katie and Josh, people I totally, totally believe in.
Josh Grin, our current HSM pastor had the mantle handed over to him by Doug Fields.
Fields reveals It was Gods timing to leave what Josh was doing in Michigan and come out
here and be involved in youth ministry when he was handed the ministry, he really was
ready to go honestly, Im thrilled with my decision thats why I brought Josh out here!
In hearing about the early days of HSM and the transition of leadership, we got to talk to
our current HSM Pastor, Josh Grin, about the ministry (where it has been, where it is
today and where it is going).
Josh was hired at Saddleback almost ten years ago to help train youth pastors, develop
resources and share his heart for student ministry. Josh told us Doug Fields was the high
school pastor [at the time I was hired] and I looked up to him a ton. He had mentored me
for a long time through his books, conferences and training long before I ever met him in
person. I came to visit Saddleback to learn how to be a better youth pastor, never imagin-
ing that I would someday BE the youth pastor!
PASTOR JOSH: HIS PASSION FOR HSM AND THE MINISTRY TODAY
It is clear that our pastor loves high school students. He told us theres something
powerful about this age students are experiencing some incredible changes and
making huge decisions I get the privilege to walk through this stage with them.
At HSM Joshs own vision is that all students who come will begin to understand
the amazing love of Jesus Christ and trust Him as their Savior. He talked to us
about knowing how important the Christian community is and how much he
wants students to invest in the community by joining a life group and helping out
with a ministry team (for more information on where YOU can get involved, turn
to pages 31-32). e discussions in life groups and the fun in community are a
great model of how Jesus intended us to live, even in adulthood. Loving others self-
lessly is a huge component of our walk with the Lord.
Investing in HSM is vital in order to grow closer to the Lord. Josh arms the
importance of involvement, saying I think coming to our youth group for the big
events and 6:30 service on Saturday nights is a good rst step but if you stick
around, youll see theres a TON more to help shape you into the person God
wants you to become.
IT ISNT ALL OVERNIGHTERS AND KILLBALL, BUT I DO LOVE KILLBALL!
e past few years of HSM have seen many changes, growth and the continuation
of an incredible legacy. In the past ve years, HSM has grown signicantly. Pastor
Josh sees the future of HSM as carrying on a legacy of student involvement, serving
others and reaching out to the community. I want us to continue where were
strong and to continue improving in other areas as well.
Small groups and worship services are a key emphasis of HSM currently, but Josh
seeks to expand the scope of HSM Im excited to see us turn more outward serv-
ing the community and expanding missions. Weve taken huge strides in the area of
discipleship and personal spiritual growth I cant wait to see where we can expand
in these areas!
IMAGINE A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS KNOW JESUS, ARE IN COMMUNITY, GROWING ON
THEIR OWN, SERVING OTHERS AND PLACING EACH DECISION BEFORE CHRIST IN WORSHIP
WITH THEIR LIFE. I CAN AND THATS THE FUTURE OF HSM.
He is certainly aware of the legacy of the youth ministry at Saddleback that he is
now a huge part of, asserting I am so blessed, honored and humbled to take over
for some of my closest friends and carry on their vision and legacy. ere is SO
much about HSM- my favorite moments have been watching lives change. When
a student trusts Jesus as their Savior and gets baptized I never get tired of it. is
makes my heart full I LOVE what I do.
APRIL 1, 2000:
TAFFY IS HIRED AS THE
STUDENT MINISTRIES
WORSHIP PASTOR.
APRIL 5, 2000:
MEXICALI; 500+ STUDENTS GO ON A MISSIONS
TRIP TO MEXICO DURING SPRING BREAK.
NOVEMBER 6, 2005:
EXTENDING THE VISION CAMPAIGN
LAUNCHES TO FIANACE A STUDENT
MINISTRIES BUILDING.
OCTOBER 29, 2007:
THE EXTENDING THE VISION CAMPAIGN
IS RIGHT AT ITS HALFWAY POINT AND
CONSTRUCTION IS LOOKING GREAT
APRIL 18, 2005:
SADDLEBACK HAS ITS 25th
ANNIVERSARY AT ANGELS STADIUM
JANUARY 15, 2008:
LIFE GROUPS ARE LAUNCHED- NO LONGER
CALLED AREA BIBLE STUDY
MARCH 6, 2008:
THE STUDENT ZONE NAMED THE
REFINERY
JUNE 21, 2008:
REFINERY HAS ITS
GRAND OPENING
SEPTEMBER 1, 2009:
DOUG FIELDS LEAVES HSM- KURT JOHNSTON,
KATIE EDWARDS AND JOSH GRIFFIN TAKE OVER.
JOSH GRIFFIN BECOMES THE PASTOR!
built like how can we just get a bunch of people sitting around places, hanging out and
talking?
Josh Grin told us about some of his favorite aspects of the Renery. He says I love the
baptismal area and waterfalls outside of the building. Some of my favorite moments are
when a small group leader is right there with their students and everyone is cheering and
going nuts. I absolutely LOVE it. Josh likes to think of the Renery as an aircra carrier
for launching students into ministry and mission, explicitly stating if it becomes a cruise
ship, Ive failed. Weve been given SO much, we have to make sure we are using it wisely
for Gods Kingdom.
WHATS IN A NAME? THE REASONING BEHIND THE NAME THE REFINERY
Before the Renery got its name, the building was referred to as the Student Zone.
Doug Fields came up with three fresh, new ideas. He went to lunch with Pastor Rick War-
ren to discuss the ideas but he didnt make it far into the conversation with Pastor Rick
before the decision was made. I showed him some pictures of what some of the outside
[of the building] was going to look like and I explained the rst idea for the name is the
Renery and Pastor Rick said
THATS IT! I DONT EVEN WANT TO HEAR THE OTHER TWO! THATS IT! SO THE NAME
OF THE BUILDING WAS DECIDED PRETTY EASILY AND FROM THAT POINT ON WAS
THE REFINERY: REFINING YOUNG MINDS FOR CHRIST.

TRANSITION OF LEADERSHIP
Doug Fields le Saddleback in 2009, knowing through prayer and consideration that the
building of the Renery was a great nish line for him and his ministry at Saddleback.
He emphasizes I told Pastor Rick Im not going to go do anything else, Gods just saying
your time is done you never feel like its time to leave but it was great to leave [Student
Ministries as a whole] with Kurt, Katie and Josh, people I totally, totally believe in.
Josh Grin, our current HSM pastor had the mantle handed over to him by Doug Fields.
Fields reveals It was Gods timing to leave what Josh was doing in Michigan and come out
here and be involved in youth ministry when he was handed the ministry, he really was
ready to go honestly, Im thrilled with my decision thats why I brought Josh out here!
In hearing about the early days of HSM and the transition of leadership, we got to talk to
our current HSM Pastor, Josh Grin, about the ministry (where it has been, where it is
today and where it is going).
Josh was hired at Saddleback almost ten years ago to help train youth pastors, develop
resources and share his heart for student ministry. Josh told us Doug Fields was the high
school pastor [at the time I was hired] and I looked up to him a ton. He had mentored me
for a long time through his books, conferences and training long before I ever met him in
person. I came to visit Saddleback to learn how to be a better youth pastor, never imagin-
ing that I would someday BE the youth pastor!
PASTOR JOSH: HIS PASSION FOR HSM AND THE MINISTRY TODAY
It is clear that our pastor loves high school students. He told us theres something
powerful about this age students are experiencing some incredible changes and
making huge decisions I get the privilege to walk through this stage with them.
At HSM Joshs own vision is that all students who come will begin to understand
the amazing love of Jesus Christ and trust Him as their Savior. He talked to us
about knowing how important the Christian community is and how much he
wants students to invest in the community by joining a life group and helping out
with a ministry team (for more information on where YOU can get involved, turn
to pages 31-32). e discussions in life groups and the fun in community are a
great model of how Jesus intended us to live, even in adulthood. Loving others self-
lessly is a huge component of our walk with the Lord.
Investing in HSM is vital in order to grow closer to the Lord. Josh arms the
importance of involvement, saying I think coming to our youth group for the big
events and 6:30 service on Saturday nights is a good rst step but if you stick
around, youll see theres a TON more to help shape you into the person God
wants you to become.
IT ISNT ALL OVERNIGHTERS AND KILLBALL, BUT I DO LOVE KILLBALL!
e past few years of HSM have seen many changes, growth and the continuation
of an incredible legacy. In the past ve years, HSM has grown signicantly. Pastor
Josh sees the future of HSM as carrying on a legacy of student involvement, serving
others and reaching out to the community. I want us to continue where were
strong and to continue improving in other areas as well.
Small groups and worship services are a key emphasis of HSM currently, but Josh
seeks to expand the scope of HSM Im excited to see us turn more outward serv-
ing the community and expanding missions. Weve taken huge strides in the area of
discipleship and personal spiritual growth I cant wait to see where we can expand
in these areas!
IMAGINE A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS KNOW JESUS, ARE IN COMMUNITY, GROWING ON
THEIR OWN, SERVING OTHERS AND PLACING EACH DECISION BEFORE CHRIST IN WORSHIP
WITH THEIR LIFE. I CAN AND THATS THE FUTURE OF HSM.
He is certainly aware of the legacy of the youth ministry at Saddleback that he is
now a huge part of, asserting I am so blessed, honored and humbled to take over
for some of my closest friends and carry on their vision and legacy. ere is SO
much about HSM- my favorite moments have been watching lives change. When
a student trusts Jesus as their Savior and gets baptized I never get tired of it. is
makes my heart full I LOVE what I do.
APRIL 1, 2000:
TAFFY IS HIRED AS THE
STUDENT MINISTRIES
WORSHIP PASTOR.
APRIL 5, 2000:
MEXICALI; 500+ STUDENTS GO ON A MISSIONS
TRIP TO MEXICO DURING SPRING BREAK.
NOVEMBER 6, 2005:
EXTENDING THE VISION CAMPAIGN
LAUNCHES TO FIANACE A STUDENT
MINISTRIES BUILDING.
OCTOBER 29, 2007:
THE EXTENDING THE VISION CAMPAIGN
IS RIGHT AT ITS HALFWAY POINT AND
CONSTRUCTION IS LOOKING GREAT
APRIL 18, 2005:
SADDLEBACK HAS ITS 25th
ANNIVERSARY AT ANGELS STADIUM
JANUARY 15, 2008:
LIFE GROUPS ARE LAUNCHED- NO LONGER
CALLED AREA BIBLE STUDY
MARCH 6, 2008:
THE STUDENT ZONE NAMED THE
REFINERY
JUNE 21, 2008:
REFINERY HAS ITS
GRAND OPENING
SEPTEMBER 1, 2009:
DOUG FIELDS LEAVES HSM- KURT JOHNSTON,
KATIE EDWARDS AND JOSH GRIFFIN TAKE OVER.
JOSH GRIFFIN BECOMES THE PASTOR!
SUMMER
PREVIEW
BY HANNAH RICH
SUMMER
PREVIEW
BY HANNAH RICH
CALENDAR
CALENDAR
CALENDAR
CALENDAR

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