Welcome back to our Thursday installment of the Ministry ReCap! Here's a quick look at what we did this week at our student ministry activities.

High School Ministry :: Tuesday Night
Game Time: Soccer (broke the gym clock)
Snack: Chips, soda, water, coffee drinks
Announcements: We had 3 announcements
  - Winter Retreat, February 26-28, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
  - 2016 Winter Jam, January 30, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
  - After Dark, February 5, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
Teaching Message:
  - The Jesus Centered Life, Week 3
     - Jesus and His Friends
Total Student Count: 15

Junior High Ministry :: Wednesday Night
Game Time: Jedi Dodgeball (kids choice)
Snack: Klondike Bars, Fruit Punch, Water
Announcements: 
   - Winter Retreat, February 26-28, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
  - After Dark, February 5, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
Teaching Message:
  - Who is God? God the Father, Loving and Perfect (JR High LIVE)
Total Student Count: 33

Things we're working on...
This past Sunday, the Elders rolled out a new vision statement for the entire church. We in the student ministry department are reworking some of our ministries and programs so that we fit inside the visions goals and priorities. I will be updating you as we make changes. But you can look at Monday's post where I started sharing some thought on church vs. student ministry visions. You can read it here...Is the Church Vision Your Student Vision.

Adult Leadership Recruiting...
We are also in the throws of recruiting adult volunteers to work with both the HSM and JHM programs. Are goal is to recruit 6-8 adults to work with HSM, and 10-12 adults to work with the JHM.

Student Leadership Ministry...
And next week, we hope to launch our new Student Leadership program. I'll share more on that later next week.

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check in next week to see what we're doing.

- jay

This week has turned at to be quite a week. As I look back over the last couple of days, I am amazed, again, by God's faithfulness in the busyness. This week ended up becoming a pretty week. From meetings with staff, to conversations with church members, to planning, studying, preparing, teaching, and being with students, it's crazy how many got done. And now that I'm looking Friday, with still a few things to complete, I am feeling pretty accomplished this week.

So today I want to take a look back at the week past and highlight some of those favorite moments.

Lessons this week...
1. Treasure the Unexpected Office Drop-in Visits.
I don't think there has been a week yet, where I haven't been blessed by a visitor who popped into my office to say hi. Some visits have led to wonderful conversations, great laughter, and much needed encouragement. Some visits have been 15, 20, even 30 minutes or more. While others were just quick, "Hello's", or "Praying for you." or, "Just want to know we love you." moments. Each one this week has been sweet and special and I am treasuring these wonderful moments.

2. Enjoy the Ministry Firsts.
After 24 years of ministry, I know there is still much more to learn and experience. This past week I had an exciting ministry first. We welcomed a young mom to our youth ministry. I was so excited! It was a special moment and a reminder of what student ministry is all about.

So as I sit here at my desk, with reports of incoming snow that will bring the weekend to a crawl, I'm working to wrap up the remaining items that I need to complete. But I can't help reflecting on the very many sweet moments that came this week.

I hope you share in the wonderful blessings that God pours out on those He loves. And if you're in the path of the mega snow storm, I hope you're safe and warm!

​- jay

Jay Higham is a 24 year veteran of student ministry; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Youth Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 19 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, 4 boys and 1 little girl. Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and caring for the hearts of husbands. You can learn more about their ministry to the family and husband by visiting their family blog at, www.TheHighamFamily.com!

Happy Thursday, and thanks for stopping by the blog today. As we do every Thursday, I'm sharing this weeks student ministry activities.

This week turned out to be a short week. After welcoming our high school ministry on Tuesday, we ended up canceling our junior high ministry on Wednesday night due to a snow storm that blew in  doing the rich hour. We are located in an area where the roads (especially some of the back roads) aren't always easily traveled. And one of my policies is to never willingly put a student or their family in a position of risk or harm. So I usually lean towards caution when considering whether or not to cancel a ministry event. Wednesday was such a night. The snow fell fast and the road turned gross pretty quick. So no youth group.

But we did meet with our high school students and had a great night. Our numbers are beginning to rebound after the holiday break. This past Tuesday we had a pretty good turn out.

High School Ministry :: Tuesday Night
Game Time: Jedi Dodgeball
Snack: Klondike Bars, chips, soda, water, coffee drinks
Announcements: We had 3 announcements
  - Winter Retreat, February 26-28, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
  - 2016 Winter Jam, January 30, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
  - After Dark, February 5, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
Teaching Message:
  - The Jesus Centered Life, Week 2
     - Jesus and His Parables
Total Student Count: 18

Junior High Ministry :: Wednesday Night
CANCELED DUE TO SNOW STORM
Game Time: 
Snack: 
Announcements: 
  - 
  - 
  - 
Teaching Message:
  - 
Total Student Count: 00

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check in next week and see what we're doing.

A question for you...
What are your winter weather cancelation policies? Share in the comments below!

- jay

One of the things I am trying to do this year is to utilize Instagram as a means of communicating with our students. So just for fun, here are a few of the Insta-Messages we sent out this week! To see any of our Insta-Messages live, follow me at, @jayhigham. (I'll follow you back!)

For the first time in years, and I mean years, I've decided to purchase prepackaged curriculum. Why? And What? Well, I went with something I know and trust.

Throughout my 24+ years of student ministry, about 85% to 90% of what I have taught to students I have written. Bible Studies, Series, stand alone lessons, retreats...I've even written a full vacation bible school curriculum. I have researched and studied, prepared and planned. And I have invested a great many hours in writing and creating. 

I've done this because I love it. I love working the creative juices and developing materials that lead students closer to God. But as I settle into my current ministry, I am quickly realizing that there are more things I want to do with and for my students. I'm juggling two programs; a Junior High Ministry, a High School Ministry, and I am teaching Sunday school. I have to recruit and build a leadership team. I need leaders and volunteers to work with students and help is other areas of the ministry.  And I am quickly picking up other responsibilities around the office and church. On top of this, I want to focus more time on being students. So the idea of writing curriculum is a bit overwhelming to say the list. 

Starting this January (2016), I will be using the Junior High LIVE Curriculum, by Simply Youth Ministry & Group Publishing. The LIVE Curriculum came out a number of years ago as an ongoing program for small groups that allowed youth workers and youth pastors to plan, schedule and share the teaching materials with their small group leaders. Being web-based made it easy for small group leaders to download the teaching materials and use them without the hassle of printing numerous copies and getting them to your leaders.

​The Junior High materials offer the user 2 years of teaching materials that build upon each other. You can simply go with their structure or rearrange to create a program unique to your group. I have already gone through the lessons and order them to suit our needs. I ordered and grouped a number of series together, left a few spaces open for holidays and events, and even scheduled a few fun nights along the way. By the time I was finished, I had planned our teaching calendar through 2018. With all of that done, I can now focus more time on caring for students and leaders, dream and cast vision, and build a stable, sustainable ministry for long-term ministry.

We've just started using the LIVE materials, and I am really excited. With the pressure of creating multiple lesson plan lifted, I am already finding myself with a little more time in my day. So far, I've really liked what we've used. And as I look at what's coming up, I am confident that our students with get great Bible teaching in fun and creative ways!

​I don't think I'll ever stop writing and created my own materials, but having the LIVE Curriculum around is a real help. So thanks to my friends over at Simply Youth Ministry, for creating a resource that I can trust and my leaders can use.

Check out the LIVE video below and see just how easy it is to simplify your planning. Click on the LIVE logo and learn how you can try the curriculum for 30 days, free!

​- jay

Jay Higham is a 24 year veteran of student ministry; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Youth Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 19 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, 4 boys and 1 little girl. Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and caring for the hearts of husbands. You can learn more about their ministry to the family and husband by visiting their family blog at, www.TheHighamFamily.com!

We're back! Another new year, and another fresh start for our student ministry. This past week we jumped into 2016 with both feet! I'm excited about what God is doing, and how He is leading us to doing something new.

Both groups this week kicked off new series. The High School Ministry launched a 6 week study utilizing the Jesus Centered Life materials put out as part of the LIVE Curriculum, published by Group. And our Junior High Ministry started the LIVE Junior High Ministry curriculum.

So let me just run down this past weeks student gatherings for you.

High School Ministry :: Tuesday Night
Game Time: Volleyball (we had a smaller than usual group out this week)
Snack: Cupcakes, chips, soda, water, coffee drinks (we're so healthy)
Announcements: We had 3 announcements
  - Winter Retreat, February 26-28, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
  - 2016 Winter Jam, January 30, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
  - After Dark, February 5, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
Teaching Message:
  - The Jesus Centered Life, Week 1
     - Who Do You Say I Am?
Total Student Count: 12

Junior High Ministry :: Wednesday Night
Game Time: Steal the Bacon (we went old school on our students)
Snack: Cupcakes and drinks
Announcements: We had 3 announcements
  - Winter Retreat, February 26-28, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
  - After Dark, February 5, 2016 [ CLICK HERE ]
  - A Baby Sitting Service Opportunity
Teaching Message:
  - Who is God? Introduction Week.
Total Student Count: 38

Later next week I plan on sharing why I decided to go with the LIVE Curriculum, along with some thoughts on how we are planning to use the materials with our students. So be sure to check in next week!

Thanks for stopping by.

What are you teaching as you start the new year? Share in the comments below!

- jay