Greetings from your friendly neighborhood Youth Minister!

Playing with fire, these words always bring up memories of stupid stunts with my friends as a teenager but they also bring up times that things went wrong.  Sometimes we like the idea of the danger, it seems attractive and alluring but we never see the downsides until it is too late.  Especially as young students and young adults the consequences are so far for the first thought that it seems near impossible that any harm can befall you, that risk start to feel worth it.  Another danger of playing with fire is that it always starts small and grows until it is beyond control, James 3:5(nlt) says “But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.”  It is this desire that flames have to grow and devour everything it can, that makes them so dangerous.  No matter how well you think you have prepared fires can get out of hand and the same is true with the world and its sins.  We as Christians are called to be in the world but not of this world, it is this call that is used as justification by some that we have to be near the world and things of this world to be effective witnesses that will cause some to stumble.  We need to look at the motives that we have for going to that party or hanging out with those friends and remember that one group will always influence the other, make sure it is the right influence that you are giving and receiving.  Make time this summer for your quiet time with God and his word, don’t let those fall by the way side in our busy schedules of activities and trips.
We will be having another Cake Auction to raise money for our student’s trips this summer. It was a great success last year and I think it will be as delicious this year maybe even better.   So remember if you are making a baked good for the auction please have your items at the church in the lobby no later than 9:30 Sunday June 2nd. The auction will start at 10am and end at 10:25 so please come out and support the youth.
Update on the progress in the new youth room.
The painting is coming to an end in the youth room.  Thank you to all those that helped paint and build and tile your dedication to the youth in the church has been and continues to be a blessing. In the drive to get instruments for our students again your response has been overwhelming, we now have three electric guitars and one acoustic, two key boards, and a drum set. We could still use a bass guitar and an acoustic/electric guitar.  Thank you all so much.
Upcoming Events
June 1st - schools out party at ACC 7pm for movie and Pizza
June 2nd Cake Auction for X-180
June 30th Youth Sunday
July 8-12th CIY Move (for high school students)

Randy Jones
Youth Ministry, Albany Christian Church