Southland Blog

With divorce rates soaring, sex and drug addiction running rampant and children surviving in broken families -- our kids could use a safe haven.

We're excited to announce that we've launched Celebrate Recovery's companion ministries: 
Celebration Station for kids ages 5-13; and 
The Landing for middle and high school students.

In each of these groups, the focus is an age-appropriate study of the Beatitudes, just like Celebrate Recovery for adults. These are great resources for kids and teens coming from homes with recovery issues, or even to help them deal with their own issues in a safe place. 

Celebrate Recovery is a proven program using Biblical principles to help adults deal with their hurts, habits and hang-ups.

If you're curious if these ministries are right for you, feel free to contact me. 

Greg Chandler
Care Pastor
Harrodsburg Road Campus

This past week was the last Amplify of the school year in High School ministry and we ended with a bang. We put on our first ever 'Ampy Awards' (like the Grammy's but way better) with musical performances from students, dance performances from staff (yikes!) and over 15 awards to give out.

The 'golden Mr. Potato heads' were given to people who showed courage and also to students who are always on Facebook. The night also involved parents of students that donated food, balloons and decorations that enhanced the experience. That's what this ministry has been all about -- adults investing in students.

This past year we had over 25 students get baptized and 20 of them were baptized by either their friends or their Life Group leader. If it wasn't for our 50 plus High School leaders committed week in and week out, we would not have seen all the fruit that came from their efforts. Reminds me of the verse that fits perfectly with Expression #3 here at Southland and its, "So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." 1 Corinthians 15:48. All of the leaders efforts have not been wasteful but God has used every ounce to do some amazing work in the lives of the students.

One of the coolest stories happened at Amplify a couple of weeks ago when a student spoke about his two year freedom from pornography and the freedom that Christ has given him with forgiveness and grace. You could sense in the room the Spirit moving in our students from this very real and honest testimony. Right after the service I got a call from one of the leaders who said that their students were moved to share with their Life Group something that they had hidden in them for years. Freedom from this openness and honesty with the group led the leader and a student to the pond for the student's old life to be taken away and a new life to be born.

Story after story, this is what Amplify has been like this entire year. The impact that God has made through the lives of our leaders and students has been incredible and is a testimony to what happens when we 'radically invest in the next generation'.

Nate Johnson
High School Pastor
Harrodsburg Road Campus

It's coming – one of the most anticipated middle school events of the year! The annual Middle School Carnival is happening on Friday, May 18 at 7pm. Building C is where the fun is at. 

There will be tons of games, prizes, inflatables, a slip 'n slide and food (Did you know middle school boys love to eat?!) all for just $5.

Oh yeah – Jon Weece will be in the dunk tank! He's been known to show his nerves a bit...

Bring some friends and come on out – see you there!

David Hausknecht
Middle School Pastor
Harrodsburg Road Campus

It’s time again to move all of the students here at Southland up to the next grade. It’s bittersweet because these kids mean so much to us and for those that graduate to a new environment we hate to “see them go.”

Our vision is that our kids will grow up to be disciples of Jesus that make disciples of Jesus. In order for this to happen they must move on to the next environment strategically designed to help them grow in their faith.

While their environment may change there are two things that happen at every age from Preschool to High School, large group and Life Group. During our large group time we will teach the Bible and worship together. In Life Groups we create a space where kids can discuss what God is saying to them with a smaller group of close friends and a trusted adult.

Age-level transitions will take place on the weekend of June 2 and 3. If you’d like to know more about the upcoming transition you can contact the following age-level appropriate person:

Harrodsburg Road Campus 
Birth through Nursery - Laura McIntyre
Preschool through 5th Grade - Wende Malone
Middle and High School - Mallory Rohach

Danville Campus
Birth through 5th Grade - Shannon Colwick
Middle and High School - Jon Hall

Nathan Head
Age Level Pastor
Harrodsburg Road Campus

The High School Ministry had an amazing experience this last week as we all traveled to Menifee County to help clean up some of the tornado damage. The majority of our time was spent in cleaning up an embankment and the yard for a lady who lost her home in the tornado.

With two chainsaws, rakes, and a few shovels, we went to work! A high school group from Michigan had been working in this area for about three days and could not have been happier to see the help that our team provided. God was truly glorified not only through the work of our students and leaders, but also through their attitude and willingness to give every ounce of energy they had.

These students took some of their spring break and decided that instead of sitting around, they were going to make a difference! It is the fruit of leaders who have chosen to invest in the next generation.  As we build into the next generation, the next generation is building into those around them too. God has blessed not only myself and the staff here with wonderful student leaders, but also this community!

There is no doubt in my mind that we are going to see great things out of these student leaders in the near future. The kingdom will truly be blessed.

Richard Weese
High School Discipleship Leader
Harrodsburg Road Campus

We are excited to say that we're taking a bunch of high school students on a conference this summer and we're headed to the beach! But if you want to join us, there are a few things you'll want to know...

Call us crazy but we are planning to take charter buses full of high school students to Panama City Beach this summer.  We are excited for the beach but for us it becomes a chance for God to powerfully get students attention. 

Mallory Rohach
Administrative Assistant - Students
Harrodsburg Road Campus

THIS TWO DAY SEMINAR HAS BEEN CANCELLED EFFECTIVE at 10:25am, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011.

What does it take to raise children who truly love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind? The reality is that there is no “one-size-fits-all” plan for raising spiritually strong children. But imagine if there were some common denominators that would help define parenting success. Good news! There are! Strategic Parenting is a revolutionary seminar geared toward aiding parents in raising a generation of spiritual champions.

This is a two day seminar:
6–9pm, Friday, September 30 and 9am–4pm, Saturday, October 1 at the Harrodsburg Road campus, Building B.
Cost is $35/individual or $40/couple. Childcare is not provided.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to get together with other parents and learn how to do parenting the right way. Biblically. 

If you are in High School and you missed the Amplify kick off we’re sorry to say…you missed out! That’s the bad news, the good news is you can come next week and check it out. We had everything from a DJ to to a weird rap video to worship and teaching and other stuff too. So here’s what you need to do:

1. Next Week get in your car or parent's car and come to Amplify on Wednesday Night at 7pm in Building B.
2. That's it, there is no step two.

Next Wednesday night, August 24 is a big night for us here at Southland. High School Ministry’s brand new program AMPLIFY kicks off. We are really excited about this new experience for all of our High School students. You’re going to want to tell everyone you know (or at least tell all the high school students, you know).

Beyond just High School—Middle School Ministry is starting Life Groups on Wednesday night. Be here at 7pm for LIFT and get signed up to be part of groups this year.

We are excited to have both Middle and High School ministry going on here at 7pm on Wednesday nights. For more information and to connect with our team come by Student Ministries Connection Point right after one of our weekend services.

Christ in Youth's summer program "Know Sweat" is properly named. Southland's student ministry took 25 students this year and it was HOT. Every day temperatures were in the mid 90's and the "real feel" was over 100. We all "Know Sweat!"

This year our service oriented summer camp was in Cincinnati and we stayed at Xavier University with about 450 other students from the midwest. Our team's jobs included serving at a daycare facility, packaging condensed soap and clothes for third world countries through Matthew 25 Ministries (a Humanitarian Aid group), and we served the elderly and sick by tending to their yards and visiting with them.

Every night we worshipped with music and during the day it was with hedge trimmers. We learned of the devastation in Joplin, Missouri from the perspective of the Know Sweat leadership which is based there. We had excellent speakers in Mike and Jodi Hickerson, who are planting a church in Ventura, California. Our group was also given time every night to reflect on what we had learned and how we saw God move. We were able to discuss our service and connect with each other in the similar experiences and lessons were we learning.

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We have a phenomenal Middle School Ministry here and this upcoming Wednesday will be a great opportunity for your student to get plugged in - especially for those 6th graders just starting middle school!

Join us on this upcoming Wednesday evening, August 3 for an evening of grilling, swimming and games at our middle school cookout.

The cookout will be from 6:30-8:30 at the Sizemore house at 68 Candlewood Drive in Nicholasville, KY.

Have questions? Please contact Mallory.

My life is interesting. Being unemployed I do lots of things to stay productive. I've substituted for Spanish class, been a house sitter, mowed yards, worked at swim meets, moved people, painted, pressure washed, cleaned, driven, babysat, answered phones, worked summer camps and volunteered in the Student Ministry at Southland.

In the last two years a lot has happened in my life. I've been in what felt like 100's of my friend's weddings and even witnessed my brother's miraculous recovery from a MSSA infection that doctors said would kill anyone. Even now my grandmother is dying of Alzheimer's. But I still volunteer in the Jr. High and High School ministries.

I have served in student ministries for the last two years and have led a small group on Wednesday's, coached leaders, taught a Monday night Bible study, led discussion groups, written discussion questions, taught a Sunday morning lesson, served as life guard for pool parties and I've chaperoned every single event, camp and retreat the Jr. High students have had.

We all have problems and have things going on in life; so why do you need to hear the woes of another person? See, amidst whatever life has thrown at me, I have still continued to serve and it has been worth it. I will not tell you it is easy. Sometimes it has been difficult; but the good I have experienced has outweighed the bad and the end product has been life-long friendships and memories.

I have grown up at Southland and I remember every volunteer I've ever met from the time I was a kid. I remember their stories, their families, their struggles - and yet still they served. God put them in my life to impact me and, in some interesting role reversal, I now get to have an impact by serving others. The time came for me to show others the love that was given to me.

Come find your role with student ministries as a positive impact for a future generation and the future of Southland.

Anonymous, Student Ministry Volunteer

When I first got involved with Student Ministries at Southland, I only had a partial idea of what I was getting in to. I knew that it was going to be a weekly commitment for a few hours on Wednesday nights, along with some weekend activities here and there. I knew it would be mostly during the school year with some stuff during the summer. I also knew that I would enjoy working with students, helping them grow in their faith and challenging them in new ways. But I really had no idea how much it would affect me.

I'm one of those people that is outgoing and easy to get along with; but I tend to not let people get too close to me or see the scars and the rough edges...to see the mistakes I've made in my life. That's just one area where I'm so thankful for the girls I help lead in student ministry.

They ask me questions - they care about me as much as I care about them. They're encouraging on my bad days and they make me laugh on my good days. They take the time to not only get to know me, but they challenge me as well. They've helped me to grow in my faith and become a better Christian. And as I've let them in, they've let me in their lives as well.

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This past Sunday we hosted an Internet Safety Class for families with students. There was a great response as well as a great interest in this topic as it impacts and effects our students on a daily basis.

In student ministry, we find that walking alongside families, helping them be equipped with tools, and partnering with our community experts makes for a great collaborative effort to protect and prepare our students.

As a followup, we wanted to share this great resource site with familes : www.netsmartz.org

We hope this will help you continue in educating yourself on how to best lead your family and students when it comes to Internet Safety.

Nathan Head, Age Level Pastor

I walk away from our recent trip to the CIY Move conference, well, moved.

It was an incredible experience and if I had the chance to do it again I would in a heartbeat. From watching students "Get it" for the first time to seeing other students devote themselves to a life of ministry, CIY is a great way to spend at least one week of your summer either as a student or leader.

There is no doubt in my mind that this CIY has ignited the hearts of students for a life of service. I'm overwhelmed at what God is going to do in High School ministry with this new flame. The week was jam-packed with what it means to give up everything and follow God along with examples of following God from the persecuted church.

The persecuted church has a way of putting things in perspective. They literally have given up everything to chase after Jesus to the point of death! There are many of us outside of the persecuted Church that would have a hard time giving up our homes if it meant following Jesus let alone our lives. If anything, I walked away from CIY with the mindset that to follow Jesus means to completely surrender yourself and your ways for Jesus and his ways.

God must become greater and greater and we must become less and less. I can't wait to see this lived out among our High School students this year.

Kaleb Heitzman, Student Ministry Volunteer