If you want to unsubscribe from receiving our text messages, please go here. Click here to unsubscribe

Want to download the Wildside Summer Calendar and the Summer Events Registration forms? Now they are available here! Click here to download!!!

Hey 7th graders! Registration for Wildside’s summer events begins May 16th! Packets will be available at the Refinery and at the church offices.

Dear Wildside Parents,

I wanted to take a moment to inform you about an upcoming series we will be teaching in the Junior High Ministry at Saddleback.  Beginning the weekend of May 9&10, I will be teaching a series titled Exposed!.  This three-week series is designed to give students an overview of God’s plan for sex.  Here are the four subjects we will cover:

            May 9-10: What Was God Thinking?

                              -   A look at God’s plan for sex

             May 16-17: What Went Wrong?

                              -   A look at how the world has twisted His plan

             May 23-24: What’s a Junior Higher Supposed To Do?

                              -   How to be pure in an impure world

This series is not designed to be a sex education course, but rather a short attempt to give students a Biblical understanding of sex. 

In addition, we will touch on the topics of dating, how far is too far, etc.  Here’s how I will address the subjects:

Dating:  “Ultimately, it’s up to you and your parents to decide, but my feeling is that dating works best when you are older.  Junior High is too young to lock into a girlfriend/boyfriend relationship…why make your life any more confusing than it already is!”

How Far Is Too Far?  “Kissing is too far at your age.  Kissing should be reserved for a very special boyfriend or girlfriend when you are older.  The reason I draw the ‘too far’ line at kissing is because kissing changes everything…suddenly you’re more possessive and jealous of someone you’ve kissed and it starts the physical progression toward other activity that is reserved for marriage.”

I’m sharing these insights with you so you will know what your student will be hearing, and so you can use them as launching pads for discussion. I wanted to give you this “heads up” because I recognize some of you may not feel the timing is appropriate for your child.  If this is the case, please feel free to have them attend the adult worship service for the three weekends of this series.

Thanks for allowing our junior high team to play a small part in God’s plan for your child’s life!

Kurt Johnston

Junior High Pastor

Tuesday's through Friday's from 3-6PM we have "After School at the Refinery". Do your homework, hang out, take a nap, skate or play some volleyball... good times, so come check it out.

Over to the right you can see the link to sign up for text message news and alerts from Wildside!

Hey Wildside!  We had a great service last weekend as we talked about communicating with God through prayer.  Here are a few of the things we discussed in the service to help you grow in your relationship with God…
 
What makes praying difficult?
            We’re always busy.
            God may not answer.
            It’s hard to confess your mistakes.
 
Why is prayer important?
            It helps us connect with God.
            You can tell God your problems and He can help you through them.
            You can get to know God better.
 
Prayer is an incredible way for us to connect with God and to get to know Him better.  Here is a copy of the CHAT cards we handed out. It’s a way to pray but it is only a tool to help you chat with God.