Parents Meeting Br Handbook 2009

Dear Parents, Thank you so much for making Beach Retreat 2009 an important part of your student’s summer this year. God has used Beach Retreat throughout the years to bring many students closer to Christ. It has served as a landmark event in the life of the student ministry of Second Baptist Church ever since Dr. Young’s arrival here in the Houston area. The great thing about High School Beach Retreat is that it is only the beginning of what will be an incredible summer of exciting ministry to our students. High School Bible Study: Every week, several hundred high school students meet right here at the West Campus at 9:30 and 11:00am for our High School Bible Study hours. Each week they are challenged with the truth of God’s Word and lead toward a deeper and growing faith in Jesus Christ. I encourage you to make High School Bible Study an important part of your weekend schedule on a regular basis. Collide & Aftermath: Collide & Aftermath is our Wednesday night program for the summer months. It all begins on the West Campus in the High School Room on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm. After a time of worship and teaching we go do something fun (bowling, scavenger hunt, lazer tag, cookout, broom ball on the ice, etc…). Boys & Girls of Summer: Every Thursday this Summer we will do 2 Bible Studies at 11:00am at the West Campus. One study will be Girls Only and the other Guys Only. After Bible Study we will all go hang out and get some lunch together! If you are excited about pouring life into your student and bringing them to a place where they will be encouraged in their faith, then the 210 High School Ministry is where you need to bring them. This summer will be amazing. Please partner with us in our efforts to serve you and your teenager this summer!!! Thank you allowing us to serve you, Jeremiah Ramer [email protected] High School Pastor Second Baptist Church West Campus www.second.org

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A Typical Day at High School Beach Retreat High School Beach Retreat is in Gulf Shores, AL in a beautiful resort that sits right on the beach. These family resorts are as nice as you would expect for your personal vacation. What will your student do all week in Gulf Shores? SILENT SOUNDS Every day begins with Silent Sounds on the beach. The students and leaders receive a camp booklet for the week that includes daily devotionals. All the kids and adults spread out on the beach so that everyone is alone. With Bible and notebook in hand, each person spends 30 minutes reading Bible verses, answering questions in their notebook, and praying. It is quite a sight to see hundreds of High School students and their leaders spread out as far as the eye can see reading their Bibles and praying! BREAKFAST AND MORNING CLASSES After Silent Sounds is Breakfast, and then morning classes that cover a bunch of issues that face students these days. LUNCH AND CLEAN UP Each group has lunch in their own condo. Students and condo leaders often invite other condos to join them for lunch. After lunch, we have condo clean up time. Students must make sure their condo is always clean; a surprise inspection could come at any time! FREE TIME The afternoon is Free Time for the kids. They have a choice of swimming in the pool, playing tennis, hanging out at the beach, playing sand volleyball, and more. We have adults supervise swimming at the pool and at the beach. SILENT SOUNDS AND DINNER After free time and some time to clean up, we head to the beach for evening Silent Sounds. Then we load up the buses and head to dinner and our evening worship service. EVENING SERVICE WITH DR.YOUNG The services begin with music led by a great worship band and end with a strong message by our pastor, Dr. Young. He deals with hard-hitting topics such as how to become a Christian, self-image, submitting to authority, repentance, and forgiveness. BEDTIME After the service, we head back to the condos to get ready for bed!

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The Rules 1. Obey Adult Leaders without question or hesitation. They are in charge of you for the week. 2. Your Leader must know where you are at all times. It is your responsibility to tell your Leader where you will be during free time. 3. Absolutely no one is allowed out of their condominium after the night’s curfew. The curfew is in effect until 15 minutes before morning Silent Sounds. 4. Students are not allowed onto the Phoenix balconies without the supervision of their counselor. In addition, absolutely nothing is to be dropped or thrown from the condominium balconies or upper level areas. 5. Profanity or cursing is not allowed. 6. Do not associate with anyone who is not a part of our Beach Retreat group. 7. Swim only when and where lifeguards are on duty. The “Buddy System” is strictly enforced. Before entering the ocean, you must (1) have a buddy, (2) check in at the lifeguard station, and (3) give your name tag to a lifeguard. 8. Keep your condominium clean. No raids or rough play. You are financially responsible for any damage to property, especially to a condominium or bus. 9. The Phoenix Condo has Quiet Time beginning at 10:00 p.m. each evening. Please be courteous to other guests staying at the condominiums by observing this time. 10. Do not push, pull, or throw anyone into a pool. 11. Do not feed seagulls from any balcony. 12. You are to be on time for all activities. 13. Be positive. Cut downs, criticism, and negative comments are not allowed. 14. Only one piece swimsuits are allowed. Please note: students wearing tankinis or similar 2 piece swimsuits will be asked to wear a t-shirt over their suits. 15. Wear shoes at all times, even when walking on the beach. 16. Be extremely cautious around traffic. NO ONE is allowed to cross the highway. This includes all food and driver rest stops on the way to and back from Gulf Shores as well as while we are in Gulf Shores itself. 17. Guys may not go into girls’ condos and girls may not go into guys’ condos unless your Adult Leader is present, and it is a planned and organized activity. 18. Never go anywhere by yourself. You will be allowed to shop at the outlet mall as well as the shops and stores near the condominiums, but you must be in groups of at least three. Shuttle busses will be provided. 19. You are not allowed to bring or purchase any of the following: alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, firearms, knives, drugs, fireworks, radios, CD/DVD/MP3 players, cell phones, televisions, portable video games, balloons, balloon launchers, or inappropriate T-shirts. While on the retreat, you may not participate in any of the following: temporary or permanent tattooing, haircuts, or ear/body piercing. Your Adult Leader will inspect your luggage when we arrive at the Phoenix. 20. During your free time, you are not to be in any condo including your own, for more than 10 minutes, unless your Adult Leader is present. 21. Any student who sets off a fire alarm as a prank will be turned over to the police department. Upon release, the student will be sent home immediately.

STUDENTS WHO CAUSE PROBLEMS ON THE RETREAT WILL LOSE FREE TIME PRIVILEGES OR BE SENT HOME AT THE PARENTS’ EXPENSE.

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Beach Retreat Important Facts •

Whatever you send, they will spend!

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Please inspect your student’s luggage carefully before arriving at the church to ensure that no contraband was packed. Once again, SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, ITS STAFF, AND LEADERS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTRABAND THAT IS CONFISCATED ON OR BEFORE THE RETREAT.

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If your student has a special need or if we need to know about your student’s background to effectively minister to him or her, please put this information in writing and give it to, or email it to, Connie Winter, Jeremiah Ramer, Brett Davis, Kate McCay, or Cody Jenkins who will pass it on to your student's retreat leader.

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Room assignments will not be announced under any circumstances whatsoever, until we are on our way to Gulf Shores. Please help your student understand that there is no guarantee that their rooming assignments will be with the kids they asked for on their application. We have tried our hardest to accommodate, but all rooming assignments should be considered opportunities to make new friends. All students will have the opportunity to hang out with whomever they choose within the West Campus group during free time.

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All medications should be given to the retreat Nurse on the morning

  of departure. All prescription and non-prescription drugs will be administered by the retreat Nurse and/or Doctor.

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In case of an ABSOLUTE emergency during the retreat, call 713-365-2327. This will get you in contact with our church’s dispatch operator who will then be able to put you in contact with the Second Baptist Church High School West Campus Headquarters. Lauren Price and Connie Winter will be there to take care of any need that you might have. Please keep in mind, students will be kept very busy, they cannot just come to the phone to say hi. If there is an emergency, we will contact you. Dispatch will also be able to send emergency messages directly to Lauren Price or Connie Winter. Please Please do not ask your student to call home during the retreat!

Itinerary By familiarizing yourself and being aware of the below itinerary, this will insure that our morning will run as smoothly as possible. Sunday June 7th

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7:30 am Drop your student off in the Youth Area and say good-bye 9:00 am Students in High School Room 9:30 am Students will attend 9:30 Worship 10:30 pm Students are dismissed from Worship to high school room to leave for Gulf Shores (Please do not ask your student to meet you after church or detain them in anyway unless you are prepared to drive them to Gulf Shores.)

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Friday June 12th

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8:00 pm Arrive back at Second Baptist Church, West Campus

Thank you for your trust and prayers as you send your student on Beach Retreat. Please call Connie Winter at 713-365-2432, if you have any question regarding payments or procedures.

HIGH SCHOOL BEACH RETREAT 2009 PARENT INFORMATION- WEST CAMPUS

 Departure Information: Drop Off students for check in at the southeast parking lot by the 210 student ministry building on Sunday, June 7th at 7:30 am. We will go as a group to the Worship Service and then to the high school room where we will dismiss to load the busses.

 Your student will need to bring a sack lunch for the bus ride on Sunday.  We will be staying at the Phoenix Condominiums in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Each student will stay in a two or three bedroom condo with 6-8 other students and with one or two adult leaders. Each condominium is equipped with a full kitchen and food will be provided in the condos for breakfast and lunch each day. The evening meals will be catered.

 Return Information: We will return on Friday, June 12th at approximately 8:00pm. We will stop for dinner on the way home. Your student will need money to buy their meal (about $7 to $10). Buses will unload in the southeast parking lot by the 210 student ministry building.

 Calling – If you must get a hold of your student in an emergency, please call our Staff in SBC Headquarters at the numbers listed below. Phones are not available for students to use and no cell phones are allowed.

 The condo units we are staying in are individually owned. You are financially responsible for any property damage as a result of your student’s misconduct.

 Students will need to pack the following items in ONE MEDIUM sized suitcase:

*0Bible & Pen *1Two beach towels and swimsuit (No two-piece swimsuits allowed-no tankinis) *2Bath towels *3Tennis shoes, sandals, or Flip Flops *4Casual clothes (shorts/T-shirts, etc. We will not dress up for anything.) *5Personal articles (deodorant, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush) *6Strong sunscreen lotion (recommend SPF 20 or higher) & Sunglasses Extra money for: 1 Dinner on the way to Gulf Shores ($5-$7) 1 Dinner on the way home ($5-$7) Extra spending money for optional activities Adventure Island (go-carts, video games, putt-putt) T-shirt/Souvenir Shops Do not bring: alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, firearms, knives, drugs, fireworks, electronic equipment (video games, I-Pods, cell phones, etc) balloons, balloon launchers, or inappropriate T-shirts, “short” shorts, bikinis or tankinis, tight clothing, spaghetti strap tank tops or other “skimpy” tank tops, tube tops, halter tops or other revealing clothing. GIRLS: must wear a modest one-piece swimsuits (no tankinis)

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 In case of an ABSOLUTE emergency during the retreat, we can be reached by calling the Second Baptist Church Dispatch at 713-365-2327. Have the attitude that no news is good

news. Contact information: Second Baptist Church Student Ministry – West Campus 19449 Katy Freeway Houston, TX 77094 Office # 713.365.2432

Summer Calendar Dates 210 High School Ministry 9:30am & 11:00am Bible Study in the 210 High School Room This is the place to come and experience truly exciting and moving worship with students throughout the community. Don’t miss this time of encouragement, worship, and relevant teaching.

Collide: 1st Wed every month (June 3; July 1; August 5) in 210 HS Room Collide is the place where we challenge High School students to put feet to the Gospel. We will blow it up with rocking worship experience and relevant teaching that will challenge students in their faith.

Collide & Aftermath: Wed nights: June 10, 17, 24; July 8, 15, 22, 29 Collide & Aftermath is every Wednesday evening beginning in our 210 High School Room at 6:30pm. Every week we will do a different fun activity. Please check www.second.org for a listing of these events. June 17: Collide & Aftermath: Beach Retreat Post Party June 24: Collide & Aftermath: Scavenger Hunt July 8: Collide & Aftermath: Broomball July 15: Collide & Aftermath: Lazer Tag July 22: Collide & Aftermath: Bowling July 29: Collide & Aftermath: Dodgeball

Boy & Girls of Summer: Thurs 11:00am (June 11, 18, 25; July2, 9, 16, 23, 30) Every Thursday this Summer we will do 2 Bible Studies at 11:00am at the West Campus. One study will be Girls Only and the other Guys Only. After Bible Study we will all go hang out and get some lunch together!

Random Summer Fun: West Beach Volleyball: June 29; July 20 6:30pm(West Beach Volleyball courts) July 12: (Sunday Night) Freshman Movie Night @ Church July 24: (Friday) Astros Game 6

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