This is 2011 High School onMISSION DUPAGE|CHICAGO trip story.
We are serving DuPage County on June 23-25 and Chicago on June 26-July 1.
We will post pictures at facebook.com/storiesof.us too
[Please feel free to leave a comment or encouragement on any blog post]
Winter Banquet 2012
On January 27 and 28, the Bloomingdale Church Youth Group members put on their 14th annual Winter Banquet to raise support for their upcoming summer onMission trips. The theme was “Tool Time” based on the 90’s hit sitcom ‘Home Improvement.” 180 people attended the two evenings hosted by 40 students. The family-style dinner was prepared by the Diaz family. The student servers donned their flannel shirts while the tables were decorated with tools to fit the theme. Marsha Beard, an attendee of the banquet, gave a nod to the teens and...
read moreChrist Alone Saves
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 Recently, our high school youth group watched To Save a Life. The movie is a true to life story of the day to to day issues and challenges that American teenagers face: school violence, bullying, partying, broken families, non-marital sex and it’s consequences, cutting, desiring to be valued by others, and friendship. Subsequently our youth leader...
read moreonMission Trip
DUPAGE | CHICAGO | ELSALVADOR We hope you serve with us in 2012! 1) Click the orange tab to read the most up-to-date trip details. 2) Click the green tab for fundraising details. 3) Encourage your teen to fill out the online application to apply to be on a trip. (It will take them 20+ minutes.) We highly recommend taking time to review this info with your teenager about possibly attending a trip in the next 1-5 days.
read morechili bowl
February 5 12:30p chili lunch (& cook-off) and family competition Sign up: ChiliBowl (youth group families)
read moreIt Takes a Village
December 2011 | PYC BLOG >> “…we are many parts of one body, and we belong to each other.” Romans 12:5 “I think we’ve got that whole ‘It takes a village’ thing down!” a youth group mom commented to me as a teen who was not her own child called her “mom” and said that he did not need a ride home on Thursday night from youth group. I smiled and laughed and then I thought to myself that God was probably smiling too. The Nigerian proverb that Hillary Clinton popularized in her 1996 book;...
read morewinter camp 2012
For the last five years the Chicagoland Alliance Youth network has come together for an awesome winter camp experience for junior high and high school students. We hope you will join us this year!THEME: one DATE&LOCATION: february 10-12 @ Expeditions Unlimited Camp COST PER: $125 DEADLINE: JANUARY 31 www.storiesof.us/offsite
read morewinter banquet
Please go to our update Google Doc for complete details: https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=19jjCF-uoM9us3TeLGAHJNgDo2GedbEndaVoy74lB9dk
read moreServing WITH My Children
Serving WITH My Children: Thoughts from a mom of teens Liz Smith recently spent the day with her three teens (Nekoda, Koani, Kaleen) on a 1DAY serving experience at an Alliance church in Hyde Park (Chicago). It seems as though once your children become high schoolers our family time with them becomes more difficult for various reasons. And though we may go to Church together and have some fellowship with others in church, it was very different to come alongside with them and serve. This 1DAY trip was an answer to prayer. It brought us...
read moreFront Lines of the Kingdom
November 2011 | Front Lines of the Kingdom >> It’s been nearly three months since Matt and I (Christine) moved to Bloomingdale and started partnering with the Bloomingdale Church youth ministry. And let me tell you…youth ministry has been more than I expected. What is going on at coffeehouse and youth group? That is an excellent question. And while I could tell you about intense games of jugball, the fall costume contest, or dance parties in the church van while traveling to various events, I’d rather tell you about...
read moreDisciple Now
Every day we are bombarded with reminders of pain, suffering, and loneliness. BUT GOD is WITH US. We are NOT ALONE. Click here to check out the pictures and experiences from DNow 2011.
read moreDUPAGE|CHICAGO
Everything we do is being onMISSION, therefore, we will try not to categorize “our serving time” from “our fun time” or “going” from “staying.” Rather, we will learn how to “be
onMISSION in everything we do.” facebook.com/storiesofus photos
God says that I am valuable
God not only loves me, but He also likes me>>God made me the way He wanted me>>When I get lost and forget about God, He will do anything to make sure I am found 
I can be connected to a Savior who gives me hope
I can have an everyday relationship with Jesus>>His influence can guide my life 
God’s Word & Holy Spirit can guide my way
I can use the Bible to understand life's experiences>>I can Ask The Lord (ATL) for guidance 
I can have an impact in my local and global community
My heart is for my community>>People matter to God 
I can take faith-filled risks to live Jesus’ mission for my life Everything I do is being onMISSION>>I will always be in pursuit of God’s plan [for my life]