Last weekend, 18 students and youth ministry leaders attended Dare2Share at Faith Bible Church here in Cedar Rapids. Their weekend was filled with amazing teaching on the Gospel and how to actively share the good news with their friends and family. And many recommitted their lives to Christ!
Category Archives: Journey
Journey: October at a Glance
October at a Glance:
Oct 6 – Normal Journey Youth, 5:30-8 PM
Oct 12 – Dare2Share LIVE, 10 AM-7:30 PM
FREE! Students will enjoy world-class Bible teaching and worship. This event is designed for teens to hear the Gospel, be encouraged and equipped to share the Gospel, and get out in Cedar Rapids neighborhoods to collect canned goods for a local food pantry while also sharing the Gospel.
Oct 13 – Normal Journey Youth, 5:30-8 PM
Oct 19-20 – Middle School Fall Retreat at Lake View Camp in Pella, IA
Oct 20 – Journey Youth, just High School, 5:30-8 PM
Oct 27 – Normal Journey Youth, 5:30-8 PM
Steve Poole
Director of Youth and Young Adults
Grill Out Hawkeye/Cyclone Style
This rivalry runs deep, but surely we can all get along for the sake of a fun outing, right?
On September 14, join the Children and Youth Ministries for a game day grill out and the game on the big screen in the Gathering Space. We’ll start around 2:30pm. Food provided. Bring a friend!
Journey Kick-Off (It’s gonna get messy)
Celebrate a new school year in style. The Journey Youth kick-off is Sunday, Sept 8 from 5pm-8pm. Cedar Hills Youth ages 6th grade to 12th grade and their friends are welcome. Come prepared to make a mess! (Wear clothes you don’t mind messing up… and bring extra clothes and a towel.)
We’ll be at Cedar Hills Community Church (at the corner of E Avenue and Stoney Point Rd NW).
Because God loves you and we do, too!
Journey Youth Kicks Off Sunday
Calling all Middle School and High School students…
Sunday, August 18th, 5:30pm-8:00pm, Journey youth group will kick off! Come meet Steve and his family. Enjoy a time of food, fellowship, games, worship, and door prizes. Free pizza and ice cream sundaes. See you there! Will start in the Journey Rooms (132A/B)
If you haven’t registered yet, go here.
Or print and fill out the waiver form.
Fall Cross Training Courses
Fall Kick-Off 2019
Join us Sunday, August 18 at 9:45am for the Fall Kick-Off Open House (preschool—adults) to meet your teacher, visit your classroom, and have brunch.
Sunday, August 25 all classes begin at 9:45am.
Children, Ages 0 to 5th Grade
Nursery: Staffed by loving volunteers at the 11am service. (Open for use by parents at the 8:30am service)
3&4 year olds: Robin Joens, Deb DeHaan, and Mary Landhuis (Register)
Kindergarten: Paula Stevens and Diane Potter (Register)
1st Grade: Jana Houghkirk and Tracy Spicer-Ehrman (Register)
2nd & 3rd Grade: Melissa Oberembt and Jill Henry (Register)
4th & 5th Grade: Matt Johnson and Matt Houghkirk (Register)
Youth (6th-12th Grade)
Middle School (6th-8th): Coming soon! (Register)
FaithQuest (for youth desiring Cedar Hills membership): Lois Deerberg (Register)
Senior High (9th-12th): Coming soon! (Register)
Adult Classes (18+)
Class #1 – Exchange
Teachers: Alan & Jan Crandall; Sue & Gary Sager; and Deb Steinbaker.
Exchange your brokenness for Christ‘s wholeness. Everyone has access to the abundant life Christ offers. We will look at the process of how to restore our lives to the image of God through Christ‘s love. (REGISTER)
Class #2 – These are the days of Elijah
Teacher: Joanne Lodge
The time of Israel during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel was a very immoral, treacherous time. How do we stand in such times? We will open the scriptures to study ordinary people who not only survived the times, but became extraordinary witnesses for God. We will receive hope, encouragement and direction for our own journey. (REGISTER)
Class #3 – Indelible Faith
Teachers: Bruce Boldt and Kyle French.
This is the ultimate definition for how we hope and pray that the Bible will work within us. Wouldn’t you adore a faith that could never be forgotten or removed, even against all evil? (REGISTER)
Class #4 – Parenting Together
Teachers: Matthew & Shannon Constant; Stephen & Amanda Colbert; Karl & Lindsey Ungs.
Parenting is a big job and parents can use a lot of help along the way. The goal for our group is to build relationships by learning from and with each other in how we can raise our kids and grow as parents in a Godly way. (REGISTER)
Consistory August 2019 Update
From the Consistory – News and Notes
Our vision as a congregation is to make disciples who make disciples in the everyday stuff of life so that every man, woman and child in our community has a daily encounter with Jesus in word and deed.
Our goal as Consistory is to work toward alignment of all our staff and programs with this vision. When Jeremy shared his calling to move to Allison to become the pastor at Trinity Reformed Church, we started our discernment process for seeking a new Director of Youth and Young Adults.
The Search team processed dozens of candidates, interviewed four, and recommended two candidates
to meet with our congregation, youth, parents and youth sponsors. After processing feedback from the
candidate visits as well as references from the candidates we concluded that we had two excellent candidates.
Both candidates loved the Lord, had a passion for student ministry, had successful experience leading and growing student ministries, have built and led ministry teams, communicated well publically, and have developed solid biblical/theological foundations for ministry. Both candidates were well qualified!
When we discussed vision alignment, discipleship strategy, and chemistry we agreed – unanimously – that Steve Poole was the best fit for our ministry at this time. Consistory unanimously agreed with this recommendation and offered Steve the position.
We are very excited for the gifts that Steve brings to ministry. Here are a few of the qualities that led to our decision:
Steve has a highly relational approach to ministry.
Steve’s focus on disciple-making, mentoring, and small groups fits closely with our vision.
Steve has a humble, curious, and teachable spirit.
Steve is youth culture savvy and also in touch with the latest youth ministry trends.
Steve has current and past connections with RCA people, events, and culture. (Rocky, Power Connection, Central College, Adventure Life Reformed Church, Lakeview Camp, etc.)
Steve’s camp experience offers unique opportunities and also represents experience working with younger children.
Please pray for Steve, Cathy, and their children, Abby and Christopher, as they relocate to Cedar Rapids. Steve will begin his ministry here August 11! Thanks to all who helped in this process and thanks for your prayers!!! God has blessed us!
New Director of Youth & Young Adults
Congrats to Steve Poole, who was selected as the best fit for our ministry! Steve will began at Cedar Hills on August 11. Please pray for Steve, his wife Cathy and their children Abigail and Christopher as they make plans to relocate to Cedar Rapids.
Our vision as a congregation is to make disciples who make disciples in the everyday stuff of life so that every man, woman and child in our community has a daily encounter with Jesus in word and deed. Our goal as consistory is to work toward alignment of all our staff and programs with this vision.
When Jeremy shared his calling to move to Allison to become the pastor at Trinity Reformed Church, we started our discernment process for seeking a new Director of Youth and Young Adults.
The Search team processed dozens of candidates, interviewed four, and recommended two candidates to meet with our congregation, youth, parents and youth sponsors. After processing feedback from the candidate visits as well as references from the candidates we concluded that we had two excellent candidates.
Both candidates loved the Lord, had a passion for student ministry, had successful experience leading and growing student ministries, have built and led ministry teams, communicated well publicly, and have developed solid biblical/theological foundations for ministry. Both candidates were well qualified!
When we discussed vision alignment, discipleship strategy, and chemistry we agreed – unanimously – that Steve Poole was the best fit for our ministry at this time. Consistory unanimously agreed with this recommendation and offered Steve the position!
We are very excited for the gifts that Steve brings to ministry. Here are a few of the qualities that led to our decision:
- Steve has a highly relational approach to ministry.
- Steve’s focus on disciple-making, mentoring, and small groups fits closely with our vision.
- Steve has a humble, curious, and teachable spirit.
- Steve is youth culture savvy and also in touch with the latest youth ministry trends.
- Steve has current and past connections with RCA people, events, and culture. (Rocky, Power Connection, Central College, Adventure Life Reformed Church, Lakeview Camp, etc.)
- Steve’s camp experience offers unique opportunities and also represents experience working with younger children.
Welcome Steve and Cathy!
May 19 – Goodbye, Jeremy!
This Sunday, May 19 will be Jeremy Van Genderen’s final day preaching at Cedar Hills. He has accepted the Senior Pastor position at Trinity Reformed Church in Allison, Iowa. So we are celebrating he and his family! The service will have a few surprises, but another one that requires your help! (If you are part of the Van Genderen family… stop reading at this point!!!)
Journey Goodbyes
When we walked in the doors of Cedar Hills on January 2, 2012, Ben was 4, Kara was 6, and Bree was 8. Jeanette and I had been married for nine years and we were excited for what God was going to do in Cedar Rapids. Needless to say, God did not disappoint.
Over the last seven years, the student ministry has built a firm foundation on the truth of God’s Word and telling others about Jesus. We have gone to evangelism training conferences nine times and have held multiple outreach events here in Cedar Rapids in an effort to share the gospel in our community.
We have been on two service trips to South Dakota and New Jersey to help those in need. We have watched lives be transformed at seven Fall Retreats, and we have held over 300 student ministry nights here at the church.
My family and I would like to say thank you for the last seven years and we are still excited for what God has in store for Cedar Rapids and now also Allison, Iowa.
Jeremy Van Genderen
Director of Youth and Young Adults