THE NEW YEAR IS OFF TO A GREAT START, with so many people involved with the happenings of our youth program. Spring Semester calendars were passed out this past Wednesday night. If you did not get the chance to pick up a calendar, you can still pick up a copy in the Lighthouse, on the youth news board, in the office, or download a digital copy on our website. I hope that you have entered 2022 with a renewed sense of dedication to being a part of our youth ministry program.

THE SNOW ARRIVED A WEEK TOO LATE, but Camp Snowball XIV was still a great success. We had a great group of over 60 young people and staff on the Hill for a longstanding Christmas tradition for our young people. Thank you to all of our students who attended, our staff who worked so diligently throughout the week, and Matt

WE HAD A GREAT FIRESIDE THIE PAST SUNDAY NIGHT,as our Sr. High students gathered in the Lighthouse. Misty & Ellie Aydelott were terrific hosts for our group, and everyone enjoyed being back together again following the holiday break.

IT WOULD SEEM THAT LISTENING SHOULD BE EASY, but it certainly is not. Listening means we have to be quiet and, for many of us, that is the difficult part. Good listeners are relatively rare. It is a tremendous experience to have someone really listen to you--to have someone's complete and undivided attention. When someone listens to us, it communicates to us at a very deep level that we have value and are worthy. To be good listeners, we must be secure in who we are. Worrying about how we are being received by another individual or thinking about what we are going to say next while someone else is talking sends the message that what we have to say is more important than what someone else has to say. When was the last time you really listened to a friend? What about the last time you felt that someone really listened to you? Truly listening is difficult work, but it is well worth the investment. Proverbs 18:13. Have a great week!

In Him, Carter