Prom can be a tricky topic to navigate with your son or daughter; the costs, the excitement, their date, the curfew, the unknowns, etc...  Here are two articles from Crosswalk.com and Focus on the Family that I thought were helpful in giving some perspective on prom.

Another aspect of Pella's prom to consider is the after prom entertainment which includes a hypnotist.  I realize that there is a wide range of awareness as to what the spiritual concerns are that are commonly associated with hypnotisms.  These concerns, which I share, involve a lack of self-control (a fruit of the Spirit) by the person being hypnotized and sometimes even people just watching which then leads to an openness in which negative spiritual influences may enter.  My experiences is that I have processed with several students after prom who have felt very uneasy about what they saw and experienced at the hypnotist's show.  A girl from our church who herself was hypnotized at after prom came to the church the next day to be prayed as she was complaining of feeling groggy and not like herself.  Other students who have attended has seemed to have no negative effects from their experience.

My advice is this:

1) Share your thoughts on this activity with your kids so that they can make an informed decision as to whether or not they will attend this portion of after prom.  I had a Christian father of four boys tell me that he talked to each of his boys about it and then in a nutshell told them that he wouldn't mess with it and then let them make their own decision.

2) Pray for them.  I will be praying too!  If they do attend the after prom, I would encourage you to pray a prayer asking God to cleanse them of anything negative in the spiritual realm that might have attached to your son or daughter.

This Sunday at 242 we will be continuing our EAT THIS BOOK series about having a relationship with God through the Word.  This Sunday night we will be teaching students how to have quiet time and then giving them the space to do so at 242.  Students who already know how will be encourage to share some of what works well for them with other students.  We will also be encouraging everyone to read the New Testament in 123 days and will give them a guide that includes a reading plan.

Here are 3 goals for students in this series:
1) That every student has a Bible that they like and that has good tools for studying the Word.  I recommend either the NIV (New International Version) or the NLT (New Living Translation) for studying the Word.  For study Bibles. I like the Life Application, Study Bible, or The Quest. 
2) That they know some practical tips for having a quiet time.
3) That they have a vision for connecting with God and being equipped to follow Christ through the Word.

Here are a few ideas for you to consider:
Consider if there are next steps for you to take in your relationship with God's Word.  How are you doing on the 3 goals listed above?  I challenge you to consider reading the New Testament in 123 days with your son or daughter.  I have attached a checklist with the daily readings if you are interested.  Another idea would be to see if you son or daughter would like a new Bible; maybe for Christmas.

Next Sunday our SWUGs Chrstmas Party!  Students are encourage to wear an odd or ugly sweater and to bring a mug (for hot chocolate).

There are 2 ways that we right now as a ministry are seeking to put God's Word into action as we care for the oppressed (click on the links below to go to our 242 website to learn more.
1) Benches for Haiti:  $25 buys a seat on a the bench for a child in Haiti!
2) Sak Saum: Great products like handbags, scarves, aprons, wallets, and more made buy women who have been freed from the sex trade in Cambodia.