Recent News

Camp Registration Deadlines Approaching

With summer right around the corner, the deadline for Xenos camps is coming up.

The deadline for registering for Blowout Camp is May 18th. The camp is for middle schoolers and runs June 2-6 (June 2-7 for incoming 8th graders). You can register online at xenos.org/jrhigh/summercamp.

TNT Camp's registration and payment deadline is May 15th, and registration is limited to 80 students. This camp is for incoming 4th and 5th graders, and there's more details at xenos.org/oasis/tnt-camp.

Final payment is due for Epic (camp for high school students) by May 23rd. Details at xenos.org/epic.

And you can register now for Vacation Bible School! Get more information on the registration form. 

New Book on Wisdom from Conrad Hilario

Proverbs is a timeless book of wisdom, from a father to his children. Xenos elder Conrad Hilario is out with a new book called, "Searching for Wisdom: Finding the Father in Proverbs." It explores the fatherly guidance found in Proverbs on confusing areas of life like sex, managing money and building lasting friendships.

Conrad has written this with those who grew up in less than perfect homes in mind, who have lacked parental input on important issues. Searching for Wisdom shows how our heavenly Father's wisdom fills in the gaps left by our earthly parents.

It goes on sale for $9.99 this Sunday at all Xenos bookstores and the Study Center. 

Time to Register for VBS

Registration for this year's VBS (Vacation Bible School) opens this Sunday, April 29th. Sign your kids up, and also think of kids outside of Xenos who would benefit from this fun-filled week learning about God's love for them.

VBS is June 18-22, and it's for kids in preschool through those entering third grade. The cost is $20 if you register by June 4th, and $40 for a family. You can find registration forms at Central Teachings or online at xenos.org/vbs. 

Meet the Elders: Chris Hearty

From time to time, we offer a closer look at one of the Xenos elders. This time we highlight our newest elder, Chris Hearty, and find out what led to his role at Xenos:

What brought you to Xenos, and why have you stayed?

I was brought out to a Xenos home church for the first time in late 2004 as an atheist college student. I visited on and off for a couple months until I decided that I wasn't interested. The months that followed in early 2005 brought me to an extreme breaking point. My life was in tatters, I had distanced myself from my friends and family and was in the darkest spot of my life. My best friend from childhood had, in the meantime, come to begin a relationship with Christ and had continued to attend weekly home church meetings and central teachings. I had major problems with his change of priorities in life and had taken his new found spiritual interest as a personal affront. As our relationship crumbled and my life fell apart, the Lord stepped in and gave me another chance. 

Through a series of miraculous events and chance encounters, I was brought back out to a home church meeting. In late April of 2005, in tears, I decided to call out to the Lord and ask for Christ's death on the cross to apply to my shattered life. At the moment I knew everything had changed and God had answered my prayer. I have been involved in the college and high school ministries ever since. I owe a great deal to Brian Runk and James Rochford, who continued to minister to me through this process. They were used by God in a powerful way to answer my questions and to point me towards God's grace. Conrad Hilario has also invested a great deal of time and prayers into helping equip and train me to lead the people God has put under my care. His perseverance and investment in my life is unmeasurable and I am eternally grateful for his love for me and my family.

What do you feel are the strength and weaknesses of our church?

College Groups Gather to Serve

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and  glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matt. 5:16

Folks in college home churches have been proving themselves a friend to their community, with an increased focus on involvement in service projects--supporting existing ones and organizing new ones. It’s a concerted effort to be a good friend to the neighborhoods where many members of the college ministry meet. And it's igniting others to do the same.

This month 14 people from the college ministry joined in on an existing community event--the Old North Litter Cleanup. The organizer of the event said she had never had so many join in her effort and that it was so great to have the additional help. The college group members shared about their motivation-that folks from Xenos care about being involved in the community.

Earlier this year 30 people from the college ministry worked in the SoHud neighborhood near campus, doing clean-up work and making some repairs. Organizers say folks in the neighborhood really appreciated their work.
 
Kevin McCormac, who worked with others from his ministry house to clean an alley in their neighborhood said, "It was enjoyable to serve together and build into the community like that. We're considering making this a monthly thing."

The college ministry is planning more service projects, especially in campus-area neigborhoods.
 

Huge Game Night to Benefit Medical Missions Trip

Enjoy a night of games--over 70 to choose from--while you support a medical missions trip to Ecuador. The event ¡Ayúdanos a ayudar! Ecuador 2018 (Help Us Help Ecuador 2018) will have board games, party games, card games, and family-friendly games set up, as well as snacks. It’s a great idea for date night or for a group activity, and families are welcome as well.

It’s May 12th, from 3:00-10:00 pm at the Main Office Auditorium (1340 Community Park Dr., 43229). The suggested donation is $5 for admission, with an additional donation for a dinner served at 6:00 pm. Adult beverages are welcome but the event is BYOB.

You can play any of the dozens of games available including Carcassonne, Pandemic, and Ticket To Ride, and more obscure titles like Nuns on the Run and Hanamikoji. There’ll also be Jackbox Games on a giant projector so you can play with a group, and a Magic the Gathering Tournament.

VBS Looking for Volunteers

If you've been considering volunteering for VBS, there's still a need for workers. It's June 18-22th, and volunteers generally work from 8:00 am-noon. There's a wide variety of roles, so you can find something that fits your skills and interests.

Contact Kelsey Shannon (vbs@xenos.org) to find out more. There is a mandatory meeting for all volunteers April 30th at 7:00 pm in the Main Campus Cafe (1394 Community Park Dr., 43229).

New Main Campus Play Areas Coming Soon

Soon parents at Main Campus Central Teachings will have improved play areas for their kids. The idea behind the improvements is to help families enjoy more time together after the teaching.

The renovations will improve 3 play areas. The downstairs cafe will have safe play activities for infant through 3 years old. The upstairs cafe, for older kids, will have a basketball hoop, large play structure, a Wii, and a space for reading and board games. Also there'll also be an improved outdoor space with a secure fence.

Volunteers will be on hand to supervise after central teachings so parents can enjoy some conversation time. The renovated areas will open May 6th.

Parenting Meeting to Focus on Kids' Relationships

Healthy relationships are critical to our well-being. How do we help our kids develop them? That's the topic for the next Xenos Parenting Meeting. It'll be Wednesday, May 2nd at 9:30 am at the Warehouse (600 Oakland Park Ave, 43202).

The speaker will be Beth Himsworth, and while the presentation will be from a Biblical perspective, it'll be relevant for all parents so consider bringing a guest.

Free childcare is provided! This will be the last Parenting Meeting before the summer break.

Include Xenos Camps in Your Summer Plans

Can summer camp be more than just fun? Can it be meaningful, and even serve as a spiritual turning point in a young person’s life?

Leaders with Xenos Student Ministries say YES, and encourage you to consider sending your child to one of the summer camps Xenos will be offering this summer.

Student Ministries Director Joe Botti says getting kids away from distractions helps them turn their focus more completely on God and consider His role in their life. As kids hear challenging Bible teachings, there’s time for them to think and respond, and they’re given the chance to trust their lives to God.

Joe says the camps also become a great opportunity to build healthy relationships with their peers. Because they spend a lot of time together, new friendships have a chance to start and existing friendships have a chance to deepen. Sometimes the time together creates conflicts, and kids learn to work these conflicts out.

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