This years worship will be lead by Making Malorie. Here is a little about them from their website:

“We live in a world where choices are all around us. They are constantly being presented, pitched, or forced upon us. This thing we do, this worship, our choices; is what defines us. So what are we choosing? What will I wear? What will I eat? Who will I love? What will I worship? In a world that chooses money, popularity, power, vanity, and an empty love; will you make the right choice? We find that He who offers life has been waiting by our side all along. Will we choose to breathe in life, or will we be left gasping and pointing toward the sky?

“Where Saints are Sinners” the debut album from Making Malorie”

You can learn more about them at their website: www.makingmalorie.com

Merge 2011 | Knoxville, TN from Katie DeCillo on Vimeo.

Understanding Your Teenager, Duffy Robbins from First Baptist Church, Knoxville on Vimeo.

Do you have a son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter who…

• is absolutely sure that YOU were never his or her age?
• seems unaware that there is an off switch on all music devices?
• speaks in shrugs, grunts and other strange sounds?
• requires more food every day than you consume in a week?
• has chosen “early landfill” for his or her bedroom décor?
• can easily program a computer or DVD, but can’t figure out how to operate a washing machine?
• can remember the words to last year’s hit songs but none that you said five minutes ago?
• is allergic to chores, homework, getting up in the morning, and sometimes….you?
• has caused you to turn into your parents?

If so … you are invited to UNDERSTANDING YOUR TEENAGER, a lively, informative presentation of some of the best parenting advice you’ll ever get on raising capable, emotionally-healthy teenagers. For one night and one night only, August 22^nd from 6:00-9:00pm, the MERGE churches are coming together to offer an evening just for adults. This is not an event just for families who are having difficulty with their kids. Instead, it’s for every parent or grandparent who wants to stay close to their kids during their teen years and also wants to influence them to become the kind of young men and women God created them to be. Come for some encouragement, some practical ideas, and a chance to interact with others like yourself who care enough about their kids to sharpen their parenting skills.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR TEENAGER will be presented by Duffy Robbins, a veteran youth worker and youth ministry educator. He has authored several best-selling books for youth workers and is a popular speaker at youth ministry training events, youth gatherings and Christian festivals all over the world. A professor of youth ministry at Eastern College in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, he and his wife Maggie have two grown daughters.

This night is for anyone who lives with teenagers, has children who will eventually become teenagers, or has children who, at the rate they are going, may not make it to their teenager years. More than 14 churches have already committed to take part in this event.  The cost of the evening is $10 for individuals, $15 for couples.  You can register online at www.studentmerge.com or call Michael McEntyre or Carol Linger at the church office.  Mark your calendars now, you won’t regret it.