OUR FAMILY JUST KEEPS ON GROWING

It's amazing to watch our young people grow up and start families of their own. We are truly blessed here at Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church, and in some ways, we take growth, grace, and GOD's blessings for granted. There are many churches across the nation that aren't experiencing a spiritually vibrant congregation, and too many are losing their young people long before their adult years.

In listening to many of you and to our church leaders, lately our heart has been convicted that we need to do all we can to support parents doing the vital ministry of discipling their children. We need to foster the mindset and heartset of grandparents, uncles, and aunties to be more than glorified chauffeurs and substitute child care givers. Let's equip everyone to confidently share their faith relationally with the next generation. What might happen if parents, coaches, teachers, relatives, mentors, and church leaders all conspired towards raising up the next Jesus generation?

LET'S GROW TOGETHER

May it be said of Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church we're growing generation after generation of deeply devoted Christ followers. This Summer we're doing an experiment, especially inviting families to engage a church-wide series entitled, "We're Growing Stuff." In July, we will have special weekends where our desire is to help each other blossom in faith. We want to see each member be fruitful, and foster a church environment where all ages can spiritually sprout.

We want to share a special shout out to all parents to come out: young parents, single parents, empty nesters, guardians, grandparents, and parents-to-be. Also for our youth and young adults who are seeking community, would love for you to join your worship with ours. We invited some great people to come and share in July, and we plan to share some meals together. So come and let’s grow together!

COMING ATTRACTIONS

June 27 - INTRODUCTION TO “WE’RE GROWING STUFF”
If we are to be a vibrant, growing church we need to be the right kind of soil that helps seeds take root, struggle while being nourished, and be given space to sprout/blossom/be fruitful. [Matthew 13:3-9]

• 10:15AM @Main Auditorium: We’re Growing Stuff: Introduction —Pastor A Allan Martin
• 11:30AM @Main Auditorium: Rainforest Falls VBS Showcase —Form Kids

July 4 - WE’RE GROWING STUDENTS & EMERGING ADULTS
A growing church is one where next generations are setting the pace and example in following Jesus. [1Timothy 4:12]

• 10:00AM @UG in Annex: Navigating the Anatomy of the Bible —Deirdre Martin, RN
• 10:15AM @Main Auditorium: We’re Growing Students —Pastor A Allan Martin
• 1:00PM @UG in Annex: Luncheon & Parent Open House —UGYouth
• 1:00PM @Fellowship Hall: Young Adult Luncheon —Hosted by YG

July 11 - WE’RE GROWING PARENTS
A growing church is one where all believers of all ages are being transformed together as they engage the Word of GOD everyday.

• 9:00AM @Revive Community Care: Carter Blood Drive
• 9:00AM @Main Auditorium: The Handoff —Pastor Samantha Peralta
• 10:15AM @Main Auditorium: We’re Growing Parents —Pastor Samantha Peralta
• 11:30PM @Main Auditorium: The Handoff —Pastor Samantha Peralta
• 1:00PM @Fellowship Hall: Parents’ Lunch & Learn —UG & YG Church
> @Fellowship Hall: Sexual Hierarchy of Needs —Dr. Celeste Holbrook
> @Room 1: Growing Together: All Family Discipleship -Dr. Samantha Peralta

July 18 - WE’RE GROWING LEADERS
A growing church is where we foster servant leadership in the heart of next generations.

• 9:00AM @Main Auditorium: All Generations —Pastor Aren Rennacker
• 10:15AM @Main Auditorium: We’re Growing Leaders —Pastor Aren Rennacker
• 11:30AM @Main Auditorium: Servant Leadrship —Pastor Aren Rennacker
• 1:00PM @Revive: Lunch & Learn: We’re Growing Leaders —Pastor Aren Rennacker

July 25 - WE’RE GROWING TOGETHER
We are invested in growing together instead of growing apart. [Psalm 145:4]

• 10:15AM @Main Auditorium: We’re Growing Together —Pastor A Allan Martin

PRESENTERS

**CELESTE HOLBROOK, PHD**
Dr. Celeste Holbrook is an author, speaker, and sex educator with a Ph.D. in Health Education from Texas Woman's University. Through a compassionate lens and an evidence-based approach, she helps people heal from shame, deepen their relationships, and embrace a healthier understanding of their bodies, sexuality and sexual ethic. Celeste is passionate about creating spaces where honest conversations foster connection, wholeness, and the freedom to love ourselves and others well.
**PARENT SEMINAR // SEXUAL HEIRARCHY OF NEEDS // JUL 18, 1:00PM // FELLOWSHIP HALL**
In a culture where teens are receiving constant messages about sex, relationships, and identity from social media, peers, and pornography, many parents feel overwhelmed and unsure how to guide the conversation. This workshop helps parents move beyond fear-based messaging and toward becoming trusted, emotionally safe guides for their teens. Using Dr. Holbrook’s Sexual Hierarchy of Needs and Sex Ethics framework, parents will learn practical tools for helping teens develop a healthy sexual ethic rooted in education, personal values, and intuition, while also exploring porn literacy, relational trust, and how to create ongoing conversations that strengthen connection rather than secrecy or shame.

**PASTOR A ALLAN MARTIN, PHD**
A Allan Martin, PhD, is the teaching pastor of Younger Generation Church, the vibrant young adult ministry of the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church in Texas [USA]. Dr. Martin serves the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists [NAD] as senior consultant for the Growing Together initiative in collaboration with Young Adult LIFE and the Fuller Youth Institute. He continues as adjunct faculty for the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, specializing in discipleship, religious education, and young adult ministry. Allan and his wife, Deirdre Rivera-Martin, reside in the DFW Metroplex.

WE’RE GROWING STUDENTS
A growing church is one where next generations are setting the pace and example in following Jesus.

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. —1Timothy 4:12 [NIV]

WE’RE GROWING STUFF
If we are to be a vibrant, growing church we need to be the right kind of soil that helps seeds take root, struggle while being nourished, and be given space to sprout/blossom/be fruitful.

Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! –Matthew 13:8 [NLT]

**PASTOR SAMANTHA ANGELES PERALTA, DMIN**
Samantha Angeles Peralta serves as Director of the Growing Together Sabbath School Curriculum for the Southeastern California Conference. She holds a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary and has served as a youth and young adult pastor, children and family pastor, and academy chaplain. Samantha is passionate about equipping churches and families to disciple the next generation together.
**GROWING TOGETHER: ALL FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP // JUL 11, 1:00PM // ROOM 1**
If we want to grow faith, we have to think beyond Sabbath morning. Come discover simple, sustainable faith rhythms that nurture spiritual growth all week long. Parents are invited to learn more about Growing Together, a multigenerational church curriculum for Seventh-day Adventists, rooted in faith and grace. Learn practical ways to bring your family together in worship by having each family member, from children to adults, study the same Bible story, tailored to their respective developmental age group. Discover how the Growing Together curriculum equips churches and families to raise lifelong disciples.

PASTOR AREN RENNACKER, MTS
Aren Rennacker serves as Director for Growing Young Leaders with the Pacific Union. Before that he served as youth director for the Southeastern California Conference. Aren received his BS in Journalism from Pacific Union College and his Masters in Theological Studies from La Sierra University. Aren’s passion is to empower young people to reach their potential through both service and leadership. He married his lovely wife Paige in 2020.

GROWING YOUNG LEADERS // JUL 18, 1:00PM // REVIVE COMMUNITY CARE CENTER
Most of us love the idea of growing leaders, but less of us buy into the process. Let’s talk about what it takes to truly develop leadership in next generations, and how Christ followers are the fuel that makes all the difference. Growing Young Leaders is a new initiative from the Pacific Union Conference which seeks to support our young people as they become the next great leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

**DEIRDRE RIVERA-MARTIN, BSN, RN**
Deirdre Rivera-Martin has served as a Neo-natal Intensive Care nurse for over 40 years. She and Pastor A Allan Martin, her husband, have toured internationally speaking on relationships, leadership and Christian lifestyle. Deirdre is the ministry founder of FLOURISH, which gives special emphasis to Biblical literacy and organic discipleship.
**NAVIGATING THE ANATOMY OF THE BIBLE // JUL 4, 10:00AM // UNDERGROUND**
Move from merely reading the Bible to knowing GOD and living the Word through your life. Deirdre offers insights as to the physiology of the Scriptures, revealing the inter-connectivity, functional structure, organic intent to reveal Jesus throughout. This workshop will help you see how the whole Bible works to transform lives.

RESOURCES

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN STORY FOR ARLINGTON SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH?

What began nearly 70 years ago with a young group of ambitious friends continues to this day creating space for next generations to grow and thrive in the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of Jesus.

“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. . . All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.” —2Peter 3:18 [NLT]

We are a church that is growing. It's time for you to blossom. It's time for you and me to be fruitful. It's time for you and me and all of us to sprout spiritually. Join Younger Generation Church Summer sermon series, “We’re Growing Stuff,” Saturdays, 10:15am CDT, tinyurl.com/yglivestream

DEAR CHURCH PODCAST // SECC YOUTH
Every day, young adults are deciding whether or not to leave the Church. Rather than simply asking, "Why?" we wanted to ask another question: "Can you tell us your story?" Dear Church is a ten-part series that narratively tells the stories of young adults in the Seventh-day Adventist community. Each episode concludes with the guest sharing a personal letter they’ve written to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Click the above icon to listen on Spotify.