Watermark Student Ministries About Us

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(From L to R) David Marvin, Jarrod Rudesill, Braun Brown, David Penuel, Melissa Miller, SarahBeth Jaqua, Patrick "Bode" Bodenhausen, Mike Shelton, (Click to See Full Size) KJ Aboussie (not pictured)

Braun Brown
Director of Student Ministries
bbrown@watermark.org
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Mike Shelton
Director of Senior High Ministry
mshelton@watermark.org
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David Penuel
Director of Junior High Ministry
dpenuel@watermark.org
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Melissa Miller
Student Ministries Women's Director
mmiller@watermark.org
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Patrick Bodenhausen
Student Ministries Program Coordinator
pbodenhausen@watermark.org
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SarahBeth Jaqua
Administrative Assistant with Student Ministries
sjaqua@watermark.org
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David Marvin
Men's Staff with Student Ministries
dmarvin@watermark.org
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KJ Aboussie
Student Ministries Intern
kaboussie@watermark.org
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Jarrod Rudesill
Worship Leader with Student Ministries
jarrod.rudesill@gmail.com
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General Contact Info
Watermark Student Ministries
7540 LBJ Freeway Suite 800
Dallas, TX 75251

214-361-2275

JUNIOR HIGH (GRADES 6-8)

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Wake (Grades 6-8)
Sundays at 11am
The Deck (4th Floor Tower)

"Wake" is our weekly program for junior high students (grades 6-8) at Watermark. Simply put, we're aiming to shatter the stereotype that church is boring. To find out more, come visit us on Sunday Mornings at 11am at "The Deck" (4th Floor, Watermark Tower - Map), check out this Welcome Letter to Visitors, or click the buttons below to join us on Facebook and Twitter.

HIGH SCHOOL (GRADES 9-12)

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Shoreline (Grades 9-12)
Sundays at 5:30pm
The Deck (4th Floor Tower)

"Shoreline" is our weekly program for high school students (grades 9-12) at Watermark. Come hang with us for lots of laughs, meaningful worship, and messages that apply to real life. We meet on Sunday evenings at 5:30pm at "The Deck" (4th Floor, Watermark Tower - Map).

PARENT FAQs

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What weekly meetings are offered for 6-8th and 9-12th graders?
Grades 6-8 meet weekly for "Wake" on Sundays at 11am on the 4th floor of the Watermark tower. Grades 9-12 meet weekly for "Shoreline" on Sundays at 5:30pm on the 4th Floor of the Watermark tower. Grade and gender specific Small Groups meet in various homes at various times throughout the week.

How does drop-off and pick-up work?
For this age group, we allow parents and students to coordinate whatever plan works best for their family. Most parents allow their students to make their way up to the 4th floor on their own and set up a specified meeting place to reconnect after the service. Some parents bring their students up to the 4th floor and return to pick them up. There is no official check-in/check-out system for grades 6-12th.

How do Small Groups work?
There are several Small Groups for each grade that are broken down by gender and location. Groups remain with the same members and leaders year after year. Groups typically meet during the school year and rotate meeting in the various homes of the students in the group.

When do Small Groups meet?
Meeting times vary depending on the group. We encourage groups to meet mid-week on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evening. Some also meet on Sunday afternoon or evening.

How do Small Groups start?
Most of our Small Groups are launched at the beginning of 6th grade with the aim of staying together through high school graduation. They are formed based on several factors including geography, schools, and friendships. When we launch new Small Groups, we try to leave space for each group to add members along the way. Students sign up for Small Groups by filling out an Info Form online or at Wake/Shoreline.

How do students get connected mid-year?
Students can sign up for Small Groups by filling out an Info Form online or at Wake/Shoreline. If there is space, we will immediately add newcomers to the Small Group that makes the most sense based on geography, schools, and friendships. Volunteer leaders will connect via phone or email with new students/parents with information about meeting times and locations.

Because many of our junior high Small Groups are completely packed, new students at Wake have the opportunity to connect in an "open group" called Wake "On Deck".

What is Wake "On Deck" for junior high (6-8th) students?
Wake “On Deck” is our short-term Small Group that is open to anyone who isn’t already in one. At Wake “On Deck”, students meet with volunteer leaders and other students for a bible study based on the message from Wake. Participants will get to dig deeper into the lesson while connecting in a more personal setting. Building on relationships formed at Wake “On Deck”, we either launch new Small Groups or investigate the possibility of finding a good fit in one of our pre-existing groups. Wake “On Deck” meets during the school year on Sunday nights from 7:00-8:00pm at the Watermark Coffee Shop (by the fireplace).

What is the curriculum for 6-12th graders?
Click here to see a PDF version of our complete curriculum.

What role do parents play in Watermark Student Ministries?
We firmly believe that the parent(s) is the primary discipler of their children, the home is the primary place to make disciples, and a biblically based home is the most important component of a healthy society. Parents lay the foundation. We believe our job is support and affirm that foundation with a team of non-parental, committed adults (staff and volunteer leaders) who will be voices of truth and encouragement working "in stereo" with the efforts of parents.

The best things parents can do is to connect with and invest in their student's leaders. Invite them into your family and include them as a trusted partner in your parenting adventure.

Who are the volunteers that are leading Small Groups?
Our team is comprised of more than 100 individuals who are committed to investing in the lives of students for a number of years. All of our leaders are young adults or young marrieds in their 20's or 30's who are members or in the process of becoming members at Watermark Community Church. To ensure the well-being of our students, each leader has completed an application, interview, and background check. They have answered questions about their testimony, family, personality, and current relationship with the Lord as well as any history of exposure to abuse, alcohol, or drugs. Applicants are also required to submit at least two references with their application.

Why types of retreats and events are offered for 6-12th graders?
We have several events and retreats throughout the year meant to bond the group and help kids grow in their relationship with Christ. Typically these include separate fall retreats to Pine Cove for both junior high and high school students, a winter Ski Trip for high school students, a combined spring in-town retreat for all ages (called "DTown"), and summer service trips to various locations.

Information and registration forms for what’s coming up are available at Wake/Shoreline on Sundays or you can find those things on "Home/Events" page of the Watermark Student Ministries website at www.watermarkstudents.com.

Who do I contact if I have more questions about Watermark Student Ministries?
SarahBeth Jaqua is the Administrative Assistant for Watermark Student Ministries. She can be reached at (214)239-8820 or sjaqua@watermark.org. Other staff contact information can be found by clicking here.

SMALL GROUPS

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We believe that ministry happens best in the context of the authentic and lasting relationships, therefore, Small Groups are viewed as the backbone of what we do. There are several Small Groups for each grade that are broken down by gender and location. Groups typically meet during the school year in the homes of students. As a staff, we do everything we can to help our students get plugged in and our leaders succeed in the mission of making disciples.

Specifically, to help students get plugged in, we will diligently add new kids to existing groups up to 12 members. To help leaders succeed, we will carefully limit group size to 12 members with 2 leaders so that our volunteers don't get overloaded with relationships. Once all of our groups have 12 members, we will aim to start new groups or prayerfully wait for spots to open up. Our Junior High ministry has an "open" small group for newcomers called Wake "On Deck" (Click for Details). Of course, this isn't a hard and fast rule and most additions are handled on a case-by-case basis.

If you're interested in joining a Small Group, let us know by filling out the form below. If you'd like to know more, be sure to ask at "Shoreline" or "Wake" about the process of getting connected with a Small Group. If you have immediate questions, contact SarahBeth Jaqua at sjaqua@watermark.org.

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TWITTER

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Want to know what we're doing? Curious to see pictures from events and retreats as they happen? Follow our every move by checking out the Junior High Twitter account at twitter.com/wakeupdates, the High School Twitter account at twitter.com/shorelinenews, or any of our staff's personal Twitter accounts.

VOLUNTEER LEADERS

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Most of our Leaders are pictured here. We have an incredible team of over 100 young adults serving our students! These folks truly invest their lives into the lives of students year after year.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 best characterizes the hearts of these servants when Paul says, "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." Because of our team, we are eager to instruct our students with the teaching of Hebrews 13:7 when it says, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."

HOW TO JOIN OUR TEAM:
Click HERE if you're interested in finding out more about how you could be a part of our team.

God has always been faithful to bring us the leaders that we need exactly when we need them. If you feel like you have a heart for students and would like to partner with us in ministry, we always have a place for passionate, committed people.

There are many different roles that people can play on our team. Don't let the stereotype of the typical "youth sponsor" hold you back...If you're interested in helping young people become rooted in Christ and influential for Him, don't hesitate to give us call.