2009 ULC Covenant

Participant Name (Please Print):_______________________________________________

2009 Youth & Family Summer Ministry Trips Group Covenant For Students and Adults

This covenant is designed to help us be faithful to God, each other and ourselves. Breaking any part of this covenant hurts those relationships and the trust we are trying to build. Some problems can be handled within the group. Other more serious problems might not be dealt with internally but rather submitted to local authorities for youth group participants and their parents to deal with while the mission continues without that individual present, but always in our prayers. Failure to comply to and obey this covenant will result in a variety of consequences up to and including dismissal from trip at the covenant breakers own expense. Any infraction of the covenant will be reported to parents. All points subject to review, change and addition because we will learn as we go.

"I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods." We are here to learn about God and serve God through work and honor God through praise. This is the beginning, middle and end of all we do. Remember to ask yourself, “What would Jesus Do?” Remember that working for the Lord might not always entail a hammer and nail, sometimes it comes in the form of relationships with those whom we came to serve in God’s name. Always be open to the works of the Holy Spirit and God will use you in wonderful and unimagined ways. Remember that when we put God first, we really need to shift our mindset from this world to the eternal—everything changes. Initials: Parent____ Youth____

"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." God has given us the gift of speech, and we will not dishonor God by using God’s name outside of service and glory by cursing or swearing in any manner. Everyone deserves more respect than being sworn at, around, or having to hear foul language for whatever reason. Initials: Parent____ Youth____

"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." We will take our relationships with the God and God’s people seriously, so we will be present, punctual, and positively involved in all activities. We will be timely to bed and timely to rise. We will have loads o' fun in due time, but when it interferes with the glory of God and goes too far, it will stop, and we will get back on the track of having fun while serving God. Follow Christ and keep him in your actions. Act as a respected representative of this church. Initials: Parent____ Youth____

"Honor your father and your mother." We will not behave in ways that will embarrass ourselves or that our parents would not approve of. One of the best ways to honor your parents is by being polite and helpful: just ask in a positive manner what you can (or cannot) do. When you are done with a task, ask an adult counselor what you can do next. Stay with the group at all times and consider everything on the schedule as mandatory unless specifically told otherwise. Youth have been put in the care of the adults supervising the activity, these individuals serve in loco parentis and should be obeyed just as youth’s parents should be obeyed. Initials: Parent____ Youth____

"You shall not kill." We will not raise our hands against each other, nor will we assault anyone with so much as a harsh word or an ill-intended joke. Don’t put down others; honor them with words of encouragement. We will not exclude anyone, but include everyone and really listen to him or her. Any time anyone says or does something to hurt someone else, they will apologize and say or do three things to build that person back up. We will be good to each other and ourselves by staying out of harm's way, which absolutely excludes the possession or use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs and related paraphernalia. No firearms or other devices used to kill or injure people will be tolerated. Offenders with alcohol, drugs, and weapons may be turned over to local authorities, and retrieved by their parents or legal guardians at their own expense. Initials: Parent____ Youth____

"You shall not commit adultery." We will not fraternize in inappropriate ways and keep our bodies and lewd comments to ourselves. The opposite sexes will sleep apart at all times. This includes married couples because we will need them to role model and lead the youth. It should never occur that any “couples” are alone together and separated from the group. Initials: Parent____ Youth____

"You shall not steal." We will not assume rights to anything that we do not own; i.e., if it is not yours, then do not touch it. Do not pick it up. Do not put it in your pocket. Do not walk away with it. Do not take it home with you. Respect any equipment and other objects. Do not bring any unapproved items--we do not want to tempt anyone to steal our stuff.

Initials: Parent____ Youth____

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." We will be nothing less than completely respectful, supportive and honest with others and ourselves here. When you make a mistake, you will be the first to recognize it, repent it and reconcile it. That is integrity. If a problem arises, don’t ignore it; deal with it in a just manner. Obey any and all laws that our neighbors have established for us. Honor and respect yourself and others by being completely honest and always making the best effort you can to communicate any concerns you have to the adult counselors. Holding things back can seriously hurt us.

Initials: Parent____ Youth____

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house." We will watch out for each other’s stuff. Do not bring or purchase anything too valuable, it could be lost, stolen, or broken. Do not buy anything on the trip that could be easily lost or stolen. You may get the opportunity to get souvenirs, but you are responsible for all items you bring and buy, and only you can hold yourself accountable for that. Initials: Parent____ Youth____

"You shall not covet you neighbor's wife, or his manservant or his maidservant, or his cattle, or anything that is your neighbor's." We are here to support each other and build Christ-centered relationships, not to test or destroy them. Cliques are out of the question. Meet and include new people. It is difficult to do, but it is worth it. Take the initiative to include yourself and others at all times. Initials: Parent____ Youth____

It is impossible to articulate rules for conduct that cover every situation conceivable, but if we keep in mind the two greatest commandments we will stay on track. “When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22.34-40.

By signing below, I verify that I have read and understand the above; I agree to obey and uphold this covenant, the ideas behind it, and the spirit in which it was written. Signatures Required.

Participant____________________________________________________

Parent/Legal Guardian__________________________________________

Date __________________________

Remember: You need to come with an unwarranted sense of optimism and always be open to the work of the Holy Spirit through yourself. Sometimes the gifts of God come in nice little packages, and other times they come in the form of terrible trials. If you keep looking for an opportunity to grow through the Lord and make those opportunities happen, God will use you and show you marvelous love and grace like never before! Also you must keep in mind that we are a community in Christ and not a group of individuals, so we need to think and act as a community and not as just one person. Keep others in the forefront of your mind with God always. Now let us go and grow through service, fun, and faith!