LEading Students to know and follow JEsus
Whoever you are, everyone is welcome at First Students! First Students gives 7th-12th grade students the opportunity to get connected with a group of people their own age who are growing closer to the Lord each day. We want to see students know and follow Jesus Christ! First Students is a place for teenagers to deepen their relationship with Christ while simultaneously growing their relationships with others!
We're pre-registered for FUGE 2026!
Centrifuge Camp 2026 will be here before we know it. Stay tuned for updates throughout the year!
Dates: June 8-12, 2026
Cost: $385
Location: SBU, Bolivar, MO
Ages: Students who have completed 6th-12th grade.
Dates: June 8-12, 2026
Cost: $385
Location: SBU, Bolivar, MO
Ages: Students who have completed 6th-12th grade.
FIRST STUDENTS - WEEKLY PARENT EMAIL
We send out an email to our parents each Wednesday! If you would like to be added to the email list, send a message to tim@fbcsiloam.com! Here is the latest edition:
Upcoming Events
Spring Break “Unwind” - March 21 - 1-5pm - We will be opening up the student center on March 21st as students begin spring break! We want the teens to have a chance to relax and unwind with friends as they begin their week off. There will be movies playing, board games, switch games, an open gym, lots of snacks, and if the weather’s nice we’ll have outdoor games available! This is a great chance for students to invite friends to come hang out for the afternoon!
No Midweek Next Week - March 25 - Spring Break. Enjoy your week off! We’ll resume Midweek on April 1! (Sunday morning bible study will continue as normal for the 22nd, 29th, and beyond).
Fundraiser - April 19 - Our lunch fundraiser was scheduled for April 19, but our church kitchen is undergoing some repairs that will not be completed by this date, so we will have to find another plan for our fundraiser. I will update you as soon as we have something new set in place!
April 29 - Spring Youth Rally - Imagine one big worship service with students from all across Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma. You’re imagining the Area 59 Youth Rally! We are encouraging students to bring friends who don’t know the Lord, so that we can share the Gospel with them. There will be worship and a message, and lots of fun and excitement! We will take the bus from our church, or you can meet us there at FBC Gentry at 6:30pm (221 W Main St, Gentry, AR). Our bus will leave from FBC Siloam at 6pm, and we will return at approximately 8:30pm (timing depends on how long the rally goes for). This event will take the place of our normal Midweek activities for First Students. Other FBC Siloam ministries will still be having their events that night.
FUGE Camp - June 8-12 - Cost: $385 - Have your student sign up for camp on the sign up sheet in the student center! (We only have a handful of spots left!)
Final Payment Due: April 29, 2026.
Who can go? Anyone who has just completed 6th-12th grade.
Location: Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO
This year’s theme: The Good Shepherd (Psalm 23)
Midweek 3-18
This week in Golgotha, we’re continuing in our series by diving into the powerful example of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Jesus’ mother, Mary, demonstrated an incredible faith, trust, and commitment to Jesus all the way to the Cross. We will challenge students to think practically about what it means to draw near to Jesus as we reflected on Mary’s life.
THINK
Mary, the mother of Jesus was present at the Cross. In a ,me where many of the disciples fled out of fear, Mary drew near to Jesus and stayed by His side. In the hardships of life, where do you turn? Do you run from Jesus or draw near to Him? From the moment Mary found out God was going to use her in a powerful way (to give birth to the Savior, Jesus), she demonstrated a total trust and faith to the Lord.
READ
Luke 1:38 says: And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
ASK
Use the questions below to ask your student ques,ons about the truths from our series. Look for ways to share personally, bring encouragement, and create a space for meaningful conversations.
• What does it mean to trust God when the path ahead is unclear or frightening?
• In what ways can you draw near to Jesus that grow you in your faith?
PRAY
Pray for your student this week that they would:
• Learn to trust and surrender to God’s plan even when it’s hard to understand or accept.
• Find the courage to draw near to Jesus even when they don’t want to or feel like they can.
Sunday Morning 3-22
This lesson is called “John the Baptist and Jesus’ Baptism.” Students will see how John the Baptist, the man sent to prepare people for the arrival of Jesus, responded to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We also will do a deep dive into Christ’s earthly mission. I hope you enjoy some fruitful discussions with your teenager about their thoughts on John baptizing Jesus!
Lesson Overview: John the Baptist was a pretty unique guy who probably seemed pretty weird to the people around him. But he played a vital role in the grand narrative of Scripture, especially what we’ve been talking about throughout The Thread. He made a critical connection between the Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah and Jesus. Jesus then affirmed John’s message by being baptized by John. In doing so, Jesus also let us know He was coming to identify with and save sinful people.
What We Want Your Teenager To Learn: Understand John’s role in the big-picture story of Scripture and why Jesus had to be baptized. Grasp that Jesus was sinless, yet He identified with our sin, ultimately taking on the penalty of our sin on the cross.
What We Want Your Teenager To Do With What They’ve Learned: Explain what it means that if they have a saving relationship with Christ, God sees them as righteous because of what Jesus did on the Cross.
Scripture Passages We Studied: Matthew 3; 2 Corinthians 5:21
Please Take A Few Minutes This Week To Read These Passages.
NEXT STEPS...
During the next week, as you engage in conversations with your teenager, remember that one way that will help them to understand and apply what they have learned is to explain it to someone else. Use the following questions to guide your conversation:
• What is your understanding of baptism?
• How do you think baptizing Jesus affected John? How would it impact you if you were in his shoes?
• How does Jesus’ baptism and eventual sacrifice on the cross affect us?
• How should we live in light of Him taking on our sin?
Thank you for all you do. As a parent, you are the primary spiritual influence in the life of your teenager, and they desperately need you. I’m praying for you! If you have any questions or if I can help with anything, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Tim Conley
Student Minister
FBC Siloam Springs
tim@fbcsiloam.com
Spring Break “Unwind” - March 21 - 1-5pm - We will be opening up the student center on March 21st as students begin spring break! We want the teens to have a chance to relax and unwind with friends as they begin their week off. There will be movies playing, board games, switch games, an open gym, lots of snacks, and if the weather’s nice we’ll have outdoor games available! This is a great chance for students to invite friends to come hang out for the afternoon!
No Midweek Next Week - March 25 - Spring Break. Enjoy your week off! We’ll resume Midweek on April 1! (Sunday morning bible study will continue as normal for the 22nd, 29th, and beyond).
Fundraiser - April 19 - Our lunch fundraiser was scheduled for April 19, but our church kitchen is undergoing some repairs that will not be completed by this date, so we will have to find another plan for our fundraiser. I will update you as soon as we have something new set in place!
April 29 - Spring Youth Rally - Imagine one big worship service with students from all across Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma. You’re imagining the Area 59 Youth Rally! We are encouraging students to bring friends who don’t know the Lord, so that we can share the Gospel with them. There will be worship and a message, and lots of fun and excitement! We will take the bus from our church, or you can meet us there at FBC Gentry at 6:30pm (221 W Main St, Gentry, AR). Our bus will leave from FBC Siloam at 6pm, and we will return at approximately 8:30pm (timing depends on how long the rally goes for). This event will take the place of our normal Midweek activities for First Students. Other FBC Siloam ministries will still be having their events that night.
FUGE Camp - June 8-12 - Cost: $385 - Have your student sign up for camp on the sign up sheet in the student center! (We only have a handful of spots left!)
Final Payment Due: April 29, 2026.
Who can go? Anyone who has just completed 6th-12th grade.
Location: Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO
This year’s theme: The Good Shepherd (Psalm 23)
Midweek 3-18
This week in Golgotha, we’re continuing in our series by diving into the powerful example of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Jesus’ mother, Mary, demonstrated an incredible faith, trust, and commitment to Jesus all the way to the Cross. We will challenge students to think practically about what it means to draw near to Jesus as we reflected on Mary’s life.
THINK
Mary, the mother of Jesus was present at the Cross. In a ,me where many of the disciples fled out of fear, Mary drew near to Jesus and stayed by His side. In the hardships of life, where do you turn? Do you run from Jesus or draw near to Him? From the moment Mary found out God was going to use her in a powerful way (to give birth to the Savior, Jesus), she demonstrated a total trust and faith to the Lord.
READ
Luke 1:38 says: And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
ASK
Use the questions below to ask your student ques,ons about the truths from our series. Look for ways to share personally, bring encouragement, and create a space for meaningful conversations.
• What does it mean to trust God when the path ahead is unclear or frightening?
• In what ways can you draw near to Jesus that grow you in your faith?
PRAY
Pray for your student this week that they would:
• Learn to trust and surrender to God’s plan even when it’s hard to understand or accept.
• Find the courage to draw near to Jesus even when they don’t want to or feel like they can.
Sunday Morning 3-22
This lesson is called “John the Baptist and Jesus’ Baptism.” Students will see how John the Baptist, the man sent to prepare people for the arrival of Jesus, responded to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We also will do a deep dive into Christ’s earthly mission. I hope you enjoy some fruitful discussions with your teenager about their thoughts on John baptizing Jesus!
Lesson Overview: John the Baptist was a pretty unique guy who probably seemed pretty weird to the people around him. But he played a vital role in the grand narrative of Scripture, especially what we’ve been talking about throughout The Thread. He made a critical connection between the Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah and Jesus. Jesus then affirmed John’s message by being baptized by John. In doing so, Jesus also let us know He was coming to identify with and save sinful people.
What We Want Your Teenager To Learn: Understand John’s role in the big-picture story of Scripture and why Jesus had to be baptized. Grasp that Jesus was sinless, yet He identified with our sin, ultimately taking on the penalty of our sin on the cross.
What We Want Your Teenager To Do With What They’ve Learned: Explain what it means that if they have a saving relationship with Christ, God sees them as righteous because of what Jesus did on the Cross.
Scripture Passages We Studied: Matthew 3; 2 Corinthians 5:21
Please Take A Few Minutes This Week To Read These Passages.
NEXT STEPS...
During the next week, as you engage in conversations with your teenager, remember that one way that will help them to understand and apply what they have learned is to explain it to someone else. Use the following questions to guide your conversation:
• What is your understanding of baptism?
• How do you think baptizing Jesus affected John? How would it impact you if you were in his shoes?
• How does Jesus’ baptism and eventual sacrifice on the cross affect us?
• How should we live in light of Him taking on our sin?
Thank you for all you do. As a parent, you are the primary spiritual influence in the life of your teenager, and they desperately need you. I’m praying for you! If you have any questions or if I can help with anything, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Tim Conley
Student Minister
FBC Siloam Springs
tim@fbcsiloam.com
