Young Adults
Londa and Kurtbacklund lead the Young Adults.
Who are the Backlunds?
Kurt and Londa met at Providence College in Manitoba, Canada, and married in 2003. They spent many years in their former church leading small groups together. Over the last 17 years, Londa finished her teaching degree and taught high school Math, English Language Arts, Psychology, and Science. She also completed her MA in Organizational Leadership while staying home with their four children, now ages 10, 9, 6, and 5. Londa has been involved in Kenwood’s MOPS ministry and currently coordinates the RISE mentorship program at Kenwood. Kurt completed an MA in Old Testament and an MA in Biblical Languages from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and an M. Phil in Hebrew and Cognate Studies from Hebrew Union College, where is he currently completing his dissertation for his Ph.D. Kurt and Londa are excited to use their gifts, training, and experiences to remind Kenwood’s Young Adults that God is WITH them and so is the Kenwood community.
Sunday Mornings
We are blessed to have sound teaching on Sunday mornings and encourage each Young Adult to tap into that resource. Young Adults are welcome to use the listening guide below to take notes and facilitate processing and reflection on the sermon. Following the service, Young Adults have two options: Sunday School Courtyard or Sunday School Zoom. Young Adults can meet and discuss the sermon in person or online during the pandemic, depending on their comfort level or current location. Those who meet in person may bring their own lunch, or have one delivered, and build relationships and accountability after the class. Those meeting in person are asked to wear masks when not eating and to maintain social distance as possible. Those who wish to meet online can join at 11:00 am starting January 17, 2021, with this link:
Meeting ID: 596 420 8101
Passcode: YoungAdult
Sermon Listening Guide
- I never knew_________________________________________________________.
- I had forgotten that ___________________________________________________.
- When I heard _________________ I was reminded of _______________________.
- I wonder how ________________________________ fits into this new knowledge.
- ______________ adds to my understanding of _____________________________.
- I want to look into__________________________as a result of this message.
- I was reminded God is WITH me when I heard _____________________________.
- I was reminded others are WITH me when I heard/experienced _________________.
- This week my time WITH God might look like _____________________________.
- This week my time WITH others might look like ___________________________.
First Friday
The first Friday of each month means food Friday. Whether the group meets online to eat dinner together and build relationships or in-person bringing individualized boxed meals or sharing a potluck and laughs, it is a great evening to reconnect and be WITH others in the community. Come make a friend or bring someone along for moral support. Either way, do not miss out. Jasmine organizes this event and can be contacted at jasmineprince95@yahoo.com to learn the monthly time, location, theme, or any other relevant details. (Please make any allergies known to her when meeting in person is possible.)
Passcode: YoungAdult
Newlywed Night
Let's meet at the Boathouse at Sharon Woods at 6:30 pm on Friday, April 30th. They have pedalboats and canoes available to rent for $16/hour. Couples can rent their own pedalboat, double date on a boat and split the cost, or divide by genders. We can decide how competitive we are when we arrive and have boat races or leisurely float on the water together for an hour.
If it rains that evening, there are picnic tables under the shelter next to the Boathouse and the playground. We can meet there and hang out with some board games.
There is a $5/day fee ($10/2021) to enter the park, but those who attended our launch event in January will have a free annual Hamilton Parks Pass. If you want a free Hamilton Park's Pass, we have ONE here for the first person to claim it!
As always, if you know of other engaged/newlywed couples you are more than welcome to invite them along. The more the merrier.
We look forward to boat races WITH you on April 30th!
Kurt and Londa
Marriage is both beautiful and hard and has become more challenging for many couples during this pandemic. This subgroup of Young Adults is a closed group where young marrieds can talk and get together as their comfort level allows. On Newlywed Night, couples will convene online or in-person for a brief devotional and time of fellowship, remembering God is WITH them and in their marriage. Newlyweds will also receive a conversation topic to talk about for the month and a date experience to try before the next monthly meeting. Newlyweds can email kurtbacklund@kenwoodbaptist.org to get specific information about a group.
We are excited to start a monthly online zoom meeting this spring where engaged and newlywed couples can get to know other couples, have some mentorship possibilities, learn how their marriage can grow to reflect God's love and character to their spouse and others around them, and receive discussion questions and date night ideas to practice new skills.
Our meetings will always be on the final Saturday of the month at 8:00 PM (January 30, February 27, March 27, etc.). We suspect the meeting will end at 9:30 PM.
We encourage you to bring your favorite snack to the meeting on Saturday, whether it is sweet or savory.
Any questions can come our way, at Kurtbacklund@kenwoodbaptist.org or call/text at 513-642-9985.
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID:945 8473 9930
Passcode: NewlyWeds
Make a Friend Mondays
COVID 19 has brought isolation in many ways, however God is always WITH us and others can safely be WITH us also. We encourage all Young Adults to safely explore the Great Parks of Hamilton County this year. https://www.greatparks.org/recreation/trails People can walk WITH God or can include others (with social distancing and masks as required) as they tackle the Hiking Staff Program https://www.greatparks.org/recreation/trails . The Staff Program can remind us that Jesus, the good shepherd, is “WITH me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Ps 23:4 ESV). This is an opportunity to make a friend or renew a friendship in an outdoor environment, and no it does not have to happen only on Mondays.
Testimony Tuesdays
Each Tuesday an email will be sent out to the Young Adults group. The email will have a brief message or video sharing the testimony of a person in Scripture, history, or the Young Adult group of how they know God has been WITH them. Anyone wanting to share their testimony is welcome to type/record their testimony and send it to kurtbacklund@kenwoodbaptist.org and it will be sent out one week. Weekly reminders of events in the upcoming days will be sent in this email as well.
Bible Study Groups on Thursdays
A men’s Bible study group is meeting in person Thursday evenings from 5:00-7:00 pm over dinner. Men interested in joining can contact Matt at meswallen@gmail.com.
A women’s Bible study group is meeting online Thursday evenings from 8-9 pm. Women interested in joining can contact Brittany at britkburkhead@gmail.com. Anyone wanting to start a new group is welcome, just contact kurtbacklund@kenwoodbaptist.org to express your interest.
Fun Friday
It is easy to take this world and ourselves a little too seriously these days, but there is “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecc 3:3 ESV). Once a month, we will have an online or COVID cautious outdoor event where we can be WITH others and embrace a time to laugh. Contact Kurt or Londa at kurtbacklund@kenwoodbaptist.org to find out where and when we will meet.
Serving Saturday (or Sunday)
The second weekend of the month is dedicated to serving others because we are WITH them. Whether it is helping a family move into their home, hosting in the online church service, or delivering hot chocolate to neighbors, this is the weekend to think of how God wants us to be His hands and feet WITH others. Anyone with connections to a serving opportunity that is near to their heart can reach out to Kurt or Londa at kurtbacklund@kenwoodbaptist.org.
Questions? Email us at kurtbacklund@kenwoodbaptist.org.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
