Youth Ministry, a never ending saga…

After re-reading yesterday’s post, I felt it was a bit negative. That wasn’t my intention. It’s an observation I have made for quite a few years now. I think the way we do church, or for some of us, the way we play church on Sunday’s needs to be re-thought out. Why are we meeting, and for whose benefit? Just some more questions. No, again, let me be clear…I love the church, and am astonished that the Lord has allowed me to be a part of it. After all, I feel I share the brunt of Paul’s words to young timothy about being the “chief of sinners.”

I want to turn our attention today to ministry. My primary area of concern, and my passion is youth ministry. I love working with teens, and teaching classes, and planning events, and all the other wonderful things youth ministers get to do. Sadly, far to often, we are the only spiritual encouragement some of our teens may receive. Some home situations are such that do not allow for spiritual conversation. Youth Ministry, like every other ministry in the church is a never ending saga. However, after a conversation last evening with one of our teens, I am convinced more than ever that youth ministry is one of the toughest challenges in the church. Case in point, the influence of non-Christian spiritual influence, and the impact of our secular society has created several generations of young people that share what was said about the generation that followed such great men of God like Moses and Joshua. “After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). In this climate of moral relativism, and the like, ministry must be approached differently than at other times, but maybe we have more in common with the first century church than we realize. Thiers was a highly paganized society where spirituality came in a variety of flavors. Paul, especially looked for ways to connect with his audience through popular culture, (ie. Acts 17). The point of all this, is that society is changing, our kids are presented an unprecedented number of choices of what to believe, and we still have the task and privlidge of sharing the Good News to a culture, and a generation that has grown up not knowing the LORD or what He has done for those who have gone before us. Some could see this as a dreary moment in our history. I see this point in our history being ripe with opportunity. May we be bold enough to accept the challenge.

The saddest place in the church…

I don’t know what it is, but Sunday’s frustrate me. Now, before any one jumps on the “Jason’s a hertic” bandwagon, at least let me say this…I am tired of seeing people come to church hurting, burdens weighing them down, and weary from the pounding they have taken the week before, and leave the worship hour with little or no change in thier dilema? Why do we allow people who are hurting to just pass us by? When did church become a place of proper etiquite, and nice dress? If we are the community of Christ, then shouldn’t we be an open place where problems, sins, and struggles are shared, and Christ is encountered through the wounds, and comforting words of others?

Mountain tops to mothers

This morning I got the oppotunity to send off 16 of our teens and chaperones. They are headed for Wilderness Trek. This morning I talked about mountain top transformations, and how they were about to embark on an adventure and see sights that a very few of our population has ever seen.

I wish I could have gone, but a surgery about a year ago has limited me to the remain in the Great Plains. Maybe next year?!

I want to turn our attention to sitaution I encountered yesterday, a tragic situation. I have never heard a parent openly admit they have told thier children that they were tired of them, and would like to get rid of them. I confronted the mother, and asked if she realized what those words do a teenager, let alone anyone for that matter? She answered that she did not, but wasn’t willing to change her feelings. My heart sank with grief for the two teens who are in a home situation that is just awful. Thankfully, my wife and I have the opportunity to continue to provide a steady stream of love, and support when thier homelife takes a nose dive. I covet the prayers that come across this blog, pray for the family I’ve mentioned, and that God would make a way where there seems to be no way.

Won By One

I want to give a special thanks to the a capella group from Pepperdine Universtiy, Won by One who put on a live show for us last night at Fuqua park. Thier harmony, and lyrics were moving, and we had a decent turn out. About 140 plus came out last evening, to hear some great singing.

My wife, and I, along with the pulpit minister and his wife went to dinner with the group after the concert. They are a good group of college kids. We are kinda partial to the group, one of our former members is in the group, and he has grown a lot as a result of his time out at Pepperdine.

Check out thier website at www.pepperdine.edu/main

Of Note…

I can’t help but ramble on about camp. Twice during the day, first thing in the morning, and the last thing at night, the campers and the staff would gather around the flag pole out in front of camp, and we would sing, and listen to some great thoughts by some of the godliest men I have ever met.

But the singing at night, underneath the stars, no city lights, just the expanse of the heavens and us. The singing was extra special. It’s one of those moments that you’re glad you here, but the joy, and awe of the moment make you long for home.

Cellar singing. Who would have guessed it, but on one occasion I got to listen, and sing with the teens in the camp storm cellar. Talk about awesome acoustics. It was the most powerful, heartfelt singing I have ever heard. I couldn’t help get caught up in the emotion of the moment, and I wondered what worship was like for the first century church. If they often had to cramp into a tiny hidden room to worship freely? I am sure they did, but cramped spaces aside, praise and worship supercedes any discomfort or lack of a beautiful auditorium. We were there in that cellar united in Christ, and united in song.

Camp Memories

I have to be honest, I was a tad bit apprehensive about going to camp for two weeks. I have never been to camp, and had no idea what to expect. My experience during the last two weeks of camp exceeded any expectations that I did have.

week one:
This year out at camp Lu-Jo, a ropes course had been built to help promote group building, and the course was amazing. The high schoolers by the third day that week had become a very close knit group, and they were encouraging to watch cheer one another on. One young man stands out to me, as one of the highlights of my week. About midnight on Wednesday, three boys came over to my bunk to talk about Christ, and ask questions, by 1:30 am one of the boys having not yet been baptized was on the phone and tearfully, and joyfully sharing the goodnews to his dad about his decision and desire to put on Christ. I was blown away that God would allow me the opportunity to share the message of the Gospel even with one hungry young man. The week got better. One of my teen girls, no doubt stirred by the happenings of the week, was spiritually stirred to consider her life, and how to become right with God. Many prayers were answered as this teen girl who just a week before was borderline agnostic, accepted Jesus as her Savior and also put Christ on in baptism. Prayer changes things!

week two:
I was exhausted from week one, and after our first staff meeting, I was asking myself “what am I doing here?” But, I turned the reins over to Christ, and made myself His servant, and I was blown away at the opportunities God had given me to share Christ with teens. As I began to encounter the campers on Sunday, and into Monday, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to really get close to any of them, but just being there, and having fun with them allowed them to accept me into thier world, and five boys and another girl from my youth group were stirred to study the Scriptures, and I got to share Christ, and His love for them with them. All six of them responded to the life changing message of the Gospel, and I was blessed once again as I was asked to baptize all six them.

I am still in awe at the opportunites God presented to me these last two weeks. For the very thing I wanted to do as a brand new Christian, God is allowing me to do, and that is sharing Jesus Christ and Him crucified to teenagers. There is no other job I would want to have than to work with kids.

I have learned that being there, a positive attitude, a sense of humor, and prayer really do make a difference.

“Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for allowing me to be here in Oklahoma, and for the oppurunites that you presented me these last two weeks. I don’t understand how or why you allow someone like me to do things I get to do, but I thank you nonetheless.”

an amazing two weeks

Camp was an amazing two weeks. More on camp later! It’s good to be back.

Okay so, that wasn’t the last blog for two weeks…

I just couldn’t leave the office today without blogging one more time. I don’t know what has come over me, it’s like I am addicted to blogging or something. Do any of you know of a blog-a-holics meeting I can begin attending. “Hi, may name is Jason, and I am addicted to blogging.” Hmm, anyone reading this entry, is probably thinking, “that poor boy, has lost his mind.” Maybe I have, but then again, I do suspect that anyone that loves to spend time with Junior High kids is kind of nuts.

Until next blog, may His best be yours, and “let us keep our eyes on Jesus…”(Heb12:2).

The last blog for a couple of weeks

Today will be the last blog for a while. Saturday I am heading to camp for two weeks, and I won’t have access to a computer.

So pray for me.

Pray that all the bug stories aren’t true, or at least not as true as my teens have made them sound.

Pray that God would move in a special way these two weeks of camp.

Pray that God would help the teachers, and counselors prepare for their time at camp.

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I had to share this story about my little girl. Yesterday she turned 11 months. Where has the time gone? Jennifer called me yesterday after llunch to tell me that Rachel was brushing her own hair. She loves to have her hair brushed, and in her Bible class on Wednesday and Sunday, they sing a song about brushing your hair. I just amazing how much little ones are learning in class. Rachel can also say Bible, and I tried to push the envelop last night and see if would say church, she was trying I think she was making the “ch” sound, and then became interested in her reflection in the mirror. One month from now she will be one, and my folks, and Jen’s folks will be in for a week. We are looking forward to our visit, and celebrating Rachel’s first birthday.

Good Things…

Yesterday I had one of those conversations with one of my teens at church that youth ministers long for. The teen told me he needed to talk about something serious. He began his story with what I assumed would turn into a crisis of faith, but I was surprised by what happened next. He told me that for the first time since his baptism that “he knew Satan was at work in the world, and working in his world to try to get him to turn away from Jesus”, and then he said, “so I began to think about the cross, and I realized for the first time how personal Jesus’ death on the cross was for me”. It’s the moment that all youth ministers long for. When the months of ministry pay off. I wish each of my 60 or so teens would share in these grand moments, when they catch a gllimpse of Jesus that they had never seen, and because of His love they are transformed.