Report 3

Ministry/Personal Reflection

Culture Shock!
I had a great week of ministry with my the youth. Last week was 4-H fair week. Basically 90% of our youth group are involved in 4-H! Being the city slicker that I am (hailing from Chicago and Indianapolis area) this is a whole new world for me. When Heath and I began working with this church a little over a year ago, I remember thinking, 'How am I going to relate to their environment?!" Now, I can say that I have been to a 4-H fair, been to numerous farms (pig, horse, chicken, turkey, cows...etc), and understand that the ways of country folk! Learning about a new world and culture has been an incredibly fun and exciting experience. A few weeks ago Michaela, one of our students, showed me around her pig farm. She sat back in amazement and laughed at how little I knew about pigs. That was my first time really being around pigs! Let me tell you, those creatures are huge!


Trusting God
I never would have imagined that God would use me in this culture because of my lack of experience and knowledge. But I realize that God doesn't take us to places we already know everything about. God takes us to places where we need to learn and be humbled. I have been humbled and taught so much since being at Central Christian. God has truly affirmed that the only plans that I should make in life involve making plans to listen to where He is calling me. If I had it my way (which I know I shouldn't) I would not be working at a church until after I graduated. Yet, like a good Father, He knows what is best for me (even if I am being the kicking and screaming toddler trying to get her way!)It all comes down to trusting in God. It comes down to knowing Him and being in a relationship with Him.


Bonding Time
So this past week was a great time of bonding for our youth group (summer is all just being and hanging out). Heath has been moved to 3rd shift (11pm to 7am) which has been another blessing. He is now able to hang out with the youth during the week. As I talked about in my last blog, not having Heath around is difficult. Yet, I appreciated him so much more this past week knowing what it felt like not having him around. We went to the 4-H fair three times, a couple baseball games, and held a small group Bible study for our worship team.

Worship Team
God has been challenging Heath and I with how to lead a group of students to do a worship team. All throughout our youth group days, we led worship. Now, we are instilling that knowledge into out youth. However, we were not planning to start a worship band anytime soon. Yet, some of our musically gifted teens keep prodding us to start one. Heath and I were very hesitant at first and here were our reasons:

1. Intentions/Motives: were their intentions for starting a worship band for the sake of the youth ministry/worshiping God or for self-glorification
2. Knowledge/Experience: none of the students have done it before
3. Readiness: our youth group has never had a worship band and therefore are not familiar with "worship time"

So this is what God has led us to do: Allow them to sink or swim but provide life vests! We have really let them "do their thing" on one condition, they must attend a weekly Bible study. By doing this they are proving their commitment to the worship team. We are watching how faithful they are in showing up, discussing, and putting into the Bible study time. We are also watching their attitudes, their witness, etc. God has blessed this process so beautifully. Last week was our first small group time. Right now we are going through Dr. Drury's book, Unveiled Faces, which focuses on spiritual disciplines. Our thoughts, by going through spiritual disciplines, the outflow/result will be worship. We can teach them all about what worship is and how to go about it. But if they do not understand and have a relationship with the one they are worshiping then the rest is useless.


Spiritual Reflection
I am learning more about listening to God, particularly listening on what I need to work on in becoming who He intends me to be. Being a minister is such a humbling experience. Our lives are truly on display. Everything we say and do is observed. This can make you or break you spiritually. I am learning to take constructive criticism and plan criticism, it is difficult for me. I have realized just how much I take what others thoughts, feelings, and perspectives are about me. I realize that this can be dangerous if I let them define me. God has been teaching me that I must only allow Him to define me. Also, I am bound to make mistakes, I am human. I am not going to be perfect at ministry. But their is beauty in brokenness. I am embracing the fact that God covers our imperfections.
Going through the spiritual disciplines with our worship team is going to be an amazing experience. This week we are doing the spiritual discipline of fasting. Right now I am experiencing and doing that discipline. It is incredible how fasting truly sets our perspective on life and especially on God. In my physical weak state, I am humbled by hunger. My physical hunger and my spiritual. I realize just how much more I need God. I am suddenly aware of my spiritual dehydration and malnutrition. I need to drink deeply from God's Spirit and consume more of His truth, His word.




Hours for the Week of June 22 to 28th:

4-H/Activities/Hanging out ( 12 hours)

Pastoral Counseling (2 hours)

Community Lunch Program (3 hours)

Church Time/Office Hours/Preparation (8 hours)

total: 25hours