Week of Aug. 3rd to Aug. 9th
Hours:
8/2- VBS: 3 hours
8/3-VBS: 4 hours
8/3-Office Work/ Praise & Worship Prep: 2 hours
8/4: VBS Day Away: 3 Hours
8/4: Girls Sleepover @ house/Mentoring: all night
8/5: Community Lunch Program: 3 hours
8/5-: VBS Water Day: 3 Hours
8/6: Family Emergency
8/7: Youth Crisis/Family Counseling: 3 hours
8/9: Sunday Service/YG Pool Party/Counseling: 8 hours
Ministry
Vacation Bible School sums up our ministry work for this week. All the churches in Van Buren pool their resources together and do one VBS for the whole community. I absolutely love this. One thing that I am still getting used to us involving a teen curriculum for VBS. Heath and I were in charge of the teens. The curriculum we were given is for teens who have been in the church their whole life. We realized this last summer and saw how it flopped when using it with the teens in this community. We also realized that the teens loved coming last year but they dreaded the teaching portion of it all. It was if we roped them in and then trapped them once Bible Time came. No one wants to feel that way or put in that position. We also realized that they benefited more from the relationships we built with them than from the teaching. So this week we focused on activities and building trust with them before we taught anything. We taught by relationship and example. Thursday evening was the planned night that we would share why we do what we do and about Christ. Every night went well, but our week got cut short from a family crisis. Heath’s dad was rushed to the hospital Wednesday evening because of a stroke. Thursday and Friday we were not able to attend VBS. All is well with Heath’s dad now, it turns out that the stroke like effects were actually caused from the Wes Nile Virus believe it or not.
This past weekend we had two of our youth end up in the D home for theft. These were two separate situations. Friday night was when we got the call and we ended up meeting with all the parents involved. It was a complete shock to us. The second youth we found out about Monday after the fact. Both of these youth attended the mission’s trip as well. When we met with each of the youth we first let them know how much we love them and then how disappointed we were. We let them both know that we are there for them through this ordeal and we want nothing more from then to learn and grow from their mistakes. Both are now on house arrest.
Personal
These past three weeks have been non-stop! Somehow, I am surviving! Actually, it is all God. We have gone through so much this week with our ministry and family, but I am so full of peace, hope, and faith. Even though we have gone through great trials this week, I am not defeated. Christ’s presence is so strongly living in me. I am so thankful that our God is ever present in our lives and in our hearts. My prayer is that I stay strong in clinging to the cross. I realize that Satan is not happy with what God is doing in my life and the lives of my youth. Satan is attacking my youth hard but I will not allow him to win them over. I know that God is moving even stronger in their lives now. Sometimes we need to be brought down to our lowest point in order to see God.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Report #8
Week of July 27th to Aug 2nd
Hours:
24/7 Missions Trip from July 26th to July 31st
8/02 Sunday Morning/Sunday School/ VBS: 8 hours
Ministry
Missions trip!!! This whole week was all about serving! I am praising God for the great work He has done in the YouthWorks Ministries Cincinnati and the lives of all the youth that attended. Honestly, one could not ask for a better week of change in a youth group. All of my youth did a beautiful job of serving where they were placed. We met up with four other groups—two Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina. In just one week all of the youth bonded together in friendship and teamwork. Every site that my kids were placed at was just what they needed. During the days we would be split off into different ministry sites. I was the leader for the Boys and Girls Club site in Over the Rhine (the worst city in the U.S. right now for crime rate). Others were placed at YMCA’s, Nursing Homes, and other children’s outreach ministries. I wish I could tell of every single story but it would just be so much writing. I’ll break it down to these two categories: What I learned as a Youth Pastor Leading a Missions Trip& What I saw God do through my youth.
What I learned as a Youth Pastor Leading a Missions Trip
I have been on five mission’s trips. Not one of them have I led. This was my first one. My mindset in going on my previous trips was this, “God has to teach me something from this experience, so prepare for it.” I’d also remind myself that, “Although God wants to use me to minister to others, that He uses those I minister to, to minister to me right back.” This trip is completely different. I went into this trip knowing that I was an enabler to make sure my youth group experienced what it means to serve and how God wants to use them. What I learned from this experience is this:
1. Make the most out of every experience. Being a leader means that you have see each situation for what it is and make the most out of it. Being the leader of the Boys & Girls Club I had to teach my youth how to minister to others by making the most of each experience. If the kids at the club wanted them to go swimming, then go swimming! This is where I taught them to…
2. Break comfort zones. Janet White (main trip leader) and I prayed over where we would place our youth. Each site they were placed at was to use their gifts but to also put them out of their comfort zones a bit. As a minister, it is our job to give our flock a good push and a stretch. That is how they make their muscles!
3. Encourage, Encourage, Encourage! Our youth need positive reinforcement and so much encouragement. I made sure that they knew how proud of them I was. I made sure that their works did not go unnoticed. I made sure that they knew they had a support system with all that they did.
What I saw God do through My Youth
God is so good. God is so incredible. I was a bit worried for some of my youth that were going on this trip because their experiences and home lives were not that far off from that of those we were ministering to. I was a bit apprehensive that putting them in these situations may just pour salt on wounds. Well, there is a reason why Christ says not worry or be anxious! These youth found meaning in their brokenness. Our Great Redeemer began to restore my youth because they could relate to the broken. Every night we would have church group time and each one was incredible. My youth grew closer as they cried and shared about what God was doing in their life each day. They would share stories from the missions sites and how deep their love was for those they worked with. God moved in such a real way. I prayed specifically for each youth on the trip and God answered every one of those prayers.
Personal
Spiritually, I am energized but physically I am tired. I know the weeks ahead of me are going to be long because we have VBS this week (Aug. 2nd to the 7th) and then the town Popcorn Festival is the week afterwards. I am allowing God to be my energy and my push. I just feel so blessed to be a youth pastor. As hard as it is at times, I get to see lives changed. God lets me be part of His GREAT Work. What an honor and a joy but also a blessing and a burden. As I warned my youth the last night of the trip that Satan is not too happy with where we are all at—pointing towards God and growing in Him. Satan is going to do all he can to pull us away and trip us up. I also told them that the mission trip starts when they get home—that they need to apply what they have learned and live out the life change that God has done in their lives.
Hours:
24/7 Missions Trip from July 26th to July 31st
8/02 Sunday Morning/Sunday School/ VBS: 8 hours
Ministry
Missions trip!!! This whole week was all about serving! I am praising God for the great work He has done in the YouthWorks Ministries Cincinnati and the lives of all the youth that attended. Honestly, one could not ask for a better week of change in a youth group. All of my youth did a beautiful job of serving where they were placed. We met up with four other groups—two Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina. In just one week all of the youth bonded together in friendship and teamwork. Every site that my kids were placed at was just what they needed. During the days we would be split off into different ministry sites. I was the leader for the Boys and Girls Club site in Over the Rhine (the worst city in the U.S. right now for crime rate). Others were placed at YMCA’s, Nursing Homes, and other children’s outreach ministries. I wish I could tell of every single story but it would just be so much writing. I’ll break it down to these two categories: What I learned as a Youth Pastor Leading a Missions Trip& What I saw God do through my youth.
What I learned as a Youth Pastor Leading a Missions Trip
I have been on five mission’s trips. Not one of them have I led. This was my first one. My mindset in going on my previous trips was this, “God has to teach me something from this experience, so prepare for it.” I’d also remind myself that, “Although God wants to use me to minister to others, that He uses those I minister to, to minister to me right back.” This trip is completely different. I went into this trip knowing that I was an enabler to make sure my youth group experienced what it means to serve and how God wants to use them. What I learned from this experience is this:
1. Make the most out of every experience. Being a leader means that you have see each situation for what it is and make the most out of it. Being the leader of the Boys & Girls Club I had to teach my youth how to minister to others by making the most of each experience. If the kids at the club wanted them to go swimming, then go swimming! This is where I taught them to…
2. Break comfort zones. Janet White (main trip leader) and I prayed over where we would place our youth. Each site they were placed at was to use their gifts but to also put them out of their comfort zones a bit. As a minister, it is our job to give our flock a good push and a stretch. That is how they make their muscles!
3. Encourage, Encourage, Encourage! Our youth need positive reinforcement and so much encouragement. I made sure that they knew how proud of them I was. I made sure that their works did not go unnoticed. I made sure that they knew they had a support system with all that they did.
What I saw God do through My Youth
God is so good. God is so incredible. I was a bit worried for some of my youth that were going on this trip because their experiences and home lives were not that far off from that of those we were ministering to. I was a bit apprehensive that putting them in these situations may just pour salt on wounds. Well, there is a reason why Christ says not worry or be anxious! These youth found meaning in their brokenness. Our Great Redeemer began to restore my youth because they could relate to the broken. Every night we would have church group time and each one was incredible. My youth grew closer as they cried and shared about what God was doing in their life each day. They would share stories from the missions sites and how deep their love was for those they worked with. God moved in such a real way. I prayed specifically for each youth on the trip and God answered every one of those prayers.
Personal
Spiritually, I am energized but physically I am tired. I know the weeks ahead of me are going to be long because we have VBS this week (Aug. 2nd to the 7th) and then the town Popcorn Festival is the week afterwards. I am allowing God to be my energy and my push. I just feel so blessed to be a youth pastor. As hard as it is at times, I get to see lives changed. God lets me be part of His GREAT Work. What an honor and a joy but also a blessing and a burden. As I warned my youth the last night of the trip that Satan is not too happy with where we are all at—pointing towards God and growing in Him. Satan is going to do all he can to pull us away and trip us up. I also told them that the mission trip starts when they get home—that they need to apply what they have learned and live out the life change that God has done in their lives.
Report #7
Week of July 20th to July 26th
Hours:
7/20- Office Work/Planning: 4 hours
7/21- Mission's Team Meeting/Bible Study: 2 hours
7/22-Counseling: 1 hour
7/22- Community Lunch Program: 2 hours
7/22-Goodwill Run/Mentoring/Hang Out Time: 5 hours
7/26-Sunday Morning/Worship/Missions Trip: 12 hours+ (First Day of Missions Trip)
Ministry
Ministering this week involved a lot of planning and coordinating. I was still able to keep my counseling relationships amidst the busy schedule. Counseling is truly the highlight of my week. I could go into much detail about all the planning, but I think you’d all get the point. It involved making calls to parents, organizing all the documents for the trip, putting together songs & scripture for Sunday morning service, and meeting with the mission’s team. We met twice this week, once for a meeting and once for a supply/packing run to Goodwill. I am so glad that I have met once a week with the team before we went to the mission’s trip. Preparing their hearts is so crucial to a good experience on the trip.
Personal
My life this week has been extremely busy with preparing for the missions trip. Every night is packed full of getting supplies for the missions trip, meeting with the team and other regular ministry activities. I know that in these times that Satan likes to come in and pounce on my weak busy condition but I will not allow that to happen. All I have been doing is coating this trip in prayer. I know that this is nothing I can do on my own strength but God’s. It is He is doing the work through me to lead and guide others. It is He is moves hearts and melts the stone around them. What a joy it is suffer for that. As a crazy as it sounds, it’s a joy. God worked in such an incredible way on Sunday morning as it was our sending off service for the missions team. It was one of those service’s that you could not help but feel the Holy Spirit. What a blessing it is to have such a giving body of believers; Not only giving of their wealth but giving of their souls. It was a great sending off for our team. My prayer for the missions trip is that God moves in such a real way for all the youth who will be serving. It is through serving that we truly see Christ and understand that it means to be like him.
Hours:
7/20- Office Work/Planning: 4 hours
7/21- Mission's Team Meeting/Bible Study: 2 hours
7/22-Counseling: 1 hour
7/22- Community Lunch Program: 2 hours
7/22-Goodwill Run/Mentoring/Hang Out Time: 5 hours
7/26-Sunday Morning/Worship/Missions Trip: 12 hours+ (First Day of Missions Trip)
Ministry
Ministering this week involved a lot of planning and coordinating. I was still able to keep my counseling relationships amidst the busy schedule. Counseling is truly the highlight of my week. I could go into much detail about all the planning, but I think you’d all get the point. It involved making calls to parents, organizing all the documents for the trip, putting together songs & scripture for Sunday morning service, and meeting with the mission’s team. We met twice this week, once for a meeting and once for a supply/packing run to Goodwill. I am so glad that I have met once a week with the team before we went to the mission’s trip. Preparing their hearts is so crucial to a good experience on the trip.
Personal
My life this week has been extremely busy with preparing for the missions trip. Every night is packed full of getting supplies for the missions trip, meeting with the team and other regular ministry activities. I know that in these times that Satan likes to come in and pounce on my weak busy condition but I will not allow that to happen. All I have been doing is coating this trip in prayer. I know that this is nothing I can do on my own strength but God’s. It is He is doing the work through me to lead and guide others. It is He is moves hearts and melts the stone around them. What a joy it is suffer for that. As a crazy as it sounds, it’s a joy. God worked in such an incredible way on Sunday morning as it was our sending off service for the missions team. It was one of those service’s that you could not help but feel the Holy Spirit. What a blessing it is to have such a giving body of believers; Not only giving of their wealth but giving of their souls. It was a great sending off for our team. My prayer for the missions trip is that God moves in such a real way for all the youth who will be serving. It is through serving that we truly see Christ and understand that it means to be like him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
