Week of July 13th to 19th
7/13- E. Chicago Fundraiser: 7 hours
7/15-Worship Band Bible Study: 2 hours
7/15-Counseling: 1 hour
7/15-Lunch Program/Office Work: 5 hours
7/16-Mentoring/Hang Out Time: 5 hours
7/16- Mission's Team Meeting/Bible Study: 2 hours
7/19-Sunday Morning/Worship/Youth Group: 8 hours
Ministry
Missions Trip
God is so good. He is the Great Provider. We have raised ALL of the money for the missions trip! Praise God! Not one of the youth have to put down their own money towards the trip! We raised $3300! ($300 per student). I am just so thankful. Also, the meeting this week went so well. I got them all journals to start writing in. We went through the book of Ephesians focusing on chapters 2 and 5. I talked about how God has taken us from death to life. We were once dead spiritually, but when Christ came into our lives we were made alive. If we saw someone arise from the dead, would we not share that with others? Of course! One of the main reasons for going on a missions trip is to share how God wants to bring us all to life. I also taught from chapter 5 on how we are to rid ourselves of all sin...we must be a fragrant offering. We are to be a light in the darkness, a sweet smell amongst that stink! Living in sin is like keeping on our stinky grave clothes. This week I want them to prayer journal about this. They are to answer the question, "What sin is keeping me in darkness?" Also, "What sin does God want to rid me of?" Then they were to read all of Ephesians and write down what God was speaking to them through it.
Counseling/Mentoring/Hanging Out
This week I had a good time in my counseling relationships. She is making great progress. On Thursday, I took on of the girls from my youth group shopping with me in Ft. Wayne (I was looking for a dress for my One year wedding anniversary!). The Sunday before, she had a break down with me during youth group over the death of her grandmother this past spring. She was extremely close with her grandmother. Before she came to youth group, she stopped at her grave for the first time. The idea of her grandmother being under dirt mortified her and broke her down. When I asked her what was wrong she began sobbing uncontrollably and kept saying over and over again. "Her body is in the dirt, in dirt!"
What could I do? I let her cry. I hugged her. I would try and say something but realized that I was to say nothing...she needed someone to listen to her. Dealing with loss is never easy and there is no set way on how to cope. As a minister, I realized that I must be so in tune with God in how to be the comforter in that situation. I am not to take away their grief, but guide them in the grieving process. In this situation...she needed someone to care and listen. So on our shopping trip....we had a great time of bonding and she was able to talk about what was going on in her life...like she did with her grandmother.
Personal
We had such a busy week. Heath preached this Sunday and we led worship (our pianists are both in the hospital). We ran all of the worship service in the morning and then had youth group at night. It took a lot out of us.
What was difficult for me was that it was our one year anniversary on Sunday. We celebrated Friday and Saturday...but I am sentimental...I would have liked to celebrate on the actual day. I realized that being a minister...I do not always get the luxury of having the days off that I would like to. I have to let go of sentiments in a way. God is working on me with that.
But, I am just so thankful for the work God is doing in the ministry of our church. He is giving me such a passion for Van Buren...especially their youth. I want to start a youth center in the middle of town...not sure of how that is going to work out but I know He will make a way.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Report #5
Week of July 6th to 12th:
Schedule:
7/7-Missions Trip Meeting: 1.5hours
7/7-Varsity Grill Karaoke: 3.5hours
7/8-Free Lunch Program: 3 hours
7/8-Office Time:2 hours
7/8-Worship Team Bible Study: 2 hours
7/9-Mentoring/Counseling: 2 hours
7/9-12-prepare sermon: 2 hours
7/12-Sunday Service/Sunday School/Youth Group: 6 hours
Personal & Spiritual
This week was a bit difficult for me being that I was fighting off sickness. Due to my irregular sleep patterns, my body has taken a toll. Despite my physical weakness, I still must allow God minister through me.
I found strength and solace in my time of solitude and silence with God. Jesus told us that we do not live on bread alone, but on the Word of God. That is where I got my energy and empowerment to do what He has called me to do.
Ministry
Counseling Relationship
As I have said before God has given me such a passion for counseling! This week I had a difficult time of scheduling our time to meet. I know she is enjoying this time of counseling, but I sense the enemy trying to keep her as far away from this experience and time of growth as possible. That is why prayer is so crucial (as it is in all aspects of our ministry....prayer is the foundation). While I am driving to pick her up, I pray. While we are talking, I pray.
Missions Trip
As the mission trip approaches, the busier I get. The church wants us to raise as much money as possible. It seems like they want us to raise all of it. I understand as many attending the trip come from tight financial situations. I trust that God is going to provide and make a way for us all. We have one last fundraiser Monday, the 13th at East of Chicago pizza. I am hoping that will bring in the rest of our money!
Along with fund raising, I have been working on all the forms, sending them in, and preparing Bible studies for the group. This weeks meeting focused on information about the trip. Next week, we will begin our Bible study.
Janet White, missions trip leader from the other church we are teaming up with, let me know that I can pick one other student to go on the trip for free. After I gave me sermon, I felt God leading me to one student in particular. He said he had been wanting to go but did not know he would pay for it. Praise God...he is going on the trip.
Preaching
I will be leading the preaching the next couple weeks since Heath will be preaching Sunday mornings. This week I used a Nooma video to jump start my sermon. The sermon was about being a sold-out Christian...not one that just shows up every week on Sundays, but one who is pursuing God and allowing God to change them. This means, that our hearts begin to beat with God's, our passions become His passions. They all were attentive and seemed effected by what God was speaking through me.
Schedule:
7/7-Missions Trip Meeting: 1.5hours
7/7-Varsity Grill Karaoke: 3.5hours
7/8-Free Lunch Program: 3 hours
7/8-Office Time:2 hours
7/8-Worship Team Bible Study: 2 hours
7/9-Mentoring/Counseling: 2 hours
7/9-12-prepare sermon: 2 hours
7/12-Sunday Service/Sunday School/Youth Group: 6 hours
Personal & Spiritual
This week was a bit difficult for me being that I was fighting off sickness. Due to my irregular sleep patterns, my body has taken a toll. Despite my physical weakness, I still must allow God minister through me.
I found strength and solace in my time of solitude and silence with God. Jesus told us that we do not live on bread alone, but on the Word of God. That is where I got my energy and empowerment to do what He has called me to do.
Ministry
Counseling Relationship
As I have said before God has given me such a passion for counseling! This week I had a difficult time of scheduling our time to meet. I know she is enjoying this time of counseling, but I sense the enemy trying to keep her as far away from this experience and time of growth as possible. That is why prayer is so crucial (as it is in all aspects of our ministry....prayer is the foundation). While I am driving to pick her up, I pray. While we are talking, I pray.
Missions Trip
As the mission trip approaches, the busier I get. The church wants us to raise as much money as possible. It seems like they want us to raise all of it. I understand as many attending the trip come from tight financial situations. I trust that God is going to provide and make a way for us all. We have one last fundraiser Monday, the 13th at East of Chicago pizza. I am hoping that will bring in the rest of our money!
Along with fund raising, I have been working on all the forms, sending them in, and preparing Bible studies for the group. This weeks meeting focused on information about the trip. Next week, we will begin our Bible study.
Janet White, missions trip leader from the other church we are teaming up with, let me know that I can pick one other student to go on the trip for free. After I gave me sermon, I felt God leading me to one student in particular. He said he had been wanting to go but did not know he would pay for it. Praise God...he is going on the trip.
Preaching
I will be leading the preaching the next couple weeks since Heath will be preaching Sunday mornings. This week I used a Nooma video to jump start my sermon. The sermon was about being a sold-out Christian...not one that just shows up every week on Sundays, but one who is pursuing God and allowing God to change them. This means, that our hearts begin to beat with God's, our passions become His passions. They all were attentive and seemed effected by what God was speaking through me.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Report 4
Timing is Off
Since Heath started third shift, I have been unable to sleep during the night. It started out as me being a scaredy cat not used to being alone, especially in Marion. Now, I am on Heath's schedule: staying up all early morning, going to bed at 7am and waking up around 3pm. Yet, some days I have to wake up earlier than that because of counseling appointments with youth, church activities, and time spent in the office. Right now, it is 5:30 in the morning, and I am WIDE awake. So, I am trying to make the best of this new sleeping schedule, but it is taking a toll on my physical health as well as how I used to go about my summer days.
Despite the awkward schedule...
Sports Ministry?
We had another successful week with the youth group. Sunday, June 28th was our Softball Sunday but due to occupied fields we ended up playing kickball. Whenever we walk town to the softball diamonds or the elementary school fields to play a game, we bring in so many more kids and teens from the community. These areas are central spots. We realized this last summer. It is such a great way for the un-churched or non-churchgoers to realize that we are not all that different from them. We'll get kids that are rough around the edges (cussing, bad attitudes, etc.) but they quickly learn there is no need for that. Heath and I as well as the youth group always enjoy these times (we have such a competitive and athletic group!)
This past Sunday, July 5th, we played Ultimate Frisbee as our last activity for the youth evening. Our group has come a LONG way with this game. Heath and I realized that this is more of college age played game than it is for teenagers. Yet, they have grown to like/ove it very much! This week, due to lack of sleep on Heath and I's part, we did the game after worship time and the message. We know this is generally not a good idea since they need to get their energy out before sitting and listening to a sermon, but they did pretty good!
Worship Band
Last week we had our second meeting with the worship band at Ivanhoes (yes, it was glorious...). In this meeting we discussed our experience with our time of fasting. Everyone was successful in this discipline. They realized how much our bodies depend on food whether we need it or just feel like eating it. This was all of theirs first time fasting. What we hoped they will gain from this experience again is to use that time to focus on God. Many of them did not set aside designated time during the fast to be with God.
Being that it is summer, it is so hard to get everyone together. There were only two members (out of the four) that showed up for practice and youth group this past Sunday. These two are the ones that really started the worship team and their own band. They are improving, but they have a LONG way to go. Heath and I try to let them do it all on their own, but when they ask for advice, we give it to them. I advised the worship singer/leader to not fill time between songs with meaningless chit-chat and drawn attention to himself (I did not word it like that, though!) Instead, I advised him to fill that time with silence, prayer, explanation of the next song, or scripture. It seems more like a concert than a time of worship when they are up rambling. Also, they like to play one of their band songs (not worship songs) at the beginning to show off their newest and latest song. I suggested that they consider holding off band songs for special youth groups and not every single one. A lot of the teens told me they were confused if it was worship time or not. I think by not having them have personal band time will lessen the confusion and ease the whole worship time transition in general.
Counseling Time
God, I praise you for what you are doing through this counseling relationship. Thank You for speaking through me to speak to your beloved daughter.
Last week, I had a wonderful time with the girl I have been counseling/mentoring. She as come such a LONG way this past month. I do not want to give the details in respect of her privacy and our counseling relationship, but I will say that she has grown SO MUCH. She is hungering after God. She is realizing the footholds that Satan has in her life. She is asking questions that not even our consistent, long-time devoted youth are even asking. God is revealing Himself to her and showing her what reality is. I am so thankful that I get to be a part of this process. Through this God has confirmed my passion for counseling and mentoring. I look forward to the time counseling her more than anything in the week. God and I are so in tune that I can literally feel His presence with me.
Hang Out Time
As usual, we spent time at softball games. They are wonderful times to just be with our teens. However, we are not sad to see the season winding down. They involve a lot of driving around and coordinating schedules.
Another good time of hanging out was at the Varsity Grill in Marion. Every Tuesday from 5 to 9 they have karaoke. Our youth have really enjoyed this time!
Board Meeting Sunday
Sunday morning we attended the monthly board meeting. I realize that I have blogged a great deal! I could get into all the details of this meeting, but for the sake of whoever reads this, I will put it in a nutshell. Like all other board meetings/elder meetings, this is a time where we play catch up with what is going on in the church (health concerns, ministries, missions trips, fundraisers, personal lives...). I prepared information on where we are at with the missions trip to Cincy at the end of the month (funds, meetings, students, etc.). After that the rest of the meeting got into a discussion about setting up another outreach event--there was a debate between how to collect money for it and how to give this time to prayer and consideration. What I gained from this experience was how little our church leaders pray. Their focus was on the financial aspect than on God's prompting and leading. Heath and I even spoke up on this matter and it seemed to go completely through one ear and out the other. These next four weeks Heath and I will be preaching and leading services since our senior pastor will be away on his honeymoon. We have made a vow to cover these services in prayer as well as ourselves.
Hours for June 29th to July 5th
Hang Out/Extracurricular Activities-6 hours
Pastoral Counseling- 2 hours
Preparation Sunday- 4 hours
Board Meeting- 1.5hours
Sunday Services/Youth Group-4 hours
Personal/Spiritual Reflection
This schedule is really throwing me off. I am not sure how to discipline myself on this schedule spiritually. I feel weak and tired quite often. Right now if not a good time for me to reflect because that is now what I am feeling! I know that the time of fasting was truly good for me in realizing how much more I need God. As I guide, counsel, and direct others, I am constantly reminding of how much more I need to spend time with Him. My prayer for this week as I spend time in silence is truly listening to how God wants me to spend more time with Him.
Since Heath started third shift, I have been unable to sleep during the night. It started out as me being a scaredy cat not used to being alone, especially in Marion. Now, I am on Heath's schedule: staying up all early morning, going to bed at 7am and waking up around 3pm. Yet, some days I have to wake up earlier than that because of counseling appointments with youth, church activities, and time spent in the office. Right now, it is 5:30 in the morning, and I am WIDE awake. So, I am trying to make the best of this new sleeping schedule, but it is taking a toll on my physical health as well as how I used to go about my summer days.
Despite the awkward schedule...
Sports Ministry?
We had another successful week with the youth group. Sunday, June 28th was our Softball Sunday but due to occupied fields we ended up playing kickball. Whenever we walk town to the softball diamonds or the elementary school fields to play a game, we bring in so many more kids and teens from the community. These areas are central spots. We realized this last summer. It is such a great way for the un-churched or non-churchgoers to realize that we are not all that different from them. We'll get kids that are rough around the edges (cussing, bad attitudes, etc.) but they quickly learn there is no need for that. Heath and I as well as the youth group always enjoy these times (we have such a competitive and athletic group!)
This past Sunday, July 5th, we played Ultimate Frisbee as our last activity for the youth evening. Our group has come a LONG way with this game. Heath and I realized that this is more of college age played game than it is for teenagers. Yet, they have grown to like/ove it very much! This week, due to lack of sleep on Heath and I's part, we did the game after worship time and the message. We know this is generally not a good idea since they need to get their energy out before sitting and listening to a sermon, but they did pretty good!
Worship Band
Last week we had our second meeting with the worship band at Ivanhoes (yes, it was glorious...). In this meeting we discussed our experience with our time of fasting. Everyone was successful in this discipline. They realized how much our bodies depend on food whether we need it or just feel like eating it. This was all of theirs first time fasting. What we hoped they will gain from this experience again is to use that time to focus on God. Many of them did not set aside designated time during the fast to be with God.
Being that it is summer, it is so hard to get everyone together. There were only two members (out of the four) that showed up for practice and youth group this past Sunday. These two are the ones that really started the worship team and their own band. They are improving, but they have a LONG way to go. Heath and I try to let them do it all on their own, but when they ask for advice, we give it to them. I advised the worship singer/leader to not fill time between songs with meaningless chit-chat and drawn attention to himself (I did not word it like that, though!) Instead, I advised him to fill that time with silence, prayer, explanation of the next song, or scripture. It seems more like a concert than a time of worship when they are up rambling. Also, they like to play one of their band songs (not worship songs) at the beginning to show off their newest and latest song. I suggested that they consider holding off band songs for special youth groups and not every single one. A lot of the teens told me they were confused if it was worship time or not. I think by not having them have personal band time will lessen the confusion and ease the whole worship time transition in general.
Counseling Time
God, I praise you for what you are doing through this counseling relationship. Thank You for speaking through me to speak to your beloved daughter.
Last week, I had a wonderful time with the girl I have been counseling/mentoring. She as come such a LONG way this past month. I do not want to give the details in respect of her privacy and our counseling relationship, but I will say that she has grown SO MUCH. She is hungering after God. She is realizing the footholds that Satan has in her life. She is asking questions that not even our consistent, long-time devoted youth are even asking. God is revealing Himself to her and showing her what reality is. I am so thankful that I get to be a part of this process. Through this God has confirmed my passion for counseling and mentoring. I look forward to the time counseling her more than anything in the week. God and I are so in tune that I can literally feel His presence with me.
Hang Out Time
As usual, we spent time at softball games. They are wonderful times to just be with our teens. However, we are not sad to see the season winding down. They involve a lot of driving around and coordinating schedules.
Another good time of hanging out was at the Varsity Grill in Marion. Every Tuesday from 5 to 9 they have karaoke. Our youth have really enjoyed this time!
Board Meeting Sunday
Sunday morning we attended the monthly board meeting. I realize that I have blogged a great deal! I could get into all the details of this meeting, but for the sake of whoever reads this, I will put it in a nutshell. Like all other board meetings/elder meetings, this is a time where we play catch up with what is going on in the church (health concerns, ministries, missions trips, fundraisers, personal lives...). I prepared information on where we are at with the missions trip to Cincy at the end of the month (funds, meetings, students, etc.). After that the rest of the meeting got into a discussion about setting up another outreach event--there was a debate between how to collect money for it and how to give this time to prayer and consideration. What I gained from this experience was how little our church leaders pray. Their focus was on the financial aspect than on God's prompting and leading. Heath and I even spoke up on this matter and it seemed to go completely through one ear and out the other. These next four weeks Heath and I will be preaching and leading services since our senior pastor will be away on his honeymoon. We have made a vow to cover these services in prayer as well as ourselves.
Hours for June 29th to July 5th
Hang Out/Extracurricular Activities-6 hours
Pastoral Counseling- 2 hours
Preparation Sunday- 4 hours
Board Meeting- 1.5hours
Sunday Services/Youth Group-4 hours
Personal/Spiritual Reflection
This schedule is really throwing me off. I am not sure how to discipline myself on this schedule spiritually. I feel weak and tired quite often. Right now if not a good time for me to reflect because that is now what I am feeling! I know that the time of fasting was truly good for me in realizing how much more I need God. As I guide, counsel, and direct others, I am constantly reminding of how much more I need to spend time with Him. My prayer for this week as I spend time in silence is truly listening to how God wants me to spend more time with Him.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
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
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Report #2
So I have been horrible with blogging...
I have much to talk about and share, though!
Personal/Spiritual Reflection
I have truly experienced being a full-time youth pastor (with the part-time pay!). Heath, my husband, and I are co-youth pastoring at Central Christian Church which means this: He writes the sermons and gives them...I do the planning/organizing. It works, too! We do what we are naturally good at or what comes more natural to us. Heath can write a good, solid sermon in 30minutes flat (although he puts more time into sermons!) and it will take me weeks...when it comes to planning..it takes Heath much longer when planning/organizing is like breathing to me.
This past month God has challenged me to do what I am not comfortable with....writing sermons and dealing with confrontation. Heath has a full-time job which has switched him to second shift (3pm to 11pm)and sometimes asked to work Sunday evenings (our youth group time). I have had to step up my game! God is teaching me...
1. What I need to work on as a minister
2. What it feels like to do ministry alone
3. What to do when you haven't a clue
1. What I need to work on...
1. Sermon Preparation
I know that God has given me the ability to preach. I know that He has called me to preach. However, my confidence in my abilities is low...mainly in my preparing abilities. I fear that I lack knowledge and understanding. I am so worried about messing up or not giving the right information that I lose sight of the calling altogether: to preach God's word to His lost children.
2. Patience, Perspective, Peace
I love children and teenagers. I love learning about their lives and spending time with them. Yet, when I am in "go-mode" for putting on a fundraiser, getting everyone to listen, organizing an event, etc. I have learned that they take A LOT of work to bring all together as I a group. This is where patience, perspective, and peace of mind come into play. I realized when I was running the Spaghetti Dinner Theater Show that I lost my patience, perspective and peace of mind when they were not listening or cooperating.
3. Poured Into.
My tank is running on E...which takes a lot. I need to be poured into. How do I do that...continually read the Word, be in God's presence and be with His church. I rarely get to BE WITH His Body because I am also running Children's Church on Sunday mornings. My husband and I are looking into getting a young adult bible study together or joining one at College Wesleyan.
2. What it feels like to do ministry alone:
1. Without my ministry partner:
I confirm that Heath is my other half...I do not like doing ministry without him. Together, we are complete. These past few weeks without him have been challenging. But there has been wonderful growth out of the challenges.
2. Without my sponsors:
Most of our sponsors are college students who have gone home for the summer. The others have been busy visiting families and going on vacations. I realize just how much we cannot do youth ministry without our sponsors. One Sunday, it was me and 26 students! YIKES!
We were not called to do ministry alone. These past weeks have definitely confirmed that!
3. What do when haven't a clue:
In these past few weeks I have dealt with situations that no youth class or Christian ministries class could have prepared me for. I mean BIG! In the same week I dealt with a sexual harassment case where I had to deal with two families and youth as well as well as a pregnancy crisis. Needless to say, in both situations God's grace and wisdom was with me. I knew that I could not deal with either situation without His guidance. Both situations have shaken our youth group, but have not destroyed it.
Breakdown of Hours throughout the weeks:
May 25th through May 31st
-East of Chicago Fundraiser (6 hours)
-Preparing for Youth Group (3 hours)
-Extracurricular activities/being with youth (4 hours)
June 1st through the 7th
-preparing for youth fundraiser (3 hours)
-extracurricular activities/being with youth (4 hours)
-Preparing for youth Sunday (3 hours)
June 8th through the 14th
-fundraiser practice everynight (8 to 10 hours)
-day of fundraiser (9 hours)
-preparing for youth group (2 hours)
-counseling/intervention (2 hours)
June 15th through the 21st
-Karaeoke Tuesday (4 hours)
-Counseling (3 hours)
-Preparing for Youth Sunday (1 hour)
-Extracurricular activities/ 4-H/ Hanging Out (5 to 7 hours)
I have much to talk about and share, though!
Personal/Spiritual Reflection
I have truly experienced being a full-time youth pastor (with the part-time pay!). Heath, my husband, and I are co-youth pastoring at Central Christian Church which means this: He writes the sermons and gives them...I do the planning/organizing. It works, too! We do what we are naturally good at or what comes more natural to us. Heath can write a good, solid sermon in 30minutes flat (although he puts more time into sermons!) and it will take me weeks...when it comes to planning..it takes Heath much longer when planning/organizing is like breathing to me.
This past month God has challenged me to do what I am not comfortable with....writing sermons and dealing with confrontation. Heath has a full-time job which has switched him to second shift (3pm to 11pm)and sometimes asked to work Sunday evenings (our youth group time). I have had to step up my game! God is teaching me...
1. What I need to work on as a minister
2. What it feels like to do ministry alone
3. What to do when you haven't a clue
1. What I need to work on...
1. Sermon Preparation
I know that God has given me the ability to preach. I know that He has called me to preach. However, my confidence in my abilities is low...mainly in my preparing abilities. I fear that I lack knowledge and understanding. I am so worried about messing up or not giving the right information that I lose sight of the calling altogether: to preach God's word to His lost children.
2. Patience, Perspective, Peace
I love children and teenagers. I love learning about their lives and spending time with them. Yet, when I am in "go-mode" for putting on a fundraiser, getting everyone to listen, organizing an event, etc. I have learned that they take A LOT of work to bring all together as I a group. This is where patience, perspective, and peace of mind come into play. I realized when I was running the Spaghetti Dinner Theater Show that I lost my patience, perspective and peace of mind when they were not listening or cooperating.
3. Poured Into.
My tank is running on E...which takes a lot. I need to be poured into. How do I do that...continually read the Word, be in God's presence and be with His church. I rarely get to BE WITH His Body because I am also running Children's Church on Sunday mornings. My husband and I are looking into getting a young adult bible study together or joining one at College Wesleyan.
2. What it feels like to do ministry alone:
1. Without my ministry partner:
I confirm that Heath is my other half...I do not like doing ministry without him. Together, we are complete. These past few weeks without him have been challenging. But there has been wonderful growth out of the challenges.
2. Without my sponsors:
Most of our sponsors are college students who have gone home for the summer. The others have been busy visiting families and going on vacations. I realize just how much we cannot do youth ministry without our sponsors. One Sunday, it was me and 26 students! YIKES!
We were not called to do ministry alone. These past weeks have definitely confirmed that!
3. What do when haven't a clue:
In these past few weeks I have dealt with situations that no youth class or Christian ministries class could have prepared me for. I mean BIG! In the same week I dealt with a sexual harassment case where I had to deal with two families and youth as well as well as a pregnancy crisis. Needless to say, in both situations God's grace and wisdom was with me. I knew that I could not deal with either situation without His guidance. Both situations have shaken our youth group, but have not destroyed it.
Breakdown of Hours throughout the weeks:
May 25th through May 31st
-East of Chicago Fundraiser (6 hours)
-Preparing for Youth Group (3 hours)
-Extracurricular activities/being with youth (4 hours)
June 1st through the 7th
-preparing for youth fundraiser (3 hours)
-extracurricular activities/being with youth (4 hours)
-Preparing for youth Sunday (3 hours)
June 8th through the 14th
-fundraiser practice everynight (8 to 10 hours)
-day of fundraiser (9 hours)
-preparing for youth group (2 hours)
-counseling/intervention (2 hours)
June 15th through the 21st
-Karaeoke Tuesday (4 hours)
-Counseling (3 hours)
-Preparing for Youth Sunday (1 hour)
-Extracurricular activities/ 4-H/ Hanging Out (5 to 7 hours)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Youth Practicum Update
Hello fellow youth practicum bloggers...!
I apologize for not blogging the entire month of May. I must say, the month was a doozey. Now that the storm has settled, I can look back and reflect on all that has happened.
I attended two funerals and experienced four deaths, one in my family, and three in the church family. Where grace is needed, God makes sure it abounds. Death is such an unnatural occurrence to deal with, as it should be. We were not created for death. We cannot fathom it, really. As I ministered to those in my family, students in my youth group, and those in the church, I realized just how death is so surreal for everyone. I also realized that ministering to others in this time means simply listening.
I am such a "fixer" and a "healer." Many dawn me as the motherly type because I want to take care of people. As I watched others mourning the deaths of their loved ones, all I wanted to do was to heal them and take the pain away.But my husband, Heath, made a good point as he watched me try to fix everyone. It is okay for people to feel pain. Actually, pain is good. Tasting the bitterness of life wakes us up. At my grandmother's memorial service Heath quoted C.S. Lewis in his eulogy,
"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
Oh, how God speaks to us in our pains. It is in our pains that we reach out to Him. When the waves are crashing around us and the storm is getting fierce it is then we realize the we need a lifeboat. The whole time the lifeboat has been there, but we have failed to recognize it. In the times of turmoil and pain, we seek it. Death may be the hardest times of all. I praise God for working in the lives of those who experienced such pain this past month. The beauty of God is that He takes our bitterness and turns it into bittersweet.
I realized that it is not for me to take away the pains of others. I would be robbing them of blessings. Yes, blessings (James 1). I would be withholding God's presence in such hard times.I also realized that I am unable to take away the pains of others. All I can do it allow myself to be used by the one who can, our Creator, Redeemer, Deliverer, and friend, Jesus Christ.
Since then, I have been getting back on track with the summer ministry plans. I am leading twelve of our youth on a missions trip to Cincinnati, OH with YouthWorks. We are teaming up with Fall Creek Wesleyan Church in Fishers, IN (my home church). We just had an all youth group fundraiser at East of Chicago Pizza in Gas City and came out with a good sum of cash. Yesterday afternoon I held a meeting with missions team to talk about more fund raising opportunities. The biggest for them individually is to send out support letters. Our big fund raiser event will be in less than two weeks at the church. We are putting on a dinner theater show on June 14th @ 6:00. If you are in the area, we'd love to see you there!
Other than that I have been preparing sermons, watching their sports games, having lunch with them at their school, and finding other times to hang out. I believe the big hang out spot for the summer will be The Varsity Grill on Tuesdays. They have GREAT food and karaoke. At first it was something that I did with my friends who stayed for May term, but now it is turning into a time for those in the youth group to have fun with their youth pastor!
Well, that is all for now.
I will be documenting my hours by the end of this week. :)
I apologize for not blogging the entire month of May. I must say, the month was a doozey. Now that the storm has settled, I can look back and reflect on all that has happened.
I attended two funerals and experienced four deaths, one in my family, and three in the church family. Where grace is needed, God makes sure it abounds. Death is such an unnatural occurrence to deal with, as it should be. We were not created for death. We cannot fathom it, really. As I ministered to those in my family, students in my youth group, and those in the church, I realized just how death is so surreal for everyone. I also realized that ministering to others in this time means simply listening.
I am such a "fixer" and a "healer." Many dawn me as the motherly type because I want to take care of people. As I watched others mourning the deaths of their loved ones, all I wanted to do was to heal them and take the pain away.But my husband, Heath, made a good point as he watched me try to fix everyone. It is okay for people to feel pain. Actually, pain is good. Tasting the bitterness of life wakes us up. At my grandmother's memorial service Heath quoted C.S. Lewis in his eulogy,
"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
Oh, how God speaks to us in our pains. It is in our pains that we reach out to Him. When the waves are crashing around us and the storm is getting fierce it is then we realize the we need a lifeboat. The whole time the lifeboat has been there, but we have failed to recognize it. In the times of turmoil and pain, we seek it. Death may be the hardest times of all. I praise God for working in the lives of those who experienced such pain this past month. The beauty of God is that He takes our bitterness and turns it into bittersweet.
I realized that it is not for me to take away the pains of others. I would be robbing them of blessings. Yes, blessings (James 1). I would be withholding God's presence in such hard times.I also realized that I am unable to take away the pains of others. All I can do it allow myself to be used by the one who can, our Creator, Redeemer, Deliverer, and friend, Jesus Christ.
Since then, I have been getting back on track with the summer ministry plans. I am leading twelve of our youth on a missions trip to Cincinnati, OH with YouthWorks. We are teaming up with Fall Creek Wesleyan Church in Fishers, IN (my home church). We just had an all youth group fundraiser at East of Chicago Pizza in Gas City and came out with a good sum of cash. Yesterday afternoon I held a meeting with missions team to talk about more fund raising opportunities. The biggest for them individually is to send out support letters. Our big fund raiser event will be in less than two weeks at the church. We are putting on a dinner theater show on June 14th @ 6:00. If you are in the area, we'd love to see you there!
Other than that I have been preparing sermons, watching their sports games, having lunch with them at their school, and finding other times to hang out. I believe the big hang out spot for the summer will be The Varsity Grill on Tuesdays. They have GREAT food and karaoke. At first it was something that I did with my friends who stayed for May term, but now it is turning into a time for those in the youth group to have fun with their youth pastor!
Well, that is all for now.
I will be documenting my hours by the end of this week. :)
Thursday, April 16, 2009
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