A New Adventure

So, wow. After finding out that my time at Valley Christian Center was coming to a close, I came back to Faith Center and began helping out with Sean's youth group. Back in early August, Sean announced that he was feeling called to go back to California, so the church began interviewing for not just one new youth pastor, but a team to take care of everyone under 18. Seven people went through the process, turning in a resume, interviewing with Pastor Ray and finally interviewing with a board subcommittee. After careful and prayerful consideration, they named the team as it is currently:

Me- Middle School and The Crux
Liza- Administration
Cori- Kid's Club on Wednesday nights
Audrey- Sunday School and Children's Church

It should be a whole new adventure.

The Heart of the Youth Group

Wow, it has been a long time, hasn't it? Well, if you don't read the other blog, we are now on Church 101- getting to know things that happen at the church and what they mean to us. It started when one of the girls gave her heart to Christ (AWESOME!!!!), and she asked some of the other girls about what communion is and why we do it. They in turn asked me, so Church 101 was born. We have covered communion, worship, prayer, intercession, and fellowship. Coming soon we have baptism, empowerment and others.

We also had a youth-led Sunday night service this last weekend, and the four kids that showed up rocked the casbah! The theme was the heart of the youth group, and we led worship, performed a sketch I wrote, and watched a slideshow I made. It was all about how our heart is to worship God and to reach out to the people around us- regardless of whether they look like they need a savior or not. We presented people that seemed like the ones you think of in regard to people that "really need Jesus", but also showed that there are people that need Jesus just as much but you would never be able to tell from the outside. People were seriously moved, and it was awesome! I'm just glad that my being here is seeming to make a difference in the lives of these teens, and changing the way they see and project the church. It's also good to see the adults really rallying around the youth and showing them support.

Tonight we are learning traditional German dancing for German Heritage Days on Sunday, and soon there are going to be way more events...

In the Heat of the Night

Regrowth

Thanks all for the prayers. Things are getting better. There for a few days, the laptop added itself to the growing list of maladies lately, and I almost cried. I did everything but anoint it with oil and call on the elders of the church, but gloriously, the Lord decided to give it back to me. I guess some hair is starting to grow back in, as I have felt some small stubble making its way out of the spot. Hopefully finances will fall in line with that progress. Things here are doing ok, work was actually enjoyable today, and I am relaxing more. It's a process, though, so it will be a little while before all is fabulous in the world. Although, in reference to the picture, it's on its way. I used to always say that I wanted my name on a marquis, and my other church has one outside that I used to tell my pastor that he couldn't tear down until I got my name up there and a pic to prove it. Well, I didn't expect this, so it was something I had to get in pictures! In other news, the youth group is growing and we actually ran through a reading of the script. One person declined the read, but seemed so sad when the part was given to someone who was desperate to play a role that I will have to write a whole new part and change things up a little. Oh well, small price to pay for them to feel like they contribute. I just have to find the inspiration...

Battlefield: Mind

Ok, here it is. I don't know how many people- if any- read this blog. All I know is that the counter keeps ticking on visitors. At any rate, the point is I need prayer. If any of you are praying people, this is your call. I have been under a great deal of attack lately. My bosses are scheduling and rescheduling me in towns that are 68+ miles apart, I am fighting to find time to do what I need to do to be effective as a youth pastor, I am sinking financially, I am stressed out, my hair is actually falling out, I am finding more and more of my friends withdrawing from me, and I am trying to keep the faith. I know ultimately that there is something going on or going to happen that Satan is really not happy about. Maybe it is that a dead youth group is resurrecting. Maybe it is the Sunday Night service that is in the making. Regardless, I am seeking prayer that God would protect me from what Satan is trying to do. God is bigger than these problems, and as evidenced in Job's case, He will restore and use what Satan meant for evil to change for good. Pray also for the youth group; if they are on the right track or about to find it, Satan will try and mess them up too. To God be the glory.

The "Who Am I?" Series

Well, this whole youth pastor thing is actually working out fairly well! I have managed to find a couple of drama games that open people up, and we are having a lot of fun with it. We've been talking about who we are, according to ourselves and God's Word. The basic outline is that we first talked about ourselves according to ourselves. After that week, we looked up and came up with a non-comprehensive list of who God says we are in His Word, from which we each chose 5 things to discuss during the next 5 weeks. Last night was "Chosen and Adopted" in Ephesians 1:3-8, and also in John 1:12-13. This next week is "God's Untouchable" in 1 John. There will be 3 more (taking us through July almost entirely), then Who We Are Not, and the first week of August will be Standing For Who We Are- averting being a lukewarm Christian.

Background Images

Yesterday was my first Sunday at the church as a youth pastor and not a candidate. It was really neat, and the people were really supportive. I got to say a few words on the spot (I'm not always good with that, but I didn't get excommunicated or stoned, so that was good), and the church prayed together about the youth group and my ministry while the youth were all up front with me. I know that the youth group will grow, and that we are going to have a great time together. After church was a potluck to welcome me, and it was a lot of fun and a lot of good food. Since it was my brother's girlfriend's graduation party yesterday afternoon as well, I had to slip out around 1:30. I unloaded some of the stuff from my car into my house, and just as I was leaving, an older man stopped me to talk for a minute. He asked me about my plans for the youth group and so on and so forth, but then he told me what happened to the other youth pastors that were most recently before me. He said that they were asked to leave because they had "inappropriate things" on their computers. Now, that could be anything from music that curses excessively up to pornography, but whatever it was, it wasn't good. I told him that the most inappropriate thing that can be found on my laptop would be a picture of someone picking their nose. It's always surprising and yet not shocking to me how people in high positions of leadership in the church as still susceptible to the same sorts of problems that the parishoners or those outside the church can fall prey to. People tend to judge the fallen leader more harshly than others because they should most certainly uphold the Word, and it is a tough thing. Tough because they SHOULD be living according to right teaching, since they are teaching others by both words and actions. Tough because they are still human and capable of failure. No, I don't expect to be asked to leave because of anything along those lines or anything at all. I'm excited to be a change for this group. A twenty-something female as the youth pastor. Ironically, I only know one other woman that was a youth pastor. Her name was Lorraine, and she was my youth pastor for years, as well as being my Bible Quiz coach and choir director. She was a good example in my life of not only how to run a group, but how to have fun and still maintain respect among the youth and the rest of the church body.

I have planned the first meeting as a luau, which always makes me happy. Good fun, good food, and a festive atmosphere. I hope they have as much fun as I do. Mostly, I hope it is that bang that truly kicks off the summer and our time together as a youth group. We are small, but big things all start that way.