Relationships

The Athens Missions Team safely returned from Greece in mid-July. The team was able to see many sights and enjoyed connecting with Stonebridge Global Partners, Larry and Jill Couch. Most importantly, they were able to experience God working in them, and in the people they connected with and ministered to. 

This past week I've had a front row seat to another student stepping out in faith to lead his fellow peers during our Sunday night high school Bible study. I have been continually encouraged by the willingness of high school students to learn and grow in leading their peers. What is behind this and how do we get behind them?

For last week’s equipping spotlight I shared about our experience at Morgan Creek park as “doers of the word” in some practical prayer, care, and share ways. I also noted that what we learned from that experience, including suggested changes from the students, would then be applied again this past week. This second time at Morgan Creek park included some new and welcomed experiences and even more learning in our journey to engage others in spiritual conversations.

When it comes to sharing our faith, no matter what that looked like in the past, it becomes clear when we re-engage in that activity just how long it has been since our previous times of sharing. Through our first few Wed pm meetings in July we have been talking about serving those outside the church family, including serving them by sharing the truth of the gospel of Christ. This past week it was time to be “doers of the word” (James 1:22)!

I recently heard a friend speak about law-filled shepherding versus grace-filled shepherding. In speaking about these concepts from the letter to the Galatians he used the analogy of one carrying a backpack with bricks (i.e., burdens), with a law-filled approach adding to bricks and a grace-filled approach taking them away. For the young people, who are being trained in the ways of the gospel of Christ, are you a person who adds bricks or takes them away from their backpack? How would you know?

Currently, the first student that arrives on Wednesday night thinks of a “check-in” question to write on the board. Then those who arrive after write down their answers. This week the question was “What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?”. There were a variety answers that students provided describing their initial steps to “get ready” or prepare for the day. What about preparing to connect with those outside of our church family with the hope of engaging them in a spiritual conversation? What might be involved in the charge to “get ready”?

Being with students for a full week has been an extreme joy. I mean that! It is a privilege to have parents hand over their youth to our care for 5-6 days for this recent trip, the Challenge conference

Throughout scripture, we notice how Jesus loves children. He values them and counts them as worthy of being discipled. In fact, in Mark 19:14 he said “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven”. At Stonebridge, we also love and value children and are burdened for them to be followers of Christ. When we say “Disciple-making is for Everyone” we mean EVERYONE, including the little children. 

We’re trying an experiment this summer, a time when schedules are far less routine due to school changes, vacations, increased family activities, increased opportunities in the culture around us, etc.

I wonder if I limit the pool of students who have potential to lead simply due to the activity of our gatherings and only paying attention to those that are more assertive at raising their hands to jump in?

I can remember standing in the church lobby one Sunday and after I had just been talking to a lady, she turned to talk to someone else, and right in front of me they made plans for lunch. Here I am longing for an invitation, for someone to notice me, to be included, for someone to see my loneliness, and it didn't happen. So those thoughts of “I'm Not Good Enough” started stirring in my heart.

I’m grateful for the large number of graduating seniors who were committed to our regular youth gatherings, and specifically those who stepped out in faith to be equipped to lead and carried it out faithfully

Even though the conversation ended with no great admissions, confessions, revelations or proclamations of faith from Josh, I can trust that the Lord will take my step of obedience to engage with my co-worker and turn it into something fruitful.

There is much activity going on this time of year for graduating seniors. Well, actually their full senior year! From final decisions about their post high school next steps, to senior pictures, to all that comes with the final days until graduation such as the ceremony and graduation party

How might we be intentional and prevent these summer transitions from sidelining aspects of stewarding our whole life as parents/leaders and in the lives of young people that we influence for Christ?

Over the past weeks, parents/guardians of High School Seniors, as well as our staff, have prepared for and taken part in our annual “Senior Blessing”. What does blessing others look like in this annual event as well as daily living?

For the past six months, women from various seasons and circumstances of life have gathered in a home, around a table, rushing in from work, from dinner clean up, or having just putting little ones down, to fellowship with one another around the Word of God. In this, I have seen the fruit of discipleship, and what it looks like to follow a nudge from the Lord and see Him do all the work. 

It is a Wednesday night and your teen comes home from youth group and asks, “Guess what I heard in youth group tonight?” What follows is a description of how another student had fallen short, that is they had sinned in a clear way and with that the natural consequences are significant. How would you respond?