Students

Creating opportunities and equipping young people to own different parts of ministry doesn’t come easy. Further, there is the temptation to overrun them while they are getting started in doing the work of the ministry. In general, every parent-guardian has a similar temptation with responsibilities they turn over to their young person at home. What might we do as young people are growing and learning through their initial experiences to encourage them in the journey rather than overrun their efforts?

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Over the last year as we have been discussing intentional discipleship churchwide there has also been pause and consideration what specifically does this mean for student ministry. The “what” we do and “why” are important given the limited time each week we have with students.

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.

I didn't fully know what to expect for Challenge 2024. Being a "newbie" attender to the conference, all I had to go off of was the testimony of those leaders/students who attended in the past, including my own kids. The feedback historically has always been positive. However, as first-timers to the conference, Jill Louzek and I, the 2 adults that accompanied 21 students, can confidently say that we'll promote the Challenge conference in the future.

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

So far on Wednesday nights in June we have been talking through what serving others means, what motivates us to serve, and what serving practically looks like. The home is the best place to learn and grow in this area of Christian living, so what might that look like?

There is a common temptation to compartmentalize life, usually related to how we spend our time; school, work, home, church, hobbies/interests/activities, etc. With relationships a core part of living in all of these areas of life, the temptation exists then to act differently in each context, and sometimes inconsistent with how the Scriptures describe a follower of Jesus. What is behind these temptations, especially for young people, and how can we help young people fight these temptations?

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?

Bonus points if you can guess what movie the blog title is from? (hint: see the gif at the end of this blog)

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

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?