Toby Mac and 2800 youth pastors and leaders. Need I say more.
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Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
To Young Not To
So I'm here at the symc 2010 conference. For many reading this blog you have no idea what that is. Simply put, it's a conference designed to encourage and equips youth pastors and leaders to do life and ministry better. We hear from some of the best minds in youth ministry and we get to rub shoulders with others from around the world who live daily the same challenges and struggles we do and who enjoy triumphs just like ours.
One of the things that has caused me much internal turmoil was my age. 33 years old may not seem old, but then try staying up for 24 hours at a youth lock-in after working 45 hours at church that week as well as a second job to make ends meet so that the necessary provisions can be made for your wife and three children. Oh yeah, there was the school play, the two soccer practices for my sons soccer team (that I coach) and his game. Just for good measure let's throw in there a seminary class or two. Mabye now you understand a little of my life. So I have been tired and feeling old and wondering if this is life at this age then mabye it's time to step out of youth ministry. I could be a senior pastor, they only work on sundays ( ha). Then I arrived at this conference and started watching people. I started having conversations and ( as weird as this might be) listening in on others conversations. I realized just by looking at who was here that I am the average age of the youth guy here. If I had to guess I would say that about 70% of the men here are in their mid to late 30's. WOW!! And throught conversations, both mine and "others" I realized that many are wrestling with the same juggeling as me.
So, for me this issue has been laid to rest. I'm not to ripe for youth ministry, I'm just coming I to season.
On a side note, it's neat to see that youth ministry is no longer a bunch of 20 year old kids acting as fun directors, but is now a maturing group of christian men leading generations of teens into the life long presence of Jesus.
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Friday, February 26, 2010
A Pizza Hangover
So were here for the SYMC in Chicago. Were having lunch at Giordanos and we got their "famous" deep dish double decker massive pizza. Now I'm in a joyous kind of pain after eating just two pieces. But it's oh so good.
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Location:Glenlake Ave,Leyden,United States
Simply Youth Ministry Conference
Well were getting ready to leave in about and hour for chicago. Becky and I are looking forward to a great weekend of rest and encouragement. Were also hoping that we can leave others encouraged. 10 years in youth ministry has given us some perspective that we did not have when we were starting out. Hoping to meet some new youth guys near us. It's good to have friends who understand your life and motivations. So you may hear me asking " will you be my friend". Just say YES. See you all tonight.
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Mounting Anticipation
So the Haiti team is just about two weeks from departure. All of us are feeling a heightened sense of excitement and for me at least an increased sense of wonder at the unknown. I am truly excited and at the same time somewhat aprehensive about leaving Becky for a week right now. But you know, god is faithful. I am sure that I am supposed to be on this trip and as I have seen in my life so far, when I comply in simple obediance God fixes all those little details, even ones we never think of. Our God is awesome and today he brought me to a place that I needed to be. A place I have struggled to be in recent weeks and have finally found. This place is one of comfort where I can truly say it is well with my soul.
"I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me". - Philipians 4:12-13
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Quick to forgive and slow to anger
I want to mention something that isn't new but bears repeating. When someone does something wrong we need to be slow to judge their motives. We need to allow them time to come clean and then we need to forgive them. Often we look at another and we react by throwing "stones". Boy how fast we forget thy we are surrounded by the glass walls of our own life. Be slow to anger and quick to forgive. It's what Jesus did and it's what we are supposed to do. It's the Christian way.
"A person's wisdom makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense."
- Proverbs 19:11
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Location:S 18th St,Lafayette,United States
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Yummy!!
He has not taken a single bit. He has however successfully spread
around the whipped cream. Uugh. At this rate well get home intime for
Sunday school tomorrow. Why do kids half to be so slow?
Flat thumb syndrome
I am wondering if her thumb is coated in chocolate the way she goes to town on that thing. Of course it keeps her happy so I guess no harm done right?
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Location:W Divina Dr,Grant,United States
Micah is a sledding pro
So it looks as though Micah is a speed freak. He loves to go fast and furious. This might be a problem someday but for now it's awesome.
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Just like dad
So Josiah has decided to start his CDL training early. He says he wants to be just like dad and drive a bus, be a Pastor and a Veteran. Yes that's right, a veteran as in a war veteran. It was veterans day recently and he decided at school that he wanted to be a veteran.
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Location:S Maple St,Grant,United States
Where the fern was
So this fern is over 70 years old. No pressure to keep it alive though. I am nervouse just being by it. I don't wat to be the one to kill it.
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:W Divina Dr,Grant,United States
Next weekend Becky and I along with the Boughton's are heading to the National Youth Ministry conference in chicago. Click the video link to see were we are going
http://blip.tv/play/g4dT94R3isIT
Pastor Dave Furst
Pastor Dave Furst
Student Ministries Pastor
Cornerstone Baptist Church
Church: 765-471-1555
Cell: 765-586-8890
E-fax: 1-860-540-8890
Sent from my iPhone
Friday, February 19, 2010
NOT TO OFFEND
IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR BIBLICAL SUPPORT ON THE DRINKING ISSUE
Should Christians Drink Alcohol?
Are alcoholic beverages permissible for Christians? What about moderate social drinking? We will see that there is a position which is merely "permissible" and an entirely different, superior one that the Bible calls "beneficial" and "constructive".
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God — even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
I. Wine had various levels of fermentation or alcohol content.
A. New wine, in many instances fresh grape juice.
Deuteronomy 11:14; 12:17; 14:23
B. Fermented grape juice.
C. A hard liquor.
Numbers 28:7
•• My intention in this lesson is to deal with intoxicating wine. There is no confusion about fresh grape juice.
II. There are many positive references to wine in the Bible, including:
A. Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.
B. Psalm 104:15 ...wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.
C. Proverbs 31:6 Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish. (Offered to Jesus at Calvary)
D. Luke 10:34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.
E. I Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
III. There are many negative references to wine in the Bible, including:
A. Genesis 9:21 When [Noah] drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent.
B. Genesis 19:32 [Lot’s two daughters said,] “Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father." The resulting offspring of this incest began the Moabite and Ammonite nations, traditional enemies of Israel.
C. Leviticus 10:9 [Instructions to Aaron and his sons the priests] You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
D. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
E. Proverbs 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel — not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer.
IV. Jesus turned water into wine.
John 2:1-10
•• The account does not show either Jesus or His disciples drinking the wine.
V. Intoxicating wine may not have been used at the Last Supper.
Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18
•• All three accounts use the expression “fruit of the vine”. Nothing can be conclusively proven here as to the alcoholic content of the beverage used.
VI. Requirements are established for elders and deacons.
A. Concerning elders — I Timothy 3:3
KJV: “not given to wine”
NASB: “not addicted to wine”
RSV: “no drunkard”
NIV: “not given to much wine”
B. Concerning deacons — I Timothy 3:8
KJV: “not given to much wine”
NASB: “not addicted to much wine”
RSV: “not addicted to much wine”
NIV: “not indulging in much wine”
VII. Choose the “beneficial” and the "constructive" over the “permissible”.
A. The biblical premise:
1. 1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible for me" — but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me" — but I will not be mastered by anything.
2. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 "Everything is permissible" — but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible" — but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
B. “Permissible” in the realm of food.
I Timothy 4:4-5 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
C. “Beneficial” and “constructive” in the realm of food.
Romans 14:20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
D. “Permissible” concerning the drinking of wine.
I Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
E. “Beneficial” and “constructive” concerning the drinking of wine.
Romans 14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
VIII. Statistics condemn alcohol abuse.
A. In 1987, one of every four Americans said that drinking had been a problem in their homes. Four of every ten Americans (41%) report having suffered physical, psychological, or social pain as a result of someone else’s drinking (Prevention Express magazine, September 1991).
B. In ten years, 59,000 Americans died in Vietnam. In ten years, 235,000 Americans died on U.S. roads from accidents involving drunk drivers (Dave Roever video).
C. There are 25,000 murders and suicides a year in the U.S. that are influenced by alcohol. One half of all people arrested have a drinking problem (Encyclopedia Americana).
D. Among native Americans, most tribes consider alcohol and other drug problems to be their most important health issue.
E. State trooper George Dahl in Bethel, Alaska, says, “There is no serious crime without alcohol.”
F. In Alaska in 1987, 58% of all traffic fatalities were alcohol related.
G. Alaska’s child sexual abuse rate is six times the national average. 78.9% of perpetrators of sexual abuse and 63.3% of the perpetrators of incest were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the offense.
H. Among the health problems increased by alcoholism are liver damage, some heart diseases, stomach ulcers and gastritis, malnutrition, cancer of the mouth, esophagus or stomach, brain damage, and damage to a developing child in the womb. The lives of alcoholics are typically shortened by 10 to 12 years.
SUMMARY:
1. There are positive references to wine in the Scriptures.
2. There are negative references to wine in the Scriptures.
3. We must discern between that which is merely permissible and that which is beneficial and constructive.
4. Let us not selfishly seek our own good, but the good of the many.
WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS NOT DRINK ALCOHOL?
1. Say “NO” because you may justify social drinking as permissible, but it is most assuredly not beneficial, not constructive — not to ourselves, not to our families, not to society.
2. Say “NO” to avoid the ever-present potential of offending or stumbling others. That would be a sin. If I were to choose to be a social drinker and my example led others to do the same, with harmful consequences, then my drinking would have become an occasion of offense and stumbling to them. That alone is reason enough for me to choose continual abstinence from intoxicating drinks.
3. Say “NO” because alcohol is a serious social and public health problem. As the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:13f), Christians should determine not to be part of the problem, but rather part of the solution by choosing the safe path of abstinence from alcohol.
Are alcoholic beverages permissible for Christians? What about moderate social drinking? We will see that there is a position which is merely "permissible" and an entirely different, superior one that the Bible calls "beneficial" and "constructive".
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God — even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
I. Wine had various levels of fermentation or alcohol content.
A. New wine, in many instances fresh grape juice.
Deuteronomy 11:14; 12:17; 14:23
B. Fermented grape juice.
C. A hard liquor.
Numbers 28:7
•• My intention in this lesson is to deal with intoxicating wine. There is no confusion about fresh grape juice.
II. There are many positive references to wine in the Bible, including:
A. Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.
B. Psalm 104:15 ...wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.
C. Proverbs 31:6 Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish. (Offered to Jesus at Calvary)
D. Luke 10:34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.
E. I Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
III. There are many negative references to wine in the Bible, including:
A. Genesis 9:21 When [Noah] drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent.
B. Genesis 19:32 [Lot’s two daughters said,] “Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father." The resulting offspring of this incest began the Moabite and Ammonite nations, traditional enemies of Israel.
C. Leviticus 10:9 [Instructions to Aaron and his sons the priests] You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
D. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
E. Proverbs 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel — not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer.
IV. Jesus turned water into wine.
John 2:1-10
•• The account does not show either Jesus or His disciples drinking the wine.
V. Intoxicating wine may not have been used at the Last Supper.
Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18
•• All three accounts use the expression “fruit of the vine”. Nothing can be conclusively proven here as to the alcoholic content of the beverage used.
VI. Requirements are established for elders and deacons.
A. Concerning elders — I Timothy 3:3
KJV: “not given to wine”
NASB: “not addicted to wine”
RSV: “no drunkard”
NIV: “not given to much wine”
B. Concerning deacons — I Timothy 3:8
KJV: “not given to much wine”
NASB: “not addicted to much wine”
RSV: “not addicted to much wine”
NIV: “not indulging in much wine”
VII. Choose the “beneficial” and the "constructive" over the “permissible”.
A. The biblical premise:
1. 1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible for me" — but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me" — but I will not be mastered by anything.
2. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 "Everything is permissible" — but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible" — but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
B. “Permissible” in the realm of food.
I Timothy 4:4-5 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
C. “Beneficial” and “constructive” in the realm of food.
Romans 14:20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
D. “Permissible” concerning the drinking of wine.
I Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
E. “Beneficial” and “constructive” concerning the drinking of wine.
Romans 14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
VIII. Statistics condemn alcohol abuse.
A. In 1987, one of every four Americans said that drinking had been a problem in their homes. Four of every ten Americans (41%) report having suffered physical, psychological, or social pain as a result of someone else’s drinking (Prevention Express magazine, September 1991).
B. In ten years, 59,000 Americans died in Vietnam. In ten years, 235,000 Americans died on U.S. roads from accidents involving drunk drivers (Dave Roever video).
C. There are 25,000 murders and suicides a year in the U.S. that are influenced by alcohol. One half of all people arrested have a drinking problem (Encyclopedia Americana).
D. Among native Americans, most tribes consider alcohol and other drug problems to be their most important health issue.
E. State trooper George Dahl in Bethel, Alaska, says, “There is no serious crime without alcohol.”
F. In Alaska in 1987, 58% of all traffic fatalities were alcohol related.
G. Alaska’s child sexual abuse rate is six times the national average. 78.9% of perpetrators of sexual abuse and 63.3% of the perpetrators of incest were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the offense.
H. Among the health problems increased by alcoholism are liver damage, some heart diseases, stomach ulcers and gastritis, malnutrition, cancer of the mouth, esophagus or stomach, brain damage, and damage to a developing child in the womb. The lives of alcoholics are typically shortened by 10 to 12 years.
SUMMARY:
1. There are positive references to wine in the Scriptures.
2. There are negative references to wine in the Scriptures.
3. We must discern between that which is merely permissible and that which is beneficial and constructive.
4. Let us not selfishly seek our own good, but the good of the many.
WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS NOT DRINK ALCOHOL?
1. Say “NO” because you may justify social drinking as permissible, but it is most assuredly not beneficial, not constructive — not to ourselves, not to our families, not to society.
2. Say “NO” to avoid the ever-present potential of offending or stumbling others. That would be a sin. If I were to choose to be a social drinker and my example led others to do the same, with harmful consequences, then my drinking would have become an occasion of offense and stumbling to them. That alone is reason enough for me to choose continual abstinence from intoxicating drinks.
3. Say “NO” because alcohol is a serious social and public health problem. As the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:13f), Christians should determine not to be part of the problem, but rather part of the solution by choosing the safe path of abstinence from alcohol.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Should Church Leaders Consume Alcohol?
So I recently found myself engaged in a pretty strong debat about church leaders and the use of alcohol. We debated both Deacons and Pastors and their use of alcohol. There was a passionate response on both sides of this debat. I was on the side that feels it is wrong for a Pastor to drink any alcohol for a few reasons. The number one reason is that I believe the word of God teaches us that Pastors or overseers are to abstain from alcohol. I also believe that for a Pastor to drink, there exists the possibility of giving the wrong impression of him, his church and of Christianity in general. I believe that a Pastor should never do anything that would cause others to fall and drinking would be one of those things. But just for arguments sake let's say that the bible did not speak against alcohol use. Just because we can does not mean we should. The bible warns us to avoid walking past the temptress door. It's not a sin to do this but a warning to avoid getting trapped or drawn into a sin. Alcohol use, even in moderation is akin, in my opinion, to loitering outside the temptress door and arrogantley saying it's not an issue. The word of god has much to say on the issue of alcohol. To say the least it is a source of strife, if it was not there would be no need to talk about it so much in scripture. The fact is that it is damaging to our cause for the kingdom. It makes it difficult for us to stand out with a beer in our hand. Some would say that if it's in the privacy of our own home and in moderation it's ok. Let's ask a few questions. Where did you purchase the alcohol? Who saw you buy it? What would you tell that person if they saw you at church and asked about Christians who drink? If you are married are you doing all you can to protect your wife from things that could hurt her spiritually? If you have kids could the message you are sending be a confusing one? Are you allowing something into your home that could cause your children to be tempted? I struggle to understand why we would engage in things that put us and our testimonies and our families at risk. We place filters on our computers to block bad websites, we lock doors, we screen our childrens friends and families to ensure a positive environment, we carefully look into schools our children attend and we watch what they are tought in school. But when it comes to these "social" expressions of our liberties we are less willing to give them up. So maybe the real question is one that was posed in the form of a statement by one person involved in this discussion. If asked to give up alcohol to take a position of leadership there are two possible responses. One is to give it up without thought because it is of no real importance or value to the person. The other is to refuse to give it up which may indicate a much stronger attachment to the alcohol than is healthy. I would love to hear your thoughts on this as it is quite a controversial issue.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Year in Review
R.I.O.T. Youth Ministry
As it is and what’s to come
This year has been eventful to say the least. While all of the normal things you might find in ministry have been going on there has been a significant amount of the extraordinary happening this year as well. The hardest part of writing a Ministry report is where to start. There is so much I want to share with you and just quite simply not enough time or space on this paper, so I will summarize as best I can and hope nothing too important has been left out.
This last year I sat down with my youth leaders and asked them if there was one thing we were going to focus on over the next year what did they think it should be. God is good because e we all came up with the same answer pretty quickly. We saw a real need for true discipleship in the lives of the teens. Less “fluff” and more serious and purposeful focus in the lives of our teens.
The next question was how we should do this. While wrestling with this question the leadership started talking about our purpose as a church, talk of adding a pastor to the staff to help facilitate this new focus and direction for our ministry, as well as looking toward how we as a church help truly disciple our people. Funny how these things all come about at the same time isn’t it? Well as we talked over several months the leadership came up with what you are now familiar with, “KNOW GOD, GROW TOGETHER, SERVE OTHERS”. We wanted this to be a part of EVERYTHING we do here at Cornerstone. So we needed to make sure this was the purpose and goal of the youth as well.
We had already started “LIFE GROUPS” for the teens as one way of focusing efforts on discipleship as well we created a schedule for the teens that was much less about fluff and much more about growing in Christ.
I decided that there needed to be a serious effort made to take the teens through the entire New Testament in 6 years. I realize that not every teen will benefit from a 6 year plan since some will graduate before then but as future students come into the youth ministry they will have the great benefit of taking a journey through the entire New Testament.
Our midweek youth meeting, traditional held on Wednesday night’s, has changed in some significant ways as well. While Wednesday night was the traditional midweek gathering for the teens many had recurring scheduling conflicts as well as the leaders were struggling to get to church on time after a long day at work. We moved this to Sunday nights to help alleviate the conflicts and for the most part it has worked. We renovated the youth room at a cost of appx. $2000 last summer and launched the opening of “sTiR-iT-uP” Coffee Shop. The goal for this was really a three prong thing. First and foremost it was a way to give the room a much needed makeover and give it that modern fun feeling. It was also to help with a budget issue of snack and food expenses for Sunday nights. The third reason was our support as a youth group of two children through compassion international was way behind and we needed to find an easier way to support these two children. By opening the coffee shop we solved all three goals. All the profit goes to support the kids through Compassion International and it is working.
So you might ask, what are planning for next year Pastor Dave. What big thing or next great idea are you working on? The answer is not a single thing. In our effort to become simple churches we are trying not create more “Stuff” to keep students busy. Instead our focus is on empowering our students to live a life outside the church walls that will be a light and a testimony to those in their sphere of influence. Yeah we will do fun stuff (we have an overnight canoe trip planned for this summer and yeah guys and girls will be on the opposite side of the river while sleeping), we will go to a concert, attend Dare-2-Share, go to snow camp, and a few other things. But this is not where the real ministry happens. These things are the frosting on the cake. The real meat of this ministry is happening one on one with students, after their games, during phone calls and visits, in their small groups with other leaders that love them, and in their homes. It is my job to help this happen and to facilitate an atmosphere where this is possible.
I have just one more thing to mention, and that is the immense awe and humility I have experienced this year at the amount of adults who have continued to invest in the lives of students or who have, for the first time, taken a step of faith and put themselves out there to love teenagers as Christ loves them. We currently have 14 adults who are committed to some area of the youth ministry. Not only is this an answer to my prayers but I believe it is the best thing about our youth ministry.
Pray that God continues to draw students to us, that they would find love and acceptance here and that they could walk away saying “Things are different now, I am loved”.
Thank you for your prayers and unwavering support of my ministry and my family. You will never truly understand what you all mean to us.
As it is and what’s to come
This year has been eventful to say the least. While all of the normal things you might find in ministry have been going on there has been a significant amount of the extraordinary happening this year as well. The hardest part of writing a Ministry report is where to start. There is so much I want to share with you and just quite simply not enough time or space on this paper, so I will summarize as best I can and hope nothing too important has been left out.
This last year I sat down with my youth leaders and asked them if there was one thing we were going to focus on over the next year what did they think it should be. God is good because e we all came up with the same answer pretty quickly. We saw a real need for true discipleship in the lives of the teens. Less “fluff” and more serious and purposeful focus in the lives of our teens.
The next question was how we should do this. While wrestling with this question the leadership started talking about our purpose as a church, talk of adding a pastor to the staff to help facilitate this new focus and direction for our ministry, as well as looking toward how we as a church help truly disciple our people. Funny how these things all come about at the same time isn’t it? Well as we talked over several months the leadership came up with what you are now familiar with, “KNOW GOD, GROW TOGETHER, SERVE OTHERS”. We wanted this to be a part of EVERYTHING we do here at Cornerstone. So we needed to make sure this was the purpose and goal of the youth as well.
We had already started “LIFE GROUPS” for the teens as one way of focusing efforts on discipleship as well we created a schedule for the teens that was much less about fluff and much more about growing in Christ.
I decided that there needed to be a serious effort made to take the teens through the entire New Testament in 6 years. I realize that not every teen will benefit from a 6 year plan since some will graduate before then but as future students come into the youth ministry they will have the great benefit of taking a journey through the entire New Testament.
Our midweek youth meeting, traditional held on Wednesday night’s, has changed in some significant ways as well. While Wednesday night was the traditional midweek gathering for the teens many had recurring scheduling conflicts as well as the leaders were struggling to get to church on time after a long day at work. We moved this to Sunday nights to help alleviate the conflicts and for the most part it has worked. We renovated the youth room at a cost of appx. $2000 last summer and launched the opening of “sTiR-iT-uP” Coffee Shop. The goal for this was really a three prong thing. First and foremost it was a way to give the room a much needed makeover and give it that modern fun feeling. It was also to help with a budget issue of snack and food expenses for Sunday nights. The third reason was our support as a youth group of two children through compassion international was way behind and we needed to find an easier way to support these two children. By opening the coffee shop we solved all three goals. All the profit goes to support the kids through Compassion International and it is working.
So you might ask, what are planning for next year Pastor Dave. What big thing or next great idea are you working on? The answer is not a single thing. In our effort to become simple churches we are trying not create more “Stuff” to keep students busy. Instead our focus is on empowering our students to live a life outside the church walls that will be a light and a testimony to those in their sphere of influence. Yeah we will do fun stuff (we have an overnight canoe trip planned for this summer and yeah guys and girls will be on the opposite side of the river while sleeping), we will go to a concert, attend Dare-2-Share, go to snow camp, and a few other things. But this is not where the real ministry happens. These things are the frosting on the cake. The real meat of this ministry is happening one on one with students, after their games, during phone calls and visits, in their small groups with other leaders that love them, and in their homes. It is my job to help this happen and to facilitate an atmosphere where this is possible.
I have just one more thing to mention, and that is the immense awe and humility I have experienced this year at the amount of adults who have continued to invest in the lives of students or who have, for the first time, taken a step of faith and put themselves out there to love teenagers as Christ loves them. We currently have 14 adults who are committed to some area of the youth ministry. Not only is this an answer to my prayers but I believe it is the best thing about our youth ministry.
Pray that God continues to draw students to us, that they would find love and acceptance here and that they could walk away saying “Things are different now, I am loved”.
Thank you for your prayers and unwavering support of my ministry and my family. You will never truly understand what you all mean to us.
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