Youth Ministry 2.0

I served in some capacity of youth ministry from 1994 through 2005 before taking this role as the Ministry Pastor. And now during this time of transition at Hillcrest, I have the pleasure and privilege of stepping in and leading our 180 student ministry yet again. I really mean those words because it's really been a blast this past month getting to hang out with some very neat and gifted students and also work alongside a committed and dedicated group of volunteers. In some ways, not much has changed when it comes to student ministry and in some ways, it has changed, at least from my perspective. First, the things that haven't changed too much:

• Generally speaking, high school students prefer not to hang out with middle school students (and to a lesser extent, vice versa). Not rocket science here, but my first leadership meeting with the students I combined the groups. This Sunday, I'm splitting them!


• While this stereotype doesn't hold true for everyone, the gals prefer to have more time for small group and discussion and the guys prefer more time for gym time and hanging out.


• People like to have fun- doesn't matter if you're a student or a child or even an adult, who doesn't like to have fun? Fun is always an emphasis for student ministries and it's been great to have fun with these students each Wednesday night- and give away some fun prizes too! Hillcrest's facebook page has some pics of the fun we're having.


• My increasing waistline! Seriously, my first year at Hillcrest as youth pastor I put on 15 pounds. I blamed Sunday night meals at church and a Burger King within walking distance from the office. This past month or so I again have put on some pounds, but this time I blame my slowing metabolism and my standing addiction to pop as we no longer do weekly meals at Hillcrest and I rarely visit BK.

And the things that have changed:

• I am a dumber now than I was then! When I was in youth ministry, I didn't have any kids and even when I did have kids, they were babies and couldn't mouth back yet. I had the audacity to host parent meetings- sometimes 4 a year- and teach them on how to better parent their teenage son or daughter. Now with my oldest only three years from entering our student ministry, what was I thinking?!? I can barely keep my head above water parenting my own kids, much less giving advice to someone else, and giving that advice without being a parent myself!


• Our students face lots of pressures- I know that perhaps that could be one of the things that has stayed the same, but I think as our world gets more complicate, those pressures and anxieties trickle down to our youth, whose world is more uncertain and unstable than mine was growing up.

Well, that's about it for now. Time to grab another Pepsi . . .

Church bouncer

:You're free to leave our church". I actually said those words yesterday between our morning services as I had to ask a gentelman to leave our building. It seems weird to even type those words, but yes, I asked a man to leave our church. After this man had grilled Pastor Doug after his sermon, he came over to me and asked what our church's thoughts were on wearing hats in church (at the time, I didn't know he had just finished with Pastor Doug). I said people were free to wear hats or not to wear hats, their choice. As expected, he fired back that I must not take the bible seriously because in the bible it says that men are to remove their hats during worship (he's referencing 1 Corinthians 11). I said we do take the bible seriously. He countered that we must not since no one asked him to remove his hat (he had worn it throughout the service). I said, well you must not take scripture seriosuly either if you know the scripture and wore it throughout service. He said he did it as a test (now mind you, this conversation isn't happening in my office, but by the front doors as people are coming for second service! I'm uncomfortable, because the conflcit is escalating, and now is quickly moving to public spectacle!). I said we weren't going to confront a new person over a hat, and even more so knowing that said person was going using the wearing of a hat as a test. When he repeated his speech, I said "we can continue this conversation in my office or you are free to go". He said, "oh I know I am free to go" and then I said "well you should go then". I began to escort him out when he told me not to touch him (perhaps a mistake on my part!). As he left, I made sure he left our premises and then tried to collect myself for the start of second service! Good times.

Two thoughts: first, it remined me of the time when I was a youth pastor and called the cops because one of our students had become so disruptive that we feared for our safety. But that's probably another post! And second, I understand that one's theology and doctrine are serious and that we are to take them seriously, but is it serious enough to initiate that type of conflict and conversation? I'm tempted to think the man felt justified or confirmed that his opinion was right based on our lack of confrontation over his hat and then our ensuing conversation, but I wonder how events such as these impact the kingdom?

Levitical Intentions

I confess that most times I get to the book of Leviticus, I set the cruise control. I reason that so much of the book is outdated and describes an ancient Jewish sacrificial system that there isn't possibly much that I could gain out of the book here today. And yet, this trip has been a bit different. This current time through, as I've been reading Leviticus, I've noticed all the preparations, efforts and energies that went into the sacrificial system. And while on past trips I would think that these efforts were perhaps legalistic or oppressive, this time through I'm noticing that they really demonstrate attention to detail and devotion to the creator . With this thought, I am then forced to evaluate whether I am that careful in my own worship, whether I pay that much attention to my preparation in my own personal and corporate worship, and often time my honest answer would have to be 'no'.

Mentor highlight

LSS' School-based mentoring highlights one of Hillcrest's own in their recent newsletter.

Sudan Article

Here's an article that the Argus Leader ran on our group that went to Sudan.

Sermon Feedback

I got to lead off our new January series called "Pastor's Choice" this past Sunday; essentially, each pastor gets a message to teach on whatever they want. It is fun and allows us to 'rant' a bit! Whenever I preach, I tend to get some feedback- some of it good, and some of it constructive (for instance, I still talk too fast when preaching)- but this past Sunday's feedback was classic when my daughter remarked "daddy, you got to talk a lot!". Not sure if she was stating a fact or was a bit jealous!

Resolutions

Hillcrest is starting some new things to help with the resolutions we typically make around this time of year. A new 4 week classs on prayer begins tonight and is unfortunately full. Later this month we will begin some exercise classes for those looking to make some physical improvements and in February we will start a Fiancial Peace University class for those seeking some change in their finances.

And if you're one who made a New Year's Resolution, consider not telling anyone as this author suggests!