One of the most prominent memories of YouthCon was at Frontier City. Marching off to ride all the rides in the park, our adventure came to an abrupt halt after the first ride. For one of the guys in our group, the log water ride was too much. The merry-go-round was the only approved ride. And frustration was great. Not long after, our group became one person smaller, and we went on to ride the ferris wheel. This big guy was scared to death on that ride, and was very grateful when he stepped onto stable ground again. Somehow we talked him into riding a larger roller coaster, or as big as it gets for Frontier City. I loved it. For me and two other guys, it was a blast, and we rode it three more continual times following that run, but for the guy that was not so sure about riding it… he was terrified the whole time. Screaming, and not from excitement, but fear.
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This is my life now. The writing I have done lately consists of homework. In fact, I have ten writing assignments due in the next week and a half... So there will be no 'spare' time to work on a post. Hence, I will share a recent paper. I don't want y'all to get left out. ---------------------------- I experienced teen church for the first time a few Sundays ago. Such was almost a culture shock. There is a distinct contrast between Southwest’s youth group and my home church. Upon arriving, I quickly recognized the extreme diversity among the teens. Personalities, style, or simply their features, there were no two teens even similar. I had never seen a youth group made up of such different teenagers. Obviously, every teen is unique, but that was clearly put before me. What struck me the most about the overall group was the size of the class. The class also consisted of primarily hispanic and black ethnicity. Hence, working with a youth group as such would battle many cultural differences. I also noticed the amount of drama and emotion that Junior Highers hold. Possibly because I am viewing the group from a different perspective, I see it more. What struck me the most about the overall group was the size of the class. My assigned ministry for this semester is 4 Year Old Junior Church. I already love those kids. However, the amount of 4 year olds in church on a Sunday Morning compared to Junior Highers is heart breaking. A large group of those kids will not make it to Jr High Teen Church; they will not stay in church that long. That was a heart breaking reminder. I thoroughly enjoyed my introduction to the Southwest teens. The service was structured enough to where the teen will learn to sit in church, yet allowed them to be teens. Introducing games that allowed them to be young, and yet singing good, old-fashioned hymns. Service encouraged teens to serve; providing practical ways in which they could be involved such as an offering specifically for missionary teens, and donations that could be brought in. As well as providing opportunities for specials to be given by the teens. The teen and college student involvement was commendable. Teens are much more receptive to a message if it is given by one who they do not feel superiority by. There was preaching that was brought, not teaching. Granted, I do not see a problem with teaching, but I enjoyed the preaching that was brought, as well as the overall attention and respect to God’s Word that was given by the teens. I admired the way the authority displayed themselves. Right away, they anticipated problem situations. One situation in which there was a hyperactive teen near the front, the problem was seen in advance and they were quietly and calmly asked to move back. The teen refused and ignored the request, and ultimately got upset and walked out. The end result may not have been the most desirable, however, I gleaned from simply watching as that situation was handled. One thing I saw as I observed the service was the fact that you are not there to be their friend. You can not base everything you do off of whether they will respond positively to it or not, or if it will cause them to not like you. You are there to teach them. Overall, teen church did two things for me. First, it put the fear in me. It revealed how unprepared, afraid, and ignorant I really am; it revealed my weaknesses. It encouraged me all the more to do my very best to glean all I can from every class, every service, every opportunity so I can better be prepared for the future. And secondly, it put a desire in me to change my ministry next semester. I believe I am where I am to be for this semester. Previously working in a daycare and preschool, I needed those four year olds to get me initiated to ministry on this large a scale. However, young children are who I am comfortable with. I have been given opportunity after opportunity growing up to work with young kids. But I will not learn if I do not get out of my comfort zone. Someday in the not so far away future, I will be there to support and help in leading teenagers; a group of people who make me extremely self-concious and I feel very unprepared and unqualified to be with. They are the burden of my heart, yet I do not feel capable of working with them. The fact I did not know how to respond to them crushed me. And yet, we never will quite know the answers. Such confidence through Him will come through experience, training, and getting out of my comfort zone. |
Lizzy parkerMarriage.
Motherhood. Ministry. Missions. Archives
January 2023
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