Well, it's over and we're still recuperating. We're not as young as we used to be! For the first time we had a "Lock In" that went 24 hours. That means we had the young people in the church for 24 hours. Planned activities, etc, etc, etc. It was both a great experience. Fun I'm sure. But it was also a learning experience for us as leaders. Going from an overnighter to a 24 hr experience is quite different. But we learned several lessons that will be helpful for the next time. Am I crazy, I'm talking about the next time...
Our numbers have hit about twenty five and we're hanging around there. Although we have about 30 young peope registered. Like anything else, it seems almost impossible to get all of them to the same event at the same time.
What I'm learning this time around, I did youth ministry a few years back, is that even within a short time, the issues these kids are going through, are changing at an incredible rate.
I just found out that my cousin just out of highschool has brought his girlfriend home to live with him and his parents. They have both gone on vacation alone and it's all ok. Parents don't know what else to do, so it just goes on, even though he's already sacrificed University which had been a dream for several years.
After learning this, it helped me to look at our young people and the decisions they're facing differently. Calling them to morals that don't seem to make sense in light of the culture they live within is easy, but helping them to see why it really is a better decision is a much harder thing.
Our group of kids continues to be a group of kids that comes out, is enjoying themselves, is even excited and interested in what they hear, but we don't have very many kids who are committed to anything significant. We do have a few that are sold out, but it's 3, maybe 4 of 25 who seem to be overshadowed by the many.
I'm not sure of what it will take to see something significant happen. Actually, I do, and we keep praying for these kids and for God to intervene. And we wait...
Posted by edMy advice is to pray and wait. As one of your former youth, I kind of know what you are going through. I will tell you that we, your former youths, have at one time not seemed to be listening but we were, always( even when we didn't want to). You and Vania have always encouraged us and I know you are doing the same for the youth in your church. You're changing lives even when it doesn't seem like you are. Just be being an example to the youth of your church by caring what happens to them and showing that you are interested in what they say. You did a good job with the youth in Essex and you'll do a good job with the youth of Richview. So continue talking and being interested in what they say and they will thank you one day for all you have done. I know that I thank God all the time for you and Vania and what you did for me. My Final thought, hang in there.
Posted by: annathank you friend!
Posted by: ed