Legacy Kicks Ass!
I know I've said this before, and I know that it may sound strange to swear while talking about a church youth group, but in this case it is the most apt description. Tonight we literally had two extremely deep conversations in a row- on the topics of how our perceptions of God are altered by our relationships with our earthly fathers, and how women are percieved by society and what true beauty is and how guys should relate to females because of that. From 6:30- 7:45 our students were engaged in either the discussion, doing prayer requests, or writing out what they liked about youth group and what they want to do in the future. And the things that they list that they like? Our "deep discussions," how everyone is comfortable with each other and we can share our feelings. The things they want to do? Mission trips, food drives, painting houses, car washes and other service projects. Who are these kids? I'm not saying that I never have to remind them to focus, or that we don't tend to go off on tangents, but I think that our inability to always stay on topic may be a good thing. So much reality has sprung from properly directed tangents.
The stated mission of the River and of us as a youth group is "Belong, Believe, Behave" and it makes me happy that the students feel like we are at least heading in that direction. I can see so much passion, so much potential, so much yearning for God's excellence in them. They convict me greatly about my own areas of weakness.
I came to youth group tired and somewhat mopey tonight and through prayer before we began, and though the mere presence of these wonderful people my attitude was transformed. I am also geeked because we have a new couple who is coming on board to help lead. Lane and Lisa. When Greg and I met Lane we asked if he had ever worked in youth groups before, and he answered that he hadn't formally, but was always more comfortable with kids. At this point Greg got the gleam in his eye that said, fresh meat. I love it too that they have come in with no preconceptions about what a youth group is supposed to be like, because our kids really aren't typical youth group kids, and the way we function as leaders isn't typical either. Its great to see them unfettered by past experiences, but merely wishing to be real to these kids. Lisa shared tonight about her experiences with her own father, and I saw several of the girls who have pain between them and their dads near tears, and I've already heard from the mom of one of our students about how great Lane is and the impact he's had on her son, and this was only the second week he's been involved. When God moves, He moves fast. We had been praying for about a week or two for other adults to be involved in the youth group and we got not only one, but two great people. I think that we as a leadership team are very compatable as well. I won't go into it now, but we hada meeting that went over 4 hours last night, and soooooo much was accomplished and so much seen with the same eyes. Man, I sound like a teenager gushing over a new crush. I guess its just after literally months of people expressing interest and then being unfaithful- or realizing they had too many other obligations, I feel like God is really blessing the faithfulness of myself, Greg, Tonya (for the time she was here) and those who pray for us.
I know I've said this before, and I know that it may sound strange to swear while talking about a church youth group, but in this case it is the most apt description. Tonight we literally had two extremely deep conversations in a row- on the topics of how our perceptions of God are altered by our relationships with our earthly fathers, and how women are percieved by society and what true beauty is and how guys should relate to females because of that. From 6:30- 7:45 our students were engaged in either the discussion, doing prayer requests, or writing out what they liked about youth group and what they want to do in the future. And the things that they list that they like? Our "deep discussions," how everyone is comfortable with each other and we can share our feelings. The things they want to do? Mission trips, food drives, painting houses, car washes and other service projects. Who are these kids? I'm not saying that I never have to remind them to focus, or that we don't tend to go off on tangents, but I think that our inability to always stay on topic may be a good thing. So much reality has sprung from properly directed tangents.
The stated mission of the River and of us as a youth group is "Belong, Believe, Behave" and it makes me happy that the students feel like we are at least heading in that direction. I can see so much passion, so much potential, so much yearning for God's excellence in them. They convict me greatly about my own areas of weakness.
I came to youth group tired and somewhat mopey tonight and through prayer before we began, and though the mere presence of these wonderful people my attitude was transformed. I am also geeked because we have a new couple who is coming on board to help lead. Lane and Lisa. When Greg and I met Lane we asked if he had ever worked in youth groups before, and he answered that he hadn't formally, but was always more comfortable with kids. At this point Greg got the gleam in his eye that said, fresh meat. I love it too that they have come in with no preconceptions about what a youth group is supposed to be like, because our kids really aren't typical youth group kids, and the way we function as leaders isn't typical either. Its great to see them unfettered by past experiences, but merely wishing to be real to these kids. Lisa shared tonight about her experiences with her own father, and I saw several of the girls who have pain between them and their dads near tears, and I've already heard from the mom of one of our students about how great Lane is and the impact he's had on her son, and this was only the second week he's been involved. When God moves, He moves fast. We had been praying for about a week or two for other adults to be involved in the youth group and we got not only one, but two great people. I think that we as a leadership team are very compatable as well. I won't go into it now, but we hada meeting that went over 4 hours last night, and soooooo much was accomplished and so much seen with the same eyes. Man, I sound like a teenager gushing over a new crush. I guess its just after literally months of people expressing interest and then being unfaithful- or realizing they had too many other obligations, I feel like God is really blessing the faithfulness of myself, Greg, Tonya (for the time she was here) and those who pray for us.
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