Hey everyone! I've had a very busy last few weeks, and spoken to many people from here to Houston to Corpus Christi about what we are doing here. Some questions came up that I thought were worth sharing with everyone, and I'll even try to answer them. :)
Why don't you get (a real) job and do youth ministry in your free time?
I could probably do that, if leading the youth ministry at St. John's was all that I was doing. The reality is, my vision for what I feel like God has led us to here is much, much bigger than that. I am looking to get actively involved in several different levels in this community and a full time job would hinder that greatly. Obviously, if we do not raise any more support than we have right now, I will have to get a part time job and I would be lying if I said that I hadn't already been scanning the classifieds for just such an opportunity.
Plus, and I don't know if I can write this properly, but I would liken me working as a computer guy or accountant or whatever and doing youth ministry on the side kind of like a doctor or school teacher who worked one job and then did surgery or teaching in their free time. Being a youth minister is who I am, not just what I do.
The Episcopal Church? Really?
Yes. As many of you know, I've been frustrated with much of the policies and politics of the Episcopal Church over the last ten years. Here's the weird thing though. When I left St Luke's, I had the opportunity to go wherever I wanted. And I did. For a while, we went to a large Bible Church. It was great. They had awesome (current) music, a great preacher, fantastic facilities, a wonderful nursery and large children's and youth ministries that were thriving and vibrant. But after a few months, I realized something. It didn't feel like church to me. It was neither sacramental nor liturgical, and I didn't realize how much I needed that. Don't get me wrong, it was (and is) a great church, it just wasn't for me. It helped me in a time when I really needed it, and God really spoke to me in the at church and helped me get back to what I knew God was calling me to do. The thing is, where God was leading me was back into the Episcopal Church. I'm still unhappy with many things within the Church, but really feel that God has me here for a reason. Who am I to argue?
So what is your plan for youth at St John's?
We've already started youth group at St. John's. We've met about five times now and we've had about 18 different youth show up. Mostly from St. John's, but a few unchurched youth and a few from other churches. I'm not looking to draw in kids from other churches, but I'm not going to turn them away. We are looking reach the unchurched youth.
The purpose statement of 24SEVEN is to REACH teenagers for Christ, teaching them to FOLLOW Him, giving them an opportunity to SERVE and WORSHIP Him and sending them out SHARE His love with all who would receive it.
Our main outlet for reaching students will be Sunday night youth group and events. Sunday nights will be discipling and worship nights, but we will also be starting up small groups on weeknights that will meet in youths' homes that will be deeper discipleship times. We will be serving our community in a variety of ways. One of the ways that I am personally serving right now is through Meals on Wheels, which Robyn or the kids and I do every Monday. Our kids are sharing Christ's love by inviting their friends who aren't currently going to church or involved in a youth group. One of my biggest strengths at St Lukes was the ability to connect with unchurched teens, and I don't see any reason that won't continue in Pottsboro.
What are your plans for the youth in the Texoma area?
I have several plans for youth ministry in this area. I have contacted several youth ministers in our area to either start or join a Youth Ministry Alliance-type group. A cross-denominational group that would meet regularly and plan events together. I started a group like this in Corpus Christi that was very successful. Our goal was to learn from each other and to support each other, but also to support local churches who did not have a youth minister or youth ministry program. We did this by putting on an event every few months or so called "Common Ground". The last Common Ground we did while I was there had over 20 churches involved and over 300 youth. I see no reason why we can't do the same kind of thing here.
There is also the beginnings of a group that is interested in building a youth center in Pottsboro. I'm looking forward to meeting with them to give input on that as well. Its long been a dream of mine to have a place that youth could go in the community and hang out in a Christian environment. Downtown Denison has some ideal locations. If you've ever been to or seen pictures of our youth room in Houston, you have gotten a small glimpse of the kind of place I'd love to create. This is something that I am very excited about. If I won the lottery, I'd start on a place like this tomorrow.
I'm also looking to get involved at the Juvenile Detention Center in Pottsboro and hooking up with other organizations such as the Boys and Girls club and Big Brothers and Sisters. I don't want to spread myself too thin, but do want to do all that I can.
I'll be updating with more details about all of this and more as things happen!
Why don't you get (a real) job and do youth ministry in your free time?
I could probably do that, if leading the youth ministry at St. John's was all that I was doing. The reality is, my vision for what I feel like God has led us to here is much, much bigger than that. I am looking to get actively involved in several different levels in this community and a full time job would hinder that greatly. Obviously, if we do not raise any more support than we have right now, I will have to get a part time job and I would be lying if I said that I hadn't already been scanning the classifieds for just such an opportunity.
Plus, and I don't know if I can write this properly, but I would liken me working as a computer guy or accountant or whatever and doing youth ministry on the side kind of like a doctor or school teacher who worked one job and then did surgery or teaching in their free time. Being a youth minister is who I am, not just what I do.
The Episcopal Church? Really?
Yes. As many of you know, I've been frustrated with much of the policies and politics of the Episcopal Church over the last ten years. Here's the weird thing though. When I left St Luke's, I had the opportunity to go wherever I wanted. And I did. For a while, we went to a large Bible Church. It was great. They had awesome (current) music, a great preacher, fantastic facilities, a wonderful nursery and large children's and youth ministries that were thriving and vibrant. But after a few months, I realized something. It didn't feel like church to me. It was neither sacramental nor liturgical, and I didn't realize how much I needed that. Don't get me wrong, it was (and is) a great church, it just wasn't for me. It helped me in a time when I really needed it, and God really spoke to me in the at church and helped me get back to what I knew God was calling me to do. The thing is, where God was leading me was back into the Episcopal Church. I'm still unhappy with many things within the Church, but really feel that God has me here for a reason. Who am I to argue?
So what is your plan for youth at St John's?
We've already started youth group at St. John's. We've met about five times now and we've had about 18 different youth show up. Mostly from St. John's, but a few unchurched youth and a few from other churches. I'm not looking to draw in kids from other churches, but I'm not going to turn them away. We are looking reach the unchurched youth.
The purpose statement of 24SEVEN is to REACH teenagers for Christ, teaching them to FOLLOW Him, giving them an opportunity to SERVE and WORSHIP Him and sending them out SHARE His love with all who would receive it.
Our main outlet for reaching students will be Sunday night youth group and events. Sunday nights will be discipling and worship nights, but we will also be starting up small groups on weeknights that will meet in youths' homes that will be deeper discipleship times. We will be serving our community in a variety of ways. One of the ways that I am personally serving right now is through Meals on Wheels, which Robyn or the kids and I do every Monday. Our kids are sharing Christ's love by inviting their friends who aren't currently going to church or involved in a youth group. One of my biggest strengths at St Lukes was the ability to connect with unchurched teens, and I don't see any reason that won't continue in Pottsboro.
What are your plans for the youth in the Texoma area?
I have several plans for youth ministry in this area. I have contacted several youth ministers in our area to either start or join a Youth Ministry Alliance-type group. A cross-denominational group that would meet regularly and plan events together. I started a group like this in Corpus Christi that was very successful. Our goal was to learn from each other and to support each other, but also to support local churches who did not have a youth minister or youth ministry program. We did this by putting on an event every few months or so called "Common Ground". The last Common Ground we did while I was there had over 20 churches involved and over 300 youth. I see no reason why we can't do the same kind of thing here.
There is also the beginnings of a group that is interested in building a youth center in Pottsboro. I'm looking forward to meeting with them to give input on that as well. Its long been a dream of mine to have a place that youth could go in the community and hang out in a Christian environment. Downtown Denison has some ideal locations. If you've ever been to or seen pictures of our youth room in Houston, you have gotten a small glimpse of the kind of place I'd love to create. This is something that I am very excited about. If I won the lottery, I'd start on a place like this tomorrow.
I'm also looking to get involved at the Juvenile Detention Center in Pottsboro and hooking up with other organizations such as the Boys and Girls club and Big Brothers and Sisters. I don't want to spread myself too thin, but do want to do all that I can.
I'll be updating with more details about all of this and more as things happen!
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