Week 10

The last couple days of camp were amazing! Thursday we did the usual bunk check stuff and a hilarious highlight video. Thursday nights service was called "aftershock" and was about keeping this fire at home and taking it into school... not just another camp spiritual high. It was good! Pastor Ben and I snuck out of camp to go to Wendy's for lunch and talked about some of the stuff that is coming up after camp. He told me that "aftershock" wasn't just the title of thursday night's message, but the SOMA youth groups are going to have two small events in the fall and in the spring called aftershock that will serve as a accountability events. The kids need to stay on fire to change their schools.

Friday after i was back home i had to take all 11 movies that i made and put them onto a dvd so we can make copies to send to all of the youth groups that attended the camp. I finished that and got it to Pastor ben by monday. Sunday night we had a bon-fire at church. Pastor ben, bryce, and madison were speaking at a church that was about 25 miles from chillicothe and were going to be a few minutes late, but on their way back, ben's car broke down and they weren't able to come at all, but Keith, our new worship leader, was next in line to "take charge." we had a fire going with hot dogs, chips, pop, and smores. The second hour we had some worship and testimony time. It was really good for the kids to tell others what God did in them at camp. My favorite one was this kid who was doing drugs the week before camp, someone invited him to camp, he got saved, filled with the holy spirit, and now he has about 10 people coming with him to church on sunday!!! the others were cool too, but that was my favorite. Tonight we have service a 7, but we have a staff meeting and prayer at 6, so that'll be fun. 

I had a big issue with the camp leaders on thursday. Two of the youth pastors and two leaders helped with bunk checks and acted like complete hypocrites. I didn't know what to do besides continue filming, but i became more and more frustrated as that hour went on. I already told you about their "no pranking policy" well, the two youth pastors thought it would be funny to call the two leaders the "bunk busters" and they would decide the room was messy and call in the bunk busters. They would come barging through the door and start throwing clothes and bedding everywhere screaming "we hate dirty" It was buging me the whole time because this was worse than pranking in my mind. They were taking suitcases and bags that were already packed and dumping them and throwing the stuff everywhere. I talked to the head youth pastor and we decided not to show any of the video because the kids were already really mad that the pastors and leaders, but i just made the highlight video a little longer for that day. My questions would be from both my point of view and the head youth pastor's point of view. Was there any way i could've handled that situation better? and What should the head youth pastor do in a situation like that?

My personal spiritual life is incredible! The favor of God is all over me and i can't help it. It might make people sick if i wrote out all the things that God is blessing me with, but i got my computer fixed for free (was supposed to be $225) i got a job that will last for about 8-12 hours a day for the next two weeks, and noah and i are going to a church tomorrow night to speak about mexico and they're giving us $1500, and the church my parents go to awarded me their scholarship ($750, but IWU double's it... so $1500) I can't help it, but the favor of God is all over me!?!?!??!?!?!

hours: 

thursday - all day camp

friday - 3 hours video production

sunday - 2.5 hours bon fire prep and service time

today - 3 hours staff meeting plus service

WEEK 9

This week I've been at camp. Last thursday and friday involved more getting ready for camp, but sunday came and camp started. I was late getting there, but heard that sunday night service went well. After service, Britt Nicole did a concert and I got there in time to see that. Monday night's service was AMAZING!!! pastor ben preached and our drama team did an amazing job. God moved in a new way. I'm in charge of video stuff all week long. I thought i would enjoy it since there didn't seem like much responsibility, but it is a lot more work than what i expected. I'm still having a blast hanging out with all the kids and other staff that i only see a couple times a year. Last night's service was good. I stayed in my room to work on some more video stuff, but the Britt Nicole concert (she's here all week) turned into a prophetic worship service. The kids were praying for each other and worshiping together for a couple hours... we had to tell them it was time to go to their cabins. I'm putting some of the videos from camp on youtube.com just search odyouthm and they should be there if you're interested. I really wish i could explain what is going on at camp, but i really can't put it into words.

some of the questions that i've been having are just how to handle certain situations at camp, but i feel i've gained a better understanding simply by watching the youth pastors handle them here. They had to take some drugs away from a kid the first night and they also had a girl that had to go to the hospital the first night and two girls go to the hospital yesterday. The two girls yesterday discovered some life changing news... that i probably shouldn't talk about. my only question that i'm still wrestling with a little is this camp's pranking policy, no pranking and if caught, you will go home at your parents expense. I think this is kinda harsh, but that's probably because i like pranking. They haven't sent anyone home for pranking yet, they gave them punishment instead. The punishment was way way way worse than i think it should be, but i'm not in charge. What should a youth pastor do that doesn't really agree with some of the policies of the other youth pastors?

My spiritual life has been full of lightbulb moments where God just shows me things that rock my world. He is so good to me! all day every day he is blessing me and giving me favor in the eyes of men. This past weekend, i was working at a basketball tournament in southeastern ohio and while i was working i began talking to this guy, just to get to know him a little better since i was going to work with him all weekend. I found out that he manages the outdoor gear store in town... it's huge! but later i thought about asking for a pair of boots, then contemplated not asking, then thought, "what's the worst that could happen? he could say no" so i asked if he could hook me up with a pair of boots and he said yes, we went through the store and i found some really nice ones that were $150 retail and he gave them to me for free!!! The favor of God is amazing. I was all excited about the boots, but almost everyone from church that i told this story to said that God has placed a gift in my life that people just give me things, i have a unique ability to make money, come up with ideas, etc. I am learning more and more to listen to God's spirit and use my discernment with the situations i find myself in. I have no doubt that God is going to use me to change lives. I can't wait because it's happening even now!!! I'm still working on how to do web design to start this business thing, but God is so so so so so good to me and i'll remind everyone that i'm so stinkin blessed, i can't help it?

Hours:

thursday - 2 hours planning camp games

sunday - 2 hours socializing at camp/helping ben prep for his sermon

monday - all day video shooting/editing, running ppt for worship, doing video for ben's sermon, etc.

tues - same as monday but with different pastor

wed - so far just put some videos online and getting ready to do the same as mon and tues.

WEEK 8

My pastors have three schools that they have started and expanded literally all around the world: Southern Ohio School of Ministry, Fire School of Prophetic Training, and SOMA Business Institute. They were recently hooked up with Wagner Leadership Institute so that the students in our schools can go on to get a degree from an accredited school. We had a conference this weekend to celebrate that connection. Apostle C. Peter Wagner came to speak. The conference was friday night and all day saturday. It really was amazing to hear some of his stories and research that he did at Fuller when he was teaching. I was taking pictures at the conference and actually got some really good ones!

Sunday morning service went well. Apostle Wagner spoke then too because our pastors were on vacation. Pastor ben forgot to announce that the teens had service sunday night. It's been so random that unless we tell them, they assume we don't have church and don't come. Counting the leaders there were 18 people there sunday night, so ben just talked with them to get some feedback on upcoming plans. After that we all went to dairy queen to grab something to eat. That was fun! Monday i finished putting together a video from last Wednesday's bible study, Tuesday ben was out of the office, so i bought a new desk for my room. Today I went to the soma building to help with getting games together for camp. tomorrow i need to buy the supplies for the games. The game is the biggest water balloon fight this world has ever seen!!! And i'm leaving for church here in a little bit to help bryce get ready for tonight, "gangster night"

I was wondering about church wide communication. The teens are having gangster night, but the adults and kids ministries are having family movie night and watching Charlottes Web. This is a big deal that the two events conflict, because the church is not working as one? I was wondering if this happens often or is poor communication a not so common thing in churches?

I was also wondering what the most productive way to get kids to sign up for camp, because our numbers are way down this year?

My personal spiritual life is going great. I'm seeing more and more where God is calling me. I'm talking to God more than usual about future things, but i need to talk to him more about current things. I'm learning the value and truth of the phrase "hope is for the future, but faith is for now" It doesn't take any faith to believe that God will do something in the future, it doesn't take any faith to say that God did something in the past, but it takes all the faith i have to believe that God can change my life and make me more like him today. I want all that God has for me! I believe that God can use me even before i get that diploma. 

hours: 

friday conference: 3 hrs

saturday conference: 4 hrs (i left early)

sunday morning church: 2 hrs

sunday night church: 2 hrs

monday video work: 5 hrs

wednesday camp prep: 1 hr + 5 hours of helping at service tonight

Week 7

This week was a little different than last week. Last Wednesday's service was amazing. Pastor Ben just came out and said it, that there was an amazing move of God at our church and the teens missed it. He got very honest and asked if they are even saved, love God, have personal relationships with him, etc. It sounds harsh the way i described it, but he did it in a very loving way. The teens responded more than ever! about 30-40 of the 80 came up to repent for certain things, apologize to certain people, etc. It was awesome!

We had revival services friday, saturday, and sunday. Sunday after church we all had a picnic in the park and that was a lot of fun. It was a great opportunity for the different ages to mix together. I was actually part of a football game that had college age vs elementary kids. they were allowed to tackle us, but we weren't allowed to tackle them, i don't think this is fair, but whatever?

Monday i was able to take some of the college age to cedar point, that was pretty fun. Tuesday was a think day. I had to come up with about two hours of games for our day at camp (which is coming up soon). I think were going to have some water balloon launching competitions, and then the biggest water balloon fight this world has ever seen!!! it's going to be sweet!

Yesterday (i know my blog is late, i forgot) i had to video tape our pastor's bible study, i got a parking ticket for being at the building so long. (the church paid for it) I had lunch with pastor ben and madison and then we went down to church to start setting up for our 2nd summer night which was Wild Western Night. There were quite a few kids that dressed up in their cowboy and cowgirl outfits, so that was cool that they went along with it. We had opportunities for the kids to win money for camp, games, free food, water melon eating contests, music, bobbing for apples, anything you can thing of, it was probably there!

Clean up didn't take that long and some of the kids helped, so it was a successful night. 

I'm learning a lot about youth ministry as we go. Something i learned last night is that giving away a cooler full of jones soda doesn't make you money, in fact, you'll probably lose money. I had some questions: When doing fun night stuff (summer nights) where is the balance between having worship and presenting the gospel vs having a good time? I've noticed that when there is fun stuff planned, the kids have a hard time paying attention to the sermon and during worship. How do you handle a situation where a new kids is smoking at youth group? Last night there was a new kid smoking when we went outside, he was probably 14 years old. I saw pastor ben approach him and the kid put the cigarette out, but i'm not sure i could find that balance between getting him to come back and still getting him to quit smoking? 

My spiritual life is going in new directions, I'm trying to walk in this new boldness that i have, i'm trying to stay pure, i'm trying to serve without complaining, all of these things are works in progress. I'm still blown away at the response i'm getting for this mexico letter. It sounds bad, but my heart is getting ready for mexico already (it's still a month away) I sent my letters out about three weeks ago and i have about 1400 which is about half way to what i need, so that's pretty good. I'm still wrestling with God about my future and His plan for my life.

teen services/preparation - 11 hours (supervised)

revival services - 9 hours

picnic - 3 hours

cedar point - 24 hours

video taping bible study - 3 hours

Week 6

This week was pretty relaxing... I finished painting my room on saturday, went to Charleston, WV on sunday after church to watch my little brothers soccer team play the U16 India National Team, and then moved all my furniture back into my room on monday! It was pretty crazy, but somewhat relaxing to take a little break from church and ministry stuff.

Tuesday I went to the SOMA building to help pastor Ben with whatever needed done. We talked about him getting my mid-term evaluation turned in, because he still hasn't done it!!! and we also talked about camp. They need someone to be in charge of game time on monday and asked me to do that, but they also need someone to do video recording and editing for the entire camp. I accepted because i would rather do that than lead a small group or lifeguard or something. I talked to one of my friends and he is probably going to help me with all of that which is awesome!

Today i ran all over the place with madison (another youth staff member) to pick up food and stuff for tonight's service. i also turned in money for my mexico trip. Ben asked me to be at the church a few hours early to help clean things up which actually went a lot faster than what we thought! but we had a quick meeting before service and prayed about some things. Throughout this revival, the teens have sat in their chairs, talked, texted, etc. and that's not good!!! so pastor ben had a little heart to heart with them tonight and asked a bunch of questions about why they haven't been involved or seeking God, stuff like that. The Holy Spirit moved and about half (30) of the teens came up to repent for stuff and things like that. It was exactly what the teen ministry needed. They are excited about the start of a huge change and are pumped for church on friday night, saturday night, sunday morning, and sunday night. God is visiting our church and we're moving into unseen territory and new levels of intimacy with Him!!!

Hours: 

7 hrs - services

4 hrs - cleaning/organizing

2 hrs - planning for camp and service

Week 5

So... that camp was exciting, but i'm glad it's over. I can only handle so much camp food!!!

anyways, God is still moving in incredible ways at our church, blind eyes being opened, people's arthritis going away, etc. so that's pretty cool how that's working out. We had service the rest of last week, but took monday and tuesday off to fast and pray. but we have service tonight and i'm sure God is going to move in mighty ways.

The youth pastor just got back saturday from senior trip. He seemed really tired. There really hasn't been much "work" to do since the revival started because there aren't any youth services... we all meet in the main sanctuary and there is no agenda, so as far as preparation goes... there really isn't anything to do? I talked to him a little bit about the camp commercials and we decided which ones to put on a dvd to send to the other youth groups that are going to the camp so they can promote the camp (it starts at the end of the month July 27 - aug 1)

I've really enjoyed this fasting and praying time that i've set aside, because i've never really had a "devotional" time that i can stop everything and just focus on God. It's cool because He's showing me things that i could never see if i was busy doing other things. Through this past two weeks, i'm also reconsidering my future... I'm not leaning towards the whole youth pastor deal so much.

My friend Noah and I have gone in depth about a business that we are planning to start soon. I'm definitely going to finish school at IWU, but i'm really excited and passionate about business and the cool thing is I'm really good at making money. I love the idea that i could fund other peoples' ministry vision and dreams. 

I've been really focused on that and my Mexico trip. I've sent out around 90 letters since friday and have already received $100! but getting all the stuff ready for a mission trip is more work than what i thought, but i'm excited about that!!!

Hours: 

Revival services - 12 hours

DVD work - 1 hour

Kids video - 1 hour

Mexico Preparation - 4 hours

Week 4

Last Wednesday night was pretty good. I spent all day getting the teen center and parking lot ready. It actually looked really sweet (I felt like I was in Hawaii) but the service was a little rough. Normally service doesn’t get started until 7:25 or 7:30, but it’s supposed to start at 7. I tried to get it started on time, but the youth staff had a hard time making that transition of starting on time. We actually got started at about 7:05. Announcements took about 10-12 minutes, worship lasted about 30 minutes which left me with 15 minutes to give a word, which is what I was counting on, about 15 minutes.

 

The youth were acting really really really disrespectful for some reason. When worship started 20-25 kids walked out of the sanctuary and went to the bathroom. When I was teaching, there was a lot of talking and inappropriate comments. I wanted to “take charge” and make realistic threats. I had a hard time wrestling with that since I’m not the youth pastor (He is in Florida with the seniors on senior trip): is it ok to tell people to leave, go to the hall, be quiet? I wasn’t really sure how far I was allowed to go or what exactly I was supposed to do. My teaching went well. I talked about volcanoes and I focused on the point that volcanoes are subject to erosion when they reach sea level, unless there is a constant flow of lava the volcano may erode and fall into the sea. I was suggesting that our church needs to go to a new level and that there needs to be a new level of consistency.

 

We went outside at 8:00 and had a cornhole tournament, chalk art contest, dance contest, free hotdogs and punch, basketball, music, etc. It seemed to be a success and the kids definitely enjoyed it, so that part was encouraging. While we were having our teen service, the adults were having their service in the main sanctuary and they didn’t get done until about 10:00 or a little later. From what I heard, God showed up in a new way and asked if they would come back Thursday night. So we had service Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, prayer meetings through Saturday night into Sunday morning, service Sunday night, Monday night, and I’m pretty sure they’re having service tonight also. I’ve been writing a little since this all started which is listed below: (I’m at a youth camp right now running sound… it’s for a different church, not mine)

 

There is nothing like the glory of God. I can’t say that I can explain it in words, but that since I’ve experienced the glory of God, everything that used to be amazing is now the old level. It truly forces one to go to the next level because you know that there is more because you’ve experienced it. It wasn’t some weird out of body experience, but I’ve never felt so joyful, peaceful, confident, loved, etc. in my life, let alone all at the same time. I’m not a very expressive person, but there were several times in His glory that I would start to cry: sometimes with reason, other times, I couldn’t help it? When you realize that God is a good dad who absolutely loves, loves, loves His children and wants the absolute best for them you can’t help but to be in awe! I couldn’t stop crying when God was delivering his children from strongholds anywhere from anger and depression to 4 or 5 year old generational curses.

 

 

When I went to a youth camp to help with sound while this was all going on at our church, I became a little disappointed because I didn’t experience the same glory that I’ve been experiencing at Open Door. God is starting to show me that I must turn this frustration and disappointment into a spreading of His glory and power. I think part of the frustration is with the leadership, mainly the worship band. It is good, but after experiencing the glory of God, good isn’t even close to enough. I hear God saying that they need to receive the Holy Spirit. The spirit of religion must go in the presence of the Living God. [The church that they go to used to be part of this church network, but changed its plans, I’m not sure why? God judges bodies of people by their head (leader). When that church left to start something new, a spiritual pride came upon them, but they also closed themselves off from the alignment blessings of God. They have become so independent that they have shut themselves out to the new things and new seasons of God. They need to receive the Holy Spirit because He will show you the religiosity. Without the Holy Spirit, we don’t know of our imperfection, we don’t sense the things of the spirit: we can’t see things spiritually, we can’t hear the voice of God, we can’t feel God, etc.]

 

God, I want to be a carrier of your glory! I love experiencing it at church, but I want to be a carrier. Christ in me is the hope of Glory!!!

 

I love you God

 

 

Hours:

14 hours Wednesday

4 hours Thursday

4 hours Friday

4 hours Saturday

5 hours Sunday

All day at this camp Monday thru Thursday (it’s a youth camp, I’m running the sound and lighting stuff, but I’m also learning a lot)

 

 

 

 

 

Week 3

This week has been pretty crazy!!! It's just as busy as the other weeks, but it has required more thought, creativity, and self motivation than simply copying cd's or dvds. Pastor Ben and Bryce are both going to that conference in Dallas today and will be back on friday or saturday. That means I'm in charge of service tonight... which happens to be our first "Summer Night" but I feel well prepared. Madison (one of the other interns) has been working with me and She is very good at getting things done. She calls people to make sure they're going to help with this or that, she gets the food and games, etc ready which takes a load off my back. I'm learning to let other people take care of things like that because I like to have a hand in everything, but I'm realizing that doing that isn't always possible. 

I just finished making the first commercial for the spaghetti dinner/teen auction. We're going to push it hard this sunday and the actual fundraiser is next sunday (june 29th) As long as the teens get into it and realize that they need money for camp... it will be a successful fundraiser! 

The same time I'm doing all this I'm trying to find out what God wants me to talk about for service? I keep hearing God saying "next level?" That phrase has been stuck in my head all week. I've come to realize that when we say "it's time to go to the next level" most people (including myself) aren't exactly sure what that means. So i think the "next level" is different for everyone, but i think there is also a corporate "next level" that the church is being called to. For our church and youth ministry the "next level" is being salt and light in the world... being more like Christ out in the real world, winning people to Christ, encouraging others, speaking life into people, our shadows healing people, etc. It is time for our church to expand our territory and areas of influence. 

Since the theme this night is Hawaiian nights, I bought a Ohio State Buckeyes Hawaiian shirt... it's pretty sweet! But with the theme, i figured i would talk about volcanoes. I've been reading a lot about volcanoes in the past two days and have come up with a lot of great illustrations (that will probably bore you, so i'll save you the time) but they get the point across and I'm actually going to attempt to build one of those science fair volcanoes later... we'll see how that goes?

Anyways, personally, spiritually, I'm loving life! I feel like I'm hearing God's heart and I've been praying that out over my life and the people of our church. God's been telling me all of this stuff that is going to happen soon and it's cool to be expecting it, but i'm not exactly sure what kind of responsibilities come along with that, so i'm still learning. As far as the ministry and youth group stuff is going, I'm loving it because we're mixing the two things i love to do...  ministry and business strategizing. I love doing business stuff and I'm helping Shandra (my girlfriend) raise money for her Africa trip, I get to help design and carry out fundraisers for the youth ministry, and I'm (a little behind) writing my Mexico support letter to help people build their houses. I love mixing my passions with Gods, that's when i feel most used and it's a great feeling to be used!

hours: (way more than 4)

1 hour - working on the kids ministry video

3 hours - filming for the spaghetti dinner/teen auction commercial

2 hours - editing the commercial

4-5 hours - reading about volcanoes and preparing for my sermon

8-10 hours - running around town getting stuff ready for wednesday night

30 minutes writing this blog

Week Two

This week (week and a half) has been even more busy than the first. We are still working on preparing product for the conference in Dallas which is in one week. I worked late friday night and here and there sunday, but it is all done and being shipped tomorrow, so that's a load off my shoulders. 

Sunday night our church rented out the bowling alley. We had about 400 or so show up! I told Ben that we should get a bowling alley at church so people will definitely come. We had fun, there was pizza, pop, bowling, and a lot of people from our church so it was a good time. I think our next sunday night out is at one of the local pizza places. 

Saturday from 10 - 3 I was at the church doing a video for the kids ministry. Their rite of passage sunday is coming up in august, so i wanted to leave myself with plenty of time to get the video done. (fifth graders are crazy!!!) I had fun shooting the video, but putting it together is gonna take some hard work and a couple late late nights... that's when i do my best video work?

I think i mentioned it earlier, but at our church we are all inter-involved (if that's a word?) we all help with the other ministries if it is needed. The kids ministry needed a video... i did it. Pastor Mark and Nicki's ministry needed help with the product for the conference... i helped. ETC. 

Last night we actually got down to some youth stuff, FINALLY!!! 

Ben took Brice, Madison, and myself out to olive garden for dinner to discuss what's coming up and who's responsible for what. On wed. nights we're doing "Summer Nights" where our actual youth service is only about an hour long, but for the other hour or so, we'll be outside with grills, music, games, fun, etc. I've been labeled as the official dj for the summer which means, I went out to get some baggy pants and a tall T... so i look really $uper Gang$ta.

We also spent about an hour coming up with about two more fundraisers so kids can go to camp. We're going to do a teen service auction in about two weeks. we worked out all the details and responsibilities because Ben is going to be gone for about a week which leaves it all up to us! I'm preaching next wednesday night which is also our first "Summer Night" which puts a lot of pressure on me, but we have enough youth staff that i think it'll run smoothly. I'm not sure what i'm preaching on yet, but I think it's gonna be short and sweet?

Personally, I'm reading a book by Pastor Brian Houston and learning what it means to live for a cause. Vision without cause is nothing more than a goal, but it is good to live for a cause. Sometimes that means serving someone else's vision and putting your own on the side. I'm learning a lot about alignment and submission, so it's a really hard for me, but it's good because i'm learning to live with a kingdom mindset and it's changing my life!!!!!!!!!!!

Hours:

1 graduation party

2 bowling

10 making product

3 meeting

2 bible study

2.5 hours tonight's service

Week 1:

 This was an interesting week. I learned a little about how to deal with problems involving the leadership. There was some confusion/ deception coming from one of our worship leaders. It's putting Ben (the Youth Pastor) in a tough situation. The worship leader has another sibling that is on leadership and two other siblings in the youth group. Their parents are already a little hesitant about their kids going to our church, but removing this person from leadership may affect more people than intended. I learned that situations like this are when the wisdom of Senior Pastors comes in handy. They talked about it and came to some conclusion (I'm not sure what it was?)

 Other than that situation, I have a better understanding of what all is expected from a youth pastor. Ben is also the right hand man for Mark and Nicki Pfeifer Ministries (our senior pastors). I helped him on Wednesday by copying about 250 cd's. Pastor Mark is speaking at a conference in Texas in two weeks and they will need plenty of product to sell. That is how they fund their ministry by selling their cd's and dvd's. They are preparing for a trip to Africa where they are putting on a conference for pastors there, but the thing is, they have to pay for the pastors to come to the conference. So I keep reminding myself when I feel like I'm wasting time, that this is for a blessed ministry with a Kingdom mindset. 

 Later Wednesday afternoon I helped Ben put the finishing touches on his sermon for Wed. night. We had to come up with helpful illustrations. After the list was made, I went all over town to get the props. He also asked me to give a quick testimony about how bad relationships can get in the way of us and God. Wednesday night service went great and I stuck around a little to do some filming for commercials to promote camp (July 27 - Aug 1). I have three promo's done and I'm working on about one or two more to send out to the other churches that go to our camp. This week wasn't really hard work, but it was a great way to start off the summer and I think I'll have some great opportunities to learn from Ben and Pastor Mark in the next few months.

Test Post

Testing out the summer blog