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