WEEK 4 REPORT

Ministry Activities

5:00-5:45--> Get Acquainted with Staff
5:45-6:00--> Staff Meeting
6:00-7:00--> Keep Order
7:00-8:00--> Main Program (I participate and keep order)
8:00-8:45--> Play Games with the kids till they leave
8:45-9:00--> Help Shut Down

Personal Reflection

This was my first week feeling like an outsider. For the first hour of youth group I do not think that I really fulfilled my duty in building relationships with the kids. I settled for watching the kids interact and helping keep order. Because of this, I feel like I missed some opportunities. It is really hard for me to relate to these kids. They do not seem to like the same things I do at all. I am a soccer/frisbee/video game player that enjoys old school Christian rock and ska music. They are punks/skaters that play football and listen to hardcore rock/rap and emo music. However, I realize it is not their job to try and relate to me, but rather my job to try and relate to them. I think this one is going to need to involve me stepping out of my comfort zone and instead of trying to relate to them on something I am good at, trying to learn something they are good at. This is the opposite approach I take to most relationships. I try to do things with people I do not know that we can both relate to, but I cannot seem to find this in this group. Maybe I just need to look harder. This was the first week Pastor Mike came to Bodyshop. There seemed to be a bit more order and the main program was a lot better. He spoke about forgiveness and had an altar call at the end. That is completely foreign to me. My church rarely did that kind of thing. It seemed like it was really powerful for the kids, but as I recall from my middle school days, that kind of thing does not last long. The staff were called on to come forward and pray for the kids so I went up and did so. It was a very different experience for me to be the staff in that situation. I am glad that I was able to do it though. I hope that the kids will listen to the message and actually change because of it. I feel naive for still hoping this, but I believe anything is possible in Christ. The biggest issue I have with this group is the worship time. I have talked to some kids and they seem to enjoy it, but from what I have seen, the vast majority of them are not paying attention at all to what is really going on. It is fun, but I do not know how much God is there. The group that is actually energetic about it have that attitude because it provides them an outlet to have a pseudo mashpit. The rest mostly just stand close to the stage and talk to each other. It is hard for me to understand why they have worship at all in a session like that. I do not think the kids are actually communing with God, but I hope He is having an impact that I cannot see. I know He can work in ways that I cannot understand and work in these kids when I cannot see it, but I do not know that He is. This is so different from what I am used to.

Spiritual Life

I have had an inconsistent devotional life this week. It is still better than it was before I came to college, but it has suffered a bit recently. I get to it about every other night, and I want it to be better than that. Consequently, my prayer life suffered some because one of my most honest and deepest times of prayer is during devotionals. I know Prof Gunsalus said that ministry and our spiritual life do not necessarily affect each other, but I think they did in this circumstance. I think that a poor spiritual life can negatively affect ministry, but a positive spiritual life may not improve ministry. God will accomplish His purpose either way. I need to work on the spiritual discipline of sleep too. Part of the issue is not my fault, but part of it is. I would like to get to bed earlier, but my dorm is a very loud place to live even after quiet hours go on. For instance, recently we had a "Brawl Night" in which they decided to blast techno music. This happened at about midnight; right when I was trying to get to sleep. I hope that God will help me accomplish this discipline because I am really feeling the toll right now.