This week was an amazing experience! When we arrived as a team we were all pretty tired. I drove for 5 hours straight the whole way there starting off early in the morning. As soon as we showed up to camp Man-o-lan in P.A. I was exhausted from driving. We had made it just in time for the opening staff meeting right before the kids showed up.
Monday and Tuesday were tiring days. My attitude was hugely affected by my lack of rest. The first two days got me used to the flow of things. Starting at 8 am we got our campers to breakfast, followed that up with cabin devotions and straight to chapel. At this moment I was just sitting in with the senior counselor of my cabin so I was helping with whatever he needed. After lunch started afternoon activities. I was in charge of the skate park from 2 pm to 4 pm every day. On Monday I found out the skate park required wearing full pads, which made me a little disappointed. I have never warn pads before and neither did the majority of kids skating. Because I was so tired and my attitude was already pretty bad I handled it in a little rough. So that was a rough first day at the skate park. After the skate park we had supper followed up with field games, camp fire and cabin devotions. All through out the day I would be with the kids and help the band with their set up (as I am traveling with an IWU worship team). After talking with some of the guys on my team about the skate park they encouraged me to learn to skate well with the pads on and lead by a good example. I took it to heart and did so. By the end of the week there were new kids showing up learning how so skateboard. It was great!
Tuesday afternoon I seriously prayed to the Lord for energy from supper so that I could be more effective in my ministry. God strongly blessed that prayer and I gained so much energy and joy. The rest of Tuesday I was able to truly show myself to the kids and gain many great relationships. Wednesday was amazing! To cut to the chase, the senior counselor felt the need to let me lead the night devotions. After a very powerful night of worship through skit, preaching, and music our guys were thinking very strongly on things. To say the least, by the end of devotions every guy in our cabin was on their knees in a circle and each one of them accepted Christ into their hearts, some for the very first time! We stayed up for hours early in the morning discussing, confessing, praying and encouraging! God had truly stuck our guys! The following morning I led our cabin devotions again. I stressed the importance of preparing your heart before services. So our cabin went to chapel early to get ready to meet with God. The amazing thing is that that service turned out to be a huge revival service! To say the least, it ended with anointing of oil and kids came forward to their counselors and got prayed for, kids were weeping out to God and accepting Christ into their hearts! At one point when it was silent I announced how our guys that very night got on their knees and accepted Christ. I explained why they got on their knees and encouraged everybody in the chapel to do the same. Everyone ended up falling to their knees weeping and praying. The service lasted an hour over its original time. People continued praying after it in groups and everything! Friday was a day of relaxation and fun. We hung out with the kids and prepared them for battle. Friday was a celebration day.
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 pm to 11 pm
These times are mixed together with hanging out with the kids, working with the band, skate park duties, and devotionals.
Personal Reflection:
This week was great! Kid truly found the Lord! Our team was a bit discouraged for the first two days because the kids seemed so stale and to themselves. But by Thursday we couldn’t keep them silent about from holding in their joy! They were singing to the Lord in the cafeteria and everything! It was awesome! Overall it taught me great perseverance. It was great to be able to use skateboarding, such an underground thing, to help kids enjoy their week at a Christian camp. Using your talents for the Lord is always a great privilege.
Spiritual Reflection:
Spiritually, it was fantastic! I was able to spent really good divine times alone with God and allow myself to feel Him in my own life. The Lord boomed on the chapels and in the cabins. It was easily evident that the Lord was moving in that camp that week. The skate park issue with the pads really stretched me and taught me a lot about myself. I learned a lot more self control. When it came down to campers asking me questions on the night when my whole cabin received Christ, God truly anointed me with the words to say. That was a great experience. I truly feel like I am being used from God strongly. I also feel that I am growing so much more in the Lord through these experiences!
Interview Questions:
James Hite – Program Director of Man-o-lamp camp in Quakertown P.A.
1.) How long have you been in youth ministry for?
16 years
2.) When ministering to the opposite sex what do you find to be the most difficult part about it?
I am married but the most difficult thing is that they don’t get the wrong impression. Being careful on giving love and gentleness and keeping the right focus.
3.) What is the hardest part about youth ministry?
Preparing bible studies and devotionals. Paper work, getting ready and organized because it’s very important yet the dullest part, like homework.
4.) What is the most fun part about youth ministry?
Out of everything, a kid finding freedom and love. Working with a quality staff is more fun and makes the work easier.
5.) What do you find is the best way to help teenagers grasp a message?
A good object lesson that relates to everyday life. It feeds the spirit.
6.) What is your greatest success?
I cannot strive for success, I can strive for faith. If you are faithful to what God has called you to do then you are successful. Look for success through Gods eyes.
7.) What is your greatest failure?
In youth ministry you have to be willing to dare some things. Honestly, I accidently set a kid of fire once.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Continuation of Report #2
Youth Pastor Interview:
Adam Johnson from Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church in P.A.
Wednesday nights youth group attends about 85 teens and small groups about 125.
1.) How long have you been in the youth ministry?
7 years
2.) When ministering to the opposite sex what do you find is the most difficult part about it?
Interacting, showing love without there being the view of alterier motives.
3.) What is the hardest part about youth ministry?
Easily, the parent who think youth ministry exists just for their kids.
4.) What is the most fun part about youth ministry?
Spending quality time with the kids is the best part about youth ministry.
5.) What do you find is the best way to help teenagers grasp a message?
Make it personal and keep it upbeat.
6.) What is your greatest success?
Anytime I see a young person walk away being passionate about the lord Jesus Christ.
7.) What is your greatest failure?
Misuse of my time. Allowing laziness to set in.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Report #2
This week I was at camp mantawagon in Saxton P.A. I worked with about 120 senior high kids. Monday through Friday I was a fulltime councilor for a cabin of about 12 guys. In the morning I helped get them off to breakfast and get to their chosen activity after that. From 8 am to 12 pm I was on the go. Mainly I hung out with the kids and gained strong relationships. Throughout the week I was able to have an amazing amount of strong one on one conversation’s with kids. From talking about being stronger as a Christian after camp to help kids allow God to take their anger to reading through the whole book of Jonah with someone I was interacting strongly with them. Each day, during chapel, I helped lead motions up front with the band and got the kids excited to worship the Lord. On Wednesday I was able to skate a demo on my skateboard for 120 teenagers in the camps gym. I provided the ramps for them. On Friday I had the privilege of giving my testimony for the kids at chapel which I felt encouraged a lot of the kids. By the end of the camp I felt as if I was a strong encouraging big brother to all the campers! It was great!
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am. To 12 pm.
Personal Reflection:
The whole week was so great! The campers were very mature for their age and the spirit of the Lord was so evident in the chapel services. It was a blast getting to know the kids and all the staff! The staff were like a strong family and the kids really cherished your friendship. I feel like I was able to be myself and glorify God in a real way and make friends and encourage others through it.
Spiritual Reflection:
Spiritually the camp was on fire! The Holy Spirit was obvious and evident at the chapel services. The guys in my cabin woke up early to read their bibles. Every morning the staff started out with a devotional that help us start our day thinking strongly on the Lord. I was able to get away everyday and have a great time with the Lord through reading His word, prayer and silence. I was able to fill myself with the Lord very well through out the week. Their was so much fellowship going on every hour of everyday that it encouraged me to think in different ways on scripture and spiritual life. Worshiping to the band was probably one of the strongest points to everyone at once in worship. It was if the whole place exploded with a Holy Power and it was amazing! The scenery out there was incredible…it really helped me comprehend a better understanding of Gods greatness and power!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Report #1
My first week of summer teams was Great! Our team helped out with VBS at Evangelical Friends Church in St. Clairesville. Each day of the week From 8:30 am to about9:30 am I first helped lead motions for the worship songs infront of about 300 young kids. From there I broke off with the 5th and 6th graders and helped them with their devotionals and do volunteer work.
On Monday we had a devotional and and went right into a game and snack time. It was great helping the kids understand the devotionals and getting some energy out with them. When playing the games I was placed in charge of some of the teams involved. It was very fun being able to help everyone kid out there feel involved and like a winner even though their team may have not technically won. These activities ended at 12:30 pm, thats when the kids went home for the day.
Tuesday and Wednesday we made trips to two different retirement homes. After I led the kids through the worship motions in the morning from 8:30 am to 9:30 am we gathered the 5th and 6th graders and headed out to the retirement home. Each day we visited a different home. Our mission was to visit the elderly in their rooms and just simply care. I led a group door to door teaching them to get involved with the conversations. It was great to see the elderly people get so blessed from our visits. That lasted until 12:30 pm.
Thursday and Friday we returned to the retirement homes and sangs songs to the people. Each day we returned to the individual places with had already been to. After I led the motions to the worship from 8:30 am to 9:30 am we headed out to the homes. This time I helped lead the kids through some songs they had been working on all week. After singing I helped kids get out and talk with those we sung to. The elderly really showed a lot of appreciation for our visit through songs and conversation! It was great to bless them in such a way. These trips also ended by 12:30 pm.
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30 am to 12:30 am
Personal Reflection:
I thought it was a little different being with the kids for only half the day. It would have been way better to be with them for the majority of the day in order to build stronger relationships with them and get more one on one time with them. It was really cool how the class for the 5th and 6th graders was stretching the kids outside their comfort zones. It was great to help the kids see ways to help out others through simple visits. They learned how to shine Christ through their actions. I felt that their way not much time for the kids to talk or discuss any spiritual things though. It might have been better for them if they would have been able to discuss bible stories a little more than what they got to. The kids seemed to really be attached to me by the end of the week, making me feel like I had really made an impact on them. It was great to be able to lead and teach like I did through my actions and example. The majority of my ministry this week for VBS was through my actions and example. This weeks ministry really helped me see, all the more, how strong leading by example can be. Through out the summer I will be able to remember how I worked with kids through my example and will be able to apply that to other camps.
Spiritual Reflection:
To be honest, my spiritual life was strong throughout this past week but I did have a struggle at one point with alone time. As I hung out with kids and VBS hours did team requirements with the team and was with those inviting the team to their house I found myself with a heaviness over me from lack of alone time with the Lord. I ended telling the team about the problem, got prayer over me and had a very refreshing, refilling time alone with God. Other than that it was very refreshing the be with young kids that are so innocent and willing to learn about the Lord. It was a great experience for me to see how much of sharing my faith can easily be through actions. I am traveling with an amazing team that does devotionals together and talks about the scriptures and prays together constantly so I have been so lifted up this week.
This week of ministry has been very fun and meaningful.
Youth Pastor Interview: with Josh Nichols
1.) How long have you been in youth ministry for?
11 years
2.) When ministering to the opposite sex what do you find to be the most difficult part about it?
I hired a female so it's not that difficult. I always keep a female youth worker with me. It's ok to talk with the opposite sex in busy areas, as long as your not alone with them.
3.) What is the hardest part about youth ministry?
Knowing how to deal with kids that have grown up in the church, those that claim Christianity yet not living it out. It is hard to have patience with them.
4.) What is the most fun part about youth ministry?
Seeing kids that are really commiting to Christ and living it out to the fullest.
5.) What do you find the best way to help teenagers grasp a message is?
Sticking to Biblical truth. Giving them something to chew on. Worshiping through song. There is that specific time to be serious and dive into the word.
6.) What is your greatest success?
Good success is seen when kids show up. If kids show up then we can share the gospel with them.
7.) What is your greatest failure?
Anytime my own pride - selfishness gets in the way and distracts the message.
Good Quote:
"If you want to have a big youth ministry get adult leaders that have a heart for youth ministry."
On Monday we had a devotional and and went right into a game and snack time. It was great helping the kids understand the devotionals and getting some energy out with them. When playing the games I was placed in charge of some of the teams involved. It was very fun being able to help everyone kid out there feel involved and like a winner even though their team may have not technically won. These activities ended at 12:30 pm, thats when the kids went home for the day.
Tuesday and Wednesday we made trips to two different retirement homes. After I led the kids through the worship motions in the morning from 8:30 am to 9:30 am we gathered the 5th and 6th graders and headed out to the retirement home. Each day we visited a different home. Our mission was to visit the elderly in their rooms and just simply care. I led a group door to door teaching them to get involved with the conversations. It was great to see the elderly people get so blessed from our visits. That lasted until 12:30 pm.
Thursday and Friday we returned to the retirement homes and sangs songs to the people. Each day we returned to the individual places with had already been to. After I led the motions to the worship from 8:30 am to 9:30 am we headed out to the homes. This time I helped lead the kids through some songs they had been working on all week. After singing I helped kids get out and talk with those we sung to. The elderly really showed a lot of appreciation for our visit through songs and conversation! It was great to bless them in such a way. These trips also ended by 12:30 pm.
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30 am to 12:30 am
Personal Reflection:
I thought it was a little different being with the kids for only half the day. It would have been way better to be with them for the majority of the day in order to build stronger relationships with them and get more one on one time with them. It was really cool how the class for the 5th and 6th graders was stretching the kids outside their comfort zones. It was great to help the kids see ways to help out others through simple visits. They learned how to shine Christ through their actions. I felt that their way not much time for the kids to talk or discuss any spiritual things though. It might have been better for them if they would have been able to discuss bible stories a little more than what they got to. The kids seemed to really be attached to me by the end of the week, making me feel like I had really made an impact on them. It was great to be able to lead and teach like I did through my actions and example. The majority of my ministry this week for VBS was through my actions and example. This weeks ministry really helped me see, all the more, how strong leading by example can be. Through out the summer I will be able to remember how I worked with kids through my example and will be able to apply that to other camps.
Spiritual Reflection:
To be honest, my spiritual life was strong throughout this past week but I did have a struggle at one point with alone time. As I hung out with kids and VBS hours did team requirements with the team and was with those inviting the team to their house I found myself with a heaviness over me from lack of alone time with the Lord. I ended telling the team about the problem, got prayer over me and had a very refreshing, refilling time alone with God. Other than that it was very refreshing the be with young kids that are so innocent and willing to learn about the Lord. It was a great experience for me to see how much of sharing my faith can easily be through actions. I am traveling with an amazing team that does devotionals together and talks about the scriptures and prays together constantly so I have been so lifted up this week.
This week of ministry has been very fun and meaningful.
Youth Pastor Interview: with Josh Nichols
1.) How long have you been in youth ministry for?
11 years
2.) When ministering to the opposite sex what do you find to be the most difficult part about it?
I hired a female so it's not that difficult. I always keep a female youth worker with me. It's ok to talk with the opposite sex in busy areas, as long as your not alone with them.
3.) What is the hardest part about youth ministry?
Knowing how to deal with kids that have grown up in the church, those that claim Christianity yet not living it out. It is hard to have patience with them.
4.) What is the most fun part about youth ministry?
Seeing kids that are really commiting to Christ and living it out to the fullest.
5.) What do you find the best way to help teenagers grasp a message is?
Sticking to Biblical truth. Giving them something to chew on. Worshiping through song. There is that specific time to be serious and dive into the word.
6.) What is your greatest success?
Good success is seen when kids show up. If kids show up then we can share the gospel with them.
7.) What is your greatest failure?
Anytime my own pride - selfishness gets in the way and distracts the message.
Good Quote:
"If you want to have a big youth ministry get adult leaders that have a heart for youth ministry."
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