Public School Opportunities
This blog was written by Stephen Broome, Director, Three Crosses Outreach Public School Ministry Opportunities Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16). One of the ways we do that is by getting involved in our community. And what better place to get involved than in our local public schools? During these tough economic times, you may be operating on a smaller budget than you already had, so you have less money to do all the amazing things you wanted to do. Well, youth ministry should never be about the programs anyway. Maybe God is calling us back to what youth ministry really is-serving and equipping the saints, who in our context are the youth in our community. In the same way that your budget has been squeezed, the public school systems are struggling financially, which ultimately hinders student success. There has never been a better time for the church to rise up and minister to the needs in our community. Although it has become difficult to get into the public school to "hang-out" with students during the lunch hour, it is still possible. You need a plan. If you go into the school with a plan, "hanging out" with your students during the lunch hour may become a reality. So how do you as the youth leader/worker/volunteer accomplish this? Simply put, "Build a relationship of trust with the administration." Your impact in the school should begin at the top. Before you can relate with the students, you are going to have to relate with the administration. Do you think of youth ministry in your situation in terms of decades? That relationship of trust with the administration will prove to be invaluable for many future years of ministry in the school with your students. What does this look like? * Call the school and see if you can get a meeting with the principal or the assistant principal. Eventually one of those two individuals is going to have to be on your side. In that meeting ask if there is anything that they need . If you get a real answer (which is probably not going to happen) do whatever you can to meet that need. If you do not get a real answer, you are going to have to find a need. * Go to a school improvement council meeting. Your school probably has one, and they are open to the community. Listen for the needs that the school has and do what you can to fill those needs. * Offer to tutor. There are plenty of students struggling, and the school does not have the time or personnel to meet all the needs. Be willing to go in to tutor a student for 30 minutes to an hour once per week. Help the student with homework, help them with reading, or see if you can help with the school testing. You probably have people in your church who could volunteer a half hour per week to help students. I know of an elementary school in Huntsville, AL, that has been adopted by a ministry that is bringing around 60 volunteers into the school each week to tutor students during their lunch hour. You may have to be a detective in order to find a need that you can fill in order to initiate and further a relationship with the administration. Here are some other ideas: * Fix up the teacher's lounge (could be as easy as repainting the room) * Host a breakfast for all the teachers in your school or district * Provide a steak lunch for the teachers during in-service days * Bring doughnuts to the school for the teachers * Provide the school with some needed equipment After some patience and persistence, God will help that relationship to grow, and before you know it, you will be welcome in the school. You will be given an open door to let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. We need to get outside our walls of comfort and into the world where ministry really happens. One of the most strategic places for you to show the world God's love, especially during these tough economic times, is at your local public school. I have the privilege of ministering in a small rural community where there is one central location for the elementary, middle and high school for several surrounding communities. Almost any student to whom I would minister in our organization goes to that one school. For a year we have been seeking to get in the door after it became clear that "hanging-out" was not going to be an option. And finally God has provided an open door for tutoring. So I am presently tutoring for about an hour and a half per week. God has provided a couple other volunteers that the school is allowing to come in to tutor. There is a lunch period between my tutoring sessions. Do you think they will let me eat lunch in the cafeteria between sessions? I think so. How's that for youth ministry on a shoestring budget? For more information on this topic or Stephen's ministry with Three Crosses Outreach, you can contact him at stephenbroome@sc.rr.com.
Do You Think Camp is Important?
The Importance of the Camp Setting in a Teenager's Life With everything teenagers are involved in today and the fast pace of society, it is no wonder that the average Christian teenager has a difficult time waiting on the Lord (Is. 40:31) and being still to know that He is God (Ps. 46:10). These are vital characteristics of a follower of Christ. As camp workers, we here at Mt. Lou San Bible Camp are under the conviction that the camp setting is vitally important in the life of your teenagers. We have had the privilege of observing teenagers and the effect of camp on their lives spiritually. We could probably write a book on the advantages of the camp setting, but here are just few: 1 - Life is distracting Sports, homework, friends, job, cell phones, computers, video games, MP3 players, and many other interests are vying for the attention of a teenager. A week of camp away from such things (though not bad) offers a change of pace and environment in which a teen can focus on being physically and spiritually refreshed. This removal from the "familiar" increases awareness and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Even Jesus Christ felt the need to separate himself from the pressures of His daily ministry to be refreshed in prayer. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (Matthew 14:23) 2 - Creative Teaching Jesus taught with creativity. He used parables and object lessons to connect people's understanding of life with the truths of God. A camp setting will facilitate those creative teaching times. This unique setting allows teenagers to make that connection between truth and life. 3 - Extended Exposure From morning quiet time to chapels both morning and night, campers are saturated with the Word. And since they are there for the week, no one misses a service. This extended exposure allows us to focus more deeply into a Biblical theme that will be likely to stick with the camper. Also, campers get several different levels of interaction with their leaders: one-on-one, small group, large group, and other unique settings (all of which have their unique advantages). 4 - Interaction with Like-Minded Teenagers Sometimes it's just good for a teen to know that there are other teens struggling with the same issues. And it's good to meet other teenagers with the same goal of serving God. Camp unites these teens and they learn to build each other up in the faith. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. (I Thess. 5:11) 5 - Committed Staff It has been our experience that it's not the program that draws teens to camp, but our staff. We are certainly blessed with a committed staff that are exhibiting a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. Relationships are critical to us all, but especially teenagers. A camp with a staff committed to building relationships with their campers will be a definite draw for your teens. 6 - Surrounded by God's Creation Nature is testimony to the fact that there is a God, and He is a God of design and order that created all living things for His glory. Being in the middle of God's creation will give your teen a clearer understanding of how big our God really is. Through exposure to nature, campers learn about how God cares for His precious creation. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16) A week of camp can be a turning point in the life of a teen (as we have seen many times). Whether Mt. Lou San or another God-honoring camp, your youth will be encouraged to go deeper in their walk with their great Creator. Encourage your teens to attend camp. Their lives will be changed. In His Service, MLSBC Staff
