Just thought I'd write to let you all know I haven't fallen off the face of the planet. Things have just been quite busy lately - and to be frank, I've kind of lost the zeal for maintaining my online presence that I once had. Besides, so much has been happening in the 'real' world that I've had little time to think about my blog, forums, chatting, and so on.
Anyway here's a little update: Things in our youth group are going well. It was a challenge to pick things up after being overseas and having school holidays, but this last week I've been able to catch up with some young people I haven't seen for a while, which I was stoked about.
I've also got a job in a local nursing home; I really enjoy it actually, more than any other paid job I've had. It feels good to be able to save a bit for the future too; one of these days I'd like to be able to buy a house!
So I thank God for the past few months - there have been some crazy challenges and a few surprises on the way (not all of them pleasant), but I know God is working in this city. He is positioning people and linking us together in preparation for some great things that are going to happen here. One thing we should do:
"... Be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray."
1 Peter 4:7 TNIV
Showing posts with label working. Show all posts
Showing posts with label working. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Process
We have been here for nearly three weeks now, and it is beginning to feel like home. How do I know I've settled in? Because I visited my old town last week (it was good to see my friends again), but when I came back here it felt like coming home. And now that we have a couch to sit on (was delivered yesterday), I can finally relax.
And yet, I have so much work to do! For some reason, I thought that starting in a new town would entail a few weeks (at least) of not too many commitments. But I was wrong! Starting up a new youth ministry sure takes a lot of hard work. But I'm enjoying every minute of it.
I thought it would be good to record what I'm doing in the process of getting this thing set up - so that at least I (and perhaps you) can look back if we ever wish to know once more what is involved in starting a youth ministry from scratch. The process I've basically followed so far has first of all involved seeking God absolutely every day as to what He wants me to do. I will not do this task on my own understanding or strength; I must hear the voice of God, otherwise I will simply slip back into doing what I have always done, from what I already know (which would be bad).
As I have sought to hear from God and obey Him, I have been working on gathering together some young people from a list of contacts my pastor gave me. The list is about fifteen people long; I have discovered that probably about ten of those are actually solid contacts. I think it is a good number to begin with.
I organised a couple of low-stress social events during February and March - we had a coffee night at a local cafe the week after I came, and will go Go-Karting in a few weeks' time. Apart from these, a few combined-churches events are happening that I will encourage the young people to be a part of. This Friday we will start up a youth home group which will facilitate fellowship, discipleship and outreach. In all of this, I hope to see unity and vision grow within the group, and to see the young people become more committed to their local church. My focus for the moment is on mentoring and discipling this group, from which will emerge future youth leaders, and from which we will begin to outreach into the community.
Importantly, in the last week I took the time to write out our vision for the youth ministry, and to present this to the church leaders. I have a 2-3 page document that details our specific goals and direction, and will be a great basis for me to work from as we begin to set the culture of the group and begin to form partnerships with others in fulfilling our vision.
It's all very exciting - God is beginning to draw people together and into the church, and I know that great things are going to happen in the future. Importantly, I remind myself and others that God is going to do amazing things, that peoples' lives will be changed, and that we must not limit our vision to our own understanding. We serve a great big God, who loves us, and desires to do great things through us. And He will!
And yet, I have so much work to do! For some reason, I thought that starting in a new town would entail a few weeks (at least) of not too many commitments. But I was wrong! Starting up a new youth ministry sure takes a lot of hard work. But I'm enjoying every minute of it.
I thought it would be good to record what I'm doing in the process of getting this thing set up - so that at least I (and perhaps you) can look back if we ever wish to know once more what is involved in starting a youth ministry from scratch. The process I've basically followed so far has first of all involved seeking God absolutely every day as to what He wants me to do. I will not do this task on my own understanding or strength; I must hear the voice of God, otherwise I will simply slip back into doing what I have always done, from what I already know (which would be bad).
As I have sought to hear from God and obey Him, I have been working on gathering together some young people from a list of contacts my pastor gave me. The list is about fifteen people long; I have discovered that probably about ten of those are actually solid contacts. I think it is a good number to begin with.
I organised a couple of low-stress social events during February and March - we had a coffee night at a local cafe the week after I came, and will go Go-Karting in a few weeks' time. Apart from these, a few combined-churches events are happening that I will encourage the young people to be a part of. This Friday we will start up a youth home group which will facilitate fellowship, discipleship and outreach. In all of this, I hope to see unity and vision grow within the group, and to see the young people become more committed to their local church. My focus for the moment is on mentoring and discipling this group, from which will emerge future youth leaders, and from which we will begin to outreach into the community.
Importantly, in the last week I took the time to write out our vision for the youth ministry, and to present this to the church leaders. I have a 2-3 page document that details our specific goals and direction, and will be a great basis for me to work from as we begin to set the culture of the group and begin to form partnerships with others in fulfilling our vision.
It's all very exciting - God is beginning to draw people together and into the church, and I know that great things are going to happen in the future. Importantly, I remind myself and others that God is going to do amazing things, that peoples' lives will be changed, and that we must not limit our vision to our own understanding. We serve a great big God, who loves us, and desires to do great things through us. And He will!
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