Class Response Eleven: Lee Rogers

Lee Rogers is the recently appointed missionary for Youth Alive in the Penn-Del district. I really enjoyed having him join on class on Thursday and present to us what the heart of youth alive is. He shared specifically on the four strategies of youth alive and about his calling, or how God led him to the position he serves in now.

I was fascinated during class as we talked about the strategies represented in the logo above. Blue is Campus Missionaries, Green is Campus Clubs, Red is the Seven Project, and Yellow is the Prayer Zone...

Lee asked us if the Seven Project was more evangelistic or discipleship focused. A few of us gave answers, generally coming to the idea that it's an evangelistic ministry that lays a foundation for discipleship. That was mostly right. Lee pointed our to us that it is actually mainly a discipleship ministry that gives way to evangelism. The Campus missionaries are challenged to intentionally live their faith with this motto: pray, live, serve, tell, give. As they commit to doing those things, practice living them out, and start reaching people... they become a disciple of Christ. Youth Alive also has an online accountability program that helps students track their progress and rate themselves on how they're doing. It is "marketed"as evangelism, but it really serves both purposes. I love that!

The cycle represented on the logo is such a great picture of what this ministry does. First Campus Missionaries are raised up, they start or join with Campus Clubs, Campus Clubs, students, or even faculty and youth pastors can work together to bring in the seven project, which presents the gospel on a larger scale and raises up more people committed to following Christ. It is so life giving and really requires students to step up and reach their school. 

My favorite thing about the seven project is just that. They don't make it about adults reaching students. It's all about students reaching their friends and classmates for Christ. They aren't just passing off the job to someone else, the student gets to experience leading a friend to Christ and helping them follow him. Often, Lee shared, families and friends way beyond the initial outreach are reached for Christ, too. They're not just reaching students... but families and schools through the students.

Service Learning Component Post

The Plan:
a. Who did we serve? (Our target population)
         We aimed to serve families, specifically children, who will be in the hospital over Christmas.


b. How did we serve them? 
(Was there a style of service or specific act of service that most effectively ministered to our target population?)
        We created fun, decorated Christmas cards with notes that will remind them they're special and cared for, even though they have to spend Christmas in a different place than they'd like to be. We will pray over the cards, asking God to bring healing to the families that receive them. We also will deliver them with hershey's kisses and candy canes. We would like to bring them into the rooms of the children, but if we're not able to do that, we will pack everything in a box for the nurses to distribute closer to Christmas. At the hospital we will, when it seems appropriate, tell them where we're from, invite them to our Christmas service, and pray with them. We will need to bring invitations for this. We may wait to sign the cards until we get there and can talk to the children and make the notes personal.

What level of evangelism is this on the E-scale of evangelism?
         This is most likely E-1 evangelism because it is outside of the church but still within our home culture. We may come in contact with families who go to church during this time, though.

c. Where did you serve them? Was there a location or a specific event where our target population gathers that is more effective for us in serving them there than any other location?
         We made the cards and did our planning at the church (with a few extra details added at Panera Bread :)) but we will deliver the cards and candy and minister to families at either Gettysburg or Hanover hospital. (We are waiting to hear back from Volunteer Services from Hanover and trying to reach Gettysburg on Wednesday) This location is best because it's going to the people. This is where they have to be over the Holidays and we hope to bring hope. Jesus has filled us with so much love to pour out on people.

d. When did you serve them? Was there a particular day and/or time that was better than others?
         We made the cards after school on Monday, but we will deliver the cards sometime in the next week before leaving for Christmas break. We would like it to be as close to Christmas as possible, since we will not all be in the area on Christmas. We will go whenever the nurses/volunteer services suggest as a good time.

500-700 word report on the outreach as well as a critique of our planning and execution that will include 3 things that were planned or executed well and three things that could be improved.

My Report:
          I wish I was able to write more here about the time we spent ministering to families in person. I am really looking forward to that and will be asking God to open doors so we will be able to form connections with the people, rather than just dropping things off at the hospital. We found this idea in Sjogren's book, in a slightly different form. The four of us girls spent a few hours together after school one day and really enjoyed making something special for kids who might not feel so special this year during Christmas time. Aside from serving other people, I think this time together was really good for Caitlyn, Kimmy, Kriston and I. I loved getting to spend time with them and we always enjoy being creative together.
         Not only do we hope that this will encourage kids and make them smile a little more during this season, we hope we are able to give them and their families hope. These cards will provide an opportunity to give a small blessing to bring joy, while inviting them to a place where they can meet with Jesus... maybe for the first time. I would also love if God gave us an opportunity to share the Gospel in those hospital rooms.

         Three things that were executed well:
             1. The actual act of service! I looked through the book a couple times and nothing really clicked until I saw the author write about the value of giving people cards. I think it's a great, simple, practical but powerful way to love people. It's all about going to them and loving them in a dark place. Our plan values encouragement, making people feel loved and special, and the importance of inviting people to church. It's not just a hit and run, we'll try to make ourselves available to be connected with later. Overall, I think it's just a beautiful way to love people.
             2. The cards themselves! Kriston and I brought the supplies and it was a great collection of things to make cards that would be really fun for the kids to receive. They looked creative and not just like a card someone would buy in a store. I think some of the best gifts are home-made and I love that we were able to do that... even though it's a smaller kind of gift. :)
             3. The time we spent together doing the card making! We got behind in our planning from a combination of feeling busy, forgetting about the assignment, and struggling to find a project that would work for us. I was really thankful we were able on such short notice to have a chunk of 2 hours where we could just sit together. Longer would've been better... but I look very positively at that time we got to spend together. It was good for our friendships and really makes me value having team building time to carry into your time of outreach together. Whether it's praying or just doing something else that's fun together, I think it will positively affect the way you minister together at the outreach.

         Three Things that could be improved:
             1. Timing. We didn't use our time responsibly in that we were really rushed at the end and STILL have to find a time where the hospital will approve us to come in. That's kinda a bummer and something I wish I would've worked on a month ahead rather that 2 weeks. That is something I'd suggest for the future.
             2. Dividing jobs better to improve the outreach and make more people feel ownership. I felt like I tried to take too much on from the beginning and distributing jobs would've helped us make the outreach better and accomplish more in the same amount of time. I felt like at the end, it was a lot of work trying to communicate the full vision of this and I think that would've changed if I helped them figure out their roles in it sooner.
             3. Better communication with the people we're going to. The biggest challenge that stemmed from timing was actually communication with the hospital. I think it will work out well and we'll be able to connect with the right hospital/volunteer service center, but it will take a few more phone calls. I called one hospital a few times and struggled to get connected with anyone who could tell me anything other than "I'll leave a message". That's fine, it just left us a little stuck. It all goes back to time management... it really puts you under pressure if you start assuming things will work before and depend on them before you really know.

Class Response Ten: Peter Almqvist

Peter Almqvist, Festival Director of Mission SOS, joined us in class via Skype Thursday morning.

My favorite story he shared was about the time he drove around in a jeep through Africa for four days. They were trying to find an unreached people group they'd set out to share the Gospel with.

When they arrived, the Holy Spirit told them it was the right place but it seemed they'd have to build a road to get anyone else in. The four wheel drive on the Jeep was enough for a few people, but the festival would require heavy equipment and many more people.

So, they built a road. 6,000 people came to Christ that week and 10 churches were planted. He told us stories about renovating a town so the festival staff could stay there, buying a sound system from a local night club for a festival, and even a time when a man who was a midget asked another man to throw him in the air to attract attention... all for the opportunity to share the gospel with more people.

Peter said that God gives us each a place in furthering the gospel and quickening the return of Jesus. The place that God has given Mission SOS is through these festivals. They have a confidence in what God has called them to do and they know it's value. They know it is a proven way to reach people and even when they come up against opposition or things just don't really seem to be working... they use their creativity and they overcome.

"Challenges are meant to be overcome" He said. Challenges are not meant to defeat us or be things that steal our joy and zeal for following God... they're simply things that are meant to overcome. Things that serve as rungs on a ladder that encourage us to take another step up.

I love the heart I see in Peter and Mission SOS for overcoming and pushing through, in never giving up... because there is something so much greater God wants to do. Whether it's to reach one person or one-hundred thousand, it is so worth it to be creative and not give up.

This week I'm asking God to give me wisdom in this area. When he asks me to reach a person or a certain group of people, I don't want to stop just because I see a challenge or two. God builds roads with us if we'll trust him and serve faithfully. I don't want to stop after 4 days of driving and give up just because I didn't think building a road was possible.

There might be one person or 6,000 on the other side of that brush, on the other side of that challenge, who are just waiting for me to be creative, push through, and share the beautiful, precious, overcoming message of Christ.

Not giving up or letting anything stop you

Class Response Nine: Jason Fitch, Josh Ploch, Mollie Myers

It was so nice to connect with our Freedom Valley Tulsa Church plant last Thursday in class. We were joined by the church pastor and founder, Jason Fitch, his team member and executive pastor, Josh Ploch, and Mollie Myers, director of Love Tulsa.

There were two aspects of the class that are really touching my heart today. I'd like to write about both.

1. It was such a joy to have Mollie join our class. I loved hearing her share about Love Tulsa, an organization that partners with people who are really making a difference and loving people in the city. She had such a sweet spirit and her love of people and following God to love the often ignored reminded me so much of my own Mom. I really value the two points she shared with us in balancing ministry and family:

First, your family is your ministry, too.
Second, God is not a priority. He is who you base all your priorities on. Our relationship with God floods into our relationship with our families and into our ministry. We are relationship based. God, ministry, and family are all personal. We can't shut the switch off on any of them.

2. This was a very honest class. Toward the end we talked about how we deal with those hard days when things feel like they just keep falling through or you're just facing discouragement. This was close to my heart as God and I have been getting victory over these challenges together the past few weeks. Jason said, for him, it's a conditioning process, that over the past year God has been conditioning him to be tougher. He said that some days he struggles with just wanting to cry and complain, in fact, that was the morning for him. Jason said that some days he would love for God to just release the pressure valve on his life. But at the same time, that pressure is being used by God to turn him into a man he is thankful to become.

I love this about God. I love that even though he made me a sensitive and loving person, he makes my heart strong! I love that in the midst of struggles and feeling discouraged, he doesn't leave me. If I'll hold onto him and choose truth over fear... I will always learn and always grow from it. Ministry is very personal and that's why sometimes it hurts to be faithful to God in it. But I wouldn't trade this for anything... and I think Jason feels the same way. I love that the God we serve knows us so well that he can literally understand every single thing I feel. He offers me better counsel than I could ever dream of. He's my strong arm to hold onto when it feels like my legs are just about to give out. And he's the one who breathes a fire of passion and confidence of God's call into my heart... over and over and over again.

I love that Jason lets people into his growth process. His blog has been really helpful to me in learning to follow up with the things that I'm praying about or that God's speaking to my heart on. The journey won't always be pretty and we won't always love the trials we're going through... but it is so beautiful to  keep following Jesus no matter what.

Interview with an Unchurched Friend # 2

Age: 20
Sex: Female


1. Have you had any past experience attending a Christian church? What was your experience like? (Please include the church denomination, if possible)
     I attended Lutheran church regularly as a child and adolescent. I was confirmed in the Lutheran church. My experiences there were pleasant. It was always a relaxing atmosphere and everyone was friendly as it was a small congregation and everyone was quite familiar.


2. Have you had past experience with serving in a church? Where did you serve/what did you do?   
     As part of confirmation we would all take turns having the responsibility of helping out with the services, including lighting the candles, helping with communion, and collecting the offering.


3. Why do you choose to not attend church regularly?
     I would honestly like to attend church regularly I just currently do not have the desire to motivate myself to get up and go although that is not my wish that is just how it is at the time.


4. What are some issues you see in the christian church right now that may be keeping you from attending a church?
     I do not really see too many issues in the Christian church that are holding my back I believe internal issues hold me back from attending. If anything would hold me back involving the church it would only be fear of judgment by other members.


5. What is something, or some things, that you see the church is currently doing well?
     I believe the church is doing very well at accepting new members and keeping teens and adolescents more involved which in turn will make them feel more important and necessary to the church.


6. Do you think there is any advantage to serving in a church and attending, rather than simply attending without serving in a ministry?
     I believe serving again can help create a feeling of importance and necessity as well as belonging.


7. In your opinion, what should the church's role be in the community? How about in the world?
     I believe the church should be a safe haven in a community as well as a helping hand to those in need in the community whether members or not. To the world, I believe the church should also be a safe haven, somewhere to go and be peaceful in your thoughts as well as a way to spread hope and belief in a brighter future to other countries.


8. How would you describe Jesus?
     I would describe Jesus as the central figure of Christianity and God's son who gave his life for us. 


9. Why do you think attending church is important to many people?
     I believe attending church is important to many people because it allows them to be alone in their thoughts and experience peace and hope. I can see church as an outlet after a hectic week of school or work or perhaps an outlet to request forgiveness after a mistake has been made. I also believe church is simply a part of life to many people therefore they go without giving it a thought such as people go to the grocery store because they need to, I believe some people need to go to church because that is simply how they were raised and how they live.


10. How could a local Christian church change, or what could they add, that would interest you in attending the church or getting involved?
     I love getting involved in ways that help others. I still lend a hand and help others through other ways besides the church. However, in order to help out in the church I think I would need to feel more of a sense of welcoming new help. As I said in a smaller congregation, to me it is difficult to fit in right away when others have been there for so long and have known each other for so long. I also do not know enough going on to be helpful. Perhaps more of a drawing in to bring attention, something that could seem more relaxed such as a social of some sort that would allow someone who has not been to church regularly to consider going without feeling pressure or concern of being judged.


My Response: 
This friend was one of my very best friends growing up. While she is no longer attending a church or really following Jesus... it is very good to see the beautiful things that exist in her heart. She has a servant's heart and sees the value of working together as a team to serve a greater cause. It seems like her biggest hesitation to really get involved in a church isn't the motivation to just get out of bed in the morning. I think she needs someone to really love her and tell her that she is welcome and so precious to God and his purposes, even though she hasn't lived the typical "church person's life". I can see incredible leadership potential in her to advance the kingdom of God and spread the pure, life-giving love of Jesus. She sees the value in helping people get excited about life and understanding that they have a purpose. I want Jesus to use that in her so, so much. I would love for my friend to know Jesus. 


This interview tool is incredibly precious and eye opening for me today. It's easy for us to assume what someone's view of the church is or what they're hungry for in life if we only make our judgements based on observation. I'm going to start praying today about the best way to start caring for my friend and connecting with her again. I'd love for her to come visit church with me. This interview tool is beautiful because it reminds us that there is more. There is more to a person than the destructive life style they live in. Jesus sees their heart, their hurts, their gifts, their potential.... He knows how free and alive they'd be if they knew him and came alive in following him. I want to see people like Jesus does. I want to see this sweet friend of mine like Jesus does and bless her the way she's always blessed me. Bless her the way Jesus blessed me in introducing me to what really being alive is like. 

Class Response Eight: Cullen Allen

Cullen Allen oversees Next Gen. ministries (including children, youth, and young adults) and the MCM School of Ministry at Allison Park Church. He is a man with a full plate in ministry and the truth God's speaking to my heart about is likely one of the many reasons why he gets it done so successfully.

I asked Cullen a few questions during our time together. One about consequences and the other about confrontation. While it sounds like I asked questions about two very cold and authoritarian-related subjects, Cullen shed so much light on why these two things, even though difficult, are important and Godly.

Consequences: Cullen said that one of the things he's done in the past that he would never do again was requiring high levels of discipline without consequences. In his words, it is "a recipe for failure." He said that standards and disciplines are absolutely meaningless without consequences. Consequences should be consistent and immediate. As a  leader in a discipleship and ministry training program, I want my students AND myself to succeed where we haven't in the past. Quick and definite consequence allow us to catch old bad habits and tendencies early on. Sometimes the idea of putting consequences in place in our program makes me feel like I'll just push people away... but I have a totally different perspective now. Even though it can be frustrating when I feel in my spirit the consequences of sin, or a lack of discipline, or poor time management, I am very thankful that there are consequences. The yucky feeling I get after choosing to waste time on useless stuff instead of being with God is a consequence that moves me to change (if I'll let it). Even though it's unpleasant at the time, God uses it for my good. This is a principle I need to apply in my leadership and in my life. He is such a loving father in the way he disciplines.

Confrontation: Cullen told us a story about a recent confrontation with a student. The student had arrived late to class and as a result was locked out, missing the entire 40 minute session. Cullen met with the upset young man to talk about why MCM enforces their requirements. The student was in tears by the end of the meeting after Cullen expressed that they care about him and want to see God's best happen in his life. The student was just thankful that the school and leaders cared about him enough to stick with consequences AND confront him when he went off track. Confronting people, when done in love, isn't an attack. It's a way to help people walk into the fullness of the life that God has for them. It helps them become great in the kingdom of God and be open to the beautiful things God wants to do in them. The thing I love most about confronting in a godly way is that you get to speak life and potential into people. It's not about picking out every mistake. Instead, by speaking over them how much you love who they are, you can kindly and directly point out the ungodly things that just don't belong in someone who belongs to God.

Class Response Seven: Chuck Lenhart

Chuck Lenhart, a truly Holy Spirit-led missionary, spoke to us in class this past thursday, beginning the first of our evangelism focused classes.

The very first word Chuck shared with us was something God put on his heart during Lance's introduction. Chuck said, "God uses those people who yield themselves to him." It was so neat that he shared that, because around the same time, I was thanking God for the hold He has on my heart. I was caught up in the thought that I've done nothing to deserve his care for me or his plans for my life, but He is always so quick to remind me of them and pour love on me.

He went on to encourage us to turn the weak areas of our lives over to God because when we do that, He will use us in great ways. I'm really thankful for the things in my life that God helped me give to him at an early age... things like the TV I watched, words I could've said, or the ways I thought about myself. He saved me from a lot of bondage in those areas of my life. I can see that so clearly now, looking back now that a few years have passed. Today I'm asking God what things still exist in my life that I haven't submitted to him.

The first one that comes to mind is the discipline of my prayer life. I know that I need prayer. I know that it makes all the difference in how I live my day and how I minister. I am so hungry for victory in my prayer life, because in the past I've really struggled with just going after God for that to be satisfied. Even now as I write, I feel like God is bringing me to a place where He's breaking chains and thought processes that keep me in the same cycle of just not praying.

God, I want you to break off the lies that exist in my life about prayer and the guilt traps satan tries to use against me. I want to see prayer and intimacy with you in the purest form rather than being swept away by anxiety and condemnation. I CHOOSE today to submit this area of my life to you... to not go at it half-hearted or make it all about my schedule. I just want you. I just want to know you and choose you and remind my heart every day of your great love for me and all the counsel and help you offer me.  I rebuke anything that aims to frustrate your freedom in my life. I won't glorify areas of weakness, only tell them that victory is coming and that God's strength will be shown to be even more perfect in my weakness. I am victorious in Christ and nothing can hold me back from the freedom and life Christ already purchased for me when he gave his life for me. I love you, Lord. Thank you that your victory is real!

Thank you for the great things you have done in my life... there are many, many, many years of that still to come. Thank you for bringing me into freedom today, even as I write a blog. I love you, Lord.

I will always be one who yields myself to You.