Why bring a friend?

Jordan, Will, Ryan, Rick, Davis, and
Gavin (Davis' friend) playin' in the
corn. 

Every week I tell the youth "bring a friend!" We would love to have their friends be part of us at UMYF. Every event we do friends are welcome! But why? I believe that we can truly make a difference not only in the lives of youth that already come but in those that come as a result of friendship.

I think of Jordan Anderson. Ian Casker brought him last school year and ever since then Jordan and his family have become a big part of Pleasant Green UMC. Jordan just a few weeks ago was baptized in the Eno River. What began as Ian bringing a friend turned out to be the beginning of a cool narrative in Jordan's life.

I think about my involvement in church. It was my friend Mark when I was in 10th grade who invited me to his church. Just like Jordan I got involved, gave my life to Jesus, and was baptized in the span of that year. It surely changed the trajectory of my life. And I am so grateful that Mark decided to invite me to church.

Sure not everyone's friend is going to keep coming back and that is normal. But it is sure cool when we invite friends and like Jordan this new narrative begins in their life.

The bible says "Go make disciples of ALL nations..." and it is exciting to see youth catch on to this and invite their friends. Hope to see your youth and some of their friends soon!

Questions...

The truth about our society is that we often times want to have "it" whatever "it" is figured out.  We treat faith almost like we treat math. 2 +2=4 meaning that our questions have simple answers.

The reality of our lives is that if we are honest is that we don't have things figured out. Last night we started a little series titled "questions." The first thing we did was come up with questions. I call these cosmic questions. It is questions that everyone has. The temptation though is to seek for easy, mathmatical answers, but none of these questions have easy answers or answers that we can fully know.

So here are some of the questions your youth asked last night... 
1. Was there anything before God?
2. Where is heaven?
3. How was God created?
4. Why do people of different faiths fight each other?
5. Is the bible all real? Who wrote the bible?
6. Can we believe in creationism and evolutionism at the same time?
7. Does going to church save you? What happens to non believers when they die?
8. Does someone like Hitler go to hell?

The temptation is always to answer these questions really fast. But the reality to all these questions is that they are complex. And a lot of what we believe can often times be formulated by what others think and not what the bible says. We will break these questions up the next few weeks and hopefully be enlightened.

I encourage you to ask some of these questions to your youth (They are the ones that came up with them). Ask them what they think. Tell them what you think and why you believe what you believe. Maybe this can lead to deep discussions. I am looking forward to this time!

We are all in this together.

This week we had our second Parent/Youth UMYF Potluck. This night was not an orientation. Instead it was an opportunity to experience God together as a community of people. In my belief the greatest spiritual influence on a child is... drum roll... the parent.  You have a unique opportunity to share and raise your child by words and actions. This reponsibilty is great. And I am so grateful that we can go on this journey together! This is not to say you are the only spiritual influence but you are once of the greatest.

My goal in youth ministry simply is to love, encourage, and inspire your youth. I want them to know that at the end of the day that they are loved by the God of the universe and that they matter.

This is not a simple task in the complicated world of middle school and high school. I want you the parent to come alongside with me. I am so grateful for each and every one of your youth. And grateful for each one of you. And each week I look forward to being apart of their lives.