Bullies

Hi!

First thank you to all of you that come to the BLOG each week to get a glimpse at what we are talking about each week at UMYF. I think it is important to be in the know. Because I believe each week we touch on very important issues at youth.

For the next couple of weeks we are going to be talking about Bullying. The reality that kids live in is that they pick on each other. But the other reality is that they don't think about the consequences of their words and the hurt that lies behind them.

Even the best of Christians fall in to this trap. Even during the most light hearted of games like four square I have to remind youth that it is just a "game" but it turns in to a time to make fun of others.

Kids bully because someone looks weak, they talk funny, walk funny, annoying, etc. Whatever the case may be nothing ever justifies such actions.

As Christians our goal should be to lift people up and not bring them down. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear." Bullying is not something new. It isn't something just youth struggle with. It is all of us.

The adage "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." This phrase is laughable. Because words hurt. Words cut deep. And even some in the midst of bullying have taken their lives. This is a serious issue not to be over looked or passed by.

So we will be looking at standing up and encouraging each other even when we might feel tempted to do otherwise. And to also talk about how we can help our friends that are being bullied.

A youth group can be a shelter for youth to feel accepted, loved and cared for. And our hope is that our youth group is making some progress in this area.

Check out this video we will watch this Sunday.

Looking forward to seeing your youth Sunday!

PIC OF THE WEEK!

Is your youth good at spending YOUR money?

There are many reasons that youth shouldn't be able to attain a credit card. The most prominent one would be that youth are really good at spending money that isn't theres and money that they most likely won't have to pay back.

I remember the first time I got a credit card when I was 20 years old. I hadn't had the card but for a few days before I had bought a taylor guitar ($1,500), a new tv ($250), and a DVD player ($100). Immediately I was in debt with frivolous purchases and with not very much money to pay for these things.

I bought those things on my credit card because I had seen my parents use credit cards countless times while not seeing the less glamourous side of them writing the check to pay the bill. Now I wouldn't for a minute use a credit card to buy a single thing! I hate debt!

This is why it is important to teach sound financial principles to youth. This is a subject that we must be intentional about. Your new car didn't appear out of nowhere!

John Wesley the founder of the United Methodist faith says, "Earn all you can, give all you can, and save all you can." Notice he doesn't say spend all you can. 

I believe that these principles are learned. And I believe that youth can begin to live out these principles in their life now and not later! Richard Cassidy will be leading us this Sunday in this discussion! I can not wait.

Starting on April 28th will will be focusing on the subject of Bullying to end out the year. The youth devotionals for May and June will be focusing on Bullying and the type of life Jesus calls us to, to defeat such a trend.

See your youth Sunday!

Marriage Equality...

The marriage equality symbol has become quite a famous icon in the Facebook world. And youth have asked and wondered what this symbol means and why people are putting it as their Facebook picture. This is a  vibrant conversation that continues to happen in the United Methodist church with people who love Jesus on both sides of the issue.

Here is what we want to do at our next UMYF. We want to talk about this issue in a healthy way. We want to see where youth are and what they think about it. Then talk about the way that Jesus has called us to live. The epitome of Jesus' mission is to love others as Christ has loved us. Often times these issues are lost in the midst of such a divisive debate.

 What we will not do is engrain a certain perspective in your youth! I believe in helping youth come to a place where they develop a faith and value system that they take ownership of and to hopefully be a helpful part of the conversation.

We also have some awesome teachings coming up as well. April 21st we will talk about "Money,Money!." What a youth does with their money matters! Youth are really good at SPENDING YOUR money! But could they actually start living out some fundamental financial principles even being in the 6th grade. Richard Cassidy will be leading that discussion.

And then we will take the last few weeks of the semester and talk about the Bullying epidemic.

As I think about the issues of marriage equality, money, and bullying. I am constantly aware that these are issues that impact REAL people. The church has the responsibility to be a beacon of hope to a hopeless world. Right now in their schools there are REAL people who need the love of Jesus. And the BEST people to show that and make a difference in the lives of their peers is the YOUTH!

Looking forward!

Heroes in waiting.

A couple of weeks ago I watched to a TED talk about how we could possibly reshape the trajectory of a group adolescents lives. One of the things that we MUST do is convey to youth that they are heroes in waiting.  Instead of labeling them as immature, lazy, lacking responsibility, etc,. We label them with the truth of how God sees them. It easy to bow down to the negative labels or just begin to maintain your youth without pouring into them that they are heroes in waiting. They are valuable. And more and more I realize that this is not just something we say but it is something that we must communicate by being.

This past week Ryan Montgomery led the devotional. He put in a lot of work and did such a great job. A 6^th grader led our youth devotional time! And even more our discussion was so fruitful. Coming up on our retreat some of the other youth will get a chance to lead devotionals.

We love to create stereotypes and hide behind them. I am an adult and you are a teenager. But more and more I realize that stereotypes are merely walls that we create that hinder us for seeing each other as God sees us. Youth just as much as any adult are my brothers and sisters in Christ. It is my Christian mission to see them as God sees them because I realize that God speaks through them just as much as God speaks through me if not more. 

Youth Devotionals!

We are excited to offer youth devotionals for the first time. They are called Devozine and are awesome! It gives youth each day an opportunity to read scripture and what people their age are saying about that verse. We have a limited number of them and will hand them out Sunday. Make sure they get one (and if you would like to me to set one aside let me know).

Big shout again to all those that helped out with the Chili Cook Off! It was so awesome! And thank you to everyone that worked so hard to pull it off.

Really excited about our devotional time this week because Ryan Montgomery will be leading it! And in few weeks Rick Cassidy. Really proud of all the youth that have stepped up to lead a devotional. Super proud!

Looking Forward!

Jason

Youth serving it up @ Chili Cook Off! 

PRAY: Find out what the Youth are praying for!

First I want to say that the youth did amazing work this past Sunday. We trimmed up, planted some flowers (which deer have probably ate by now), and remulched the area around the church sign. Super proud of them! They did a great job serving. See some pictures below!

Probably one of my favorite moments of youth each week is when we pray at the end. We take time to write prayer requests on the wall and then we pray for them. It is a holy moment.

Prayer is one of those areas I have never mastered. Maybe it is because it is an area that we aren't suppose to master. It should always be an honest and real conversation with God. And the youth each week teach me this fresh truth. No prayer request is to silly. Each and everyone God takes seriously. Therefore we should all do the same. So this week we will be talking more about prayer and what it means for our lives.

This week will you take the time to pray for some of the prayer requests on our youth prayer wall. Your prayers really do matter!

1. Caeden's Aunt and Grandma
2. Jason's Aunt
3. Rick's grandparents
4. Kyle's sister Susan and Granpa
5. Reese
6. Susan
7. Faigh
8. Ryan's Dog
9. Davis' Mom
10. Families of Kaci and Chase
11. Will's mom and family
12. Safety for Spring break

Inside Scoop on Serving & Savannah!

Youth Serving Locally

It is one of my core goals that youth are given opportunities to serve their community and their world. And it is also important that we go about doing this in a healthy, sustainable way. 

In Our Congregation

The past couple of years I have looked and prayed about ways youth could take ownership of their service. Typically churches assign menial, annoying tasks to the youth, which creates a culture of youth that detest service. 

We have seen youth step up and serve VBS (largest group of youth served this year...and LOVED it!), consistent service in Kid's Worship, and performing skits for Kid's Worship on a consistent basis. 

We have started recently incorporating elements of service in our UMYF time writing letters to shut ins and recently adopting the gardening responsibilities around the PGUMC sign. We also are planning on building some small raised beds with herbs as well. 

Where we are looking to grow... with your help

We would like more opportunities to serve locally in our community. We have done this by serving food at local non profits with little participation. If you have connections with folks that can point us in the right direction that would be great. Anything from lawn maintenance to painting. 

We would love for this service opportunity to be joint parents and youth as well. If you can take ownership of this for us that would be great! 

The Inside on Savannah!

I was very excited this past week when I received information on some of the great serving opportunities we would have in Savannah. Here are some of the awesome organizations that we will be working with...

Salvation Army: We work mostly in the warehouse helping with donations, but we also may have the opportunity to help prepare and serve lunch and help in whatever other capacity they need.

 Boys & Girls Club: We provide some much needed extra hands to the summer program that is offered at this Club. They have lots of kids that are in need of lots of love.

City of Savannah: In Savannah we have the opportunity to work with the city to do home painting for senior citizens. The city provides the projects and supplies and we provide the labor. We also hope that you are able to get to know the homeowner that you are serving.

 Second Harvest:  We will partner with Second Harvest to help them organize and hand out food.  They supply local families as well as serving as a supplier for almost every homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Savannah.  Your group will get to work with one of the main suppliers of food for the hungry in Savannah. 

Youth will typically serve one organization in the morning and then a different organization in the afternoon. It will give them diverse exposure to a lot of great organizations! 

Then at night we will have the opportunity to visit the historic district of Savannah, tour one of the oldest African-American churches in the country, go to the beach on Tybee Island, and end our week with a community cook out at a local park! 

We will be staying at Grace United Methodist Church in downtown Savannah. I can't wait! 

If you could pray alongside me. 

1. Pray for each youth this going on the mission trip

2. Pray that this would be a life changing experience for them

3. Pray that God would prepare the way for us

4. Pray that God would send some more middle school girls to go! We need more girls!!! 

Skit Performing, Plant Planting, and Jumping in the Air....Sunday was a good day!