Director or Doer?

Here's something I wrote for the August newsletter where I work.

I keep a copy of my original job description on my desk.  It’s helpful for me to remember what I was called to do here in the first place.  Much has changed since then, and some of these changes have caused me to modify how I function. Programs have been added.  Staff transitions have required that I phase into new roles.  Changes in my gifts and interests have also impacted shifts in my duties and responsibilities.

Despite these (and other) variations in the past several years, one thing hasn’t changed: this position is for someone to be the director of family life and youth ministry; not the sole doer of this ministry.

In the past couple of years, as we have lost many key adult leaders in our youth and family ministry, I have (against my better judgment) taken on some additional doer tasks instead of requesting, equipping, and even directing Spirit-filled members of our church to do ministry to, for, and with our young people and families.  This may have been a necessary way to keep ministries and programs happening in the short-term, but it is an unhealthy and ineffective long-term solution.

I have asked the Youth Committee to spend the remainder of the 2010 revisiting the job description for the Family Life & Youth Director.  We are a very different church than we were in 2002, when the original job description was crafted.  We need to make sure that this position continues to meet the needs of our congregation and community.  

In the meantime, I will be praying and seeking for people to serve as [I go on to list several congregational ministries that are in need of help].  Working with our amazing young people isn’t just our congregation’s obligation, it is our joy.  I look forward to collaborating with these people to continue being present the lives of our young people and increasing their positive adult interaction at church.

This was a tough article to write, because it required me to be honest about some of my own shortcomings, as well as offer a critical analysis of how our congregation has evolved in the past few years.  In speaking with youth ministry friends, I realized that others make similar mistakes.  Many of us get to the point where "It takes me longer to train someone for a particular task than it does for me to just do it myself"...and yet, most ministry experts agree that the doer approach leads to siloed ministries, pied-piper leadership, and youth director burn-out.

At the heart of this, for me and others, are two unfortunate traits:

Insecurity.  Sometimes we feel the need to be busy in order to demonstrate how important or necessary we are to the congregation.  If we're running around like chickens with our heads cut off, it will show the people who pay our salaries that we are worthy of their tithe.  We are filled with insecurity about how to do effective ministry because, in many cases, it barely resembles the way in which most of our members function in their jobs.  Prayer, study, discernment, reflection, patience...these are not virtues in the high-paced world of business, and yet these are the attributes that we should be extolling for our ministers.  (This is related to the "We're paying you to do the youth ministry and turn our kids into Good Christians" mentality that plagues many congregations and seeps into the psyches of youth ministers.)

Control.  We are passionate about what we do, which makes it difficult to turn it over to somebody else.   In many cases, we do most of the behind-the-scenes tasks to put events/programs/ministries together...so it's natural (yet unhelpful) to want it done our way and on our time table.  This means less involvement from lay people and more isolation for the youth minister.

Do you know of youth ministers that do a good job of balancing the director vs. doer roles?  How do they go about living in both worlds?  What kinds of boundaries exist?  Who is in charge of laying out the expectations for how ministry plays out?  I'd love to know of some examples!

Unwinding

I'm always amazed at how young people unwind after a long day on a mission trip.  For example, we stayed at a church in Huntington that used their basement for a Zumba / yoga studio.  We made use of this space by...well...just watch and see for yourself:



Irreverent...silly...spontaneous...somewhat dangerous.  Much like young people.

I love my job.

Keepers of the Mountain

This entry was written by Hannah Parker, a senior at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, IA, and a participant on the Windsor Heights Lutheran Church 2010 Mission Trip.

Coal mining is one of the oldest industries in America. Does that mean it is okay to take away people’s homes and take away their rights as Americans? 

Today we woke up early to drive an hour to Kayford Mountain. It was a gravel road the whole way up. As we drove up the rocky, shaky road we were surrounded by beautiful scenery the entire time. We were following a man in a truck that had bumper stickers covering the entire back window. Larry Gibson is an activist for all the people whose lives have been destroyed or affected by Mountaintop Removal. We had been told previously in the week that this was a man that had more experience than anyone with the people who support the coal industry. When we arrived a small man in jean overalls and a plaid shirt got out of the car. Little did we know that, although he was small, he is a man with bigger passion and determination than I could have ever imagined.

I didn’t know much of anything that was going on in West Virginia before this point. Most people know that coal mining is a heavily used industry in the Appalachian Mountains but I never knew that there were problems to this extreme. Larry kept describing it as a war. West Virginia’s own war against the mining industry. It is a war. A war for the right to land, clean air and clean water.

We arrived at the top of a beautiful mountains surrounded by trees and greenery. He owns a house at the top of the mountain. In my mind I was not prepared for what we were about to be told. He sat us down at a picnic table near by and started to tell his story. He came from a family with a long tradition of coal mining but he knew from a young age that he would never do it. He grew up wondering how people could destroy the land around him. He told us stories of how people drive up the mountain to send him threats. A threat as extreme as drive by shootings and other harmful acts. Larry Gibson is known all over the world for telling his story to people. He tells stories of how the blasts send debris into his yard and cause kitchen cabinets to rattle and paintings to fall off the walls. He lives in a constant worry of what will happen next but these threats haven’t stopped his fight.

Larry takes us on a tour of the land. We start walking down the road and his shows us piles of coal that remain on the land. The coal companies have given several offers for his land but as he described to us, his land is something that can’t have a price be put on it. As we continue to walk we see other homes along the way. They are old and fairly dilapidated homes but no matter the shape they are in, they are someone’s homes. We walk up a fairly steep hill and come to a wall of greenery. There are signs posted all over saying, “no trespassing” and “private property.” We continue to climb this wall and over the hill we see the destruction of the mountains. We look down at the Mountaintop Removal site and the mountain is no longer a mountain. Larry informs us that the ground we were standing on used to be almost 450 feet taller. It made everything come alive. It was shocking to see how the land has been treated. 

As we looked farther we could see towns at the bottom of where all this is taking place. Almost all the people in the towns have some type of illness due to the air and water pollution caused from coal mining. The blasts can go off at any moment. It shocked me to think about having to live in a place with that kind of threat. I can’t imagine living with that kind of fear everyday. Larry Gibson is one of the most courageous people I have ever met. He is fighting for “the people of the mountains” and he puts up with all the threats against him to try to win the fight.

As we leave we drive back down the gravel, bumpy road back into town. We follow a truck that is used to haul the coal to the dumpsite. As we drive by we see the train carts filled with coal. The whole experience was shocking and eye opening to me. Here is a man fighting for something with more passion and determination than anyone I have ever talked to when I barely knew anything about the issue before yesterday. Larry left us with one goal. He wants us to make people more aware of what is going on in West Virginia and in the rest of the Appalachia area so that maybe something can be done to fix it. He doesn’t want his land to be a tourist site. He wants people to go out and spread the news about what is being done and find ways to fix it so that the people living in these communities can rest a little easy and know that the air they breathe in on a daily basis may not cause them to have cancer someday. He is fighting for his rights and the people’s rights around him and he wants us to spread the word to help him in a fight that seems like it may not end until the coal runs out.

WV-DC 2010 Mission Trip Pics

Here's proof that the WHLC Mission Trip group is alive and well.

Hiking the Beech Fork trails near Huntington, W

Visiting our friends with the Sludge Safety Project

We have been shown gracious hospitality by several churches along our journey

Unwinding at the end of the day

Larry "Keeper of the Mountain" Gibson (and his dog, "Dawg")

Preparing for one of our many community meals

We have driven 1,400 miles in less than four days

Clean Mountain Water

This entry was written by Rebekah Reynolds, a recent graduate of Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, IA, and a participant on the Windsor Heights Lutheran Church 2010 Mission Trip.

Sludge is the result of the debris left over from mountaintop removal surface mining mixed into the rivers and creeks and eventually becomes part of the surrounding area’s tap water. Obviously this problem has greatly affected West Virginia particularly because of its abundance in coal but what is most surprising is that I live several states away and never knew that our country was struggling to have clean tap water.

We arrived at the center for the Sludge Safety Project this afternoon and were greeted by Matt, one of the full time volunteers. After talking for about an hour about what sludge is and the effects of mountaintop removal, several other volunteers arrived with lunch. While eating sandwiches and chips the three told us in more information Matt hadn’t covered, for example, they showed us several pictures of tap water that was blood red and water heaters that leaked water that was coal black. Although the colored water is something you would not want to see coming out of your sink, what is worse is when the toxins are in the water and the water looks and smells normal. Sicknesses have been linked directly to the water and complaints have been made about the water but awareness is low enough that sludge continues to be a growing problem. One of the volunteers struck me when she that the people knew the water was coloring was abnormal but they assumed that because the problem had been around for years the water was okay to drink. How could anyone think orange or red water is safe to drink?

           

This afternoon we walked the surrounding neighborhood and passed out information about the Sludge Safety Project and the upcoming legislative meeting. Although the majority of the homes we visited no one came to the door, the few that did answer were more then willing to listen and several knew a lot about the problems. The though of how large the sludge problem is in West Virginia is daunting but the few that gave their email addresses and phone numbers gave me hope that the SSP had a chance to help clean up the drinking water for the families of West Virginia.

           

At the end of the day, while shopping for groceries, we bought the movie Erin Brockovich. The movie is a true story about a woman who takes down a powerful company because they are poisoning the water of the surrounding area and as a result causing sickness and even cancer. If you’ve never seen the movie I’m sorry if this ruins it for you but her success against a huge corporations gave me, and I’m sure the rest of the group, hope that eventually a cleaner way to produce coal will be adopted and West Virginia will be able to pride themselves, again, as the state with the cleanest natural well water. 

Mission Trip Planning

I work at a church with a long history of mission trips.  In the past seven years, I have participated in mission trips to Mississippi (5), New Orleans, Minneapolis, Denver (3), and Mexico City (3).  There has been a different focus for each trip.  Sometimes it's work projects...other times it's service-learning...other times we focus on models of accompaniment...and many times it's a combination of these.

This year, we set out to do things a little differently.  Young people were directly involved with planning the trip.  They picked the dates, cities, and focus for the trip.  The end result was a unique (and somewhat eclectic) eight-day experience in West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Columbus, OH.


Saturday, July 10

• Drive from Des Moines, IA to Huntington, WV
• Stay at Bates Presbyterian Church

Sunday, July 11

• Worship at Bates
• Visit with Pastor Robin Blakeman about "Faith & Mountaintop Removal"
• Explore the foothills at Beech Fork State Park

Monday, July 12

• Service-learning experience with the Sludge Safety Project
• Visit homes near State Capitol and talk about SSP
• Experience supper at Practically Delish
• Stay at Rock Lake Presbyterian Church

Tuesday, July 13

• Work projects at Stanley Heirs Park on Kayford Mountain
• Visit with Larry Gibson
• Travel to Washington D.C.
• Stay at First Trinity Lutheran Church youth hostel

Wednesday, July 14

• Breakfast with Senator Tom Harkin
• Meet with Jodi Dieke - ELCA Advocacy
• Holocaust Museum
• Smithsonian Museums
• Outdoor Memorials (at night)

Thursday, July 15

• Meet with Senator Charles Grassley
• Meet with Rep. Leonard Boswell
• Native American Museum
• American History Museum

Friday, July 16

• Travel to Columbus, OH
• Stay at Jacob's Porch on Ohio St. campus

Saturday, July 17

• Return to Des Moines

Some of the themes that will be interwoven throughout our week include care for creation, wealth & poverty, immigration, church & state, religious patriotism, and the role of political advocacy among religious people.  These are complex, loaded issues for young people to be wrestling with.  The 2,500+ miles we spend in the van will, likely, be blessed by conversations about these, and other, topics.

Additionally, there is a daily emphasis on spiritual practices and living in Christian community.  We will plan, cook, and buy meals together.  We will care for each other by listening, sharing, and praying as a group.  We will take time for individual Bible study, prayer, journaling, and meditating at the close of each day.

I have high hopes (which are different than expectations) for how God will work in and through us this week.  There will be regular posts on koinonia written by our group members.  I hope you will join our journey by reading what happens each day.

The Rock

The final project for Youth Ministry Certification School 2002 was a 20-25 minute presentation that would be made to our congregational council.  The presentation would share what we had learned during the three-week intensive and would offer a proposal of how to incorporate those things into our particular context.  We shared our presentations with a small group of fellow youth ministers on our last day of class.  I used this Harry Chapin song to frame the presentation.

(Song lyrics here)

“What does this have to do with youth ministry?” was the universal reply from those gathered.  It’s a legitimate question, one that I didn’t adequately answer as a naïve, idealistic rookie. Eight years later, I’ve decided to take another stab at explaining The Rock’s implications for ministry.

It's important to consider how our enmeshed systems (a.k.a “churches”) respond to the everyday prophets in our midst.  I’m thinking, in particular, about leaders who receive new insights, inspiration, and education through required training.  Most ministry professionals attend conferences unveiling new styles of preaching and teaching, read new studies of shifts in religious culture, and meet with colleague groups to discuss how churches function in a local context.  

Ideally, these experiences are more than just intellectual and spiritual exercises.  They have the power to renew the entire congregation - and even the community - IF two things happen:

1. Leaders effectively communicate what they've learned to a wide range of people in their congregation.  This requires multiple opportunities and platforms for sharing in a language that makes sense to their parishioners.
2. Congregation members listen to what is shared, trust that the Spirit is opening new possibilities, and respond with enthusiasm and passion for trying something new.

I recently listened to The Rock and considered replacing "church" with "rock".  Doing this casts a dark cloud on how most established congregations respond to prophetic leadership.  By all measures, mainline congregations are in big trouble.  This is not a revelatory statement.  Denominations have steadily lost members and money for the last 30 years -- a period of time when the USA has grown by 35% and our gross domestic product (per capita) has increased 67%.  Most congregations see fewer than 40% of their members in worship on a weekend.  Of the faithful remnant, most are moralistic therapeutic deists with little Confessional or Scriptural understanding.  Millennials (people under 30) are increasingly becoming "spiritual but not religious" and not bothering to darken the doors of the big, beautiful buildings their parents and grandparents built.

Some would argue that this signifies the end of denominationalism...but I think it indicates something just as grim about congregationalism.  Regardless, I think it's fair to say that what we're doing isn't working like it should.  What's worse, a majority of people in churches aren't swayed.  Many of the over-50 crowd still see "their people" at church, so not only are they still getting their spiritual needs met by honoring traditions, but their relational circle is unaffected by the loss of young people or the lack of new faces.

Here's where the trouble starts.

If a congregation doesn't embrace prophetic suggestions, the ministry professional has two options.

1. Stay the course even if it slowly leads to the demise of the church
2. Bear the personal responsibility of being the change agent

Neither are good; the second is worse...and this is where The Rock starts to make sense.

The prophetic man does all he can to convince the people that the rock will eventually roll down the hill and destroy the town.  Frustrated by their rejection, he literally throws himself at the problem to save the town.  His sacrifice cost him his life, but the solution was only temporary.  There will be a day when the rock falls and the town will wish they had listen...but it will be too late.

Too many of our church leaders feel that it is their job to do change instead of inspire change in their congregation.  They do so at the cost of their sanity, wellness, and effectiveness...and it rarely produces long-term results.  The leader will eventually leave (or die) and the same grim reality will be staring down at the faithful remnant.


What we're doing isn't working. 

Will we have the courage / faith to listen to how God is speaking through the prophetic leaders in our midst and do what is necessary to renew our congregations as centers for ministry and mission?

Best Blogs

Youth Specialties recently posted their list of Top 20 Youth Ministry Blogs. I can't imagine the work it must have taken to compile such a list. It's a great list and a fantastic resource for people who want to see what's going on in the world of youth ministry. Naturally, there's plenty of discussion (especially in the article's comments section) about the process, the criteria, and the omissions.

My main beef with the YS list is that it provides a ranking of each blog instead of listing "popular youth ministry blogs". The list also includes the previous year's rank, so readers can see which blogs are getting better and which ones have remained stable or gotten worse. Adam McLane, one of the people who worked to create the list, is transparent for how they came to their conclusions (67% is derived from publicly available stats, 33% is an influence rank), and I don't doubt his authenticity. I just think that, when it comes to sharing ministry resources, we don't need to feed the culture of competition that creates winners and losers.

At the heart of the conversations about the YS blog list is the definition of a youth ministry blog. For example, I wouldn't consider to be a youth ministry blog, even though I am a congregational youth minister and occasionally share thoughts about church work. Some of the blogs on the YS list are almost exclusively written about youth ministry, though not all of the bloggers are full time youth ministers. Other blogs post a ton of free materials that can be replicated by fellow ministers, while still others are written by youth ministry veterans that talk mostly about personal things.

Part of the conversation is about purpose. Everyone has their own reason for starting a blog, but I think most people who write a public blog ultimately want people to read what they have to say. It doesn't matter if a blogger just wants a place to spout ideas, or they need a creative space to flesh out concepts for the next book, or if it's part of their job...bloggers want people to read their stuff.

With that in mind, I asked a few tech-savvy bloggers for their suggestions for how people can expand their network. Here's what they said:

• Post new stuff regularly
• Link to other sites you like
• Discern your unique gifts to find your niche
• Read, read, read other people's stuff
• Claim your blog on Technorati (they give you a unique code - like this one K3Y9E86MF7T4 - to register your blog in their search engines)
• Use tags / categories for your articles
• Ask people to be "guest writers" once in a while
• Do a multi-post topical series once in a while (like "7 People That Changes My Life")

It's fun to see how blogging has morphed in the past five years. I'm inspired by the people who faithfully update their websites with information, ideas, and resources that I can incorporate into my youth ministry settings. If you have other suggestions for how amateur bloggers can increase their readership, or if you want to suggest some blogs that might not have made the YS list, feel free to share them here.

Walking a Thin Line

Let's play an SAT-style buzzword comparison game...

Missional : Emerging Church
as
_______ : Youth Ministry

a) Chubby Bunny
b) Lock-Ins
c) Strong Coffee
d) Relational Ministry


The answer, of course, is (d).

Everyone is talking about relational ministry these days, and with good reason. With the growth of a communications platform that has increased the volume of our interaction with people and decreased the quality of these connections, young people are craving meaningful face-to-face relationships. The questions I continue to ask revolve around why? (purpose) and how? (praxis).


The poster boy of cerebral youth ministers and pomo-theologian, Dr. Andrew Root, has milked three excellent books out of the premise that relational ministry is about encountering Christ in "the other" with no pretense or agenda. He rejects the traditional notions of relational ministry as a means to an end -- attendance at youth group, for example -- and calls ministers to a level of authenticity that is both beautiful and terrifying. I, for one, am totally on board with Root's thesis and still find myself re-reading Revisiting Relational Ministry often.


So, assuming a Root-ian understanding of why?, I delve into the more difficult question of how?

There are two things that make me paranoid as a youth minister: boundaries and favoritism. These can be manifested in similar ways, but they are ultimately unique by the damage they can do to both student and adult. If an adult minister favors certain kids, it can hurt the feelings of those that feel left out of the "cool church kid crowd" (no, it's not an oxymoron). However, if the minister exhibits bad boundaries in the topics they discuss, in the locations they meet, in the amount of time they get together, or in their physical interaction, it can damage both the psychological development of the student and the livelihood of the minister.


I am cognisant of boundaries and favoritism in how I approach relational ministry...but, at times, I wonder how I'm doing at walking the thin line of healthy, effective relational ministry. So I'd like to invite a little koinonia conversation about how church folks can do relational ministry the "right" way. Feel free to share your ideas, stories, and questions.

Summer Trip - Day 10ish

"Where did all the pictures go?"

If you're one of the dozen people who have asked me that question in the past few days, consider this your answer.

The last few days of the trip were jam-packed with events...and it's unsafe to blog while driving...and one of our cameras broke...and the dog ate my homework.

Choose whichever excuse works best for you.

* * *

Now, on to the pictures:

Waiting at the Superdome for our bus to arrive

Loading the bus - ready to serve!

Andreas Hoffmann, Executive Director for Green Light New Orleans


Being the light of the world, one bulb at a time


More light bulb installation in Kenner


We have our clipboards, light bulbs, and fancy orange t-shirts


Our nightly group meeting at the pool side


The fabulous crew of adult leaders


The sign as we departed Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston, MO
(our overnight stay on the way home)

Summer Trip - Day 9

Here are some more reflections from our amazing young people:

* * * * *

Lost... that was what I was at the start of this trip. As some have noticed we started our trip a few days before the Youth Gathering started. We were doing our yearly trip to Jackson, Mississippi. The trip was going wonderfully... until a few particular hard questions came up in discussions. While I was trying to think of my answers I realized I didn't know what to think and I found that I didn't know what to think because I didn't know who I was.

It wasn't amnesia. I knew my name, age, address, family... everything about me... everything but my face. I couldn't picture my face in my mind... I started to get scared and even more confused. When I thought of the others around me I could see their face, remember their actions, hear their voice... but when I thought of myself I could only see my hands and feet, my arms and legs. Only the portions of me that I don't need a mirror to see.

As I was trying to muddle my was through this confusion I didn't want to be alone, but I started to become more distant from the group... the group wouldn't let me go. As we arrived in New Orleans the sleeping arrangements were different from those we had in Jackson, so I had new roommates. Due to the new roommates I got to know people better than I did before the trip, but I still didn't completely know myself. And the simplest of actions held me together, holding hands as we traversed the crowded streets around the dome and convention center, hugs (even when they were to comfort another), late night talks, etc.

I knew I was lost before I came on this trip. I was hoping it would help me find my way back to the light... it did. Even though the people around me didn't know what I was trying to deal with they were helpful by just being themselves. The goofy guys who provided comical relief, the girls who know how to hold deep and meaningful conversations, and the leaders who kept us all together. While we were in the interaction center we interacted with one another as well as the other groups with us. We kept mixing up the groups depending on what we wanted to do. The gathering helped us break down some of the walls in the group.

The Gathering provided an opportunity to worship with 36,000 people... that is an experience I would jump at the chance to do again. My epiphany came as we were worshiping. The Bishop told us a story about how his daughter had a time in her life were she was being torn by two halves, her white friends and her black friends, she was scared too. He then told us that we needed to remember our baptism, for in our baptism God claims us as his children. It was after this that my eyes started to get watery. I realized that what I had been looking for wasn't a face that I could see in a mirror. What I was looking for was a new path to God.

I remember that in the faith statement I wrote in ninth grade I wrote something like: I know God will always be with me in my times of doubt, and will welcome me with open arms when I find him again. Today at worship he welcomed me with open arms that I gladly accepted.

The Gathering has been so much more meaningful to me than I had ever expected it to be. From the interaction center to our day of service, the dome events to talking with the people of New Orleans, and the final gathering to worship.

Before the Gathering I was waiting for God to find me, but now I know he never lost me, I was the one who lost myself. Now as I picture myself in my mind I don't see images only of my hands and feet. I see a child of God who lost her way, but now she is wrapped safely in his arms. She is no longer lost, wandering on unknown paths. She has found God's grace.

Anon...

* * * * *

Letting our light shine, one light bulb at a time

The Servant Learning day made the most impact on me at the ELCA National Youth Gathering. The first couple days, I loved experiencing the huge, mile-long interaction center, 37,000-person Superdome, and abounding city, but I felt like those events were mostly geared for my enjoyment, to build me up. Speakers continually thanked us for being here, and our group of 12,000 had not yet done any service. I anticipated Saturday.

Our service project was with an organization called Green Light New Orleans, which provides free CFL light bulbs to lower-income neighborhoods in order to be more energy efficient and produce less carbon dioxide. This saves people a great deal of money on purchasing light bulbs, as they last 5-7 years, and on their monthly electric bills. As the name alludes, these compact fluorescent lights also preserve the environment by contributing less to greenhouse gases and climate change.

On Saturday, our group of 23 youth and adults from Windsor Heights Lutheran combined with two other groups and took a bus to Kennan, LA. Then we were sent to different apartments in small groups. I really enjoyed entering people’s houses to change all of their light bulbs, because not only were we making an immediate difference in a pretty simple way (especially because I’m tall J), but we were literally immersed in Southern culture in a new way. Each home we visited was friendly and welcoming. One woman expressed her view of the dangers of New Orleans, while her two-year-old son showed us all his cool toys one by one. Another lady was simply amazed at our openness to change her light bulbs, asking questions such as, “Oh, can you maybe do my bedroom too? Oh you can do the kitchen too?”

They were all very appreciative, and I thought it was pretty fun work anyway – we got to be in nice air-conditioned apartments, meet people, and change their light bulbs. As easy as that. They were glad that we traveled from Iowa to make a difference around New Orleans. The friendliness and hospitality caught my eye. Most of them knew that the neighbor to the left did not get home from work until 3, and many opened their doors and asked, “Oh are you here with the light bulbs? We got some too!”

Think about it – not many people I know that live near me back home would be open to four teenagers and two adults walking through every room of their houses, seeing how they live, even if it was to give them free stuff. (We install the bulbs). We can tend to be self-conscious about messes or overprotective of our material belongings. We’d rather take the easy way out sometimes, rather than make a change, even if it’s for the better. My house in Iowa still has regular incandescent light bulbs, either because we did not know the depth of the benefits of CFLs, or we were just not willing to spend the extra dollar to make a positive long-term change. Overall, this fun experience helped us bond with the people and each other while directly benefiting them and the environment. It also taught us to be open to improvements and support of others.

In the spiritual sense, it was cool to literally spread God’s light to the world. Along with the physical help of the new light bulbs, I hope the people can respect the kindness of our Christian group and know that we truly want to help. I hope they can feel the love, which is first the love of Christ shining through us. Slowly we can hopefully take away the hypocritical Christian perspective that some have and bring them to Christ too. “May they see your good works and praise your Father in heaven.” –(Matthew 5:16) Works also grow us, as Christians, because we must act selflessly for others and we therefore become more like Jesus. Philippians 2:1-8 were some theme verses for the Gathering, continuously scrolling across a screen in the dome, reminding us to live humbly like Christ, placing others before ourselves, in order to live for God.

Saturday night’s dome event, (singing worship songs, listening to speakers and music, and learning) and Sunday’s sermon were especially moving for me. A couple speakers talked about God working strongly through our work. We may be just one person, having a little light, but God binds us all together in one body of Christ to be powerful. Saturday night, we each took out our cell phones and cameras in the dark dome, and watched it light up all around us. 37,000 little lights. It was an amazing sight! Later, we also sang some well-known worship songs with the band The Katinas, which got people really excited for God! You could feel the energy and joy in that huge room, which once held the homeless people after Hurricane Katrina! We were helping God bring good out of the pain! I really liked the song “I Am Free”: “through you the blind will see, through you the dead will rise…I am free to run…I am free to live for You!”

On Sunday we heard the story of Jesus’s miracle of Feeding the Five Thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish. Andrew and Phillip did not give up, and Jesus worked a miracle through the little they had. In the same way, God still uses us today. No talent or effort is too small for God to use to serve His people for His glory! Isn’t that awesome? If we come to Him with the little we have, such as one day of service in New Orleans, He can make more great things happen as a result, encourage more people to act, or change lives forever!

So let’s go out, with our one light bulb, shining with the everlasting power of Christ, not only for 7 years, but for eternity.

Stephanie

P.S. The “Found” blog touched my heart – I’m so happy for you!! God is amazing! He is Life! Amen!

Summer Trip - Day 8

Our young people have some marvelous stories to tell from our Servant Event day with Green Light New Orleans!




How many Lutherans does it take to change a light bulb?... How many times have we all heard that one before... but what I want to know is how much does the simple act of changing light bulb affect people?

Today during our day of serving we were told that we were going to change light bulbs in apartments for Green Light New Orleans, not many of us were completely thrilled with the idea, but we soon warmed up to the task after the realization hit that changing light bulbs can help a home owner with the amount of energy they consume but also help the environment.

The small group I was a part of met a very kind elderly lady. Our team adult sat with her chatting, while we busily scurried around changing her lights. We changed a total of 32 lights in her house. We replaced the old bulbs with new ones that would last for five to eight years. Over the period of five years those seemingly insignificant bulbs will save her a little over $1400 ... 32 bulbs that would cost an owner around $80 to purchase would save so much more. Those bulbs won't only save money, they also cut down the amount of energy that is wasted by normal bulbs and the amount of carbon dioxide produced. But what was most meaningful was the kind lady's face after we told her what those 32 little bulbs would do.

Becca


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I never thought that by changing a light bulb could make such a difference in the world, and change the lives of others around me.

So when my church group found out that our service work was going to be screwing in light bulbs, we were like, "what the heck!?!? What can we accomplish by screwing light bulbs?' But sitting here now I have never been happier to screw in a bunch of light bulbs.

Because by screwing in those light bulbs myself and many other people were able to meet and connect with some really amazing and giving people. Also by screwing in those light bulbs we were able to help alot of people save hundreds of dollars.

I just don't know how to express the emotions that I felt today by bonding with those people. I just want to thank Green Light New Orleans so much for bringing the group together to meet new people. Also by having this non-profit organization donate the free light bulbs, and help thousands of people save a lot of money.

Thank you so much Green Light New Orleans!!!

Nicole


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38,000. That’s lot of Lutherans! You’d think that that would be overwhelming right? But it’s surprisingly the opposite, it’s humbling. When you live in your own little town of Des Moines in my case you feel powerful and important, but when you enter the Superdome and see all those people singing, dancing, and praising you feel so small. You feel powerless and unimportant. You feel like nothing. But then I remember that God doesn’t care where you come from, who your with, or how you praise. All he cares about is you, good old Iowa living corn picking you.

These past few days have been unexplainable. I’ll go home on Sunday and try to explain this week but I know I will be unsuccessful. You can’t feel what we’re feeling unless you are here which is a shame because the love and the security that I’m sure everyone is feeling (although I can’t speak for them) is unimaginable. Everywhere you turn there are kind hearted, loving Lutherans who welcome you with open arms. But I think this city would be this amazing with or without the Lutherans. Before the disaster they were residents of the same city, afterwards they are an extended family. They welcome anyone and everyone. Walking through the streets of Des Moines you feel welcome, but when has a complete stranger stopped you and thanked you for coming to their town? People will tell you their life stories in the middle of the street, and to most people that would seem distracting and just another thing that slows their busy selfish life down. But I have not found one selfish person here or in Jackson. This town has literally made us their own, and that is the most amazing feeling. Coming into a city for 4 days and becoming practically a citizen.

Not only is this city amazing but this convention is amazing. They have gathered the best of the best (and I’m not just talking about the Lutherans). The speakers that we get to hear every night are truly amazing. They are changing the world every day and getting everyone to join them city by city. They have made me believe that I can do the impossible. I can change the world, even if it’s with small acts. I don’t have to be old or powerful or even have to live in a big city. I can change the world from Johnston, Iowa. I can change the world at 17. The world can be good one day, I truly believe that. The world can be at peace. There can be justice in the world. And most important of all… everyone can love each other. I can say firsthand that I have been in a room where I felt love coming from over 38,000 people. How many people can say that?! (I mean besides the more than 38,000 people that were in the room).

God has made an amazing world, and amazing people to be in it. And I hope and pray that the almost 7 billion people in the amazing world we live in will one day come together and make this world a place of justice, peace, and above all else love.

Kendra

Summer Trip - Day 7

We spent the day in the Interaction Center, exploring issues of Wealth & Poverty. There are so many amazing things to do in this space! The young people in our group are growing increasingly enthusiastic about being the change they wish to see in the world. They're also inspired by the witness of the other young people they're meeting.







The highlight of the Dome event was the Skillet concert. Four of our boys had an opportunity to "rush the stage" and be up by the stage. The speakers were solid once again - each sharing their stories of overcoming adversity and using the negative events of their life to make a positive impact on the world.

We're also enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of New Orleans. It will be fun to see a different part of the city tomorrow on our service project.

Summer Trip - Day 6

Today was our first full day at the ELCA Youth Gathering. As with any event of this magnitude, there were a few speed bumps in our day, but our group was patient and understanding...they are truly an amazing group of young people and adults!

We spent some time in the Krewes Learning Center exploring workshops and integrators that caused us to reflect on the way we live out our baptism.




I even ran into my folks (again) while we were exploring. We discovered (via a JJJ09 nametag) that my dad's first name is no longer Steve, but instead it has been changed to "Bishop". Oddly, it can be both a male and female name...and there are 65 other Lutherans with the same name. Who knew!


A special treat for the group was lunch at Mother's. The food and the service were both top-notch. Lots of Ferdi's and po'boys with "debris" were ordered. As for me, the jambalaya and bread pudding sufficed.



We spent some time wrapping up a few learning events and hanging out in the Interaction Center. From there, we visited the offices of the Louisiana Bar Association. One of our adult leaders has a friend who works for there. We went to hear the stories of a few employees who were impacted by Hurricane Katrina. They showed us unprecedented hospitality (sandwiches, chips, candy, soda, water, etc.) and let us sit in their amazing conference room with leather chairs. It was a profound event for all of us. Certainly a highlight for many!!!



We sang, listened, prayed, and danced at the Dome event later that night. Many enjoyed hearing from Jay Bakker (Jim & Tammy Faye's son) -- an excellent articulation of God's love. If only he could have spoken longer! The hip-hop group Group 1 Crew rocked the house and sent us into the evening of Community Life events in several of the hotels. It was truly an inspiring and joyful day!

Summer Trip - Day 5

We left Jackson in crowded vehicles and drove through the rain into New Orleans. Somewhere along the three hours on the road, the heat index increased 25 degrees. Ugh!



The young people were astounded by the size and scope of this ELCA Youth Gathering.

One of our adults put on Facebook "I'm in the Big Easy with 36,000 young Lutherans. The Big Easy is looking pastier and whiter than I remember it." A tidal wave of predominantly northern-states folks have washed over the city that was ravaged by hurricane and flood only four years ago.

We are a part of the largest convention in the city of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.

The Associated Press is calling Jesus ~ Justice ~ Jazz the "largest service ministry event ever attempted in three days".




It's a joy to be part of such a significant event - both in the broad impact 300,000+ volunteer hours will have on this city AND in the intimate impact it will have in the lives of individuals.

Summer Trip - Day 4

It was an emotionally moving day for many in our group. A couple of youth have asked to share a few reflections from our last day in Jackson, MS.

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When I got up this morning I was ready to do any work that God was calling me to do. I thought that I was going to be doing more yard work like we did the previous day. But God had a different idea for me. When we arrived at the church we were told there were some spots around the church grounds that people (homeless) were using as a bathroom, and that it needed to be cleaned up. I volunteered because i thought i could handle getting my hands dirty, and i thought i could handle the smell. But boy was i wrong. I had no idea that these places that were being used as a bathroom were also places were people were sleeping and living.

The first spot we (Kendra B, Haley, Naomi, and myself) cleaned was a stairwell leading to the basement of the church. This was the major spot where people were relieving themselves. In the stairwell were also blankets, clothing and news papers. The smell was like the smell of a hog house, i couldn't believe that anyone would go down there, but we did. The next place we were told to clean out was a covered stairway leading into the church.

What we did next has forever changed my outlook on life, and the lives of the people around me.




On the stairway we found scary things like condom wrappers and rusty nails, but we also found clothing and unopened cans of food, basic things that people need to live. It was so shocking to realize that someone(s) was living here, and slept on dirty wet cardboard every night, and had to wear dirty clothing. But was the worst thing we found were Baptist devotional guide to life, and a workbook on how to read the Bible. So what was so sad was that this person was trying to have a relationship with God and Jesus, and yet they were living like they were. And what made me feel even worse was we were taking it all away. We were just scooping it up and throwing it away.



I couldnt stop thinking "what was this person going to do when they came back and realized it was all gone?" I cant write anything to make anyone realize how emotionally draining what we did was. I just wanted to break down and cry. I just pray that whomever was living there, has moved onto a safer and cleaner place. And hopefully by us cleaning up there 'home' they went to a homeless shelter or somewhere with a warm dry bed, and a warm meal.

~ Nicole





Going into this trip I didn't expect what I am feeling. I ignorantly expected it to be just another work trip. But through the sights I've seen, the people I've met, and the conversations I've had my thoughts are not what I went into this wanting to feel. But life isn't always what you want is it?

Throughout my christian education since I was young I have always been told that it is okay to doubt your faith, but I have never really liked that. Although I really wouldn't call what I am feeling doubt, I would call it questioning. I'm questioning if my faith is enough. I'm questioning if I'm doing enough to help.

The people here are amazing. The sights here are amazing. The south looks like Iowa but doesn't feel like Iowa. When the group took a walk throughout the neighborhood people would stop what they were doing just to say hi to us and to have a genuine conversation with us. After spending 4 days in Jackson I know I have had an experience that I will never forget. I will never forget the people, the sights, the thoughts, or the God that sent me here.

~ Kendra G.

Summer Trip - Day 3

Monday was our group's first of two days of work projects through VOCM in Jackson, MS. Many of us were excited to return to Claiborne Park to pick up trash, trim brush from a large fence line, and mow the grass. Claiborne is a 16-acre park that was given by the Baptist Medical Clinic to VOCM for the purpose of making it a safe place for community events to occur. There are several walking trails and a few benches in the park. We met several people from the adjacent apartment complex. One young boy even offered to help with the project, which was encouraging.

The long and winding fence

Removing many of these trees required a group effort

Enjoying the completion of a job well done

The day concluded with a neighborhood BBQ at the Study Center house. Afterwards, we had excellent theological conversations among many in our group that lasted late into the night.

Chef Brett grilling up burgers and chicken

Enjoying sidewalk chalk and bubbles with new friends

Summer Trip - Day 2

This site is called koinonia. In case you're wondering what it means, here's an excellent summary:

"The Greek word koinonia describes relationships where people know each other well. From koinonia (often translated "fellowship") we get our English words common, community, and commmunion. Koinonia describes relationships of great depth where people mutually share their lives with one another. They share their time, thoughts, feelings, burdens, insecurities, joys, brokenness, and sometimes even their possessions. I deeply desire human relationships of this kind. However, the greatest and most complete koinonia relationship possible is with God's Son, Jesus, and you are called to a koinonia relationship with him (1 Cor. 1:9)

-- "Custom Designed: A Life Worthy of the Call" Wendy A.W. Berthelsen

Wendy is the aunt of one of the youth on our trip. Oddly enough, her niece was reading Wendy's soon-to-be-published book and came across this quote about koinonia...and, as irony would have it, she shared this quote with me while sharing a smoothie at the Koinonia Coffee Shop in Jackson, MS. The coffee shop was a condemned building located next to an abandoned church. Five years ago, a group from Windsor Heights Lutheran began work on transforming that house.

The inside of the house before it was Koinonia

Exterior of the same house

Today, the abandoned church has been transformed into the central headquarters of Voice of Calvary. The condemned house has been restored - the bottom level is the coffee shop, and the second level is where the owner and her husband live. It's an amazing change; one that has brought life into an economically depressed area of town.

The Koinonia Coffee Shop

The 2009 Summer Trip group outside of Koinonia

I reminded of the koinonia that is being created within our group of 23. I also reflect on the koinonia we have shared with Voice of Calvary Ministries. Over 75 sets of hands from our congregation have worked near this place in the past 8 years. In our attempt to be a blessing to the people of Jackson, WE are the ones who have been inspired and blessed by the ministry of our partners at Voice of Calvary. God is truly present in a special way in this neighborhood...and we are fortunate to be a part of the koinonia that this partnership brings.