Mission Orlando - Day 5

As we woke up to take on the last work day of our mission trip, there was a calm and quietness in the lobby as prayer partners met and faced the reality that the end of such an amazing week was ending. For some of us we were not looking forward to saying goodbye to the kids we had made a connection with. We didn't know how we were going to answer the question that would inevitably come our way, "Are you going to be here tomorrow? Next Week? Next Year?" This was a question that was discussed within our group but without a real answer that we could give them because we knew we wouldn't be back tomorrow or next week, but next year was still up in the air. Nevertheless, we forged on and took on the challenges awaiting us!

After arriving at Concord Street for the last time, we loaded up the bus to head to Second Harvest Food Bank, once again. However, the "open-toe shoe club" decided to conform and join the team by wearing close-toe shoes. Luckily we did not sort through old meat but we sorted through canned goods, baby food, dry foods, juice, etc. that would be packed into boxes, tagged, and placed in areas for distribution. While it feels that we were not doing a whole lot in the way of serving, we understood that we may not ever know the impact we will have in a community or in someones lives. This was a perfect example of that, but we remember "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow" (I Cor. 3:6).

We headed back to Concord Street to have lunch and prepare for our last day at Lake Mann. Today was the day we would present Noah to the kids and we had prayed for the rain to hold off. Let me say, we had beautiful weather all week and the rain usually missed us.

As we arrived to Lake Mann, it began to rain. Was it a coincidence that it would rain on the day we would talk about Noah and the flood? Maybe, but it sure did add to the lesson we were teaching and made it more real for the kids who were there.

Despite the rain, we had kids waiting for us as we arrived, once again. I really saw God in the kids this day because they still came in the rain. Some had umbrellas, some had ponchos, and some just came. What an amazing site to see kids who had the desire to be with us and learn about God that they braved the weather to be there!

As we wrapped up the afternoon, we sang some more silly/VBS songs and the kids kept wanting to sing and kept requesting songs to sing. I had to take a moment and walk away while I had a small cry because these kids did not want us to leave and I did not want to leave them because for a small moment in time we brought some joy, hope, and love to their lives through God's word. What an amazing experience and week.

At one point I was in the restroom and I heard one of the kids singing "If you love Jesus". He had no clue anyone could hear him, but I could and it did my heart good to know we left an impression on these kids that they were wanting to sing about Jesus as they walked home.

We finally finished and afterwards we went to the lady who made the "Flips", so we could buy out the rest of her stock and be a blessing to her by giving back to her monetarily more than she asked for. We hung around and ate our flips, but eventually we had to load the bus back up and leave.

One thing I've learned in doing mission work is that it's never "Goodbye" but "Until we meet again". I believe that we will be back in Orlando to do mission work in the next year or two and I hope to see some of the same kids that we got the pleasure of meeting during the week we were there. I also pray that they live a life, according to God's will, so we can meet again in Heaven one day.

It's amazing how God can touch your life in just a short span. This trip was more of a life-changing experience for me, even though our purpose was to have a life-changing experience for the kids. Our God is truly an awesome God and I urge you to trust that He is prepared to do some amazing things in your life. You don't believe me? Take a mission trip for a week and see if God doesn't change your perspective on the power He has in your life.

How do we raise kids who serve?

                If I asked your kids, what would they say is at the heart of what it means to be part of your family? In other words, how would your kids finish this sentence: “Our family is….”

                I grew up with a very strong sense of what it meant to be a Thompson. We wore our family name with pride, after all, the motto on our family crest was “Nosce teipsum” or translated, “know thyself.” We would never do anything to tarnish the family name, because early on it was instilled in me what being a Thompson meant. Both by their example and by their words, my parents instilled in me that being a part of the Thompson family meant you were hardworking and looked for ways to humbly serve others. Our family is hard-working servants.

                Joy and I hope to instill the same values in our children, one day… a few years down the road. We pray that our family will be leaders and learners, people of gentle strength, content risk-takes, and folks who love and serve God and others. Do we have all the answers? No, and if you are honest with yourself, you don’t have all the answers even now, as a parent or when you did have children.

                A question you may find yourself asking is, “How can we be parents who love and serve God and others, and who raise kids who do likewise?” How can we plant a vision for kingdom service so deeply in our kids that they can’t help but offer love and hope to those in need? Words and Actions.

                I read about a family that shares this longing that their kids have a heart for service. They have made a commitment, as a family, to help folks who are homeless not by giving them money but by buying them a bag of groceries instead. As their three daughters were growing up, the parents explained, “Our family does not give money when we are approached on the street. We buy food instead.” When approached by someone who was homeless, the parents would run into a nearby supermarket and buy a bag of groceries for the person in need, often with their daughters in tow.

                Recently, their seventeen-year-old daughter was heading alone into a grocery store when she was approached by a homeless man who asked her for money. Even though Kristen was alone, she repeated the family mantra to him: “Our family does not give money. We buy food instead.” She walked into the grocery store and spent $17 of her own money to buy groceries. When she returned home, she never asked her parents to reimburse her.

                 Want your kids to grow up and be servants, to love the Lord, and be a productive part of society? Show them. Show your children how to be servants. Show your children that you love the Lord. It’s all about words and actions, and it all starts with you, the parents, in your own home. After all, when your kids grow up, they will be a reflection of you. If you are inconsistent in your spiritual walk, it’s safe to assume your children will be, as well. If you don’t value God, church, and family as a priority in your life, study shows that neither will your children. Live your life in the same way you want your children to live theirs, and you will see a child who loves God and serves others. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” –Proverbs 22:6

Parent Driven Church: Part 3

We continue with the series on the Parent Driven Church. Our society is moving more and more towards being dependent on ministers and forgetting the groundwork that should be laid in the home so the Youth Minister can supplement that teaching. We need to get back to having a Parent Driven Church and I hope this blog will help you find ways to do exactly that. You can find Part 1 and Part 2 by clicking the link. 

"Parents are usually the most important influence in their kids' lives" - Chapter 6 Stick Family Relationships, Sticky Faith: A Leader's Guide

Did you read that carefully? Parents are an important influence for their kids. As a youth minister, it is sometimes exhausting thinking about the responsibility that I have for the students in our ministry and for their faith (and sometimes lack thereof).While adult role models are important and should be a factor on youth ministry, there is nothing more important when it comes to Faith than the Parents.

Let me provide you with some research. Sociologist, Dr. Christian Smith from the University of Notre Dame conducted a nationwide telephone survey of more than 3,000 teens and their parents, as well as, 267 in-depth interviews and he concluded: "Most teenagers and their parents may not realize it, but a lot of research of sociology of religion suggests that the most important social influence in shaping young people's religious lives is the religious life models and taught to them by their parents."

Yes, there are exceptions but think about it this way. How many hours, on average, does a youth minister spend with your child compared to the hours parents are spending with their children? There is a vast difference in time there. Parents are most certainly the launching pad of their child's faith and because of time spent with them, Parents help to shape, guide, and mold their faith. Don't misunderstand, a Youth Minister's job is very important, as well, the point is Parents need to do a better job at home helping to mold their kids faith.

According to Search Institutes's nationwide study of 11,000 teenagers from 561 congregations, 12% of you have a regular dialogue with their mom on faith/life kids. In other words 1 out of 8 kids talk to their mom about faith. With dads, it is 1 out of 20, or 5%. Approximately 9% of teenagers engage in regular reading of the bible and devotions with their families. Not even 1 out of 10 teenagers are looking at scriptures with their parents.

When you do engage your children in dialogue about their faith, what questions are you asking? Is it the standard, "What did you talk about in church today?" "How was youth group?" "What did you think of the sermon?" and I think we already know the answers to the questions that our teens will respond with. According to Fuller Youth Institute, asking these questions can pay off, but what is really is important is that parents also share about their own faith. It is important that we are not only living out our faith, but talking to our kids about our faith, as well.

There are certain taboo issues that need to addressed and discussed that parents tend to shy away from, and even let the youth minister handle those issues (sometimes with it coming a little too late). For example, according to Kara Powell of FYI, she says, "Two different sets of data indicate that the more important religion (not just Christianity, but also other religions) is to parents, the more difficult it is for those same parents to talk with their kids bout sex." That's pretty disappointing. We have to find a way to have these conversations with our kids in a healthy, balanced, and scriptural way. These conversations help to guide, shape, and mold their faith.

Want to know how we can have a Parent Driven Church? Have a faith driven family that isn't afraid to share or talk about their faith with their kids. Don't avoid taboo conversations and encourage your kids to live out their faith.

*Research found in Chapter 6, "Sticky Family Relationships", in the book Sticky Faith: Everyday ideas to build lasting faith in your kids. Dr. Kara E. Powell and Chap Clark, PhD.