update

Week 2: Complete.

Fuge has been a great experience so far. Actually experiencing ministry and taking other’s burdens (junk) upon myself is the business I am in for the summer and I can say without any hesitation that I am finding purpose, fulfillment, calling, and direction like no other before. We work 18 hour days that are not worth the money we get paid, but then again, I don’t think I am here for the money. It’s odd how you learn the best when you are thrown into the middle of 9th and 10th graders lives making yourself vulnerable in hopes of encouraging their own spiritual vulnerability. Faith is best expressed in community and I am quickly learning that each and everyone of us longs and yearns for relationships. Honestly, I wish our Baptist churches would evaluate our understanding of relational theology and what that could mean as a foundation of the church. On Monday night when I first meet my new bible study for the week and they are silent to Saturday morning when I swear several students are almost in tears from leaving their new friends, this is the connection that I (and I use “I” with much hesitance because all credit is given to the Lord) am able to facilitate through the week. I think Bible Study is going well (because it appears that Kids are “getting it” and I have been getting the highest rating on my student’s evaluations). Once again I will say that the staff is amazing and I truly blessed.

Here are a couple of highlights for the week:

First, I got to lead a student to Christ which was amazing.
Second, the Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church crew was here for the week and I got hang out with them.
Third, John Hume gave me the coolest note of encouragment.
Fourth, after watching Sammy interact and preach, I feel like I really have the passion to be a camp pastor someday while in College or Seminary, and several staffers (out of nowhere) have affirmed that a camp pastor is a position that would “fit me.” So we’ll see where that takes me.
Fourth, Luke Adams, a guy I lead to Christ in Glorieta, prayed during the worship service, and as he walked around the auditorium to get to his seat, stopped by and told me “thanks for leading me to Christ two years ago” from which my reply was to tear up and give him a hug.
Fifth, a lady getting upset with me for my assumed endorsement of the DaVinci Code.
That’s all for now.

Oh yeah: Mohler and Patterson discuss Calvinism

and I guess there was some huge shake-ups in at the Southern Baptist Convention which I think is awesome.

Rock on Party Jesus

Well,
I have now been in staff for Centrifuge for a week and a half. The experiece thus far has been tiring in all facets of life. From waking up at 6:00 Am and going to bed at 12:30, to decorating bible study rooms, I have been aware of few other experiences in my life where I can feel the Lord working in such vast awareness and understanding. First, the camp pastor here, Sammy Nuckolls is absolutely amazing. His gift at pastoral care, philosophy, and overall mentality is unremarkable. Just getting the chance to be around in the past 11 days has been great. I am excited to learn from a man, that I gather has the same passions as I do, only he is much mor experienced. The stories from ministry that he has is exciting, and yet scary. Sammy is sure to have the influence on me that John Hume does. What an opportunity to be around both of these awesome ministers in the past and present. Yet at the same time, I welcome both experiences. Secondly, the staff here is amazing, I mean it. The director, KB, is one of the most unique, warm, and fun-loving people I have ever met. Typically, I have very little care for bosses, but in a welcomed surprise and hatred of micromanagement, she feels nothing like a boss and everything like a friend an encourager. The worship team has blown me away. Even during rehearsal last nite, I had trouble staying in my seat and keeping the tears in. God is already here at Centrifuge. On top of all the fun, LifeWay (the Parent Company of Fuge) takes us out for lunch and dinner everyday to amazing restaurants. Fuge has also probably given us over 150$ in merchandise for the summer too.

Christian and I are missing each other a lot, as is to be expected, but I know I am needing and learning greater dependence on God. I love her so much and cannot wait to be with her staring un early August, but I am aware right now that God has placed me at Fuge for a reason.

On to the heavy stuff, I have done a lot of talk about ministry and such. Fuge is where the talk becomes action, and I am scared,excited, and nervous all in one. To realize that we (I) have the responsibility to share the lifechanging and hope-giving message of Jesus blows me away. During our staff confrences, I commented to KB that I am looking to risk it all this summer. Having a room full of 9th and 10th graders just starring at me does seem to be rather uncomfortable and akward, but I know that healthy doses of failure are not only going to happen, but are actually welcomed with a humble heart of gratitude. I look forward to being exhausted physically and spiritually to the point of wanting to give in, because that is where a real heart for ministry is going to kick in. I feel that this is going to be a summer of learning, adventure, tiredness, friendship, growth, and needed failure. I have understood my need to get out of my comfort zone in preparing for Fuge and to be honest, I AM. I am nervous about bible study. I am nervous about the AM Show (where I am playing a large role). By nature, I worry about worrying. But I know, more than ever, that learning to bring myself through these situations and how I react to them is much more important than the actual situations. It’s crunch time. It’s a time of uncertainty, and mounting pressure. God will be there because He is my I AM.

I have been pondering a few questions during my work time. 1) What does ministry mean? 2) What does God intend for my ministry?