[t\ While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight I'll fight to the very end!
[t\
in the beginning... what?!...i have to write stuff? If you want to change the world there is no better place to start than with youth. According to George Barna’s research, a person’s spiritual identity is largely set in place by age 13. After that, most people spend their lives looking for ideas that merely reinforce what they already believe. If you are involved in youth ministry, you are a leader on the frontlines. There is no other ministry that has the potential to lead, change and transform this world on such a large scale as youth ministry. Spiritual transformation in kids results in a real effect passing from generation to generation. Perhaps that is the reason Jesus made one of His most damning statements: “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck” (Mark 9:42). “Millstone” was because He knew that these young, malleable souls hold immeasurable potential for both good and evil. Those who harm them are not only hurting them, but also generations to come. It is impossible to underestimate how important youth leaders are in God’s work in The Salvation Army. Our mission as youth leaders is to develop young people into life long followers of Jesus Christ as soldiers in The Salvation Army. We believe The Salvation Army was raised up by God to bring His light into a dark world. We can only pray that we live up to this, never shrinking back, but marching forward. God’s Army needs good soldiers. God has entrusted us as youth leaders to train, empower and mobilize the youth of today in the spiritual battle against sin and evil. We cannot afford to fail, for the souls of men are at stake.
If you are involved in youth ministry, you are a leader on the frontlines. There is no other ministry that has the potential to lead, change and transform this world on such a large scale as youth ministry.
T.E.N. SPOTLIGHT THE USA WESTERN TERRITORY’S YOUTH WORKER’S NEWSLETTER STAFF Captain Kyle Smith Captain Lisa Smith Cari Arias Fulton Hawk Daniel Martinez Erick Rodriguez Jim Sparks Cheryl Thompson Chris Toy Angel Webb
Territorial Youth Secretary Assistant Territorial Youth Secretary Christian Education Specialist Communications Specialist TYS Administrative Aide Administrative Aide Youth Development and Leadership Director General Clerk Web Content Specialist Children’s Outreach Ministries Director
LAYOUT & DESIGN Stephen Martinez
Graphic Artist
COVER DESIGN Fulton Hawk
TYD Communications Specialist
USA WESTERN TERRITORIAL LEADERS
Commissioner Philip Swyers Territorial Commander
Never take youth ministry lightly. Never take the commitment of a young child
Commissioner Patricia Swyers Territorial Women’s Ministries Secretary
to Christ lightly. And never be satisfied with “just” seeing a child saved. God wants active disciples - holy soldiers in His Army fighting for the souls of men. Let’s not shrink from the task placed before us by Christ Himself. As you read on, may you find things that will be helpful to you as a soldier enmeshed in a foreign culture (youth culture) on a modern battlefield.
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180 East Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90802 562/491-8399 • Fax 562/491-8799 www.tenspotlight.wordpress.com Unless otherwise indicated, all contents copyright © 2008. If requested, permission to reproduce is usually freely granted. Please contact the TYS@THQ before reproducing.
Summer O 2008
Features Hope is a Hero 37 Are you ready to take up the call and become an honest to goodness HERO?! The call has been made and the call is directed at you...yes you!
Your Marriage 42 and Your Ministry Creating A.W.E. in your marriage. What you need to know to get the most out of your ministry without losing sight of your partnership.
In this Issue
Interview with our fearless leaders 32
Letter from a Burnt-Out Youth Worker
64
Commissioner Phil Swyers and Lt. Colonel Donald Bell speak up on the state of Army youth,
When you work in the front-lines of war it’s only reasonable to expect that there will be casualties. But there is hope for those that reach the trenches and find themselves fighting harder than ever.
From a middleage Dad to a teenage daughter
Resources
their personal call to follow Christ and more.
22
Believe it or not parents actually want to communicate with that weird and wonderful being called their child. Here is one guy’s try at broaching that gap.
Heart to God [Clenched Fist for] Man So you say you want a Revolution?!
40
The Army is now recruiting heroes and if you are having trouble believing that you are one of the called, here is some inspiration and a reminder that the more things change...the more they stay the same. There’s lots to be done yet!
Insane:
book review by Captain Rob Reardon
60
You know people call you that...and mean it as a compliment. Find out where you got it from and where you can read about those ‘insane’ men and women that preceded you.
BOOKS, BOOKS & EVEN MORE BOOKS
61
You haven’t had this much to read since Junior year of High School when your English teacher thought that it was her duty to teach you about ALL literature in the world. So get crakin’; there is a lot to do! n
T.E.N. SPOTLIGHT MAG // PAGE 05
tales from a canteen Today I met Godfrey. He must have been in his mid 30’s. He is from Nigeria. His attire clashed with the attire of the rest of those that were hanging out at our canteen. Now that I think back...his dress reminded me of a European professor. And considering how he articulated his nomadic experience in Portland he could easily be a European professor of sociology. He’s been in Portland for nearly 10 years. Did you know that Godfrey means... Peace of God; from the Germanic name Gottfried; (Italian) Goffredo (Spanish) Godofredo; (Irish) Gofraidh, Gothfraidh; Godfried, Gofried, Gottfrid.
He didn’t explain how or why he was given this name. But he did tell me that the last three years have been anything but peaceful. It’s been one detour in the wrong direction after another. He said a woman had a lot to do with it. He said it, not me. He also said that he was tired of it all. He wanted something to change. Paul the Apostle might have taken him straight into the Willamette River to be baptized. I gave him a 6oz. can of apple juice, a job lead, my business card and a promise to buy him lunch if he uses my card to call me.
O things I heard
2010 World Youth Convention The International Chief of Staff is pleased to announce that a World Youth Convention will be held in Stockholm, Sweden July 15-19, 2010. The venue for this important event will be the Aula Magna University in Stockholm, with youth-hostel-style living accommodations close to the campus. The attendance will intentionally be restricted to 1,000 delegates. Details on the application/ decision process for the Western Territory will be announced in the near future.
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I hope it brought him a little peace tonight to know that he had something to do tomorrow which is different from what he was doing yesterday. But more than that...I hope he calls.
2
For more “Tales from a Canteen” check out Captain Chris Mitchell’s blog http://todayimet.blogspot.com/
Songs of Worship & Warfare Written and performed by the youth of the Western Territory.
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR YEAR THREE
Over a hundred and fifty years ago our founder, William Booth, walked through the filthy streets of the East End of London in a place so vile it was given the nickname “Mile End Waste.� What he saw horrified him. Nearly every other storefront was a pub where men and women drank away their sorrows and their lives. Boys as young as five years old stood blind drunk in many of these doorways while out on the streets women, young girls and even young boys, prostituted their bodies in order to put food in their bellies. Beatings, muggings, rapes, and murders where common place. Poverty and sickness were the norm. Hopelessness and despair stared back at him from every face he looked at.
Today the battle still rages. Drugs, violence, prostitution, and crime still plague our society. Children still go hungry. The poor are still with us. Hopelessness and despair still stare out of the faces of the marginalized, hurting and lost. Satan is still waging his deadly battle and destroying countless lives. And he seems to still be winning! But the good news is that there are still those who see this and it breaks their hearts. It also makes them angry. It makes them want to do something about it. It makes them want to fight.
R E V O L UTIO N
HAWAII
By Rob Noland
William Booth could see that a spiritual battle was taking place for the very souls of these people, and Satan was winning. This sudden realization broke his heart. But it also made him angry. It made him want to do something about it. It made him want to fight. So he raised up a small band of soldiers who rallied under the red, yellow and blue banner of this newly formed Salvation Army. These red hot warriors for Jesus took the fight to Satan, fearlessly storming the forts of darkness and bringing the light of the good news to the lost and hurting. Their message was hope and their method was love. And God gave them many victories, igniting a revolution that spanned the globe.
Just like William Booth and The Salvation Army of old, Revolution Hawaii is raising up a small band of warriors to take the fight to Satan, break the fangs of the wicked and win the world for Jesus. The message is still hope and the method is still love. This ministry is only in its second year but God has already provided many victories and fanned the flames of revolution. Here’s where you come in. Revolution Hawaii is looking for courageous men and women between the ages of 18 and 29 with warrior hearts and a passion for the lost. These elite few must be willing to sacrifice a year of their life in order to train and serve as urban guerilla missionaries on the front lines of some of the worst battlefields in the Western Territory.
Located on the island of Oahu, Revolution Hawaii will deploy these brave soldiers with the mission of loving and serving the poor and needy while at the same time equipping them to be life long warriors for Jesus. This incarnational, hands-on ministry is short on talk and heavy on action. Accepted applicants will receive a complete mission experience serving both in an urban setting as well as extreme summer deployments to 3rd world countries. It is guaranteed to be a year that will change lifetimes! For more information, or to apply, contact Rob Noland at
rob.noland@usw.salvationarmy.org.
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making a difference By Amberly Potter
The power is out. There is nothing to do outside of the chapel doors. Away from a candlelit room, it is complete darkness. Though I’m unable to make out who is who, tiny hands find mine. The Sunday evening service ends, but everyone still lingers, not wanting to be stranded in the shadows. We all hear “click” and the lights flash on. Everyone cheers. Finally I’m able to see all the smiling faces that longed to be close to me. A few kids ran through the doors soaked from falling rain. I look at the group of little ones surrounding me and smile. “Want to play in the rain?” I asked. We ran into the wet zone outside. We start jumping in puddles; some of the kids rolled around on the rain soaked cement slabs, while others made rain angels. Next we ran around shouting “Jesus loves you!” as we played follow-the-leader to the basketball court all the way down the street where we find even bigger puddles, perfect for playing in!
REVOLUTION MICRONESIA The Salvation Army opened fire in the Marshall Islands in 1985 and quickly spread throughout Micronesia to the islands of Pohnpei, Chuuk, Saipan and Guam. Although breathtakingly beautiful, these island nations are desperately in need of the good news of Jesus. Poverty is rampant. Hopelessness and despair abound. The officers and soldiers stationed there have been fighting a heroic battle but the need is great and the workers are few. Revolution Micronesia is looking for new heroes who are ready to step into the fight and make an eternal difference for the kingdom of God. This short, 3-month mission is offered twice a year, in October and February. The first month is spent on the Island of Oahu, for the purpose of training and equipping. The final two months are spent on one of the third world islands of Micronesia – living with, loving and serving the poor, hurting, lost and marginalized - just like Jesus. For more information, or to apply, contact Rob Noland at rob.noland@usw.salvationarmy.org
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It’s been three months since I was in the Marshall Islands. It was an amazing memory I will never forget. I was blessed to be chosen to spend six weeks sharing God’s love on the island of Majuro. God stretched me, almost to my limit. Unable to communicate with many people, I did get lonely and doubt would set in. Wondering if I was making a difference in the lives around me, the Lord reminded me that He does not make mistakes. I was there for a reason. Even if I could not see results now, God was working in the lives of His children. My last Sunday at the Laura Corps was amazing. I realized that God did use me to touch lives. As I sat in front of the chapel and the corps family adorned me with their handicrafts, I could see smiling faces and eyes filled with tears. The Corps Sergeant Major stood up and thanked me for loving their children. At that moment I realized that I was used by the Lord to love His people. I hope they felt as loved as I did. But it wasn’t only my love I was able to give; it was the love of our Father. And perhaps I was able to change their lives, because they definitely changed mine.
FIGHTING HOMELESSNES
By Melissa Felkins
I love listening to the conversations of the teenagers I work with. I learn so much about them and their world, and I tune in every chance I get, especially when they aren’t necessarily aware that I am listening. Recently my co-worker and I were driving a van full of teenage girls to Youth Councils. Somewhere between Seaside and Camp Redwood Glen the topic in the van shifted from “who is dating whom” to a more serious nature. I could see the sadness in the eyes of my co-worker as we both listened to them talk in detail about the struggles their families go through. These kids may be 14 years old, but they understand injustice in the world. They have lived it and have felt the consequences of it. They probably wouldn’t call it “social injustice,” but they recognize it. Their experiences can teach us a lot. We don’t always think about homeless families because we don’t see them. They
probably aren’t panhandling or sleeping on the streets. If they are lucky, they may be in a shelter and have a regular job. Their kids are in school and in our programs, and we may not ever know about it. However, families who are homeless have some unique struggles. Unlike an individual, packing up a family of four and moving in with a relative for a few months isn’t that easy. How many of us have room for an extra three to four people in our homes? There are shelters for homeless families, but many of those shelters and housing programs come with a lot of qualifiers. You have to be chronically homeless. You have to have had drug and alcohol problems. You have to be a victim of domestic violence. If you have a son over age 12, you can almost forget about being accepted into a women’s shelter. The burden of homelessness weighs on the entire family. A family staying in a motel can feel like they are living in a matchbox. Kids who are homeless have to deal with hiding their situation from their friends, changing their daily routine and even the possibility of attending a new school. To a child, those things can be a big deal and play a large role in their behavior.
We have a wonderful opportunity to reach out to these families. I would suspect that in most of our youth groups, we have a few children who fit into this category or their family is dangerously close to being there. As much as we may want, we can’t fix all of their problems. However, we can be a place of refuge for those families. We can encourage the families and give them sense of belonging. We can give them hope that the world can’t offer them. Simply put, fighting homelessness isn’t easy. It requires a heart willing to be broken for someone else. We can’t provide a home for every family in our community, but we can provide consistent love and support. We can also be a resource to the families by being aware of what is going on in their lives and noticing changes when they happen. Most importantly, we can keep listening and keep using those opportunities as times to show what Jesus meant when He commanded us to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
perspective
perspective
By Stacie Brown
No matter what name you give it, one thing is for sure, it will always require a stretch to meet the challenge. No matter how difficult it may be to develop the quality of courage, it is an absolute necessity to your survival. Don’t attempt any challenge or change without it. It is as basic to you as the food and water in the hiker’s pack. Courage is the inner strength and determination it takes to stand firm in the face of challenges. You need it to do what’s right, to take a step of faith, to be honest, to befriend someone who is new, or to obey God’s call. The Bible gives us many examples of courage in action. David had courage when he grabbed his sling and fought the Philistine. Daniel displayed it when he knelt in prayer before his God rather than Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. Job showed it when he was covered
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in boils and scarred by emotional pain. Paul demonstrated courage when lashes tore his flesh, and his limbs were bound in chains. Christ personified it as the thorns were placed on his head and the nails were driven into his hands. There is no question that courage is required to face the unusual and unexpected challenges that come our way. This is the stuff that goes down in history, and for which well-earned awards are given! What is less recognized is the everyday variety of hero who draws on courage to trudge the path, in the dirt of responsibility, where the grit of reality and the grind of accountability hold their feet to the fire. This kind of courage requires you to get up in the morning and start the day, knowing you are going to face difficulties, disappointment, heartache, being misunderstood, or not fitting in. It would be much easier to stay in bed and pull the covers over your head. It takes courage to live day in and day out with your values and sense of personal mission intact.
Salvationist who have gone before you have carried courage with them like a hiker carries his pack, depending on its resources for survival in unfamiliar territory. It has enabled them to travel across the steep terrain of cultural differences, economic despair, racial tensions, and spiritual emptiness in order to offer a dying world the hope of Christ. It has spurred them on to shout from the hilltops with confidence “Here am I, Lord, Send Me!”
As you face the challenges and changes that confront us all on a daily basis, hold tightly to the courage of David, Daniel, Paul, Booth, and Railton, for you are MODERN DAY HEROES!
you are a modern day hero!
Courage is known by several names: valor, bravery, fearlessness, assertiveness, heroism. It also has a few nicknames: guts, grit, backbone, nerve.
CORPS conflict By Captain Kyle Smith
Did you know that conflict is healthy? It really is, well…when it is dealt with correctly. Without conflict we would become spineless jellyfish. Some may feel like I am talking blasphemy right now, but bear with me. We are all human, we are all unique individuals, we have different personalities, different perspectives, different goals and different ideas. All of this makes it very difficult to live in constant agreement, and in fact it makes it impossible. However, when we deal with the issues that these differences create in a positive way, we will all be better for it. To bury or ignore disagreements or to avoid conflict weakens our relationships with each other and with God. It is sort of like space travel. One of the biggest hurdles facing long term space journeys to Mars is the loss of bone density and muscle tissue. Without the resistance of gravity, the body is weakened. In a similar way, healthy conflict will help those involved to stay focused on their “A” game and be the best they can be. Having said that, there are helpful and not so helpful ways to deal with conflict. Let’s meet some of the people in our corps who don’t always get it right.
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Richie Right – It’s my way or the highway
Mr. Right is always right. He will not end a conversation until he has convinced everyone that his way is not only the best way, but that it is the only way. Mr. Right can sometimes get the nickname Mr. Bully. Sure, he may end up getting his way, but the people working with him will only have a half-hearted commitment, and may even harbor bitterness. “Winning at all costs” is exactly that – costly.
Emotional Ellie – Makes it personal
Miss Emotional Ellie has a way of making every argument personal. If you leave the Sunday School room in a mess the conversation will probably go something like this: “You are a slob, why can’t you clean up after yourself?” A better way to confront someone in a situation like this would be to simply say, “The room was left in a bit of a mess, what happened?” (Who knows? There might be a good reason!) You could follow it by saying, “It would be really helpful if you could get the class to help you clean up…”
Escalating Eddie – Brings other issues into the argument
Johnny is meant to be running the youth night but he is late. When he arrives Escalating Eddie is ready to dress him down and has a list a mile long of all the things he needs to fix in life: “You are late…you are irresponsible…last week you left your shoes in the van…on Sunday you forgot your tie… at the prayer night you almost feel asleep at 5 am…and two years ago you spilt coffee in the sanctuary. Can’t you ever be on time?” Escalating Eddie may achieve more by simply dealing with the issue at hand. What happened, and why are you late?
Pointing Paul – You, you, you
Pointing Paul loves to use the word ‘you.’ During conflict, Pointing Paul likes to start off his dialog with, “You..” The person who is being referred to as “you” often perceives this as a verbal way of pointing or poking at them, and that can be very aggravating. Smart people soften those “you” statements by starting with the word “I”. For example, “I feel you…If I understand you correctly…I would find it helpful if you…I thought I heard you say…”
Always Andy – You always do that
Always Andy can never seem to come to an agreement. When he tells people they “always” do that, they never seem to believe him. Always Andy knows they always make the same mistakes. But for some reason, everyone can always respond to Andy with and example of the time they did it right. You would think that Always Andy would realize that no one always makes the same mistake. I hope one day Always Andy will avoid using “always” in order to bring resolution to conflict.
Back-Biting Bill – Confronts the wrong person
Good ol’ Back-Biting Bill just can’t seem to help himself. Whenever an issue comes up, he just can’t go to the person he has an issue with. Instead, he talks to everyone else about it. If he is ever confronted, he denies it. Some may call him a gossip, others call him spineless. I wish Back-Biting Bill would learn the value of conflict resolution instead of spewing out negativism which undermines trust. So let’s see if we can help him out by introducing him to some other corps folks. Here are five other friends who seem to do a little better with conflict management
Timely Tim – Time is your friend
Timely Tim has learned that there is a time and a place for everything. Sometimes that time is right here and right now. Timely Tim also knows that two leaders having an argument right before the beginning of youth program in front of all the kids may not be the smartest thing to do; he sets a time and place to discuss it later. Timely Tim knows you do not always have to deal with issues immediately. You may just need some time to “cool off” before tackling a disagreement. He has learned a simple phrase: “May I talk with you about this after the program or tomorrow night…?”
Communicating Connie – Learns to listen
Communicating Connie realizes the importance of active listening. Communicating Connie realizes that we all want to be heard, but there are many opportunities for communication breakdown. For example, there is what you said, what the other person heard, what you thought you said, what the other person thought you said, what the other person thought you meant, what you actually meant, what you thought the other person heard, and the list goes on. So Communication Connie likes to use her active listening skills. Communicating Connie always repeats back what she thought the other person said and meant. She says things like, “What I thought I heard you say was…is that right?” Or, “What I am thinking you are saying is...?” What Communicating Connie found out is that when someone knows she understands what they are saying, they feel a lot better…in fact they can often agree to disagree as long as they know they are understood.
Solution Sally – Looks for answers
Solution Sally has learned that there is great value in all parties concerned being involved in the solution. Solution Sally is not afraid to discuss the issue at hand, as well as past attempts to resolve it…even if she may be part of the problem. Solution Sally is willing to brainstorm solutions without negatively reacting to any options. Solution Sally is willing to agree on a course of action with the others involved. Most importantly, Solution Sally is willing to commit to an evaluation of the solution at a specified future date. This tends to avoid an explosion…where no one talks about the issue again until it is so bad it explodes, causing a BIG mess.
Banking Ben
Banking Ben is one of the smartest guys in the corps. He has learned that one of the best answers is to try to deposit positive things in people’s lives. Banking Ben has learned that building a relationship, being kind, encouraging and helping people in times of need puts deposits in people’s lives. He has also learned the hard way that when he loses his cool or is rude, it is like making a withdrawal out of people’s lives. So if the deposits are greater than the withdrawals any relationship can survive a few arguments. If the withdrawals outweigh the deposits…well, let’s say you don’t have a relationship worth talking about. So Banking Ben has made it his goal to deposit as much as he can into people’s lives so that when the rough times come the relationship is on solid ground.
Remember this: conflict can make your corps better or bitter, stronger or weaker. It all depends on how you deal with it.
Specific Stan – Deals with the right issue
Specific Stan knows it is important to deal with the issue at hand. He defines the issue at hand and discusses it with those concerned. Specific Stan does not bring up other issues during the discussion. Specific Stan knows that dealing with issues as they come up rather than lumping them all together and spewing them out during an argument is unhealthy and will lead to worse problems.
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I am what I call a product of The Salvation Army. I was introduced to The Salvation Army in the mid 90’s by my probation officer (bless his heart). I was given the option of four years in prison or six months in the ARC. I was a full blown meth addict who, by the grace of God, was given a second (maybe more than a second) chance in life. The Salvation Army demonstrated the love of Jesus with one hand while the other was reaching towards God. Before arriving at Boot Camp, I prayed that God would open my heart to receive everything that He had for me. I am a faithful Salvationist, but I have to admit that I was out of my league. Some of the Salvationists I met along with what was preached behind the pulpit made me think twice about the way I share the love of Christ. I thought I had a zeal before Boot Camp, but now I know I have a zeal! I got to experience what I would call a revolution. I couldn’t help but think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace hanging out with Jesus. God’s presence was so thick under the tent that a person couldn’t doubt the power of the Holy Spirit. God really has a way of making His presence known, and when someone shouted HALLELUJAH, He was right there saying “I hear you!” It’s been several months since Boot Camp, but still I can honestly say that I am a Salvationist and that I’ll fight till the very end!
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hanapepecorps O hawaiian&pacific islandsdivision
Wow! What an event! Boot Camp 2008 was the most excitement that I’ve ever had under a tent in a long time (trust me I’ve camped a lot).
daniellelutcher
johnramos
boisecorps O cascadedivision
how did BOOT CAMP ‘08 change you? I didn’t really know what to expect from Boot Camp, or whether or not I would learn much. But I found that each class I went to gave me at least one thing that I could take back home, and I felt totally equipped, refreshed, and ready to head back to my corps. But that wasn’t all. On the last night, we had a really awesome service, with some heavy prayer time at the end. The same words kept coming into my mind, and I felt like people needed to hear them. So I waited for the guys leading the worship and prayer to say what was on my heart, but they never did. As the prayer time went on, the words didn’t just come to mind anymore…they started to burn. Captain Lisa Smith got me on the stage, and the microphone was placed in my hands. For a split second, I looked out at about 400 people and wondered why in the world I was standing in front of them all. Was I crazy?! Who was I to come up before my friends, to be the one that needs to say something, to address hearts? This all rushed through my mind in the time it took me to glance over the crowd and bring the mic to my lips. And then the words came out. I don’t remember exactly what I said, or how I said it. It was almost as if I wasn’t the one saying it; I was just the voice for what needed to be said. The revolution that we seek isn’t about what God can or will do to change hearts or to change the world. He’s fully capable. He doesn’t want us on fire for a revolution; He wants us focused on Him. When our eyes are on Him, when we fully trust Him and stop worrying about the change we want to see so bad, that is when the real revolution will begin. It’s not about change; it’s about focusing on God. It is then that God will bless us, equip us, and open up doors for ministry. I’m not sure today who exactly those words were for, or why I am the one that had to say them. I do know that it has challenged me in my own personal walk with God. I’ve begun to see people, situations, and challenges differently. New doors for ministry have been opened. God wants more than a few prayers before we go to sleep at night. We will miss a lot of opportunities if we go through life like that. This all made me question my own faith and walk with God. Do I really want my ministry to grow? Do I really want to be the one to start that Bible Study on my college campus that I had been praying for? Honestly, at first, I wasn’t so sure. Now I am.
the salvation army needs heroes by major. nancy dihle
Rarely does one plan on being a hero. It comes through feats of courage, nobility of purpose or life-risking situations. Probably because of the Iraq war, our nation seems fixed on heroes. The names Pat Tillman and Lori Piestewa are often mentioned as heroes. But here is another one… Pfc. Kenny Leisten was an average American – a young Oregonian. He grew into a young man; his intelligence, individuality, integrity, and just plain gutsy determination showed themselves in a variety of ways. He questioned the status quo if something seemed unfair to him. Kenny had compassion. He stood up for freedom of speech and expression. He faced challenges squarely. His conviction prompted him to become a soldier to fight for his convictions. He ultimately gave his life in the process of standing for what he believed was right. In every war, there are acts of extraordinary
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courage where an individual goes beyond what is expected on an uncommon mission. Their very act sets them apart from the average individual. Kenny Leiston was one of these individuals. It seems that acknowledging heroes is the “in” thing to do. CNN is advertising on their channel for “ordinary people who have accomplished extraordinary deeds.” There are six nominating categories that include those who are fighting for justice, community crusaders, championing children and young wonders. Another indicator that our society is looking for heroes is the popularity of the most successful new shows on NBC last year called “Heroes.” Each episode tells the story of several people who thought they were like everyone else . . . until they realized they have incredible abilities. We believe that the power of God in us gives us incredible abilities. He accomplishes great things through our efforts.
The Salvation Army needs heroes – men and women who are sold out for Christ and whose faith makes them courageous and bold. The Salvation Army needs heroes – men and women who are not afraid of the challenges of a hurting world and people in need. The Salvation Army needs you! When God urges you to respond to the call for officership, He gives us His promise, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Respond boldly. Be willing to stand and say “God has called me to be an officer!” Be a modern day hero for God!
O something I read
from a middleaged dad to a teenage daughter by capt. grant sandercock-brown Darling, I’ve been a Christian for a few years now and I also really want you to be a Christian. Not just so you can be like me, (thankfully you look more like your Mum and are completely over the E.T. thing) but because being a follower of Jesus is the best thing that anybody can do. So I want to explain to you why I believe in Him. It’s not so much because I believe in the authority of the bible (although I do). The bible is absolutely trustworthy as the greatest book ever written. But that’s because it tells us about the world’s greatest story, not because my English version is perfect. I read the bible because it reveals the Jesus I love, I don’t love Jesus just because he’s revealed in the Bible. The Jesus thing always comes first. What’s really compelling for me is that that whole of the Christian story makes sense. And part of that story is what has happened in history since Jesus. In the first few centuries after Jesus lived the story of his life death and resurrection was so powerful that despite persecution, it infiltrated the whole of the Roman Empire. By the fourth Century it had reached to the court of the Emperor himself. Pretty impressive for the Jesus people, who, on the day He was crucified, consisted of a small group of brave but distraught women and scared and hiding men. Within a few years these same women and men would look Roman soldiers in the face and die saying ‘Jesus is Lord’. People willing to die for their belief in Jesus have always amazed and challenged me. And it appears that people were prepared to do so almost immediately after Jesus’ ministry. And that’s why I can’t accept that Christianity is a made up story or a legend that ‘grew up’ around a pretty average bloke. (I wouldn’t be prepared to face lions just because I really liked the stories and views of a builder I’d known for a couple of years!) Jesus’ world was full of gullible people but it was also full of
intelligent critics as well. Christians dying for a silly story would have forced the ‘true story’ out in the open. But there was no alternative ‘true story’. Peter, Jesus’ best friend, died because he knew Jesus was the Son of God, not because he knew he wasn’t. By non-Christian standards, Peter had nothing to gain and everything to lose by his refusal to deny his Lord. One of the extraordinary things that has happened in the last century or so is people writing books (like The Da Vinci Code) that talk about Jesus as a legend (not history) invented (usually for some unexplained reason) by the early church. Your Uncle had a similar idea when he was your age. He was sure that the whole ‘Christian’ thing had been made up by some adults not too long ago to stop him having fun! It seems to me that the ‘Jesus as a legend’ and your Uncle’s theory are running neck and neck in the believability stakes. To think that after two thousand years you can discover what the story of Jesus was really about and that everybody else has been fooled until now is a pretty astounding. To do so, you must assume that you are smarter than everyone else (which seems rather impolite) or that
there has been a huge secret conspiracy by the church (your uncle’s theory). Neither can possibly be true. The institution of the church has a pretty embarrassing record at keeping secrets! And I refuse to believe that hundreds of people were willing to die for a story they knew was a lie. Without writing a book, winning an election or even winning a war, Jesus, the Son of God changed the world. I absolutely believe that. You can too. With my love, Your MAD (Middle-Aged Dad) P.S. I notice your bedroom door no longer fully opens. Is using a pile of clothes, books, shoes, CD’s, belts and bags as a doorstop a deliberate plan on your part?
This letter is reprinted with permission from the author of a new book, “From a Middle Aged Dad to a Teenage Daughter,” a compilation of actual letters written by a corps officer in Australia to his teenage daughter in an attempt to put some deep theological truths into language teenagers can understand. If you found this letter to be helpful or of interest to you or your ministry, you can get a bunch of them simply by purchasing this book available right now through Resource Connection.
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O meet and greet
YOUTH WORKER PROFILE Eva Zheng Oakland Chinatown Corps Del Oro Division
How would you describe your relationship with your youth? My relationship with my youth is stable, energetic, joyful and with loving care. What made you get into youth ministry in the first place? I just like working with kids. What is your favorite Army youth program? Why? Youth Camp, because it is a good opportunity to let them explore and experience a lot of things with different people.
How long have you been in youth ministry? I have been teaching Sunday School for more than 5 years and I have been a youth director since September 2004. What’s your favorite part about youth ministry? For me youth work is always challenging and about mutually learning from each other. Who influenced you as a child? My parents, because they are my good role models. What is your dream for youth ministry in your corps and/or in the Army as a whole? I dream that the youth would grow up spiritually, independent and build up closer relationships with God.
Anna Phrasavath Santa Fe Springs Southern California Division
What concerns you most about current youth culture? Internet abuse, parent involvement, lack of positive role models and temptation. How did you come to be a part of the Army? At first, Major Grace’s sermon made me stay for the Sunday Service, and then the youth programs made me want to become a youth worker in the Army. What’s your favorite Starbucks drink? Mocha.
I admire their resilience, courage, and strength to come from a third-world Communist country, Laos, and escape from there to a Thai refugee camp to America. My father and mother could be whatever they wanted to—a doctor, businessman, business woman—but they chose to serve God full-time. What is your dream for youth ministry in your corps and/or in the Army as a whole? My dream is to see young people and the Army ignite the flames for the Gospel and reclaim this world for Christ.
How long have you been in youth ministry? 6 years What’s your favorite part about youth ministry? Building a healthy and loving relationship with the youth. Planting the seeds, imparting truth into their lives, and watching the youth transform by the Word of God and seeing them become ambassadors for Christ. What is your greatest struggle/heartbreak in youth ministry? People who don’t believe that our youth can help change the world & won’t support our young people. Also, seeing young people not living up to the value God placed on their lives. He purchased them with a HIGH price! So watching and hearing about young people fornicating, experimenting with and addicted to drugs, attempting and committing suicide, cutting themselves, dropping out of school, etc. tears and rips my heart apart. That’s why I’m so passionate about making sure young people understand their identity in Christ and how much they are worth. They are priceless and they need the confidence to not allow Satan to distort and steal their worth. Who influenced you as a child? How? My parents. They are survivors and more than conquerors.
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What made you get into youth ministry in the first place? I had no choice initially. There was a need, I was handed a Sunday School teacher’s book, and the rest is history. I believe that God chose me and radically captured my heart to serve Him at the age of 11. Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 5 years, hopefully married with lots of kids running around Crestmont College. 10 years, serving as TYS for the Western Territory. What is your favorite Army youth program? Why? One of my favorites is Guarding & Troop Programs. It is fun and you can be creative and you are helping kids build their character and relationship with Christ. And they look so cute in their uniforms! As a youth worker, what is the one thing you can’t live without? Hallmark Greeting Cards and the corps food pantry! What’s your favorite Starbucks drink? Vanilla Creme Frapp with a shot of espresso & extra Caramel drizzled on top.
Damion Beverly Grays Harbor County Northwest Division
How long have you been in youth ministry? About 10 years. What are your current specific responsibilities? Youth Director and 24/7 Full-Time Youth Worker. What’s your favorite part about youth ministry? Having lots of fun. Also when we all ‘Get It’ by understanding purpose and salvation. What’s a memorable experience from your childhood in church? Attending summer youth rallies and awesome music and skits at youth church. What is your dream for youth ministry in your corps and/or in the Army as a whole? Young people that understand how important they are in God’s plan here on earth. His desire to love them and develop them into strong believers of His plan and to have a passion to reach others. If you had an extra $100,000 for your youth ministry, what would you want to do with it? Tithe the first part of it. Setup outdoor street witnessing concerts with free food and information for everyone. Of course review my wish list and provide for any financial need in our department. What made you get into youth ministry in the first place? Initially, I wanted to positively affect young lives like mine was affected by my youth leaders. Where do you go to or how do you refresh yourself spiritually? I talk to God a lot in the car. I sing worship songs and gospel tracks by myself. What concerns you most about current youth culture? Loss of hope for the future. Life is not as important in this culture. It’s easy to abuse others and not care about the results. There is also a large amount of problems due to the lack of trust young people have for adults because of abuse and/or disrespect As a youth worker, what is something you can’t live without? Music, my Bible, and food. What’s your favorite Starbucks drink? Iced Venti Sugar Free Soy Caramel Macchiato, real caramel sauce, no whip. Tell us anything else about you that you’d like to know. I love food so much that I went to school and got a degree in culinary arts and have a catering business. I love music so much that I’ve been performing for 20 years. And I love kids so much that I’ve got 5 of my own....I know, I’m crazy!
A PLANET IN PERIL... NO HOPE IN SIGHT.
Moves Made Easier By Jack Anderson
Changes are a part of life. Some changes are gradual, some are rapid. Some are predictable, some are totally unexpected. Some are within our control, some are entirely outside our sphere of influence. Even rocks change. Growing up in the Southwest I have always enjoyed a particular passage between Tucson and El Paso called Texas Canyon. I have no idea where the name came from, but it has huge sandstone boulders piled upon one another in fascinating, almost magical formations. From the time I was a kid, I have never noticed any changes in the rock sizes or positions. Yet, over time, the sun, wind and rain are slowly transforming these magnificent natural structures. Compared to these sandstone monuments, other changes in nature happen quite rapidly. Every year at this time the Birds of Paradise I planted a couple of years ago begin to bloom. Their full bright colors cheer me up each morning for about a month each year. Their splendor is short-lived and as quickly as they bloom, they wilt and pass away.
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Changes in our personal lives are inescapable. Everyone reading this article will have a birthday this year, reminding us that we’re getting older and not younger. We don’t have any control over the passing of time. But we do have some control over what we do with our lives. I can choose in the process of getting old whether I get flabby or stay fit. I can choose whether to develop friendships or live in solitude. In spite of promising radio ads, I can’t choose how much hair stays on my head! Easy changes: bed sheets, tires, socks. Difficult changes: character, attitudes, habits. As youth workers and pastors, understanding change is important in order to address the needs of young people. Some changes don’t need much attention. For instance, you don’t really teach a one year old how to walk – they just learn naturally. But a young child does need to be taught how to read. Just think of all the changes that teenagers go through: physical maturity, mental development, social identity. I wonder how many changes of boyfriends/ girlfriends an average teenager goes through in high school. Some transitions are life changing. For example, when someone changes schools in the middle of high school, that’s a big deal. When someone loses a friend or a grandparent, that’s a big deal. When Stacie Brown and myself presented a workshop at Boot Camp, we explained how the Chinese symbol for crisis
R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
is comprised of both the symbols for danger and opportunity. If you are going through a big change this year, such as moving, what determines whether it will be a crisis or an opportunity? The answer is simple, but deep. It primarily depends on your frame of mind and how you THINK about the change. If you think only of danger, you get frightened and paralyzed. If you think of opportunity, you develop the coping skills needed to handle change successfully. Here are five things you can do to help you think optimistically about changes in your life. 1.
Get a realistic perspective We usually have kneejerk reactions to changes. It is helpful to give yourself a little time to think about things, to see the bigger picture, to see how God is working. Things that seem impossible at the beginning (crisis) seem more manageable later on (opportunity). Don’t allow yourself to catastrophize or exaggerate the situation, e.g., “this is the end of the world.” The way you think really makes a difference in how you cope with change.
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Talk it out with someone It is very helpful to have a friend or youth pastor who can just listen and understand what you are going through. We often don’t need someone to try and fix things or even offer suggestions. Having a friend or support person to talk with can reduce the fear and stress of change.
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Learn to let go Change often involves loss. Moving includes saying goodbye to friends and leaving familiar surroundings. It’s important to assess what you are losing and to grieve appropriately. Grieving what we are losing prepares us to accept what we might gain in the future.
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Believe in yourself The psychological term is selfefficacy, which simply means, “I can deal with this.” This doesn’t mean going it alone, though. Going through difficult changes successfully includes using your internal strengths combined with support from others. Don’t allow yourself to harbor thoughts of helplessness or self-pity as this makes transitions more difficult than they need to be.
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Open your eyes to the future Letting go of the past helps us to embrace the future. It’s okay to be a little scared about the unknown. I believe God always has ways of pushing us out of our comfort zone in order to help us grow. These “holy nudges” give us the opportunity to trust that Jesus is walking with us. It is his presence, rather than knowing what lies ahead, that gives us peace and confidence.
Make the next big change in your life one of opportunity, embracing the joy of new things to come.
THE CALL HAS GONE OUT! WILL YOU ANSWER IT?!
What’s so great about camp?
By Jeff Potts
About four years after I lost my dad in an airplane crash I went to summer camp for a week. I was nervous and felt out of place. The truth is, I didn’t even want to be there but my mom thought it would be good for me. Over the years after my dad’s death I had become increasingly withdrawn and unsure of myself. My first couple of days at camp didn’t really go well, I was intimidated by the other campers and homesick most of the time. Then something happened. In the middle of the night our counselor woke us up whispering for us to get dressed and be quiet. We walked out into the coolness of the night and made our way up to the top of a small mountain near the camp. We sat there silently on a log, in the dark, and the counselor pointed to a nearby ridge and told us to ‘watch’. We sat for several minutes then a full moon began to rise behind the ridge. The counselor gave us a short devotion about how even though the sun is out of sight we can still enjoy it’s light reflecting off of the moon. He said that, in the same way, even though we may not be able to see God working in our lives, and we may not understand the things that are happening in our lives, God’s light is still reflecting through the people He’s placed around us. We went back down the hill and went back to bed - but something inside me had changed. That simple moment
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on a hillside helped me to understand that even though I frequently felt lonely and scared, God was still watching over me and providing for me. My problems didn’t go away and my life didn’t change overnight - but it was a moment that I still remember over 30 years later. When we remove kids from their normal environment and their normal stimulus (i.e., a bunch of electronics) we have incredible opportunities to reach a part of them that nobody else has access to. We usually don’t have any idea what has gone on in the life of the camper, or what may have even happened the day before. What we do know is that God has brought them to spend the week with us and given us the opportunity to show them Jesus’ love in word and deed. Even if every camper doesn’t ask Jesus into their heart at camp every camper will leave camp with a new perception of what Christianity is and knowing (if we’ve done our job well) that God loves them. He loved them yesterday, He loves them today, and He will love them tomorrow. He loves them just the way they are. He loves them so much that He sent His only son to give His life for them (sometimes I forget how cool that is). So, why should you send your kids to camp? Well, they will be able to learn a bunch of cool things from the classes they
take. They’ll make some amazing crafts that they will take home and proudly show to everyone they can. They’ll have a great time hiking, swimming, boating, fishing… doing all the great recreational things that the different camps offer. And, yes, they’ll learn a lot about nature and probably have a chance to sleep under the stars. But the most important change will happen where no one else will see it - they will be changed on the inside. I don’t remember what crafts I made at that camp so many years ago, or the names of the kids in my cabin, or even the name of the counselor. But I do remember that someone went out of their way to make me feel special and important. My counselor showed me Jesus. If I can do that to a couple of kids this summer, well, that would be all right.
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Lt. Colonel Donald Bell
Commissioner Phil Swyers
At the helm of the Western Territory are two leaders: Commissioner Phil Swyers, Territorial Commander and Colonel Donald Bell, Chief Secretary. While the burden of the whole of Western Territory Salvation Army ministry rests on their shoulders, they understand the strategic importance of youth ministry. Both share a burning passion to see young people won for Christ and engaged in the mission of The Salvation Army. We sat down with them and asked them to give us their thoughts on youth work in the Western Territory.
What Salvation Army youth ministry influenced your life as a young person? Why? What made the difference? Bell: Although I did not grow up in The Salvation Army, my parents sent me to a community service camp at Camp Redwood Glen, and at the age of 10 I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior at that camp. The influence of the camp staff and the Holy Spirit began working with me and I felt that I should be a Salvation Army Officer. Interestingly I did not start attending the Army until 13 years later when I moved from Northern California to Spokane, Washington. In Spokane, under the influence of my corps officer and mentor Brigadier Howard Sloan, I rededicated my life to the Lord and answered His full-time calling. It all began at camp. Swyers: Corps Cadets. My leader was a wonderful woman who had a calling to work with young minds -- Major Georgia Wilson-Wyatt. That first year I began to build foundations in studying and memorizing the Word that even to this day come back to me. I also got involved in the music side of the Army as a wonderful man at the corps invested about 5 years of his life training 14 young boys and girls in music. All these young people eventually scattered, but today most of them are still involved with the Army.
Colonel Bell, Commissioner Sywers mentioned leaders that mentored and helped him. Who were the mentors in your life and how did they help you? Bell: In my early years, my grandfather, Lt. Col. James Bell, had a significant influence on my childhood. He retired as an active officer the year before I was born. During my early years as a soldier, Brigadiers Howard and Mrs. Eloise Sloan guided me as my first corps officers in developing my spiritual life and helping me understand God’s calling and what this Salvation Army is all about. As a cadet in training and a Lieutenant, individuals who made the most impact on my life were our training principals, then Majors Kenneth and Marjorie Hodder and our first divisional leaders, Lt. Colonels R. Eugene & Hazel Rice. They set the standard high and equipped us to live up to the expectations that were laid in front of us. At the same time they were encouragers and developers, demonstrating the direction to go and always modeling Christianity in action. Later in my officership
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the Lord brought General John and Commissioner Giselle Gowans into my life to help round out the rough edges. They helped me to expand my vision of a worldwide Army and opened my eyes to ever greater opportunities for evangelism and service.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing youth today? Bell: The greatest challenge to youth is to find commitment to Christ. There is significant competition in the world for our attention. The devil knows how to break down our defenses. Young people need to rely on the saving power of the Holy Spirit Swyers: Young people need to come to the conclusion that there are good people with standards, and that’s why godly local officers and corps officers who are sold out to the Lord and want to please Him are so important. They model godliness. Young people sometimes fail you, but they never forget that model of godliness. It brings them back to the moral compass of wanting to do right.
What’s your take on youth work in the Western Territory? What’s going well? What excites you? What are you proud of? Bell: I believe the Salvationist youth have never been in a better position to serve the Army and God. They are on fire, directed, and want to serve God and His kingdom. I am excited to see passion for officership, passion for direct, hands-on ministry, passion to be trained and the willingness to make sacrifice in order to be trained to more effectively communicate the gospel message. I am proud of the 400-plus individuals who have stepped forward and committed to officership. I am proud that so many came to the second Boot Camp for additional training. I am proud of the fact that young people desire leadership roles and participation in evangelism and ministry. Swyers: I’m extremely proud about several things. One is the spirit of evangelism in the young people. You cannot go to functions of the Army without seeing young people who are empowered to reach out to others. After the first Boot Camp in 2005 the young people there were so excited to get home and make a difference. I’m pleased to see young people wanting to be included in the Army whether it be in local leadership in a corps or through Salvation Army programs and events.
What concerns you? What could we, as youth leaders, improve on? Bell: I am concerned with the lack of follow-through sometimes by our leaders. It is the responsibility of each of us to replace ourselves. Each officer should be encouraging others to take up this life challenge, each local officer should be training their replacement; each soldier should be recruiting another soldier. If every one of us led one person to the Lord and the Army each year, we would double every year. Make that your goal. Swyers: What concerns me is, for a lot of people, the lack of passion‑a passiveness‑when we’ve got the greatest mission of all. I’d like to see more passion in our total young people instead of just most. I’d like to see them all get excited. I would like to see them come with helping hands in corps settings to do what they can do to move the mission, instead of saying “There’s got to be a better way” and then they disappear on you. Or if they stay, they lack the drive and motivation to be counted on to make something happen.
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There’s a lot of talk and much being written about the major shift from Modernism to Post-Modernism – some major changes our world is going through right now. How do you think the Army is doing at keeping up with those changes? Swyers: The Salvation Army is a unique part of the Christian church. When God blew breath in us He commanded us to get on to the cutting edge and dare to be different. In this new generation TSA is on the forefront of anti-sexual trafficking work. We’re also involved in new types of social treatment programs that are out of the traditional arena of what we’ve done in the past simply because the world is ever changing. But there are values we should never give up, such as who we are and whose we are. Who we are is The Salvation Army. We are a holiness movement. We believe in taking a person from where they are and helping them move towards becoming like Christ. Whose we are is not in the brains or skill and cleverness of the individual. We are servants of Christ! When the servant thinks he’s bigger than the Master, you will always fail.
What would you say to some corps officers or youth leaders who are hesitant to send their young people to summer camp, Revolution Hawaii, even CFOT because they don’t want to lose their leaders? Bell: In my experience I have found that the Lord will always provide new leaders if we are faithful to Him. Swyers: Recently the Western Territory has given the Salvation Army world some of its finest officers—7 of them. People have said to me, “How are you going to replace all those leaders?” I have no fears because the Lord promised me that he would never fail me. When you give people up to the mission God will send others to take their place. If a leader thinks “the world starts and finishes right where I am,” that is a recipe to kill us. How do we think we got into all those countries around the world so that the sun never sets on the Army? It was through people going out, leaving a comfort zone and making a difference.
Is there one last thing you would like to say to the territory’s youth leaders? Swyers: I would say to my youth leaders that I’m basing my life and my time left in Army on the belief that God has a real mission for them. We all—me included—need to get on our knees and ask “Dear Jesus, inspire me so that I can inspire others to be like Christ.” It all starts on a bended knee. My confidence is that if we do that together as a united front He will bless, and bless, and bless.
What about you Colonel Bell—any last words to youth leaders before you take off for New Zealand? Bell: Keep up the good work; you are the Army Next, the Army of the future. Rise up, O youth—This is your Army, under God’s direction.
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hope is a hero Commissioner Joe Noland
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11 (The Living Bible)
Matthew Henry, in his commentary on this verse, says, “He will give them, not the expectations of their fears, nor the expectations of their fancies, but the expectations of their faith, the end which he has promised and which will turn for the best to them.” I’ve never been a hero worshipper, although growing up in the 40’s and 50’s, I was naturally drawn to the likes of Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers and Mighty Mouse. With spiritual maturity and a lifetime of experience, I’ve become, not a worshipper, but rather one who stands in awe, wonder and admiration of those mostly unknown, unheralded and, in many ways, forgotten superheroes of the church. For example, back in the 50’s, the San Diego Citadel and Long Beach Temple Corps had the largest Sunday Schools in the territory (perhaps the nation) averaging between 500 - 1000 every Sunday, and the ever rotating cast of corps officers had little to do with this phenomenon. Instead, it was because of a faithful, hard-working, committed handful of unsung local officers who stayed with it consistently, doggedly and sacrificially, never wavering no matter what the territory threw at them in the way of officers. I think of Hope Guernsey, an ex-officer soldier in San Diego, who organized and led a large Kearny Mesa Sunday School Outpost in a housing project on the city outskirts. This was done voluntarily, without complaint and with great passion until forced into retirement because of illness and age. She organized a fleet of five busses with rotating volunteer drivers every Sunday, yours truly pulling one route every fifth Sunday for a period of time during my college years. God honored the expectation of her faith. Hope is a hero! I think of Mabel and Joyce John, soldier volunteer outpost directors of the Long Beach Temple Corps, among a host of other children’s ministry responsibilities – faithful and extremely productive to the very end. They did it humbly, not seeking recognition or applause of any kind and without a penny of remuneration. Of all people, these two were worthy of the “Order of the Founder.” Were I in a position of authority, I would award it to them posthumously. God honored the expectation of their faith. Mabel and Joyce are two of His unsung heroes. These three are a small sampling of Soldier Saints long forgotten by most, but not by me. I am one of many lucky beneficiaries. Who is rising up to take their place in children’s ministry? “The fields are ripe unto harvest, but the laborers are few” (and seem to be getting fewer). In my book, HOPE! A Flight Manual for Prospective Angels, I highlight a few of them. One such “few” is actively involved in the Tustin Ranch Corps, which was the Santa Ana Corps during our eight years on the throne as its corps officers. Following is an excerpt from the book: “Vi Brown and her husband, Jerry, live in Mission Viejo, California, an affluent suburb. Together, they own and operate a thriving insurance business. Twenty–five years ago, when their two children were young, Vi was led to begin a Sunday School in her garage. She was concerned not only about her own children, but also about the neighbor children, boys and girls who would inevitably influence each other as they grew into adolescence. She was all too familiar with the pitfalls and
pressures facing this emerging generation, and she wanted to do her part in shaping their future. “She went door to door, passing out flyers and talking to parents about her concerns and desires. Her message resonated with many, and soon parents were not only sending their children but also volunteering to assist Vi in her noble adventure. Because Vi elected to spread her wings and join the flight, the future of that neighborhood has taken on a kind of ‘halo’ effect. We may never know the true magnitude of that effect until we reach the other side of Glory. “Vi’s children are grown now and successfully pursuing professional careers. And Vi, after 25 years, still sacrificially and faithfully gathers the neighborhood children in her home. God continues to honor the expectation of her faith.” Since the writing of that book, Vi has been at it, same neighborhood with multiple generations, for thirty-one years now. Nor does it stop there, with new innovations occurring even as I write, including this most recent one: “We started ‘Branches’ for teenage girls this January and have about five young ladies sitting around my kitchen table praying, looking at God’s Word, giggling and sharing together. It has been a good experience, and I definitely think it will be helpful to their growth and standing for the Lord. We’ve looked at two women so far - Miriam and Leah... (about a 6 week series/book). I serve a fancy dessert at the end – and sometimes use centerpieces to tie in the study...It should be helpful to parents to have some subjects reinforced also.” Vi epitomizes the essence of “HopeShare” (hopeshare. com), as did those who pioneered the way before her. It was conceived to encourage, inspire and raise up an entirely new generation of modern-day heroes. Vi Brown is one of them. Wanted! Heroes: No pay, little applause; faith needed, hope required, compassion essential, satisfaction guaranteed! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13; The Message).
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For additional content and further inspiration go to www.joenoland.com
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The world has so many problems, but you can make it better for at least one person. Sponsor a child through The Salvation Army and you will help give them a future and hope. Your support means they will get food, clothes, education and medical and spiritual care. This is not a hand out, but a hand up. $20 a month will make you a hero. But you can do more...why not have your youth programs adopt a child, a school or a hospital and have them raise money to help others? Make your kids mission-minded “Heroes-in-Training� teaching them now to develop a generous, caring spirit for those needs greater than their own. Please contact Major Douglas Peacock at The Territorial Overseas Sponsorship Office 180 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802 ( 562 ) 491 8301 Douglas.Peacock@usw.salvationarmy.org
Heart to God [ Clenched Fist for ] Man By Cari Arias It sounds so peaceful: “Heart to God, Hand to Man.” Makes you picture smiling Christians in green pastures, praying to God, then helping farmers pick strawberries. Or maybe a Bible in one hand and a food box being passed to the homeless in another. Perhaps you think of a big red shield on an apron as bags of Christmas toys are handed to little, wide-eyed kids. Or maybe it could be a picture of clenched fists raised in the air – a symbol of solidarity to further the civil rights cause in the 60’s. How can clenched fists show a heart for God? An Australian Salvationist gave us an excellent example in his lifetime. The Washington Post published an article entitled “Clenched Fists, Helping Hand” (Mike Wise, page E03) on October 5, 2006, honoring the memory of a former Olympian who had passed away two days earlier at the age of 64. Peter Norman, a fifth-generation Salvationist, chose to take a stand alongside two black American Olympians raising their fists against social injustice. Among other things, Norman wore a human-rights badge in support of Tommie Smith and John Carlos that night in 1968. Wise writes, “Many of us were children or not yet born, but there was a time when having a social conscience superseded personal wealth and popularity in sports, a time when empowerment n
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among elite athletes had nothing to do with economics. You either believed in a cause and took action or you hushed up. In 1968, against the wish of his own nation, Peter Norman did something.” Peter Norman was from Australia, not the US. He was white, not black. He was ostracized for his decision to support these two black Americans fighting for civil rights. So why did he do it? “‘I couldn’t see why a black man wasn’t allowed to drink out of the same water fountain or sit in the same bus or go to the same schools as a white guy,’ Norman said. ‘That was just social injustice that I couldn’t do anything about from where I was, but I certainly abhorred it.’” Rather than being remembered for his athletic ability, or even his race in the Mexico City Olympics, Norman has passed down a legacy of taking a stand – however small, or unwanted it might have been – against social injustice. There is so much talk about the upcoming Olympics in Beijing, considering China’s Human Rights history – or rather, lack thereof. But what does “talk” do towards change? There are great articles and workshops about the issue of human trafficking. How is that impacting the grave reality of this social illness? A little closer to home…all the political talk shows and polls mention each candidate’s stand on health care reform. But what about you? Perhaps part of Peter Norman’s legacy is a nudge towards action. Not just in the 60s, but today. As a Salvation Army, we want the world to see our hearts for God. Maybe…just maybe… we need to clench our fists and get angry at social injustice, take a stand, and be a force of change as we make history.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY ! Contact the Territorial Youth Department for details 562.491.8412
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&
Your Marriage
Your Ministry By Jim Burns, Ph.D.
Creating A.W.E.* In Your Marriage (Affection, Warmth, and Encouragement)
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Youth ministry is sometimes so all encompassing that we bring home a great deal of tension to our marriage and family. You can always blame your spouse if your home is filled with tension, but in reality you probably have just as much or more (!) to do with the atmosphere of your home as your spouse. Since your spouse isn’t reading this, let me say that you can set the mood, tone, and atmosphere in your marriage and I want to suggest something that has really helped Cathy and me. It’s called building a marriage of A.W.E. This stands for affection, warmth, and encouragement and it is one of the most important life messages I can share with you. Personally, I often learn best by asking questions. Here are five questions to help us focus: • Is my marriage working? • What’s right about my marriage? • What’s wrong about my marriage? (And what can I do about it?) • Am I giving my marriage only my emotional scraps? • How can I bring AWE to my marriage? As you create an atmosphere of AWE in your marriage you will need to quit blaming your spouse, kids, parents, mother-in-law, boss, the church, or even the dog! They are not responsible for your unhappiness. Sure they may be contributing to your hurt, but unless there is abuse in your life, you are responsible for how you respond. My good friend, Dr. Henry Cloud, summarized it this way; “I cannot blame them for what I do with what they do to me. I am responsible for how I respond.”1 Given that thought, let’s look at the area of Affection.
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The basic need of all people is to love and be loved. One of the basic ingredients for a marriage to thrive is affection. Showering your spouse with affection means placing major deposits in their emotional bank accounts. It is amazing how an empathetic hug can make all the difference in turning your relationship from negative to a positive. Nagging, shaming, rudeness, irritability, and guilt won’t bring connection to your relationship. Those are all withdrawals to your spouse’s emotional bank account. Keep the emotional account full of affection and when you take a withdrawal (and you will definitely need to at times), the account won’t move to empty. Look for Jim’s new book, Creating an Intimate Marriage, available in bookstores and through Simply Youth Ministry in July.
Personally, I am amazed at how often Cathy has changed my mood and the atmosphere of our home with a simple gesture of affection. One day I came home frustrated at an employee. After sharing my irritation with Cathy, instead of trying to fix it, she just gave me an extra long hug and a kiss and simply said, “I can see why that would bug you.” Her show of affection was basically saying, “I understand and I feel your pain, but now you are home and it is going to be okay.”
Warmth If you haven’t noticed, it really does take a lot of work, self control and focus to keep a relationship full of warmth. You can set the thermostat from chilly to warm but you can’t do it without an incredible amount of discipline and self-determination. Think back to your
dating days. Typically there was naturally much more warmth to the relationship. Why? We worked at it and we didn’t have a need to fight every battle. Sometimes marriages slip into bad habits, and a lack of warmth is just a bad habit. Too many relationships are trying to function with a constant low grade anger and negative atmosphere, and that is just like trying to live life to the fullest with an infection and fever. We can function for a while, but eventually the temperature affects us and our bodies let us down. The same thing happens when we live together with a lack of warmth. The marriage shuts down and moves to lower level of fulfillment. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying it is possible to have a “make-believe Disneyland” type of a marriage. It takes work and focus. With today’s fast paced life you can find reasons to be angry with your spouse and kids 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but how is that going to help the situation? Think warmth.
Encouragement The only thing that a critical spirit, nagging and negativity bring to a relationship is lack of intimacy. Many people were raised in homes where “shamebased parenting” was the rule rather
than the exception. For many, there is a natural tendency to focus on the negative side of life, but that just doesn’t work in relationships. There is incredible power in encouragement and affirmation. Mark Twain once said, “I can live two months on one good compliment.” Jesus took a man named Simon and nicknamed him Peter. Peter or Petras, in the Greek, means “the Rock.” Here was a stumbly, bumbly fisherman who kept putting his foot in his mouth, but Jesus affirmed him by believing in him and he became the Rock of the Jerusalem church. What changed? I believe it was the encouragement given to Simon Peter from Jesus. Showing encouragement involves being available to your spouse. Cathy is probably busier than I am with all the details of her life but when she stops what she is doing, even for a moment, and focuses on me, that makes a difference. I like to take our dog for walks. There are times I know that Cathy has already been to the gym and she has a stack of work on the table, but when she stops what she is doing and is available to me for even a few minutes, it really does make a difference. All people are drawn to encouragement and frankly, flee from negativity. Your presence in your spouse’s life makes a difference. It
sometimes speaks louder than words. Your availability, both physically and emotionally, says to your spouse that he or she is in a safe relationship. Don’t expect to have a thriving marriage if there is too much hostility and lack of attention paid to your spouse. It just doesn’t work that way. It may not be your responsibility to hound, nag or control your spouse, but it is your God-given responsibility to encourage your spouse. Many marriages would actually be much better off if they clearly understood that they were on the same side! Working in youth ministry can bring out the best in a marriage or make it much more difficult. For me, practicing A.W. E. has brought joy to both my marriage and my ministry.
1. Henry Cloud, 9 Things You Simply Must Do (Brentwood, TN: Integrity Publishers, 2004), p. 103.
When SugarandSpice turns By Ginny Olson Cynthia’s small group seemed like it was going well. The girls were gathered in a cluster on the burnt orange carpet in the church basement, talking with their Bibles spread out in front of them. She let them keep chatting as she stepped out of the room to pick up some handouts from the copier down the hall. Immediately, the temperature in the room changed. Kiera, clearly the Alpha girl in the group, shot an icy look at Gianna, the new girl in the group. She hissed, “What are you doing here? Don’t you know this is our group?” Startled, Gianna looked around. “Are you talking to me?” she whispered. She weakly offered up, “But Cynthia asked me to come.” Kiera sighed deeply and rolled her eyes at the other girls in the group, “You are such a loser. Don’t you know when you’re not wanted?” The room grew quiet again as Cynthia walked back in. She picked up where they had left off, oblivious to the fact that a fight had just taken place and she now had a wounded victim sitting in the circle who was unlikely to return next week.
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What happened in that small group of girls is called, “relational aggression.” The Ophelia Project, an organization committed to raising awareness on this topic, defines relational aggression this way, “Behavior that is intended to hurt someone by harming their relationships with others.” Whereas boys will typically use physical or verbal aggression, (punching someone, threatening to beat someone up) to get their way, girls will usually use more relational tactics. A recent study by Brigham Young University found that girls as young as four will use relational aggression among their peers. An aggressor may exclude another girl from a play group and tells others not to play with her or will give her the silent treatment or will even start rumors about her. Preschool girls quickly realize that the old saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” doesn’t ring true for them. For many girls, especially middle school and high school girls, friendships are the focus of their worlds. When it comes to adolescent friendships, a girl requires a much higher
level of trust, depth and nurturing than her male peers do. Girls move from having one BFF (best friend forever) in grade school, to a much larger social network once they reach 5th or 6th grade. She quickly learns what it takes to gain status within the preferred social groups – the right clothes, a socially-approved boyfriend, the newest cell phone, and friends who have some kind of social power within the school or church. And she learns that her success is doomed if she associates with anyone who is despised by the group. In order for a girl to feel accepted and popular in a school or at church, she will often do what it takes to get into the “right” group, even if that means sacrificing her stated beliefs. She has no problem damaging another girl’s selfconfidence or reputation in order to increase her own. Girls who do this consistently and who hold the social power in a community are known as the “Queen Bee.” This term was popularized by Rosalind Wiseman in her book, Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence. Wiseman
explains her this way, “Through a combination of charisma, force, money, looks, will, and manipulation, this girl reigns supreme over the other girls and weakens their friendships with others, thereby strengthening her own power and influence.” (p. 25) The way a Queen Bee [QB] and her followers insure their social status is by choosing one girl to be the focus of their humiliation and exclusion. This girl is known, in Wiseman’s terms, as the “Target.” Often times, she has no idea that she’s been picked to play this role. It could be because she talked to the QB’s ex-boyfriend, or she just happened to bump the QB as she was walking into youth group. Whatever the reason, the QB and the rest of the girls under her power will use strategies such as social expulsion and exclusion where the girls ostracize the Target from the group through ignoring her presence. They may also use tactics like rolling their eyes in disdain, pointing, teasing, and starting rumors in order to destroy her reputation. This bullying has now moved from the hallways and classrooms to on-line and cell phones, via instant messaging, texting, FaceBook, and My Space. As one high school girl said, “It’s much easier to say mean things via a text message than if I were standing face-to-face with her.” Adolescents have become adept at making sure their behaviors flies under the radar of adults. Adults need
to understand that when girls who are the perpetrators are confronted, she has no desire to be labeled “the mean girl” and will either deny the behavior or say she was “just kidding.” Too often, adults dismiss the complaints of girls who are targeted because there are no bruises or blood stains. However, the effects of relational aggression can be deep. Ostracized girls can show symptoms of increased depression and thoughts of suicide, declining academic performance, increased anxiety and anger, participating in risky sexual behavior or substance abuse (especially if someone started rumors about her being sexually active or using drugs). Adults, like Cynthia, who work with, minister to, or parent adolescent girls need to realize that it takes a lot of courage for a young woman to come to them with their pain and they need to believe her story. Targeted girls don’t want to get adults involved because that usually only increases the humiliation and aggression from the others. As adults, we need to help adolescent girls understand the consequences of rumors, teasing, and social expulsion. We need to model respect and caring among ourselves and toward adolescents. We need to develop a notolerance attitude when we observe students making fun of or excluding someone from a group. We need to teach girls how to resolve
conflict in a healthy manner. And we need to be a friend to her. As a youth pastor friend of mine would say, “We need to be Jesus with skin on for kids.” For a girl like Gianna to survive relational aggression, it only takes one friend who hears her pain and cares for her and lets her know she is valuable in this world.
Ginny Olson is co-director of North Park University’s Center for Youth Ministry Studies in Chicago, IL where she works with both undergraduate and seminary students. She has been involved in hands-on youth ministry for over 20 years at various churches and camps, including serving on staff in the junior high ministry at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, IL. She is the author of “Teenage Girls: Exploring Issues Adolescent Girls Face and Strategies to Help Them”, as well as the co-author of “Youth Ministry Management Tools”, and was an editor and contributing writer for “Breaking the Gender Barrier in Youth Ministry.”
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MIRROR GRAPHIC
HEY ME! By Walt Mueller
A friend who’s a twenty-one year veteran of law-enforcement told me about something that really rattled him. He was called on to confiscate a straight-razor, some cocaine, and a note threatening extreme violence from a twelve-year old girl at a local school. “That would all be bad enough” he said, “but the nonchalance with which she responded was probably the most disturbing part. It struck me that I was more emotionally involved in her arrest than she seemed to be . . . . When a girl bounces happily out of the classroom after noticing that her ‘stash’ and ‘weapon’ are missing, it causes me to really search for answers to some gnawing questions about this generation of young people.” I realize that the explanations and “the answers” are never easy. Our world is a complex place, and numerous factors combine in kids’ lives to feed their sinful nature and ripen its fruit. But one factor popped into my mind as I listened to my friend describe this girl’s selfcentered oblivion to the fact that there was a world out there beyond herself in which her actions would be clearly seen as dangerous and wrong: Narcissism. It’s a cultural reality we must seriously consider if we hope to effectively understand and reach our kids. Narcissus is the youthful Greek mythological character who couldn’t take his eyes off his own reflection. Self-absorbed, his world revolved around nobody or nothing but himself. It wasn’t until I was a college senior that I remember hearing about Narcissus, even though I had already embraced him a bit – probably a lot more than I ever realized - as a part of my life. Cultural analyst Christopher Lasch had just released a new book on self-centeredness in American culture, The Culture of Narcissism, and it was assigned reading in a sociology class. Lasch believed that as a result of the political turmoil of the 1960s, Americans had retreated into themselves and were focusing solely on personal preoccupations. This type of living in the moment cut all ties to the traditions, rules, conventions, and cultures of the past. “I” became the center of the universe and source of reality and morals. The narcissist thought of himself in the here and now, became his own audience, but also loved an audience of others who were equally enamored with who he was.
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Lasch’s “culture” of narcissism has snowballed to the point where it’s even more deeply embedded and entrenched in the fabric of today’s students, a generation that’s inherited the legacy of their self-absorbed ancestors to become second and third-generation narcissists. Researchers at San Diego State University recently reported that their ongoing studies show that narcissism continues to rise among college students. Our kids are mastering the lifestyle and are “spending” their “inheritance” with great gusto. If you don’t believe it just spend some time with pop culture, listening and watching as music and music video promotes the self-absorbed lifestyle of me, myself, and I entitlement. Think about narcissism as you watch the auditions of tens of thousands of youthful American Idol wannabes who believe the lies that “I’m a star” and “I can sing,” even though Simon realistically tells them otherwise. Consider how readily kids expose their thoughts, photos, and lives for all to see on social networking sites like MySpace (note My). Narcissism moves to a deeper level on Facebook, where members no longer refer to themselves as “I,” but become part of their own audience by referring to themselves in the third person, much like “Jimmy” and “George” in the classic Seinfeld episode. Toby Keith captures the reality in his recent hit song “I Wanna Talk About Me,” where one narcissist who can’t seem to get a word in edgewise butts heads with another: “I wanna talk about me/Wanna talk about I/Wanna talk about number one/Oh my me my. . .” If we desire to see our children and teens fulfill their calling as the church in the world, we must reckon with how the world might actually be in them as they function as the church. In other words, if we want to see our kids live out and communicate the selfless Kingdom of God as it confronts their narcissistic culture, then we must first recognize and confront the narcissism living in them. This task will be difficult, because if we are honest, we will find ourselves staring down the barrel of our own narcissism. All of us have been swimming and marinating in the soup of narcissism for so long that it’s become so much a part of who we are that we don’t even recognize its presence. A look at our contemporary church and youth ministry culture offers plenty of discouraging evidence that the culture of narcissism has indeed, shaped who we are. First, there’s our love affair with money and wealth. The great unaddressed sin of the church is materialism, defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “the doctrine that the only or the highest values or objectives lie in material well-being” and “a preoccupation with or stress upon material rather than intellectual or spiritual things.” When we place ourselves and our interests at the center of the universe, there’s nothing wrong with selfishly pursuing and accumulating as much as we can. Hammered by a marketing machine that exploits their youthful anxieties and aspirations, today’s teenagers are being socialized into narcissism, and they are eagerly embracing materialism as a lifestyle. Second, there’s our theology. . . a theology that has demoted almighty God from his rightful place at the center of the universe, and replaced God with a god made in our image who comes running when we snap our fingers to serve us and cater to our needs. Christian Smith’s not-quoted-enough research on the shape of teenage faith offers convincing proof that narcissism has led to a self-defined faith that is also very self-serving. In his book Soul
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Searching, Smith notes that just like their adult counterparts, American kids are “profoundly individualistic, instinctively presuming autonomous, individual self-direction to be a universal human norm and life goal.” This individualism is “an invisible and pervasive doxa that is unrecognized and unquestioned,” and it informs the shape of their faith (p. 143). The resulting faith is what Smith has labeled “moralistic, therapeutic, deism.” Stated simply, this lethal distortion of orthodoxy has kids believing that I must be a good person, be happy, feel good, and that I can call on the God who exists for me whenever I need something. This type of faith not only multiplies and thrives when fed by a narcissistic culture, but it feeds and encourages the spread of narcissism. Could it be that our faith has been shaped less by God’s story, and more by our culture of narcissism? Third, there’s our increasingly human-centered corporate worship, particularly the songs we sing as we gather together. In a narcissistic world, the criteria for “good worship” is that worship leaves me “feeling good.” Rather than centering on God and God’s character, worship’s content and focus is centered on me. When it does mention God, God exists because of what he can do for me. Yes, God has done and continues to do great things for us, and for that reason we should bow down and worship. But in today’s culture of corporate worship, are we really bowing down to God? If you want to put what I’m saying to the test, ask your kids this question: “What makes worship good?” Many of them will answer in ways that reveal their narcissism. Fourth, there’s the disturbing shape of our faith in practice. In his book The Culturally-Savvy Christian, Dick Staub describes our narcissistic faith as “Christianity-lite” – it tastes great, it’s less-filling, and it’s the source of spiritual impoverishment. Dick says it’s a faith that produces conversions rather than disciples. In practice, what results is an army of people who take the name “Christian,” but instead of living a life marked by self-denial and sacrifice, the army embraces the wonderful promise of heaven for their future, while pursuing the American dream in the here and now. The result, Staub says, is “that Jesus would not recognize the message and practices of Christianity-lite.” (p. 47). Fifth, there’s our emphasis on spiritual consumerism over spiritual conviction. There’s no denying the fact that narcissism and materialism have combined in a mix that shapes our message and methodologies: we treat people as consumers who need to be won over by marketing efforts that convince them to choose our church, rather than calling them to the self-sacrificing life of carrying one’s cross. We are spending more time becoming what people want, rather than focusing on frankly telling people what it is that they need. Church and faith has become another commodity to market and sell. The sad reality is that in a narcissistic world, there’s not much of a market for a faith that’s not all about me. The temptation is to water down “the product” so that it will sell. Perhaps we should take some of the blame for socializing kids into shopping for faith in the same way they shop for a pair of jeans. The culture of narcissism takes adherents – especially easily influenced kids - down the wide road that leads to destruction. How can we counteract this pervasive focus on self, and lead kids into a lifetime spent on the narrow God-centered road that leads to life? I don’t think there are any easy answers. I do, however, believe we
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need to always look in the mirror to evaluate what we say and do. Here are some initial steps we can and must take to counteract narcissism’s powerful and pervasive influence. First, understand the importance of studying and teaching theology. All of us teach theology, whether we do so consciously or unconsciously. If we aren’t consciously pursuing a deeper knowledge of God, we might be unconsciously promoting all types of heresy – including narcissism – without even knowing it. If our mission is to serve as signposts pointing to God, making an effort to consciously know and teach the God we point to will go a long way in exposing narcissism’s lies while promoting God’s truth. Second, deliberately promote a theistic world and life view. Sure, that’s what we’re doing already, but the culture of narcissism dictates that we can’t do it enough or too intentionally. Kids need to be reminded over and over that all of life is to be God-centered, not me-centered. Some of the most timely and foundational words in Rick Warren’s best-selling Purpose Driven Life are the first four words of the book: “It’s not about you.” Narcissism’s incompatibility with the Christian faith was addressed several hundred years ago when the framers of the Shorter Catechism – a tool employed to teach children the basics of the Christian faith – wrote that the chief end of all humans is “to glorify God” – not self – and “to enjoy him forever.” Jesus turns narcissism on its head when he tells his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Take every opportunity to point out the centrality of God - not self - in all of life. Third, shape your worship to focus on the audience of One. Times of corporate worship shouldn’t be about entertaining a group of kids. While I’m sure none of us do this intentionally, it’s still, all too often, something that happens. God is not the performer when we gather to worship. The gauge of “good” worship isn’t how our kids score their experience on personal fulfillment and pleasure while walking out of the room. God is the audience and we perform for Him. Carefully examine, evaluate, and choose worship elements that focus on the character, acts, and will of God, along with what constitutes an obedient response to God’s initiative on the part of your kids. Even more importantly, don’t allow your kids to fall into the trap of believing that worship is nothing more than singing popular praise choruses. The reality is that worship is what we’re called to be about 24/7 through our constant devotion to God in all the activities of life. Narcissistic devotion to self is nothing less than idolatry. Fourth, lead your students into a God-centered lifestyle. Our kids are raised in a culture that tells them “it’s all about you.” The result is a lifestyle of selfish indulgence marked by greed and entitlement. As people charged with the task of leading them to spiritual maturity, our goal should be to see their eyes and energies focus less and less on self, and more and more on God while embracing his will. The prophet Amos delivered a message that rocked the world of those who thought they were following God. Through Amos, God said “I hate,” “despise,” “cannot stand,” and “will not accept” your offerings and worship. Instead, what God wanted was justice that rolled on like a never-ending river and righteousness like a neverfailing stream (Amos 5). Likewise, the prophet Micah made it clear that God requires that his followers “act justly,” “love mercy,” and
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“walk humbly before God”. . . . actions and postures contrary to a narcissistic lifestyle. Youth ministries and families must be more intentional about offering students opportunities to learn how to faithfully live a life marked by selfless devotion to God through selfless devotion to missions, service, and justice. Finally, pray for crisis to enter the lives of your kids. Narcissism plays and advances well in a culture that feeds the beast of selfabsorption from a deep well of luxury and wealth. Sometimes it’s not until the well runs dry through poverty, want, or crisis that our students understand their thirst for what it really is – a longing not after self, but after God. While students might not see it as such, it’s a blessing when the clay feet on which a narcissistic lifestyle is built crumble to dust. Sadly, that’s oftentimes what it takes for them to reach out to their heavenly Father. As John Stott reminds us about the prodigal son, “he had to ‘come to himself’ (acknowledge his self-centeredness) before he could ‘come to his father.’” While we hate to see our kids hurt, sometimes their idolatrous obsession with self must be broken down before they can be built back up in Christ. When I was a teenager, my dad was known around our house for his ever-ready arsenal of clichés – many of which were directed at me and all of which, at the time, I would have rather not heard and just as soon forgotten. There was one little sentence that he’d shoot my way whenever my narcissistic tendencies reared their ugly head: “Walt, the world does not revolve around you.” What often followed was a theology lesson that put me – literally - in my place. My behavior occasioned the utterance of this cliche so often that it’s seared into my being. Dad’s words were more true than I knew, and they’ve wound up being some of the most valuable advice I’ve ever heard. To be honest, I’m glad I haven’t forgotten. We must be obsessed with God, not self. Let’s look for ways to pass that same message on to our kids. In today’s world, it’s a message seldom heard and more rarely lived.
An abridged version of this article originally appeared in the September/October 2007 edition of YouthWorker Journal.
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By Dr. Steve Gerali Teenage guys tend to “go-with-the-flow,” have little to say, appear to be low maintenance, and basically if you have some activity, a lot of food and a few girls in your youth ministry, you should be able to minister to them, right? Wrong! Teenage guys are actually very complex. And while they may not verbalize their needs, an effective youth worker must understand some basic needs that teenage guys have. I have listed 10 basic needs to start you thinking. This list is not exhaustive but if you love guys and desire to minister effectively to them, you really should be an advocate regarding these needs. Guys need to be known and understood. Anyone in youth ministry knows that effective ministry is relationally based. You need to know teenage guys personally. But there is more to it than that when it comes to teenage guys. We need to know about how they develop; what cultural influences are bombarding their life and identity; how they think and feel; we need to know their fears and joy. We must know adolescence and masculinity if we really want to meet this need in guys. After we get this down we have an adequate frame of reference or foundation to know and understand the individual guy. Guys need a close connection to their God. Teenage guys are created spiritually sensitive. Guys innately feel a connection to majesty – whether it is the majesty of nature or the majesty of imagination and creativity. This pull toward majesty is an internal desire to know the ultimate majesty – Jehovah God. Deep within they desire to know that He loves and adores them, that He stands ready to complete and empower them and that He stirs everything within them that makes them whole men. Yet this spiritual sensitivity is fragile and can easily be extinguished by others things that compete to fill the place of awe in a guy’s life. So a guy must be spiritually guided. He must explore and see the awe of God. He must taste, for himself, and see that God is good. Guys need to be validated and empowered to be men. Teenage guys are navigating their way through identity development. They need to figure out what it means to be a man. Every force in their life – from media to family, bombards them with mixed messages about what it means to be a man. Even the Church gives mixed messages by equating spiritual dynamic with power and bravado. Guys learn that if they are not sexual beings then they aren’t men, and if they are sexual beings then they aren’t Christians. We need to realize that a universal label can make a guy feel that he can’t become a man or that he isn’t a man. To make something “every guy’s battle” or journey or need, robs a guy of his uniqueness. It also makes him a freak of nature if he isn’t like every guy. We need to understand that there’s no universal
type of guy, but there may be commonalities. We need to help guys discover their unique talents, skills, abilities, characteristics, flaws, needs, weakness, etc. Then we need to empower them to be all that God is making them to be. Guys need community. Guys bond and form intimate relationships differently than girls. They need multi-generational community. Within that community they need the closeness of other men who act as a compass for their manhood. They need the gang of close male peers to sharpen them like iron sharpens iron. They need this tribe of guys to validate them as masculine. In the context of community they can see that there are many different ways that men are men. They learn to celebrate the diversity of manliness. The need to see how they’re normal, as well as where they deviate from the norm. They need to experience the kind of heart connection that they can have with other men that they don’t get with women. They can never become intimate with an invisible God that they perceive to be predominantly masculine in nature if they can’t be intimate with the masculine on a tangible level. Guys need mentors. All throughout scripture we see older men who come alongside younger men as mentors. Mentors proclaim to guys that they are valuable; worthy of being invested in. A mentor plays multiple roles in shaping everything from a guy’s character to his thoughts and perceptions. Mentors fill the role of teacher, father, coach, confidant, example, refiner, encourager, shepherd, and on and on. A mentor imparts wisdom and looks for life’s teachable moments in a guy. A mentor is concerned about the development of a guy’s heart and character. He empathizes with a guy and creates an intimate bond that lets a teenage guy know that he is known. A mentor allows the guy to struggle through tough issues without the fear of judgment. He loves at all times and doesn’t walk out of a guy’s life. He becomes the safe place that a guy needs. A mentor pushes the protégé into the presence of God. A mentor models dependence on and devotion to Christ. Guys need to know how to work. Guys are raised in a culture that defines their value by their contribution. While we want to bust this ideology we still want guys to learn how to work hard as an act of devotion and worship to Christ. Hard work builds a character and responsibility in guys. It helps him develop the disciplines needed to do life fully. It generates a deep sense of purpose that ultimately plugs into the kingdom purpose of bringing glory to God, as he will hopefully learn later in life.
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Guys need to lead and follow. For some, leadership is natural for others it is not. Leadership comes in many forms—from influence to position. Guys will, at some time in their life, serve as an example—whether it be to their children or with a group. They need to know that they are required to lead and to follow. We have been confronted with a crisis in leadership, especially in the church. Men are not stepping up and taking the lead. This has created a kneejerk reaction by many men to make leadership a masculine power trip. Teenage guys are given the impression that men in leadership wield power and that power makes the man. We have completely lost the concept of servant leadership. This notion is painted as a weak, less-than-masculine approach to leadership. Yet this is the model that Jesus demonstrates and demands of men. A good leader serves. He knows when to take charge and when to relinquish it as many are empowered. Guys must take the responsibility of leadership but they must also learn that a strong man is not a power-monger but rather a servant. A guy also needs to learn to follow because he is constantly bombarded with messages that inform him that being a man means that he is a rugged individual. This created an internal mechanism that places the individual as the center of his universe. He grows up believing that he (his perceptions, beliefs, values, desires, passions, etc.) is the only authoritative voice which informs him. Even Christian guys learn this and they spiritualize it by believing that they have the one and only direct contact to God. They claim that God is the authoritative voice in their lives because He tells them and they obey. God has chosen many authoritative voices - from His word to the church, a community of believers. When guys don’t learn to follow, they ignore authority and rationalize - or worse, spiritualize their selfcentered ambitions and behaviors. Guys need to play. I know of a family that has five boys. They were all involved in different sports: soccer, basketball, baseball, track and tennis. Life was one practice and game after another. You would think that the guys had enough . . . you would think! I watched one day as the guys in that family interacted. Everything became a game. They would constantly challenge each other: who could spit the farthest; who could eat dinner the fastest or who could eat the most; who could win mom’s affection fastest after they just made her angry, etc. They were always at play. They were being guys, and guys need to play. Many theorists have picked up on this innate characteristic in guys. They have labeled it as a need for the hunt, or for competition, or adventure, all of which plays out a God instilled masculine characteristic – dominion. Follow the logic. In Genesis 1:28, God gives humankind dominion over the earth. He puts men and women at the top of the food chain. Conquest, competition and control become a part of the DNA. These innate characteristics, instinctual to humankind but exemplified in guys all influence a guy’s need to play. Guys learn to release their aggression in a healthy way during play. They learn depth of character by playing fair, learning teamwork, prioritizing important human values (like “winning isn’t everything” or “it doesn’t matter if you win or lose but how you play the game”). They learn how to be gracious losers or winners, how to manage their disappointments, how to evaluate their skills and abilities and change themselves. They learn respect, control, strategy, and discipline while they have a great time. And all this happens in the game . . . if we help guys see that! Unfortunately, the world that teenage guys live in teaches them that they should win at all cost. They learn to fight, kill and destroy either as descriptors of, or as a form of fun. “Dominion over” quickly becomes domination, humiliation, bullying or warring. Healthy play that brings out the best in guys and calls into question destructive messages, is reason why guys need to play.
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Guys need freedom to BE. Teenage guys live in the shadow of a looming cultural press that squeezes them into the mold of what a man should be. This learned masculine encoding bravado or machismo often runs counter to the real guy. Guys often internally question if they are normal, manly, or they learn to live in denial of who they really are. Many guys grow up to be men who never know who they are, therefore they have difficulty with intimacy. After all, how can a guy give himself away if he is constantly wondering who he really is? Guys are forced to suppress their feelings, hide any sign of weakness, and constantly prove themselves by doing things that run counter to their passions (such as being athletic, mechanical, or outdoorsy) or his morals (such as leading the other guys to believe that he scored with his girlfriend). In short, he becomes defined by what he does. For guys, action and behavior defines being. What he does determines who he is rather then who he is (character, intrinsic qualities, etc.) mandating what he does. If you ask a man who he is, he’ll say “I’m . . . - a police officer, a pastor, a teacher, an executive.” He tells you what he does. He doesn’t say “I’m . . . – compassionate, trustworthy, discerning, etc.” Boys need to be surrounded by men who will fight for their freedom to discover who they are apart from what they do or are expected to do. Men need to model character (being) over action (doing). Teenage guys need to see men who are compassionate, meaning they will be moved to emotion (a code breaking action that grows out of being) and action (doing loving, caring things). They need to have men in their lives that model freedom of being; men who act (do) out of who they are (being) rather than letting what they do define who they are. Guys need to be loved. The only way a guy can learn to be loving is to be loved. Teenage guys need male role models who will step up and love them and others. Guys desperately desire to have loving men in their lives who speak a love language that is multi-lingual. Spending time with a guy, showing him affection, verbalizing your love for him, serving and giving to him are all a part of loving a guy. When men do this with teenage guys, they destroy the cultural restraints that are put on teenagers. They model what it means to be a man who separates powerful loving relationship from a sexual relationship. Often guys learn to confuse love with sex. Guys grow up with a love deficit and attempt to fulfill their needs for affection with sex. Men who demonstrate Christ’s love to teenage guys break the sexual connection that guys form with being and needing love. It also models that love is a powerful force with which to be reckoned because it comes from a masculine, non-sexual source. This type of love is a “father’s love” which is deficit in the lives of many teenage guys. When natural fathers can’t meet this love need, it creates a deep wound in a teenage guy’s heart that he may carry with him through life. Any man who desires to be like Christ and model Jesus to teenage guys will love them deeply. This is a restorative, healing, regenerative love. Jesus said that people will know his disciples by the love that they had for each other. Love becomes the defining mark for a Christian. Teenage guys need to be loved as a means of fulfilling their deepest emotion and understanding that they are valuable. But guys also need to be loved because it models what a man of God should be and do. Portions of this article were taken from Dr. Gerali’s book, “Teenage Guys: Exploring Issues Adolescent Guys Face and Strategies to Help Them” (Zondervan, Youth Specialties, 2006). To learn more about Dr. Steve Gerali and his books, check out his website:
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helpful stuff
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Recommended Resources from GROUP
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Group’s Emergency Response Handbook for Children’s Ministry Practical help for real-world challenges you’re sure to face. You’ll gain counseling advice, practical tips, real-life scenarios, Scripture connections, and other resources for reaching out in love. Group’s Emergency Response Handbook for Youth Ministry Know what to say, and what not to say. This gives you and your youth volunteers bolder confidence to share God’s love and comfort with hurting friends. Discover practical ways to reach out to teens struggling with addiction, cutting, or even facing a terminal illness. Includes Scripture help, case studies, and counseling advice. IT: Innovative Tools for Youth Ministry CD This comprehensive, money-saving tool is drawn from Group’s 30 years of youth ministry experience and includes fresh, new content from amazing youth ministry experts. Thousands of life-changing ideas and a whopping 350 topics – selected by youth workers – give you practical, creative tools for all levels of youth ministry. Hands-On Bible This easy-to-understand and relevant New Living Translation of God’s Word explodes with hands-on activities, fun facts, biographies, and more. The Discipline Guide for Children’s Ministry Understand your kids—and how to provide effective, positive discipline! Here are age-level characteristics and proven tips for disciplining toddlers through elementary children. Every teacher needs one! Youth Ministry in Small Churches Here’s how to develop an effective youth ministry with only a few teenagers. Plus, 28 ready-to-use activities for small groups. Go Deeper Retreats: 12 Life-Changing Weekends for Youth Ministry Dig deep into a Bible story or character and apply Bible truth to teen-interest topics through interaction and discussion. Includes large-group, small-group, and individual sessions and activities. Premier Backgrounds Vol. 1 & 2 Each with 300 background images to enhance your presentation and engage your students. Use these backgrounds for announcements, worship songs, sermons, small groups, etc. Small Group & Young Adult Ministry in the 21st Century We interviewed the experts, read the research, and asked leading thinkers to provide guidance and wisdom in making these ministry areas relevant now…and for years to come. Get the benefit of practical help where it matters most—and make sure your ministries matter! Rev! Magazine’s Bathroom Guide to Leadership Short, interesting, and insightful articles—everything a bathroom guide should be. Pastors can take this compilation with them…anywhere. And they’ll be recharged with inspiring stories and practical tips on church leadership, only found in Rev! Magazine (until now).
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For more resources, or to order, go to www.group.com
so you wanna change the world?
2008 service corps teams are set and ready to start a global revolution Service Corps is a short-term summer mission that provides Salvationist young adults (ages 18 - 25) with an opportunity for sacrificial Christian service both within and outside of the Western Territory. The intention of the program is for evangelism and service to those whom the teams visit. This could be as varied as leading worship services, day camps, vacation Bible schools, preaching, teaching, community work, conducting youth and adult outreach activities, working at a children’s home, or even taking on a maintenance project, depending on the needs of each location. Two significant by-products of the Service Corps experience are personal spiritual growth and leadership development for many of the young adults that serve. These are this year’s teams...pray for them and the people they meet...and maybe even envy them a little; maybe next year it should be you touching lives and feeling the Spirit work in your heart through the works of your hands!
Argentina Amy Stagg
Fort Collins
Intermountain
Lillian Vasquez
Santa Clara
Golden State
Marnie Green
Moreno Valley
Sierra del Mar
Stephanie Villanea
San Pedro
Southern Cal
Ninfa Lugo
Visalia
Golden State
Work Opened: 1890 Headquarters: Buenos Aires, Argentina Countries in Territory: Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay Officers: 117 Corps: 41 Senior Soldiers: 1,606 Junior Soldiers: 583 Ministries in Argentina: day care center, conference center and youth camps, counseling, women’s homes, men’s night shelters, women and children’s shelters, student homes, women’s residence, primary school.
Chile
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Vasti Varela
Pasadena Tab
Southern Cal
Francisco Villalpando
San Pedro
Southern Cal
Bridgette Mendez
Phoenix South Mountain
Southwest
Nikole Lim
Santa Monica
Southern Cal
Santiago Cabras
Santa Clara
Golden State
Work Opened: 1909 Headquarters: Santiago, Chile Countries in Territory: Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru Officers: 262 Corps: 18 Schools: 15 Hospitals: 1 Senior Soldiers: 3,891 Junior Soldiers: 1,775 Ministries in Chile: men’s shelters, women’s transit house, boys’ homes, girls’ homes, day care for the elderly, kindergartens, food aid programs.
Czech Republic Brandon Toy
Asian American Yerba Buena Golden State
Joshua Martin
Glendale
Southwest
Angela Graham
El Cajon
Sierra del Mar
Meagan Hawk
Phoenix South Mountain
Southwest
Danielle Lutcher
Hanapepe
Hawaii Pac Islands
Hong Kong Matthew McQuade
Gresham
Cascade
Christopher Doughty
Torrance
Southern Cal
Samantha Neal
Clovis
Southwest
Brittany Mathews
Riverside
Sierra del Mar
Tracy Pilewski
RJKCC
Sierra del Mar
Jamaica Amberly Potter
Moore Street
Cascade
Shalini Henry-John
Pasadena Tab
Southern Cal
Robert Williams
Santa Fe Springs
Southern Cal
Christopher Ratliff
Tucson Amphi
Southwest
Megan McQuade
Gresham
Cascade
Work Opened: 1919 Headquarters: Almere, The Netherlands Countries in Territory: Czech Republic, The Netherlands Officers: 172 (20 in Czech Republic) Corps: 73 (8 in Czech Republic) # of Homeless Helped: 3,666 # of Elderly Received Health Care: 1,439 Senior Soldiers: 4,446 (80 in Czech Republic) Junior Soldiers: 530 (14 in Czech Republic) Ministries in Czech Republic: men’s hostels, women and children’s hostels, night shelters, alternative punishment program, elderly persons project, youth center, prison work
Work Opened: 1930 Headquarters: Kowloon, Hong Kong Countries in Territory: Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China Officers: 44 Corps: 19 Schools: 7 Hotels: 1 Senior Soldiers: 2,133 Junior Soldiers: 435 Ministries in Hong Kong: kindergartens, nursery schools, primary schools, secondary school, recycling program, hotel, camps, urban renewal social service team, senior citizens centers
Work Opened: 1887 Headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica Countries in Territory: Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, French Guiana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago Officers: 222 Corps: 126 Schools: 76 Senior Soldiers: 9,306 Junior Soldiers: 3,650 Ministries in Jamaica: feeding centers, community centers, welfare office, medical clinic, retired officers’ residence, school for the blind, home for blind women, day care centers, kindergartens, men’s hostel, women’s shelter
USA Sarah Kalentermidis
El Cajon
Sierra del Mar
Joshua Park
San Francisco Korean
Golden State
Nancy Tuttle
Fort Collins
Intermountain
Maria Martinez
Visalia
Golden State
Work Opened: 1914 Headquarters: Long Beach, California Included in Territory: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Texas, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia Officers: 652 Corps: 262 Divisions: 10 Senior Soldiers: 16,702 Junior Soldiers: 5,574 Ministries in the USA Western Territory: ARC, dental care clinic, adult care centers, child day care centers, emergency shelters, hospitality houses, harbor light centers, senior citizens’ housing, senior citizens’ nutrition centers
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resources
Book Review by Captain Rob Reardon
insane: the stories of crazy salvos who changed the world The Salvation Army has been described in print as “America’s Favorite Charity,” “Red Hot & Righteous,” and one of the “World’s Most Enduring Institutions.” Quite a testimony to the reputation the Army enjoys, don’t you think? How would you describe The Salvation Army? Various adjectives and descriptive phrases come to mind immediately to be sure. But would it surprise you if you heard The Salvation Army, particularly its illustrious history and untold future, described as “insane?” A new book published out of Australia does just that. INSANE is defined as the description given to many Salvationists throughout history, as well as an acronym – INSANE: INnovative SAlvationists’ NEtwork. With endorsements from the who’s who in The Salvation Army world, including two Generals, three Commissioners, a Colonel and a smattering of Captains and Soldiers, authors Nealson Munn and David Collison have ventured into virtually uncharted territory with this new release.
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INSANE is a book that has a fresh look and the contents to match. INSANE is a history book with a new twist – taking what has happened in the past to point us to the future. In ten chapters, Munn and Collison give space to ten events in Salvation Army history that literally changed the world. The reader is taken behind the scenes of the beginnings of Contemporary Christian Music as it truly began in the halls of the International Training College in London, England. Before pop culture began taking up the call to end the trafficking trade, The Salvation Army was spearheading a covert operation aimed at breaking up an illicit underage prostitution ring! And as if that wasn’t enough, The Salvation Army decided that it was in the best interests of National Security to join the soldiers on the front lines of battle. So effective was the Army’s presence during World War I, that the President himself, Woodrow Wilson recognized Commander Evangeline Booth with a Distinguished Service Medal. What separates this book from all the other Salvation Army history texts is how its authors point us toward the future. At the end of each chapter, there is an
Insane Challenge. This is where things get interesting. In the book’s introduction, the authors make the claim: “…we believe that the greater part of the INSANE story has yet to be written. This book has as much to do with your life as it has to do with Salvation Army history.” Here’s where mere readers are separated from those who are inspired to take action. Frankly, another Salvation Army history book probably isn’t needed. One of those can join the others already on the bookshelf. This book can serve as a “howto” manual for Salvationists that want to do something. What The Salvation Army needs are Salvationists who are ready and willing to put it all on the line to join those who have been declared INSANE in their passion; INSANE in their commitment; INSANE in their faith. Are you up for it? Do you believe that The Salvation Army is still in the business of changing the world? What are you waiting for? insane: Nealson Munn & David Collinson Published by The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Wanting to Be Her: Body Image Secrets Victoria Won’t Tell You Michelle Graham
An excellent resource for teaching teenage girls about body image and self-esteem… Do you ever look at the models and wish you looked like them? Most of us have had that experience. Or we go to the health club and notice how buff the woman to the left is and how skinny the woman to the right is while dwelling on what we don’t like about our own bodies. And when we go out, we see the guys flocking to talk with certain women and wonder if our looks stack up to theirs.
They Like Jesus But Not the Church: Insights From Emerging Generations Dan Kimball
Ask someone today if he or she likes Jesus, and the answer is usually yes, but ask if that person likes the church, and chances are you will get a far less favorable response. Statistics reveal an unsettling exodus from the church by younger people who are “spiritual, but not religious.” This is no passing trend we can afford to ignore. But there is great hope.
Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture: Bridging Teen Worldviews and Christian Truth Walt Mueller
Before we can reach today’s youth with the truth of the gospel, we need to see what they see and hear what they hear. We need to catch the messages encrypted in their culture and understand what’s really being communicated.
The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical Shane Claiborne
In The Irresistible Revolution, Shane Claiborne invites you into a movement of the Spirit that begins in the heart and extends through our hands into a broken world. Using examples from his own unconventional life, Shane
When you get dressed in the morning, do you worry about whether your jeans are flattering? Do you think about who you are going to see when you decide how to do your hair? When you eat a meal, do you think about those magazine models again? Most of us do. And we are buying into a lie. In this book Michelle Graham reveals how we have fallen into the trap of viewing our bodies through the lens of the culture rather than through the eyes of God. She helps us understand that these are not the things that God wants us to dwell on. And these are not the true qualities of beauty. In these pages you will discover the true secrets of a positive body image. In “They Like Jesus but Not the Church” you will encounter the firsthand thoughts and feelings of those who find Jesus attractive but don’t care for organized religion. Here are insights that will allow you to respond truthfully, caringly, and engagingly to such concerns as: Isn’t the church just organized religion that is politically motivated? Is the church homophobic? Does it take the entire Bible literally? Does the church repress women? Is it judgmental and negative? Does it arrogantly think all other religions are wrong? Church leaders, parents, and those interested in emerging generations—this book shows you positive examples of churches that are connecting with emerging generations without compromising truth. In “Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture,” Walt Mueller, founder and president of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, helps us to navigate the troubling and confusing terrain of teen worldviews so that we can effectively and compassionately pass along good news: our God is their God, our Savior can be their Savior.
Claiborne stirs up questions about the church and the world, challenging you to live out an authentic Christian faith. This book will comfort the disturbed, disturb the comfortable, and invite believers to change the world with Christ’s radical love.
A New Kind of Youth Ministry
culture of change. Far from a fly-by-night, change-for-thesake-of-change concept, reculturing is about altering our paradigms for the sake of life change.
While some important things have changed in the decades since youth ministry began, an overwhelming amount has remained the same. And because of that, many youth workers have been looking for something different, something new.
Imagine your students’ spiritual growth if you recultured your design for evangelism … for discipleship … for leadership … for missions … for programming … even for life itself.
Chris Folmsbee
In A New Kind of Youth Ministry, author Chris Folmsbee introduces the concept of “reculturing”—the act of changing the way things are done or simply creating a
Join Chris on this journey toward the future of youth ministry. You’ll find as you step back and look at your ministry through a new lens, the possibilities on the horizon are limitless.
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resources Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church Kenda Creasy Dean
Every stage of life brings out certain human characteristics, and according to Kenda Creasy Dean, adolescence is particularly characterized by passion. If the church is to speak meaningfully to youth and in turn reap the many benefits that young people have to offer, then its ministry must be predicated on passion – the Passion of Christ, the passion of youth, and the passionate faith that results when these two things come together. The uniqueness of Practicing Passion lies in its relocating youth ministry in practical theology rather than in
Mark Yaconelli confesses, “Contemplative youth ministry is probably the most difficult approach to youth ministry that a church could undertake”—but anyone who has been involved in this type of ministry will tell you it’s worth it.
For most youth pastors, ministry to adolescents is typically filled with unceasing activity. Youth ministries are expected to keep students distracted and entertained. Today, however, many youth workers (and adolescents) are seeking something more substantial. There is a longing for deeper, more authentic forms of adolescent discipleship— but traditional approaches to youth ministry haven’t left much room for ideas like contemplative practices.
Growing Souls is a collection of stories, experiences, conversations, and insights from many of the people involved in the project; it reveals the struggles and successes encountered while exploring contemplative prayer and presence in youth ministry. Grounded in experience with real churches, this book chronicles the journey of several youth ministries working to move Christian spirituality out of the retreat center and into the youth room.
The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Mission Church
growth is also being experienced today in the church in China and other parts of the world. How do they do it?
Alan Hirsch
Alan Hirsch is convinced that the inherited formulas for growing the Body of Christ do not work anymore. And rather than relying on slightly revised solutions from the past, he sees a vision of the future growth of the church coming about by harnessing the power of the early church, which grew from as few as 25,000 adherents in AD 100 to up to 20 million in AD 310. Such incredible
Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry: A Personal and Practical Guide to Starting Right Doug Fields
The most comprehensive companion to not only surviving, but also thriving, during the most crucial phase of youth ministry. Employing his renowned wisdom and humor, the author disarmingly relates stories and principles from his own successes and failures over 20-plus years in youth ministry. In the end, he offers treasure troves of practical advice, all in the hope that new youth workers can travel a smoother path and achieve real longevity in a church culture that all too often chews them up and spits them out.
Youth Culture 101 Walt Muller
Even though we once were teenagers, we’ll never fully understand them. Times and cultures change, and the world of today’s teenagers is far different than it was for us. But there’s hope—we can understand them better and minister to them more effectively and meaningfully. Walt Mueller and the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding have been studying American youth T.E.N. SPOTLIGHT // PAGE 60
Offering a compelling new model for researching, discipling, and empowering today’s young adults, Practicing Passion is a vital resource for anyone already engaged in or preparing for youth ministry.
Growing Souls: Experiments in Contemplative Youth Ministry Mark Yaconelli
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educational theory or psychological or social development. While youth ministry has routinely capitalized on the passions of adolescents, little attention has been given to the theological mooring that youth need to connect with the church and hold firm amid the growing demands of popular culture. Focusing on the theological resonance between the Passion of Christ and adolescents’ experience of passion, Dean develops a framework for youth ministry that draws on the historic practices of the Christian community as a “curriculum of passion.”
The Forgotten Ways explores the concept of Apostolic Genius as a way to understand what caused the church to expand at various times in history, interpreting it for use in our own time and place. From the theological underpinnings to the practical application, Hirsch takes the reader through this dynamic mixture of passion, prayer, and incarnational practice to rediscover the dormant potential of the modern church in the West.
Doug covers all-important issues such as: dealing with discouragement, establishing a solid spiritual foundation, building effective relationships with students, resolving conflict, ministering to parents and families, trailblazing change, working with volunteers, defining a realistic job description, and many others. Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry is a must-have tool for new youth workers, volunteers, seminary professors and students, senior pastors, church boards—even veteran youth workers who’ve been ministering in unstructured environments and are now asking, “What did I miss? What can I still learn?”
culture for nearly two decades—and now you have access to everything this cultural analyst knows about teenagers, their world, and how you can interact with them in significant ways. In Youth Culture 101, you’ll discover more about teenage culture than you can imagine. No youth worker or parent should be without this resource. Use it to stay current with the changing teenage culture, train your youth ministry team, or equip parents to understand the world in which their kids live.
smarty pants Hero’s Call to Action 56. “__ Padrino” or “__ Postino” 57. With 20A Final Words 63. Tolstoy’s literary heroine 65. Province ruled by Herod 66. Barcelona top striker 67. “Seasons of Love” musical 68. 86 or 99 of “Get Smart” 69. Roman arsonist 71. Uses in return for payment 72. 1st father DOWN 1. Electronic music protocol? 2. And others, in Latin 3. Horns on a deer 4. Lettuce and similar veggies 5. A mark to shoot at 6. Type of flat, colorful fish 7. Panther’s University 8. “__ __ too much to ask for?” 9. Person who picks 10. Awake or ready 11. Cheese buddy, in a burrito 12. Organ for hearing 13. Medical colleague of 22A? 21. Native of Baghdad 25. Electronic address? 26. Send out troops 27. Legal striker move to the goal 28. UCLA mascots 29. To supply with air 31. Speaker of 20A and 65A 32. Consume 33. Princess of Wales 37. ___-Fi Sound 39. In the way indicated, “how __?”
BS
ACROSS 1. Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner 5. Object of interest in dialogue 10. 1st son of 67A 14. Wh____y Houston 15. Imitative 16. Jump 17. Electronic information? 18. Proportion rate 19. To receive as return for work 20. With 56A Final Words 22. Medical colleague of 13D? 23. Bronte’s literary heroine 24. Perch 26. A deer, a female deer? 28. Attorney’s exam 30. Presence or occurrence in 31. Short electronic sound 33. Residence of 28D? 34. Hi-___ images 35. ___ and A’s 36. Boat propeller 37. Salsa dance mustmoves 38. City in Mesopotamia 39. Yes, to Roberto 40. “He’s ____ Game” 41. A name I call myself? 42. “Hero” film actor 43. Othello‘s advisor 45. “____ on a Hot Tin Roof” 46. A drop of golden sun? 47. Creator 48. The most extreme degree 49. Fabric of a net 50. Spielberg’s 1982 alien 51. Reuben bread 52. Opposite of NW 53. Air current maker 54. Internet giggle?
CREATED BY DANIEL MARTINEZ 40. Too expensive right now 41. 100 centimeter equivalent 44. Music video game, initials 45. Penny container? 46. Puts in the microwave 47. Said “hello” too 49. __ and Pa, for short 53. Level surface of land 55. Shenzi, Banzai and Ed
56. Taverns 58. Bigger than big? 59. 1st home of 73D? 60. Let it out 61. James Joyce’s real-life heroine 62. First-person video game classic 63. Aesthetic work 64. Matrix hero
Vacation Bible School is one of the most critical outreach events your corps can do all year. Be sure to send VBS invitations to all those who attended last year, families in your neighborhood, Social Service clients, those you sent to camp, etc. And most importantly, FOLLOW UP with the families that attend! Let them know what else besides VBS your corps has to offer. It could result in new families coming to your corps! As a direct result from Kalispell, Montana’s “Avalanche Ranch” Vacation Bible School last summer, the corps gained new troop members, new Sunday School members and a new Pre-School/Kindergarten Sunday School teacher! VBS changes lives every summer. Whether it’s at the Avalanche Ranch, Tumbleweed Gulch, a water park or in Outer Space, kids are being introduced to Jesus. What adventure do YOU have planned this summer?
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T.E.N. SPOTLIGHT // PAGE 61
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parting thoughts
Letter from a Burnt-Out Youth Worker Dear Captains: I feel compelled to write to you about youth workers in the Western Territory and the passion that is out there in these youth workers, pastors, directors. I write this to you with a heavy heart after the wonderful training you provided to all of us last month. For this reason, I feel I must inform you that I have resigned from my position as Youth Director. I feel the need to tell you why I quit and why I see others like me discouraged and tired. There is unbelievable potential out there for all Corps to have either volunteer or paid Youth Directors with the proper training and guidance. The problem lies with being burnt out and having your Corps Officer be your Pastor and your Employer at the same time. I feel, and I was told when I accepted this position by my own best friend who did this job prior to me, that the weight of the Corps would be on my shoulders. What a tall order to fill. I thought I had it in me to fill that order. In the end, I got tired. I did not have an outlet to get spiritually fed myself because I was the one who was doing Sunday School Opening, teaching a Sunday School Class, doing Junior Church/Junior Soldiers, organizing Singing Company and leading Corps Cadets every single Sunday. This left me no time to even go to Sunday evening services at a different corps, nor did it allow me to sit in a sermon. I, alone, oversaw and ran 14 Corps programs. I can count on one hand the times I was able to sit in and listen to a sermon throughout my year-anda-half employment at the Corps. This excludes going to camps and conferences. Even though I was doing my devotions at least four times a week (because I would go home and collapse in my bed), praying to God and trying to fellowship with other youth leaders, there was a lack of spiritual guidance from a sermon perspective and a pastoral perspective. It is primarily up to the Youth Director to run all of the youth activities. When there is no one to lead a particular program, you do it. When there are no volunteers left or no volunteers period, you pick up the slack and you do it. When you have a problem with your work and your employers, who are you supposed to go to for spiritual guidance? Not your Corps Officers because sometimes the problem is with them. You see, I’m not trying to “rag” on my officers or The Salvation Army. You have no idea how much I loved my job and still do. I get teary-eyed at the fact that I had to step out of serving God in this capacity full-time because it was hurting my spiritual walk with Christ, because I still want to serve full-time as a Youth Director. I feel like my heart has been yanked out of me and that I’m letting my Corps down. I know that isn’t true because I still want to serve in any way I can by volunteering for my Corps. But the simple fact is, youth workers are getting burnt out on the average of leaving after only 18 months of full-time service (Doug Fields, Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry). This is a direct result of no spiritual fulfillment or guidance, and no pastoral care because your Officer is your Employer as well. Please take what I have said to heart. My best friend (who is also a youth worker) and I have talked many times over what needs to be done in order to keep our Youth Workers. I have a few suggestions that maybe you can implement or suggest throughout the Territory: • • •
Youth Workers need separate pastoral care other than their officers. Maybe this can be set up on a divisional level through the Youth Department and the DYS, another officer they can go to for spiritual guidance and counseling. Youth Workers need spiritual fulfillment outside their Corps. Maybe this can also be set up on a divisional level through the Youth Department or through groups like our “Youth Leader’s Support Meetings” in the form of a weekly Bible Study or a special evening or day service just for Youth Workers led by someone else other than us. Youth Workers need to be given the opportunity to get away for fellowship/training and spiritual fulfillment at least once a year. I know finances are tight. In our Division our Young Adult Retreat was cancelled due to budget cuts. I can tell you that all of the paid youth workers and volunteers were willing to pay at least half if not 75% of the cost to attend such a retreat because we need that time to get away and talk to people our own age, worship with them and have fun. We don’t need to go skiing or have such a big fun activity in order to have fun. It’s just nice to get away for two days and play card games or socialize with people who aren’t shorter than we are.
I still plan on staying in the Army and serving the youth of my Corps to the best of my abilities, and still plan on supporting our youth workers who are paid by continuing to lead our “Youth Worker’s Support Meetings.” Please let me know if I can do anything to help you as well. Sincerely, A Burnt Out Youth Worker
This letter is adapted from an actual letter received by the Territorial Youth Department a few years ago. It brings up some valuable points that all of us, whether youth worker or corps officer, should pay attention to. Burn-out is a danger that all involved in youth ministry cannot afford to ignore, and a key point of how to avoid it lies in making sure youth workers get the spiritual nourishment they need to keep up the spiritual work they are involved in. The details of how this will be accomplished will be different for everyone, but its importance cannot be overstated. The good news is that the youth worker who wrote this letter three years ago currently remains fully committed to God and The Salvation Army and is once again involved in full-time ministry.