Fall 2018 Youth Unlimited Magazine by ThereforeGo Ministries

FA L L 2 0 1 8 I S S U E

YO U T H U N L I M I T E D . O R G

YOUTH UNLIMITED | Fall 2018 Youth Unlimited has a rich 99 year history of assisting churches ministering to youth. Birthed out of the Christian Reformed Church, Youth Unlimited remains committed to the reformed perspective while serving alongside congregations of any denomination. We strongly believe that the local church is the tool God is using to reveal himself to this world, and we are blessed to partner with congregations to offer faith-forming experiences that reach this generation of youth for Jesus Christ!

Contents from the director . . .................................................................. 1 The Sacrifice of Service.. ......................................................2

This informational magazine is printed in the United States as a free resource to churches across North America. It is published triannually by Youth Unlimited, Grand Rapids, MI.

Letting Go and Loving.. .......................................................... 4

Contributing Writers | Travis Deur, Andrew Rennie and

Middle School: A Key Age

Megan Schouten

Editor | Mandi Grasmeyer

Keep Seeking...............................................................................6 Interview with youth pastor Scott Post . . ............................... 8

a look back at serve 2018. . ...............................................10

Design & Publication | SDPcreative USA | Postmaster, please send undeliverable copies and address changes to: Youth Unlimited 1333 Alger Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Serve 2019: Where Will you Serve?. . .............................12 FACES OF YOUTH UNLIMITED.. ..................................................14 Serve 2019 sneak peek.. .......................................................17

Canada | Canada Post International Sales Agreement #41124116. Please send undeliverable copies and address changes to: Youth Unlimited PO Box 1100 Norwich, ON N0J 1P0

THE YOUTH UNLIMITED TEAM: Executive Director:

Rick Zomer 616.241.5616 ext. 3043 rick@youthunlimited.org

The Sacrifice of Service â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Page 4

U.S. SERVE Coordinator: Amanda Roozeboom 616.241.5616 ext. 3038 amanda@youthunlimited.org

Canadian SERVE Director: Ron deVries 780.619.6566 ron@youthunlimited.org

Canadian SERVE Coordinator: Elizabeth Bosscher 616.241.5616 ext. 3039 elizabeth@youthunlimited.org

Middle School: A Key Age â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Page 8

FROM TH E DIRECTOR

agerness. It’s a word that expresses readiness, excitement or anticipation. It’s a way of communicating enthusiasm for an event or experience that is hoped for in the future. It’s also a word that describes how the staff of Youth Unlimited feels as we look toward the 2019 SERVE season. Titus 2:11-14 tells us: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live selfcontrolled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

This magazine consists of reflections from SERVE participants whose experiences led each of them to eagerly anticipate what God will do next in their lives and the lives of their students. These stories and others from this summer also fill us with anticipation as we look forward to next year. SERVE 2019 theme "Go Do Good" will challenge participants to orient their lives towards Jesus Christ in such a way that they are eager to follow him. I encourage you to read these stories and as you do, think about who in your life God might be calling to experience SERVE next summer.

“I encourage you to read these stories and as you do, think about who in your life God might be calling to experience SERVE next summer.”

Rick Zomer Executive Director Youth Unlimited

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THE

SACRIFICE OF Reflecting on the old sacrificial system, I realize pleasing sacrifices are rarely spontaneous. The spotless lamb doesn’t walk up to the alter on its own. The firewood must first be collected and seasoned before it’s burned, and the poetry of praise doesn’t just float in on the wind. Each sacrifice is created through availability and intentionality.

BY ANDREW RENNIE

Lynden SERVE Host Team Member

y second year on the Host Team of Lynden SERVE felt different from the first. The first year left me wishing I could have done more or been more involved. I was inspired by the work of the students, by witnessing their comradery and unity, and by watching our church come together and work purposefully to the glory of God. Still, it seemed to me that my part in this sacrifice of service was missing something.

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For me the biggest stumbling blocks to serving were having the time to do it (the idolatry of availability) and only wanting to serve in ways I was comfortable with (the idolatry of success). I know, deep down, that I must say “Here I am, Lord,” and then be willing to listen to his calling. This year I decided to plan ahead and take the week of SERVE off work. By giving this sacrifice, it kept me available, freeing my mind from work worries and letting me focus on SERVE. I could cheerfully give my time flexibly, offering help wherever it was needed. Being willing to listen to his calling beautified the sacrifice.

As a Christian, I no longer rely on the old sacrificial system our Heavenly Father instituted for his people to enable and restore their relationship with himself. I know Christ accomplished it all on the cross. There is literally nothing I can add to his highest and most holy sacrifice, and yet, I am still called and compelled to live my life as a fragrant offering before his throne. I want to bring a sacrifice of praise and I want to bring a sacrifice of service. I desire to love God more wholly and abide in him more deeply. Approaching SERVE as a love offering to the Lord this year made all of the difference. “Here I am, Lord.”

I know, deep down, that I must say â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here I am, Lord,â&#x20AC;? and then be willing to listen to his calling.

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Letting Go &Loving BY MEGAN SCHOUTEN 2018 SERVE Adult Leader Participant

y church had gone on many SERVE trips over the years, one of which I was a student participant myself. I’d heard and been a part of so many great stories, but still, SERVE 2018 made me worry. This time, I would not just be a participant, but a leader.

I was worried that being a stranger to the students in my SERVE small group would prevent me from being able to relate to them. As a youth group leader in church, I had lead small groups before, but I already knew those students. I was also worried about the students we would be taking with our own youth group, several who had never participated in SERVE before. I questioned if I would be able to help them process their experiences and grow in their faith while doing so. But despite all the worry and self-doubt, I knew from my own experience that SERVE is a powerful way for youth to encounter Christ. I didn’t want to miss out on what God had in store for our students at Gallatin Valley SERVE. Once we arrived, God quickly began to show me all my worries had been in vain. Our theme for the year was Love God, Love the World. That was all I had to do. My sole purpose for the trip was to show the love of God to those around me and let him handle the rest. And he sure did! Through God’s incredible grace and a fantastic speaker, the students and leaders were challenged to be loved by God, to love him in return and to be an example of that love to others. As

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always, God showed up and brought some incredible breakthroughs during SERVE. I was so humbled to watch as the Holy Spirit would lead students to walk up to the front to receive prayer, pray for one another without being prompted and then encourage and engage with one another in small group discussions. At the worksites, it was the same thing. The students really were the hands and feet of God, showing love to complete strangers, and offering them assistance and kindness without one word of complaint while expecting nothing in return. I am so grateful to have had SERVE as a part of my story both as a participant and a leader. Both experiences have left me challenged, encouraged and completely amazed at the goodness of our loving God. Witnessing so many young adults open themselves up to the love of God and seeing a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives has affected my own faith so, so deeply. If I could say one thing to any SERVE leader or volunteer, I would encourage them to let go and let God. Let go of any worries, concerns or doubts that would keep you from participating in this great ministry and let God do his thing; you’ll be amazed at what he does in and through the students, and even in you.

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Director of Youth Ministries Faith CRC, New Brighton, MN

early ten years ago, I heard the testimony of a man who had come to faith later in his life. He shared with me how surprised he was to find out so many Christians he talked to as a new believer were not reading their Bibles on a daily basis. I shrank deep into my chair. I was playing the part of a Christian. I was at church every week, going through the motions and outwardly doing the right things, but I honestly wasn’t doing much in the way of seeking God.

KEEP

SEEKING

BY TRAVIS DEUR

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“Keep seeking!” seems to answer many of the faith questions I’m regularly asked or asking myself. Not sure about this whole God thing? Keep seeking! Bought in, but you don’t feel very close to him at the moment? Keep seeking! Stewing in uncertainty and doubt? Keep seeking! The more consistently I read and the deeper I dug after that conversation, the more the dots connected. It was amazing how many times my daily devotions, the Sunday sermon, my Bible study group’s weekly lesson and the song that caught my attention on the radio were all saying the same thing to me. More seeking led to more seeing. More time encountering God and discussing the Word in more places fed my faith in ways it never thrived in the decades before. I was participating in my faith journey instead of following along. The road to and through faith has also been more meaningful as I surround myself with a larger and more diverse group of seekers. New life is breathed into the same conversation topics when you connect them to other people’s stories and the moments they’ve encounter God. You hear about their struggles, their questions, their lightbulb moments and see

your personal reflections in a new light. You also begin to wonder if other people, who have not yet found God, feel the same way. The testimonies of other believers coupled with examples from faith-based books have shaped my understanding of others whose faith journey follows a different map than mine. Someone in my youth group, my church or my neighborhood may not connect with my personal story, but can I connect them to God through someone else’s. And then there are the moments you hear about someone’s walk with the Lord

and you realize, “That’s me!” and you find clarity for your own struggles and shortcomings. I believe each of us has a story tailor made for reaching certain people, and the more stories I collect the more opportunities I have to borrow from one experience to build up another. God starts to find you in all the places you’re living if you just keep seeking.

I was participating in my faith journey instead of following along.

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INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT POST

Youth Pastor, CrossPoint CRC, Brampton, ON

Middle School:

A Key Age

8 | Fall 2018

“I would say youth who have participated in SERVE go on to be more regularly involved in local service opportunities, both while they are in high school and beyond.”

Scott Post has been taking middle school students on SERVE for 12 years and high schoolers for 15. He talks about seeing the impact over time. “We have people in our church now who’ve been here for 12 years, are 25 years old and are still making it a big priority to be involved in some sort of local service opportunity.” In a cultural climate which tells us our youth are leaving the church and faith in God is declining, Scott believes middle school is a key age to engage students in faith formation. During the year, Scott encourages his middle schoolers to go past just reading their Bibles and praying every day. “We’ve spent a lot of time in the context of our community intentionally building spiritual practices that help us live out the gospel.” SERVE, for his group, becomes an extension of that goal. “SERVE is a spiritual practice of trying on, for a short period of time, what it means to live out the gospel. Because they had a good feeling or a good experience serving people in these other contexts, they have an easier time thinking, oh, maybe it would be ok to spend my time and my life serving people here, right where I live.” The students on these trips cannot always see for themselves the impact SERVE has. “[If this is their first time signing up], they are expecting this is going to be an enjoyable trip, most likely with their friends, where they are going to meet new people, learn about God, serve some people and probably have a lot of fun. In the process of reflection [after the trip] they start to see how the experience of SERVE is deeply connected to what they believe about God or what we believe about Jesus or what it means to live out the gospel story.” There is no doubt in Scott’s mind that bringing both middle schoolers and high schoolers on SERVE is valuable and worth it. He encourages others to “trust the results” and says, “Our church has seen the fruit of [SERVE] play out in these kids’ lives and years down the road. Easily.”

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SERVE 2018 youthunlimited.org | 11

SERVE 2019 re will

Planning Calendar

OO September 1, 2018: 2019 SERVE Sites announced at youthunlimited.org

September/October: Choose a SERVE experience. Invite input from fellow leaders, students, parents and church leadership.

November 1, 2018: Registration opens. Save your spots by placing a deposit of $50 per person. You will only need to indicate the number of youth and adult spots at this time. Sites are filled on a first come, first served basis! November 2018-March 2019: After you receive your confirmation letter of your site placement, your group can than complete the individual online paperwork by providing specific participant information. March 31, 2019: Complete your online paperwork by March 31. April 1, 2019: Any registrations on this date or after will be charged a $50 late fee. Scholarship applications are due. April 15, 2019: Last day to receive a refund for cancellation. May 15, 2019: Final balance due for all SERVE Sites. 12 | Fall 2018

Whe ERVE ? you S Before your SERVE experience Collect Liability Waiver forms from each student and adult participant. Bring these with you to your SERVE site. Ensure each adult leader has a background check on file with Youth Unlimited. More information can be found at youthunlimited. org on the FAQ page. Have a leaders’ meeting to review the Leader Handbook (expectations), Spiritual Life Guide, and Expectations of a Leader document. Have a students’ meeting and teach from the 2019 pre-trip theme lessons and review the Student Handbook. Ask your congregation to pray.

SERVE 2019 Confirmed Sites In Canada: Abbotsford, BC Hamilton, ON Burlington, ON London, ON Niagara, ON Fort McMurray, AB Thunder Bay, ON In US: Abingdon, VA Alamosa, CO Ann Arbor, MI - Middle School Grand Rapids (Brookside), MI Byron Center, MI - Middle School Gallatin Valley, MT Grand Rapids (LaGrave), MI Lynden, WA Muskegon, MI Platte, SD Prairie (Sioux City), IA Redlands, CA Roselawn, IN Sioux Falls, SD Whitinsville, MA Wyoming, MI Subject to change. Please watch youthunlimited.org for additional sites and up-to-date information.

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other leaders than I would have been elsewhere! What resource has inspired you for ministry lately?

Davis Moes Youth Unlimited Board Member

The last SERVE trip I went on in August. It was the 5th SERVE trip I have been on, but this was my first time being on a trip as a leader. This will be my 8th year volunteering in youth ministry and going on this trip has re-energized me for this year. God definitely relit the fire and passion I have for serving youth and reassured me this is where I belong.

FACES

OF YOUTH UNLIMITED

SERVE in the U.S., I help with all the administrative details; budgets, theme materials, wristbands, T-shirts, banners and, most importantly, sharing details about the churches and participants heading to their SERVE site!

Q: What’s your favorite place to meet with students, and why?

Where would you like to travel someday?

What’s your favorite youth group game to play?

A: I don’t drink coffee, so meeting at a coffee house might be my last choice. I like to meet students at school functions—sporting events, musicals, concerts, etc. These settings are more laid back and it’s easier to start a conversation when you have a shared reason for being there. But my favorite place of all to meet with students is on the road—going on trips with students and being in the car together. If you can get students off their phones for five seconds, the conversations can quickly go from lighthearted and get-to-know-you type questions, to epic moments, belly laughter, and quotes you’ll never forget.

Some places I haven’t checked off my bucket list yet include Antarctica (how many people can claim they have traversed the frozen continent? Not many.), the Himalayas (I don’t think I would attempt to climb Mt. Everest, but to stand at the base of it and look up would be a dream.) and Jerusalem/ Israel/Egypt. (I also really enjoy history, and going to some of the historical places of the Old Testament and where Jesus walked would, I’m sure, give me goosebumps.)

I am not a huge game person, but in my former youth pastor days, my youth group loved to play something called “Hunger Games.” It was the familiar Ankle Balloon Pop game with a twist! Everyone was given a balloon and a piece of string. They blow up the balloon and tie it to their ankle. The goal is to stomp out others’ balloons while keep your own intact. Our twist was, we played it at night, in the church building, with no lights on! The only spaces off limits were the sanctuary, the infant nursery and the church offices. (Make sure your adult leaders are wandering around supervising the mayhem… and picking up abandoned balloon pieces)!

What do you do to stay relevant to youth? I just try to be myself. Young people won’t have any interest in you if you are not genuine and honest. I also think it helps that at times I’m just a big kid in an adult’s body anyway, so relating to youth on a personal level becomes a little easier. I never leave for youth group without my ____________________. Positive attitude. I’m not saying there aren’t times when I don’t feel like going to youth group, or I’m tired, or I just watched the Detroit Lions lose yet another game and I’m cranky. But, when I get to youth group, I try to put all that aside and make sure I have a joyful attitude. Typically, it’s not that difficult because once I’m at youth group, I’m happier being there with those kids and 14 | Fall 2018

Amanda Roozeboom U.S. SERVE Coordinator

Q. What is your role at Youth Unlimited? A: I am the U.S. SERVE Coordinator. I help answer all the, “I need…Where do I find… How do I…” questions. For churches who are going to a U.S. SERVE site, I help with site placement, registration paperwork and payments. For churches who are hosting

If you’re looking for a less rowdy game, I love “Alphabet Soup.” Split your group into several teams. Give each team a can of alphabet soup and have them sort through the soup to spell words. Points given for words with three, four or five or more letters and spiritual words. Bonus points awarded for leaders’ names! What’s your favorite late-night snack? I go straight for the salty snacks; toasted almonds, popcorn, potato chips! What is your favorite vacation spot? Anyplace with a palm tree, a warm breeze and ocean waves! Let us know if you’d like to be interviewed for a future issue of the Youth Unlimited Magazine at interview@youthunlimited.org

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A SUMMER PROGRAM for high school students who have finished grades 11 or 12 TO EXPLORE who God is calling them to be and how MINISTRY can be lived out in any VOCATION.

July 8-27, 2019 Space is limited - apply today! Nominate a student or apply at dig.calvinseminary.edu

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“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14

WATC H F O R D E TA I L S AT YO U T H U N L I M I T E D.O R G

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