15 N. Chillicothe St. 

South Charleston 

OH 

45368 

From Our Staff

January 2012--Dave Clem, Youth Director

Well, Happy New Year First Pres! I hope you all have had a blessed and happy beginning to 2012. I’d like to take the opportunity in this newsletter to highlight and remind you of a few of all the good things in the world of Youth Ministry this coming year. Also, please note the ways that you can pray for these ministries. Thanks for reading!

Gilbert’s Youth Center will continue to be open during after-school daily from 3 to 5PM for all Junior and Senior High students. Thank you so much for all your prayer and support for this critical ministry of outreach to the youth in our community. Special thanks to all of our Gilbert’s Leaders, who give of their time every week to form healthy relationships with kids that help point them to Christ.

Please pray that the LORD would continue to bring kids from all walks of life to Gilbert’s- and that they would know that the love, care and attention they receive from the Leaders points to the immense love of their Heavenly Father. Pray that many of these kids would take a “next step” by coming to Bible Study, Sunday School, Youth Group or church.

REAL 120, our Junior High Youth Group, will start back up on January 15th at Gilbert’s Youth Center and continue every Sunday evening this Winter and Spring for all Junior High students. Thanks so much to our Youth Ministry leaders and interns from Cedarville and FPC for all their hard work planning music, games, and a talk every week. These leaders spend a ton of time investing in South Charleston youth, and we are excited about this ministry continuing to thrive in the year ahead. Be sure to tell Tina and Jesse (our REAL 120 interns from Cedarville) congratulations on their engagement and upcoming marriage the next time you see them!

Please pray that the kids that are coming to REAL 120 would grow in their relationship with Christ. Pray that they would know Him, love Him and follow Him with all of their lives. Pray for wisdom for the Leaders and Interns as they invite kids into their lives in order to teach them more about the LORD and demonstrate His unfailing love.

Seven Twenty-Four, our High School Youth Group, will try out a new meeting time and place this semester- Sunday nights (at 7:24PM) at the church manse (i.e. that little building next to the church). We hope that you will encourage your own high school student (or any that you do know!) to come check out 7:24 on Sunday nights this Winter and Spring.

Please pray that the High School kids in our church and our community would seek the LORD and then seek a community of people that know and love the LORD. Pray for them to make decisions in their day-to-day that honor the LORD and His work in their life. Pray for this “new” Youth Group to be a place where high school kids can feel like they can be themselves while they experience the goodness of our LORD.

Wyldlife, a Junior High Youth Outreach, will continue to meet for Club the first Wednesday of each month following early dismissal from Southeastern. We are also SO excited that this year we’ll be inviting Junior High kids to a Winter Weekend (February 10, 11 and 12) and to Summer Camp (dates to be determined)! Please be in prayer for these Clubs and Camps- that Junior High kids would meet the Living Christ and be changed forever.

Please pray that Wyldlife would grow in leadership, that more leaders who love the LORD and love kids would come along to chase after kids for Christ. Pray that Junior High kids in our community would turn their hearts to the LORD, and feel the Presence of Christ whenever they are at Club, Camp or hanging out with a Youth Leader.

Young Life, a Senior High Outreach, will begin meeting for Club again on January 26th- bright and early at Gilbert’s as usual at 6:45AM. Campaigners, which is similar to a Bible Study for new believers, will start that same night at 8PM, also at Gilbert’s. Please be in prayer for Young Life Club, Campaigners and Summer Camp. Our heart in this outreach is that every kid at Southeastern would know, love and trust Jesus Christ through caring relationships.

Please pray that the LORD would bring kids to Club, Campaigners and Camp that need to know Him and experience Him. Pray that their hearts would be softened to the voice and calling of the LORD. Pray that our Young Life leaders would have wisdom and discernment as they hang out with kids and teach them more about Christ.

Our Youth Mentoring Program is off to a slow, steady and prayerful start and will continue it’s momentum in the year to come. We are always looking for adults from FPC that are willing to spend 2 hours a month investing in the life of a kid growing up here in the South Charleston area. If you’ve never considered yourself as a Youth Mentor before, we hope that you’ll prayerfully give it a chance! Also, if you know of a child that might need a mentor, please let us know.

Please pray that the LORD would lay a conviction on the hearts of those that He is calling to mentor a child in our community, along with teaching kids that perhaps they need a Mentor. Pray for good, healthy, God-honoring relationships to grow between Mentors and kids. Pray for our Mentors to have strength, patience and love for these kids as they walk with them through both the difficult and joyful parts of growing up.

This summer we will be embarking on another week-long Youth Mission Trip (destination to be determined very soon)!

Please pray for the whole planning process, as well as for the LORD to be working on the hearts of kids who would benefit from going on a trip such as this.

Our Guys Bible Study (Junior and Senior High) will continue to meet on Tuesday mornings at 7AM. We are studying the books of First and Second Samuel as we discover together what it means to be an authentic man of God and dedicated follower of Christ.

Please pray for all the guys that are coming to the study- that they would grow up in the Presence of the LORD, sustained and nurtured by His Word and enlivened by the Life of the Living Christ. Pray that they would truly learn to be men of God as they grow older- men that will stand up for what is right, men that will live their life knowing that their actions matter. Pray that the LORD would bring along more guys that are excited about getting into the Word.

Linda Smith and her wonderful Pioneers Club Leaders are gearing up for another fantastic year of ministry for the younger kids of our congregation and community. Pioneers Clubs begins January 11th, and then continues on every Wednesday evening.

Please be in prayer for the kids and leaders alike, that they would experience the LORD and grow in His Truth and Grace. Pray for Linda’s leadership, that she would continue to have the vision and love to reach out to these kids and lead this ministry well. Pray for Wednesday nights to be a time where our community sees our church as a place where they are loved, accepted and pointed to a relationship with the Living God.

That’s about it First Pres! Thanks so much for reading. Keep your eyes out for more Youth Ministry activities as they unfold in the year to come.

As you can see, we covet your prayers more than anything for all of these Youth Ministries. In Christ, anything is possible. Without Him, we’re not going anywhere. So we humbly submit ourselves to the LORD and His ways, and ask you, the congregation, to pray faithfully for Youth Ministry!

Many thanks to each and every one of you for your support as we reach out to kids in the Name of Jesus.

In His great Love, Grace and Truth,

-Dave

 

November 2011--Dave Clem, Youth Director

There is a beautiful verse in the Song of Solomon that concludes “… and his banner over me is love” (2:4).

The Song of Solomon, sometimes known as the Song of Songs, is written as a depiction of the love between a man and a woman within their marriage. The poetry and truth in this book of Scripture inspires, uplifts, and reminds us that God was the One Who created marriage in the first place. And He designed it to be a blessing. In the beginning of all things, God decided that marriage was a good thing (Genesis 2:24)...

What I love about the above verse is that it creates such an incredible image in our minds. Banners were often hung in banquet halls during Old Testament times, but commentators generally agree that the context of this specific verse shows this is not referring to a physical banner, but is rather drawing the comparison that the love of her husband is like a banner.

Now, much could be said here about the need for husbands to love their wives, or perhaps more can be inferred regarding how the LORD loves the Church like a good husband should love his wife.

But this is the Youth Ministry contribution to the E-News for the month! So what does this verse have to do with Youth Ministry?

I’m glad you asked. And if you’ve stuck with me this far, thanks!

Because I believe this verse holds an incredible implication for how we pursue Youth Ministry here at First Presbyterian Church. It remind us to ask ourselves:

What banner are we waving over our kids? And what does that banner represent?

Is it truly a banner of the love of Christ, or is it something entirely different?

Whatever banner we consistently present to them will grow to be the identity they buy into.

If it is a banner of the love of Christ, they will live and grow into this. If our constant message to them is to embrace Who God is and follow hard after what He is doing, then they will grow into men and women who are strong in the LORD.

If instead, we wave a banner of worldliness, busyness, stress and conflict, then our kids will grow up exhausted, burned-out and confused.

I say all this because I believe we need to be very intentional about what banner we are waving over kids. We need to make sure that the kids God has entrusted us with- they might be your own, or in your Sunday School class or live down the street- know exactly what the LORD thinks of them.

His banner over them is love. And ours should be the same.

I encourage you to take some time today and think honestly about the following question: what is the most pervasive message you are sending to kids (either yours or any kid you encounter)?

If you were to ask those kids what they thought was your most consistent message to them- and they were encouraged to be blunt in their response- what do you think they would say?

Is it… you are often too busy to spend quality time with them?

Is it… work is more important than quality family time?

Is it… stress?

Is it.... "busyness is godliness?"

OR...

Is it… you genuinely like them and want to hang out with them?

Is it… you care about what they care about?

Is it… you understand them?

Is it… the constant love and support of a family and church community?

Is it… the Love of Christ?

God’s Banner over kids is the LOVE revealed in His Son Jesus.

Our banners should be the same.

May we continue to grow as a community of people who are known to wave banners of Christ’s all-consuming Love over the lives of kids in South Charleston.

Grace and Peace in Him,

-Dave

 

October 2011--Dave Clem, Youth Director

Well, Happy October everyone! I hope that all of you are having a fantastic Fall so far, and are getting ready for whatever Winter throws our way this year. Our congregation's youth ministry programs are in full swing this Fall- everything from Pioneer Clubs to REAL 120, Sunday School to 7:24. Young Life and Wyldlife also continue to bring kids in the door to hear more about the good news that is offered in Jesus Christ- a new life of radical change that comes through a saving faith in, and a following of, our risen LORD...

Our youth ministry leaders- from our congregation members to Cedarville University students- are busy not only sharing this Good News through teaching and discipleship, but are also living it out by forming friendships and relationships with the youth that attend our programs. I am so proud of our congregation for it's heart for the youth of our community, and feel blessed to be a part of a church that has such a deep desire to reach the next generation with the Gospel.

In light of our commitment as a church to youth, I exhort you this month as Paul did the Philippians: "Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above" (3:13-14, NCV).

Paul is talking here, amongst many things, about his personal transformation in Christ- both here, now and forever. This is what we are leading kids into: a life of transformation through faith in Christ Jesus. What an incredible honor to be a part of God's great work!

Yet, just as Paul knew he had not yet reached this goal for himself, we as a church must know that we must not stop pressing onwards in ours. We must press forward in youth ministry: to reach more kids, and to deepen the discipling relationships we already have.

This will mean something different for each of you, I simply ask that you take a moment now and pray. Ask God how He can start or continue to use your time, talents or whatever He has blessed you with to reach our youth in South Charleston for Christ.

I look forward to hearing and seeing how the LORD is moving His people here in South Charleston to reach out to the "least of these" youth in our midst as a result of your faithful prayers.

Thank you for partnering with us in Youth Ministry! I hope everyone has a great rest of the month.

In His Grace and Truth,

Dave

 

 

September 2011--Dave Clem, Youth Director

The other night I had the privilege of speaking with the Pioneers Club volunteers at their annual kick-off meeting at the church. When Linda Smith invited me to come and talk, I began thinking about one question: "How do we pursue a successful year of Youth Ministry here in South Charleston?" I had so much fun thinking through the answer to this question, and speaking with the Pioneers Clubs volunteers, that I thought it might be a good idea to share some of these thoughts with all of you faithful E-Newsletter readers for the month...

So here goes! If your heart is for the kids in our community to know the LORD, I hope that the following may be of some encouragement to you. 

Before we begin, we must define what we mean by "success" in Youth Ministry. I believe that we are beginning to be successful when two things happen: 

1. Kids in our church and/or our community who don't know Christ are introduced to Him for the first time. 

2. Kids in our church and/or our community who do know Christ follow Him more closely. 

If these two things happen, I believe we are starting to be successful. It is only when kids are walking closely with our Living LORD that our Youth Ministry programs, and ultimately our church, can grow in a healthy way. 

Now that we have defined success in this context, how do we go about achieving these results? I believe the answer to this is fourfold, and all within the overarching theme of Relationship. 

First, success in Youth Ministry as we have defined it above begins with our own Relationship with the LORD. We can do nothing apart from Him. Absolutely nothing. The LORD gives us breath, He gives us life, He gives us His Spirit. In the Gospel according to John, Jesus says, 

"I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers....." (John 15:5-6a, HCSB). 

If we want to be successful in Youth Ministry here at FPC and in South Charleston, we must begin with our Relationship with Christ. We must ask the LORD to draw us closer to Him- as individuals and as a collective body- so that we would be serving and loving kids out of the overflow of our hearts. 

Second, a successful Youth Ministry cultivates healthy kid-leader Relationships. This seems obvious, but all too often we get caught up trying to create successful Youth Ministry Programs instead of focusing on seeking Christ-centered relationships between Youth Leaders and kids. Our Programs are simply a tool to further Relationships, because it is frequently through these interactions that lives are changed. If we look back into our own lives to identify the catalysts of change, many of us can point to a specific person, or a group of people, that helped point us to the LORD. We must seek to be this same catalyst for kids in our community today. As we share our lives with kids, they will see the Reason for which we have hope. Then we will be able to truly say with Paul: 

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV). 

Third, successful Youth Ministry seeks to reach out to form a Relationship with the family of which a kid is a part. Some of the best Youth Ministry volunteers make the realization early on that Youth Ministry is actually Family Ministry at it's core. When you are reaching out to a kid in the Name of Jesus, you are also reaching a family. We cannot underestimate the impact of a life that is radically changed by Christ- kids, as well as adults, are used by the LORD to reach those around them in His Name. More often than not, this means their immediate family. As we seek to do Youth Ministry well, we should always realize that we need to be reaching out to families as we seek after kids. 

Parents and siblings will almost always have more of an impact on a kid's faith over the course of their life than we will as Youth Workers. This should not discourage us, rather it should revitalize us in our approach to outreach. We must seek to be a Youth Ministry that reaches out to families as a whole as well as kids as individuals. Then together, through our faith and walk with Christ, God's new covenant makes us into a family: 

"I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people" (Leviticus 26:12, NIV). 

Fourth, successful Youth Ministry reaches out to form a Relationship with the surrounding community- in our case, the greater South Charleston area. As we stay in Relationship with the LORD, as we seek Relationships with individual kids, as we further a Relationship with their families, we will inevitably come into contact with the needs of our community. These needs will be both spiritual and physical, and we need to address them together. 

It is critical that the "word of mouth" in our community about our FPC Youth Ministry is representative of our faith in Christ. Can our community genuinely say about our Youth Ministry: "When I come into contact with that group of kids and leaders, I think I understand what Jesus is all about?" In other words, does our Youth Ministry exemplify the character of Christ? Families and kids should be able to walk away from a program or event talking about how there is "something different" about that group of people. That something different is actually Someone different, the Person of Jesus, and His Spirit Who dwells in those who believe. 

"....and the LORD added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47b, NIV). 

This is by no means a comprehensive method to a successful Youth Ministry, but it is a good start. If we genuinely become men and women who seek the heart of God, who pursue kids in the Name of Christ, who acknowledge the important influence of their family life, and who engage our greater community, we are on a path to success in Youth Ministry- that is, that every kid would know, love and trust Jesus Christ through caring relationships. 

August 2011--Dave Clem, Youth Director

This summer has gone by so quickly! I hope everyone has had a great summer, and hope are looking forward to the school year ahead. I'd like to take this month's letter to remind you about what is going on in the world of Youth Ministry Programs this Fall, in case you would like to volunteer or invite your to be kids be part of the fun! 

You'll notice a couple changes and "new" programs in the mix- if you'd like more details or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime. I'm always available for a good conversation... 

We will continue this Fall to do outreach ministry at Southeastern through Young Life and Wyldlife for Senior and Junior High students respectively. Young Life Club will meet at 6:30AM on Thursday mornings at Gilbert's Youth Center, starting sometime in late September. Young Life Campaigners, a Bible Study for Senior High, will continue to meet on Thursday nights at Gilbert's at 8PM. Wyldlife Club will take place after every early dismissal, one time per month, at Gilbert's Youth Center. This will begin Wednesday, September 7th. 
 
Pioneers Clubs will continue this year for the younger kids of our community and church, meeting on Wednesday nights, start date to be determined. Keep your eye out in the bulletin! Our Summer Adventure Camp this year, led with excellence as always by Linda Smith, was a huge success. The LORD worked in incredible ways, and kids grew deeper in their relationships with Him as well as in the context of Christian community. 

REAL 120 will return this Fall, but with a few changes- it will be mainly focused on reaching and discipling the Junior High crowd. Senior High students will always be welcome to come too, but mainly in a leadership role if that is their desire. It became clear at the end of last year that REAL 120's main draw was Junior High students, and so this year the program will officially move in that direction. It will still meet Sunday nights from 6:30-8:30 PM, beginning September 11th. 

Not to fear if you are a Senior High student! This Fall we will reintroduce a "revamped version" of the program once known as "7:24." This will be a time every Thursday evening at 7:24PM (get it?) for Senior High students to come and sing some worship songs, hear a message, and then head into the Young Life Campaigners Bible Study which starts around 8PM. 7:24 will begin on September 15th. 

Gilbert's Youth Center will be open every day after school from 3PM-5PM for all Junior and Senior High students. Gilbert's will also be open for all Senior High students after every Southeastern Senior High varsity home game this fall until 11:30PM. This will begin September 2nd, when Southeastern plays Fairbanks. For Junior High, Gilbert's will be open every other Saturday night this Fall, beginning September 15th, from 7:30PM to 9:30PM. 
 
In the next month, you will start to see some information around the church for a Youth Mentoring Program. This is something new we are VERY excited about in the life of our church. Every child needs a mentor: someone older than them who loves them and loves the LORD. Our vision for the program is that over the years to come, every child in our church community will have someone to turn to that they call their mentor. More information to come soon! 

There are many more elements to our Youth Ministries here at FPC- outreach, missions, service, relationships, camp, adventure and activities. But these programs above are the starting place to launch these elements, and I just wanted to remind you before the school year begins of all the ways we as a church are reaching out to the youth in South Charleston. 

Come and be a part of what the LORD is doing in the lives of kids in our community! We have a HUGE need for adult volunteers to come and help with outreach at Gilbert's Youth Center, including after-school hours, post-football game hangouts and Junior High Saturday nights. Pray and ask if this is where God is calling you to be the church in South Charleston! We need your help. Youth Ministry is not possible without volunteers like you.

Contact me anytime if you'd like to help! 

May God lead you deeper into His grace, love and truth. 

-Dave  
 

June 2011--Dave Clem, Youth Director

When I was growing up in Boulder as a kid, I couldn't care less about going to church. It wasn't that the people there weren't kind to me- in actuality, some of the kindest people I knew were at church on Sunday mornings. I even went to Youth Group, but my involvement with the church as a whole was pretty much limited to Wednesday night activities and Bible Study. 

Now that I am older, I see the same issue present in many churches across the country- that is, a large majority of youth associated with a church are not a dynamic part of the greater church as a whole. 

Kids hang out on the outskirts of church life instead of participating in the heart of it's community and fellowship. 

May I offer a suggestion about how to start to bridge this seemingly widening gap between the youth in a community and the church as a whole? 

Begin to see yourself as a Youth Mentor. 

If we're honest with ourselves, most of us are doing way too much with our lives- busyness, stress and responsibilities start to consume our day to day, and then 2 years from now we look up and wonder where the time went. 

I am beginning to find that one of the keys to making our lives not only count for something, but also to be (gasp!) even enjoyable is to prioritize well. Put first things first. Learn to say no to things that don't matter as much in the grand scheme of things. 

Now what does good prioritizing have to do with starting to see yourself as a youth mentor? 

Simple- make mentoring a kid in our South Charleston community one of your very top priorities. 

One of our visions for the future of First Pres Youth Ministry in South Charleston is that every kid in our community would have someone they can call their mentor. 

Mentors that know, love and trust Jesus Christ as their Saviour. 

Mentors that will teach the next generation what it means to know Him and follow Him. 

Yes, this will take years and lots of effort. And it will take every one of us and many many more. But it will be worth it. 

Jesus said: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). 

He meant every one of us should go and do this- not just the pastors, youth workers and volunteer leaders. 

After all, with the Holy Spirit inside of us, we are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9) 

Please keep your eye out in the church bulletin over the next few months for ways you can begin to be a Youth Mentor in our community. This will not be a new youth ministry program, rather, a simple and organized way for all of us to take steps to obey the Great Commission in regard to our youth. 

Or, of course you can always contact me if your would like to learn more about some ways you can get started immediately.

There is a kid out there right now in our South Charleston community, just waiting for you to be an integral part of their life so that ultimately, they might enter into or continue with a deeper relationship with our LORD. 

I almost forgot- what eventually got me connected deeper with the church as a kid growing up were two guys named Tim and Sean who were my Bible Study leaders in Boulder. They bridged the gaps for me between the community, Youth Group and the church as a whole. If it wasn't for their persistence in pursuing me, there is no telling where I'd be today. 

Tim and Sean weren't on church staff. They weren't your typical college-aged youth workers. They were 2 middle-aged, "normal" guys who worked way too many hours yet still made time to hang out with some punk kids like me. 

May we as a church community pray for more of, and start to become more like these two Youth Mentors of my teenage years: "ordinary" people with the extraordinary heart of our Loving God. 

In His Truth and Love, 
Dave 

May 2011--Dave Clem, Youth Director

Happy May everyone! Hope you all are having a blessed Spring so far. As I'm writing this, the sun is out and the rain from the past few weeks has finally stopped. I'm going to be very glad when summer is here for good! 

In this month's E-Newsletter, I'd like to briefly update you all on various exciting things going on in the world of Youth Ministry here at First Pres. 

To lead off, it's been fantastic this school year to have our congregation support Gilbert's Outreach Center as a place where the youth from our community can come hang out after school. As I've mentioned in previous newsletters, Gilbert's provides kids a place where they can feel safe, loved and accepted by adults who have a relationship with the LORD. It can also provide an opportunity to share the Love and Truth of Christ. I have personally seen all of these things happen at Gilbert's this year, and I am grateful that we are all part of a church that has a heart for reaching out to all the kids in our community- especially the ones who do not yet know the LORD... 

Next, I'd like to highlight the excellent work of our REAL 120 leaders, interns, volunteers and Young Life leaders that hail from both Cedarville and our church. These individuals continually go above and beyond to reach out to kids, and to share both their lives and the LORD with them. Our youth ministry leaders and volunteers help show kids what it means to have a relationship with Christ, and walk alongside them as they start to understand what this means. I cannot emphasize enough the exemplary service of these people, and how  grateful I am for their commitment to our kids. 

In this same vein, I'd also like to recognize the wonderful work of Linda Smith and her Pioneer Clubs volunteers. It's been so encouraging this year to know that there are volunteers from our congregation showing Love and teaching Truth to the young kids at our church and in the community. This ministry is critical to the development of our youth, and it has been made possible only through the hard work and dedication of those who tirelessly volunteer with Pioneer Clubs. Well done! 

Finally, as we turn to the summer from the school year, I'd like to highlight a few things we're really looking forward to in the world of Youth Ministry. 

The week of June 12th - June 17th, the Junior and Senior High students will be going on a week-long Youth Mission Trip in Springfield. We will be staying at Covenant Presbyterian Church downtown and working at various non-profits throughout the week such as Habitat for Humanity, Safe Harbor House, Interfaith Hospitality Network (downtown homeless shelter), and Changing Lives Now. Please be in prayer for the trip and the students as we learn what it means to serve as Christ serves. 

In the last week of June, fourteen of our Senior High students will be going to Lake Champion in Glen Spey, New York for Young Life Camp! Please pray for these kids to have a real encounter with the LORD that will lead to a life forever changed, and for our leaders to have wisdom and discernment in their conversations with these kids. 

In the beginning of August, the 1st - 3rd to be exact, there will be a Pioneer Summer Camp for our younger kids! Please pray for the kids in that week, and the weeks leading up to Camp. 

Thanks for everything you do for our youth, First Pres! I look forward to partnering with you all this summer as we continue to seek out kids with LORD. 

In His Grace, 

Dave

 

April 2011--Dave Clem, Youth Director

Hello everyone! 

Hope you all are having a great month. In previous E-Newsletters, I've shared a little about how it is important that we realize "Youth Ministry" is not just confined to a specific ministry within our church, but rather is something that almost everyone takes a part in during their day to day life.

Whether you realize it or not, if you have any interaction at all with the youth in our community during the week, you're involved in Youth Ministry! (like it or not!) 

If you're doing some grocery shopping at Shoemakers, and your cashier is in high school, your interactions with him/her is Youth Ministry...

If you're a parent of 4.5 kids, who run around the house like crazy all day wrecking havoc, the way you act towards them is Youth Ministry. (And you parents have the MOST influence of anyone on your kids, even if they'd like you to believe the opposite). 

If you are walking down the street, and some punk Junior High students are doing kick-flips off the front steps of the church, the way you choose your words and actions with them are Youth Ministry. 

You get the point- we're all in this together. If we have God's Spirit moving and working in our lives, then when kids in our community interact with us, they should see and feel from us the way God sees and feels about them. 

The more we all- and I do mean all of us- speak and act with the Truth and Grace of the Living Christ towards youth in our community, the greater understanding they will gain of our Awesome and Loving Heavenly Father. 

Thankfully, we are not alone in this calling to represent His Name. Jesus says to us:

 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” -John 14:15-21 NIV, emphasis mine. 

Thanks for everything you all do for the youth in our community. My thoughts and prayers are with you as the LORD leads you further into the specific Youth Ministry He has called you to in your life. 

-Dave 
 

March 2011--Dave Clem, Youth Director

Hello Everyone! 

I hope that this past month has been a good one for all of you. Nicole and I are getting VERY excited for Spring and Summer to finally arrive- every time the weather gets nice I think that perhaps Winter has gone for good, only to wake up to snow, rain and ice the next day. Oh well. Spring is coming- slowly but surely. Take hope! 

I guess that winter’s tendency to hold on longer than I'd like has got me thinking about the subjects of stagnation, movement and momentum. In the same way that Winter can seem to "last forever," I think that sometimes difficult aspects of our lives- parts of our work, marriages, relationships, families, and churches to name a few- can often feel like Winter can seem: Stagnant. Dead. Motionless. Lifeless....

Whether it's a promotion you've been anticipating for years and years that never comes, whether it's that spark you're waiting to see rekindled in your marriage, or it's the unity you wish you had in your relationships, family or church, we all have areas in our life that seem to lack life, and we're all waiting with such fervent anticipation of change that we can hardly stand it. 

I know that for myself, sometimes parts of Youth Ministry can feel this way. You can pour yourself into your work, and then there are no discernible changes in the faith and actions of kids. You can pour yourself into people, only to end up feeling as alone as when you started. 

I'm assuming if you're reading this, something in your heart yearns for our kids here in the greater South Charleston area to know, love and trust Jesus with their lives. Something deep inside you desires to be able to show kids the heart of their Savior, a heart that loves them more than they can possibly comprehend. But I also know that for many of us, we lack the articulation. Our heart beats quickly when we think of the love of the Father for our kids, and then that same heart falters when it tries to think how to best get this Message, this unbelievable Good News, across to our children we all care so much about. 

May I offer a suggestion? Pray. Seek God. Seek the heart of our Good Father, Who loves and seeks the lost, Who runs towards us when He sees us from a long way off. Because when we spend intentional time with the Creator of the Universe, we start to care about what He cares about. And God cares about kids. God cares about kids in South Charleston. At Southeastern. At Miami View. All of them. He loves them with a reckless, wild and fierce love. As we spend more time with Him, we'll start to feel the same. 

So what's new in Youth Ministry for the month? Well, I'm glad you asked. We're seeking your prayers. Then, if and only if God calls you to do so, come and be a part of the lives of kids in this community. (You'll know if He's calling you to do this. Trust me). Kids need you in their life. This doesn't have to look like getting involved in our programs, it doesn't have to be a difficult ordeal. I'm not sure what God will show you- maybe it's simply that you should invite that family down the street to dinner, the one you've always meant to invite but just never got around to it. Maybe it means intentionally starting to just say hi to kids around you on Sunday morning, effectively starting to break down barriers of communication between generations. Maybe it means inviting kids and families over for lunch after church. Maybe it means helping to cook breakfast for lots of crazy Senior High kids at Young Life Club on Thursday mornings. Maybe it means setting aside time each week to pray for each kid at Southeastern or Miami View by name. 

I guess the sum of it is this: the difference between a stagnant, seemingly lifeless Youth Ministry and a vibrant, growing and healthy Youth Ministry lies in the actions and prayers of the community of faith that surrounds it. The entire community. Not just specific youth leadership. Everyone. That's true Youth Ministry: when a community of people who know and love the LORD surrounds all kids of all different backgrounds with the love poured into their own life by a Good and Loving God, remembering that we can only give out to others what we have first been given ourselves. 

The thing is, everything is going great in the world of Youth Ministry. Programs are fun, more new kids are coming to hang out than I've seen so far this year and kids are hearing the Good News and growing deeper into authentic relationships with Jesus Christ. It's incredibly encouraging- God is really doing fantastic things in our little town. 

But I also know that we as a community are called to so much more. Good programs and fun hang-outs can only go so far. A truly healthy, growing and dynamic Youth Ministry needs the active participation of everyone- even if it’s in seemingly small and seemingly insignificant ways. How will Christ use you today in the lives of our kids? 

Please don't misunderstand me- this is definitely not a "guilt thing." It's a "What is God already doing in the lives of our kids and what does He want to do through me specifically?" thing. I hope that clarifies my intent. 

One of my old pastors would always say: "I'm not telling you what to do! I'm not your Holy Spirit!" and I echo his wisdom- I can't tell you your specific calling in the lives of our kids. But God can. Spend time with Him this week ahead. This month. This year. Seek His face. Ask His will. And if you are so led, go and demonstrate your love for kids as He demonstrated His great, great love for us. 

Here's the really fun part for me- after you have done this, come and tell me about your adventures in Youth Ministry, so that we can marvel and rejoice together in His Goodness and Grace. 

Winter is passing, Spring and Summer are almost here. That which seemed dead and lifeless is alive and well. To close with the words of another great preacher, speaking in the context of Good Friday and Easter: "Today's Friday. But Sunday's comin'!" 

In His Grace and Truth, 

Dave 

February 2011--Dave Clem, Youth Director

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a fantastic month of January, and hope your new year is off to a good start. I have been hitting the treadmill at the gym lately, in my usual yearly attempt to get back in shape. This year I have added incentive, as several Young Life leaders and myself are running a half-marathon in May to raise money for Springfield area kids to attend Young Life's annual summer camp. Needless to say, quite a challenge for those of us who are "exercise challenged," of whom I count myself at the top of that notorious list! However, it's all for a good cause, so that helps. If you'd like to join us, just let me know. Proceeds will go towards helping many Springfield and South Charleston area kids afford camp this coming summer.

 

I thought I'd take this month's e-newsletter to expand on a part of our Youth Ministry program you've probably heard mentioned quite a bit over the past few months. As you know, we've been renovating a side of Gilbert's Youth Center into a Youth Coffee Shop the kids have decided to name "Gilbert's Grounds..." Even after all the terrible ice and snow of this past week, we officially opened on Friday, Feb. 4th! It was a fun culmination to a lot of hard work put in by many youth leaders, church members and students alike. Now all Junior and Senior High students are welcome to come after school, 5 days a week, to hang out with friends, get some homework done, and spend time getting to know their youth leaders better. We open are open Monday-Thursday, from 3PM-6PM and on Fridays from 3PM-5PM.

While it certainly is fun to have a place for kids to hang out after school in South Charleston, I think it is important for you, the congregation, to know there is some excellent methodology and intentionality behind our ministry at Gilbert's Youth Center.

 

A Youth Center can provide kids with a place they can relax, goof around with friends, and most importantly, form meaningful relationships with caring youth leaders.

In the life of an adolescent growing up in today's culture, it is often possible for teenagers to get lost in the busyness of the hectic schedules of schools, sports, activities, church, parents and families alike. This is often unavoidable, however, it can create feelings of loneliness, isolation, and hurried confusion in the mind of a teenager.

 

As their world gets more and more busy and stressful, kids drift farther and farther from authentic meaningful relationships and conversations. Constant activity replaces the depth of real interactions that are vital to a teen growing up into a mature adult.

 

Without positive, Christ-centered interactions with adults and other youth leaders, kids will turn to their fellow peers, celebrity culture, TV and the media to define morality.

 

The truth is, if our desire is for kids in our church and the greater South Charleston community to have a real and saving relationship with Jesus Christ, we all must take greater intentional steps be available and present in their lives. It is often through these healthy relationships and good conversations that the LORD moves through us into the lives of teenagers. And we must always remember that it is only the LORD that changes lives.

 

Our hope is that in a small yet significant way, Gilbert's Youth Center, and the new "Gilbert's Grounds" section, can provide a place where all Junior and Senior High kids can slow down, encounter adults and other leaders that care about them, and have meaningful relationships and conversations that will in turn lead to a teen's greater understanding of Christ and His great Love.

 

Thanks for reading First Pres! If you would like to be part of this growing community of leaders that are surrounding our youth in this critical time of their lives, please don't hesitate to contact me for advice or ideas. And feel free to come on by and check out Gilbert's

Grounds- all are welcome!

 

-Dave