Mission DC Day 1 Recap & Reflections

Recap

Yesterday was a jam-packed day of hard work and hopefulness. Our team of teenagers serve in the morning at So Others May Eat (S.O.M.E) for short. We served approximately three hundred people a hot breakfast in about two hours time. It was an opportunity for us to interact with and serve some of the homeless in the area. Our teens had great attitudes, for which I am very thankful.

In the afternoon, we served a local church that has recently been blessed with eleven acres of land that includes a church, a gymnasium, and a school. With the support of National Community Church, this church was able to purchase this property to fulfill their vision to support the community and local ministries through their building. We served by doing some “unpacking,” moving desks, room dividers, cleaning up and setting up a preschool area, and generally just being available.

Reflection

Today was a hard-working, encouraging day to reflect the character of God through our care for the homeless, as well as to help brothers and sisters in Christ at a local ministry. I’m thankful for the opportunity and I’m thankful for the encouraged, willing, and humble attitudes of our teenagers. We had some great discussions as we served with one another. I’m excited for the momentum that this week will create for our team.

Prayer Requests

Be in prayer for us as we continue to serve God here in the nation’s capital.

Three Things I Love about Youth Ministry

I’ve been involved in youth ministry now for almost six years, between volunteering and being on full-time staff. And I think I’m beginning to get a grasp of the broad range of things that youth ministry entails, from planning and administration, to connecting with kids and just building relationships of encouragement. Some of it I love, some of it I endure. Here are three things I do love about youth ministry.

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On Mission: Washington, D.C.

This week, I’m with a team of several teens in our nation’s capital serving several local ministries and doing evangelism. Your prayers are greatly appreciated as we share the gospel and our lives.

More reflections will come as the week progresses. Also, I’ll be tweeting about the trip with the hashtag #missiondc. I’m excited for what God is going to be doing.

Youth Ministry Leadership Quick Tip: Go After the One

The following post was written by Stephen Law, a member of our youth ministry staff at Grace Covenant Church. This post is part of the on-going training that we do with our adult leaders. For more information about our ministry, check out oneightydc.com

My first year of youth group, I was 5’0’’ tall, 120 lbs, and incredibly shy. On the other hand, my youth pastor, Pastor Dave, was a 6’5’’ former All-American volleyball player from Southern California whom everyone seemed to gravitate towards. Although our youth group was around 100 people, Pastor Dave immediately took a specific interest in my life. He would take me home from Oneighty, bring me along for errands, and invite me over for dinner with his family. For me, going with him to Home Depot for a few hours was the highlight of my week. He was the first Christian I met that lived liked Jesus and took an interest in my life.

With over 150 regulars that come through Oneighty on a weekly basis, it is easy for a teen to get lost in the shuffle. I often forget that each teen that comes through our doors has a story. Divorced parents, impure relationships, bad grades, drugs and alcohol addictions- these are realities for many. They are desperate for someone to take an interest in their life. They are more than a number in our ministry; each teen is a life that God has entrusted to our care.

Although Jesus often preached to the masses, he also sought after “the one.” Whether calling down Zacchaeus from the Sycamore tree or approaching the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus took an interest in the broken and rejected. Jesus spoke of his desire to go after the one, lost sheep in Matthew.

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? (Matthew 18:12, ESV)

Oneighty is full of lost sheep, desperate for someone to pursue them. Pursuing the one can be as easy as a text, Facebook message, or meeting up for coffee. While going to one of your guy’s basketball games or picking up one of your girl’s from school is a small inconvenience to you, it means the world to them. Ask God, “who is the one you want me to pursue?”

Three Thoughts about Why We Do Small Groups

If you do youth ministry and you haven’t read Simple Student Ministry I would commend it to you. It challenges you to answer the question, “what is your discipleship process?” At Oneighty, we basically have two weekly programs that are intended for discipleship: our large group meetings and our small groups. In our large groups, we will preach through particular books of the Bible or topics. In small groups, we discuss and apply the biblical content that was covered in our large groups. Small groups are an integral part of how we disciple our teens for a number of reasons. But here are three.

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