Mike King

The Altar: Break the Chains

This last weekend was our annual Altar Retreat at Youthfront South.  The theme was "Break the Chains."  Sally Rymer, who is a Junior in High School and an associate Youthfront staff member, led the retreat.  Sally pulled together a team of teenagers, most who are Youthfront summer teen staffers, to plan and lead this retreat.  Youthfront staff member Jamie Roach coached the team of students.  These students have launched a initiative called Clapham Sect Phase II.  The theme verse for The Altar was Isaiah 58:6, "I'll tell you what it really means to worship the LORD.  Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly.  Free those who are abused! (CEV)."

Andrea Saccoccio, the Director of Student Ministries from International Justice Mission (IJM) was with us for the weekend.  Throughout the weekend we examined the lives of three young people (Kumar, Madesh and Salilah) who have been victims of slave labor and sex trafficking. 

The first night brought us to a place of disorientation.  We watched video stories of these three young people and the abuse they have lived with.  The teen staff then led everyone to three stations to experience the reality of the 27 million people who are living currently in slavery.

The first station was quite alarming.  A blackened room contained a broken window in the corner.  When you looked through the window you could see undercover video of girls, 10 to 12 years old who were sitting together in a brothel waiting room as men came in to pick which girl they would buy.  Even though you could only see these girls in the waiting room it was still so sickening to think about what was actually happening to them. 

The second station was an example of a sweat shop featuring two teenagers.  One was dressed in the latest fashion and the other in the clothes of a sweat shop worker.  A video showed what a day in the life of these two teenagers looked like. 

The third station was a reenactment of hard labor in a rock quarry.  Very disturbing.

Compline that night was a cry for justice.  Nothing seemed hopeful or resolved.  The next morning Sally and the students began to talk about how we can make a difference and bring hope.  The prayers written for this weekend were amazing and deeply theological.

Late in the morning we went on a burden walk.  We were instructed to pick up a large rock representing the burdens of the three teenagers from the video.  We all wrote the name of one of the teenaged victims on our rocks.  We walked a mile together in silence to the Altar field where we laid the rocks at the foot of the cross.  One youth worker who picked a huge rock stuggled to make it all the way to the cross. Sweating profusely, he dropped it on the pile of rocks.  He walked to the circle to join everyone else but then walked beyond the circle and dropped into the tall prairie grass and sobbed uncontrollably.  The mood was very somber.  The Holy Spirit was at work.  The last persons to finish the walk was a teenager who is confined to a wheelchair.  He slowly manuevered his electric chair through the field.  His youth pastor walked slowly beside him.  As he pulled up to the cross he stuggled to get the rock out of his lap.  His youth pastor stepped forward and together they dropped the last burden.  I was a mess...  We lingered in this learning and transformational moment for a long time.  On the Altar Field, youth pastor Ethan Bryan preached a powerful message reminding us of the story of our heritage - one of slavery and deliverence (Egypt), exile and longing for restoration...

The Daily Offices of Prayer were profound.  The space created for this weekend was challenging but also allowed time to contemplate and prayer.  Several youth pastors shared with me amazing stuff that came out during their individual youth group sharing time around bonfires.  On Sunday morning Sally spoke.  She is truly and amazing and Godly young woman who has chosen to pick up the cross Jesus has called her to carry.

How do we respond to the economic situation?

We have lived in what has probably been the most affluent and influential country in all of human history.  To whom much is given, much shall be required.  Somehow, we (God’s people living in this culture) haven’t really embraced the responsibility to live generously.  We haven’t embodied a powerful alternative way of life to contrast the greedy “I need more and more” mindset of the dominant culture.  Have we damaged the Good News of the Gospel because we haven’t learned to live the generous and joyful life of the Kingdom of God?

America Robbed Blind

Every Monday I get a memo from Roy H. Williams.  It is consistently filled with interesting observations about the world we live in and specifically focuses on marketing and business practices.  Williams’ company is called the Wizard Academy.

In 2005, Wizard Academy Press published a book by Greg Farrell called America Robbed Blind.  At the time, Farrell was a reporter for USA Today.  He reported primarily on Wall Street and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Today Farrell writes for Financial Times.  Farrell has won the Jesse Neal Award for investigative reporting and is a graduate of Harvard University.  He completed an MBA at Columbia University.

Williams made the following comments in today’s memo.  This is very interesting, in light of what is happening right now in Washington, D.C. and Wall Street.

“Greg was America’s only reporter in the courtroom for every minute of the trials of Enron, Worldcom, Tyco and Martha Stewart. As an investigative reporter Greg dug deep, full time, year after year. “Roy, the SEC is being set up to take the fall for a series of financial disasters,” he said. “This whole Enron thing is just the tip of the iceberg.”

“What do you mean?”

“The number of publicly traded companies has grown exponentially in recent years, yet the budget for the SEC had been increased by only a small amount. Think of it this way,” Greg said, "Andy and Barney did a pretty good job patrolling Mayberry, but now they’re being told they have to patrol Los Angeles without any additional help, and without any bullets for their guns.”

Greg went on to explain how Congress keeps the SEC under-funded so that big business can grow unimpeded, unsupervised, and unregulated. If Congress allowed the SEC to do its job, big business would cry, “The government has us handcuffed! We can’t compete with all these government regulations.”

Big companies donate big dollars to congressional candidates. Are you beginning to get the picture?

Page 68 of Greg’s book details the proposal made during the summer of 2000 by Arthur Levitt, chairman of the SEC at the time.

Levitt was absolutely convinced that a financial catastrophe was coming and begged Congress to give him the power to stop it.

“But several big firms whose campaign contributions to lawmakers on Capitol Hill gave them enormous clout, fought the proposal aggressively… Levitt went to extraordinary lengths to show Congress the dangers that lay ahead… But Levitt’s warnings fell on deaf ears. So he took the battle to the states… It was only in November of 2000, when he learned that Congress was threatening to cut the SEC’s budget if the new rule went into effect, that Levitt relented.” - Page 69, America Robbed Blind, (2005)

In essence, Congress told Andy to quit complaining or they would take away his budget to pay Barney.

When the whole Enron thing was over, I asked Greg if he thought anything like that could ever happen again. “You can count on it,” he said, “It’s inevitable. As long as Congress keeps the watchdog starved, muzzled and on a chain, the abuses will multiply. Arthur Levitt begged Congress to empower the SEC and they spanked him for it.”

Enron and his cousins robbed American investors of more than 500 billion dollars. Then on September 18, 2008, after it was learned that Americans would again be left holding the bag for a 700 billion-dollar bank heist, John McCain, a lawmaker on Capitol Hill for the past 26 years, said, “The chairman of the SEC serves at the appointment of the president and in my view, has betrayed the public’s trust. If I were president today, I would fire him.’’

Wow. They’re trying to hang this debacle around the neck of the SEC and use them as the scapegoat, just as Greg said they would. (Hey, if Obama had said it, I’d be equally appalled, so don’t make the mistake of thinking I have a political bias. I don’t.)

Perhaps the greatest tragedy of all is that Greg described exactly how to fix the problem in his book (pages 180-181,) but no one paid attention:

1.    Allow the SEC to keep the fees it currently collects from public companies. Self-funding would protect the financial health of the commission from the whims of its Congressional overlords, and allow the SEC to grow at the same rate as the financial markets it polices.

2. Give SEC attorney’s criminal enforcement powers.

3. Give bonuses to successful SEC attorneys. Plaintiff’s lawyers who bring cases against tobacco companies and asbestos manufacturers put years of effort into the cause because if they win, the financial payoff is astronomical. But an SEC lawyer has almost no incentive to take on difficult cases where the commission is outgunned by a public company’s army of lawyers.”

OK, so back to me, a guy trying to run a youth ministry organization that is getting impacted by the events unfolding.  When the economy suffers – our donations are effected; prices go up – food costs, insurance, etc.  In my 34 years at Youthfront we have seen several of these types of cycles before.  They have been challenging; sometimes helping to redefine who we are and what we do in positive ways.   This reality doesn’t make this season any easier especially since the scope of this current economic crisis has such huge and global ramifications.

The scripture says, “Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty (Proverbs 28:22, NLT).”  It seems to me that a significant part of this bailout effort is focused on trying to protect those who have been greedy.  I read about a man yesterday who made $250,000 a year and bought a home worth $2.7 million.  He lost his job and is now facing foreclosure hoping this bailout will help him.  You’ve got to be kidding.  When you buy a home that is worth $2.2 million more than you can afford you should have your head examined and shame on a system that will allow someone to do that.  OK, I’ve ranted enough.  Got any thoughts?

A Turn To Liturgy

Scot McKnight wrote a post on Jesus Creed concerning the turn toward Liturgy by late adolescents.  I write about this issue extensively in Presence Centered Youth Ministry.  Scot makes several interesting observations and speculations about why this is occurring.  He speaks of evangelical students turning to the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church.  I believe that young people who have grown up in the Evangelical Church would stay in the Evangelical Church if we would recover a more robust, tradition-rich, missional and historic ecclesiology that breaks free from a Nationalistic Particularism which has permeated the North American Evangelical Church in the last 50 plus years.  What do you think?

Money, economy, security...

The trustworthy will get a rich reward. But the person who wants to get rich quick will only get into trouble” (Proverbs 28:20 NLT).

Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”
(James 4:13–14).

“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14)

Weekend of Thinking, Contemplating and Life...

Knowing that I have several challenging weeks coming up, I cleared my schedule for a long weekend of Sabbath, Rest, Thinking, Evaluation and Contemplation. 

Friday - Great day at the Zoo, talking with friends about future dreams, and hanging out with my wife, reading, reading, thinking and dreaming...

Saturday - Writing and thinking about future dreams, passions, values and objectives in the morning.  Around 1:00 PM Vicki and I headed for the Plaza Art Fair.  We thought we would hang out there for a couple of hours.  The weather was so beautiful and the Art Fair was festive.  We grazed a bit at the food vendor area and followed that with scoring this great little table on the sidewalk outside of Balsano's Gelato Cafe.  This is the only place we've found that has Gelato that comes close to what we enjoy in Italy.  We set at that spot for an hour and a half, talking, greeting people we knew, talking to Jacob's Well family and staff, seeing Youthfront Board Members, alumni, friends and family.  We moved to the Classical Music Stage and grabbed one of my favorite tables on the outdoor deck of Starbuck's.  We sat in that spot for three and a half hours, breathing, laughing, talking, watching people, listening to good music, seeing more friends.  We ended up leaving the Plaza at 11:00 PM.  Sooo Goooood.

Sunday - Slept in. Had a morning run.  Read for awhile before heading to church.  Great morning of worship.  Tim is speaking from the book of Philippians, one of my favorite books.  Micah, Jessica's boyfriend, did a wonderful job of leading music and the Eucharist was... well no words to describe something that is such a beautiful glimpse of an eschatological reality of HOPE.  We headed back to the Plaza and the Art Fair after church for more food grazing and another hour stint at the other outdoor table at Balsano's.  Who cares if the Chiefs were playing?  At home, a nap, watching the Chiefs digitally so a three hour game becomes only an hour of suffering, laying around, just breathing. 

Here are a just a couple of dreams and objectives I wrote and thought about this weekend.  It may not seem like a big deal but it energizes and replenishes me.

To nurture an organization(Youthfront) that has a reputation for innovation, excellence, research, passion, resources, training and development in all things youth ministry.

To accomplish our objectives(Youthfront and Jacob's Well) in a way that enables our staff and associates to be fully human, living robust lives that embrace the unforced rhythms of life with God and each other.

To be connected to a community of faith(Jacob's Well) in deeper and deeper ways that continues beyond my death.

To engage with others in nurturing a church environment at Jacob's Well that releases a wonderful fragrance, permeating the surrounding culture in such a way that followers of Jesus find favor with those living in its proximity.

To develop and export a theologically robust youth ministry philosophy and praxis that reforms the way Youth ministry is practiced.

To be obsessed with a personal pursuit of a rhythm of life that enables me to be fully human and full of life to the full.

Friday at the Zoo

We took Lexi, our 22 month old granddaughter to the  KC Zoo yesterday.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect.  Lexi shrieked with delight all the way there, yelling "Zoo", "Animals", "Elephants", "Lions", "Tigers", "Monkeys" and more.  She also practiced her animal sounds.  I tried to get in a few calls on the way and had several comments from people I was talking to about being in a zoo.  "Nope, that is just my granddaughter on the way to the zoo."

The animals were quite active and we were really enjoying the beautiful day but most of all it was a blast to watch Lexi loving every thing in site.

When we got to the Gorilla exhibition, Lexi was feeling pretty confident about her interaction with all the animals.  She launched into her shrieky monkey call about the time the 400 pound Gorilla lunged from his Buddha-like position, charged the crowd and Lexi, and hit the Plexiglas with major force.  Everyone recoiled and screamed.  Lexi was more than traumatized.  She spent the rest of the day refusing to have anything to do with any monkey larger than she is.  No Chimps.  No Orangutan.

If you haven't been to the KC Zoo in a while, check it out.  It is unique, especially the African section.  I've been to Africa and you get the feel in much of the African section of the Zoo that you are in a natural habitat.

The Apostle Paul and Michael Phelps

For 2 weeks it seemed our entire nation was riveted to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing.  Many were especially fixated on Michael Phelps' unprecedented performance.  I watched with friends as he became the most prolific Gold Medalist in modern history; a total of eight Golds around his neck!  Time and time again we were mesmerized by the way he seemed to will himself to win.
 
The thrill took me back to my own heady days of high school, competing on the William Chrisman swim team.  My first day of practice I thought I was literally dying!  I wanted to quit.  My dad talked me into sticking with it.  Still, the first week, the second week, I came home every day ready to drop out.  But something happened the third week.  I began to experience the benefits of the workouts.  My teammates were feeling it too.  We started lifting weights.  We ran, swam for hours everyday, began to eat differently.  We were slowly becoming habituated into the world of competitive swimming.  And though no Olympian among us, my experiences there – the work, the dedication, the singular focus – still remind me today of what it takes to excel. 
   
The Apostle Paul speaks of this kind of athletic discipline to make an essential point concerning our Christian Formation.

'Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly... No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that...I myself will not be disqualified.'   I Cor 9:24-27                            
   
At Youthfront we believe a huge part of fulfilling our mission to bring youth into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ is to take Christian Formation seriously.  This is the part of following Jesus which, by its very nature – growth and transformation – must involve disciplines and practices.  Does anyone think Michael Phelps became a world-class swimmer by taking a casual approach to training?  Likewise, students will not reach their God-given potential in Christ without becoming habituated to the rigors of Holy Spirit led (coached!) training.
   
What is our goal?  To help our kids become more deserving of God's love?  No!  We must always reassure young people – God's love for them is perfect.  At Youthfront, we challenge students to Christian practices because this is exactly what our Lord Jesus did with his own 12 disciples.  Christian practices move us into alignment with God’s purposes.  Prayer, Scripture study/meditation, giving/serving, church, plus much more, all shape our young people to be the amazing champions of faith God intended.  Yes, there's more to being 'on the team' than just being 'on the team'!  More than anything, these practices serve to keep young hearts turned toward God and cultivate intimacy with Jesus – alone, their own, glorious, eternal rewards. 

They (athletes) do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 

DLC in Orlando

I spent four days this week in Orlando with Nazarene Youth International.  This was NYI's District Leadership Conference for District Presidents, Global Convention Coordinators, Trainers,  and Summer Camp Directors.  I spoke in four general sessions on 1) A Critique of 20th Century Youth Ministry, 2) Recovering a Theologically Robust Youth Ministry for the 21st Century, 3) Becoming Human: A Spiritual Theology for a New Kind of Youth Ministry and 4) Developing a Rhythm of Life.  This was a perfect environment for me to address youth ministry leaders.  I loved every second of it.

I felt like I was among friends with the 300 leaders in attendance.  It was good to be with Dave Curtiss, who serves as the Director of NYI; Mike Kipp, Director of Big Picture Training and Youth Ministry Professor at Northwest Nazarene University; Jeff Edmondson, who heads up Barefoot Publishing; along with so many youth pastors and ministry leaders that I have come to know along the way.

Chris Folmsbee was also at the Conference.  I love working with Chris at Youthfront.  He is innovative, energetic and passionate about all things youth ministry along with being a good friend and partner.  Chris was training Big Picture Trainers to facilitate our Enroute Training.  We are excited about this partnership.  We are also partnering with Barefoot to produce resources under the name Immerse to help other ministries, specifically camps, to embrace the philosophy, practices and pedagogy for the Christian Formation of youth we've developed at Youthfront Camps.

We met so many great people, awesome youth workers and passionate followers of Jesus.  I love the Nazarenes.

Skydiving

Jessica, our daughter, and Micah, her boyfriend jumped out of an airplane last Saturday.  Jessica bought this adventure for Micah's Christmas present.  I guess it took them this long to work up the nerve.  I've often heard people say, "Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane?"  But in the case of the plane they climbed in you couldn't say this.  It looked like the plane had seen better days.  Anyway, they did it and I think I'm gonna have to follow their example.  Anyone want to jump with me?  I've received a loud and firm "NO" from Vicki.