Mike King

A Strange Place

     

Our all staff meeting this week was very strange.  I found it difficult to speak seriously to our staff dressed like this

We celebrated Halloween a few days early.  After our meeting we grilled out and feasted together.  Families joined us and staff children made the rounds to our offices for treats.  It was a great day, a little better than the Office Episode this week. 

 

 

 

Here are some pictoral highlights.

How would you describe the various forms or types of justice?

Here is the latest Slant33.

 

 

 

 

AYME

Last weekend was the Association of Youth Ministry Educators Conference.  We met in Louisville, KY.  AYME is a professional organization for those who teach youth ministry at the graduate or undergraduate level.  This was my third year to attend.  The theme for this year was YOUTH MINISTRY AS PRACTICAL THEOLOGY?

Plenary Presenters

James Hampton, Ph. D.
Professor of Youth Ministry
Asbury Theological Seminary
"For Such a Time As This: The Convergence of Youth Ministry and Practical Theology"

Paul Shrier, Ph.D.
Professor of Practical Theology
Azusa Pacific University
"Can theology really be practical for youth ministry ?"

Cheryl Crawford, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Youth Ministry, Department of Practical Theology
Azusa Pacific University
"Practical Theology: A Rudder for Youth Ministry?"

S. Steve Kang, Ph.D.
Professor of Educational Ministries and Interdisciplinary Studies
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
"Your Kingdom Come": Practical Theology as Living out Three Great Pillars of Christianity

I had a good time hanging out with several friends, especially the Princeton gang.  Andy Root, who will be here at Youthfront on Thursday and Friday, was brilliant in his response to Paul Shrier's presentation "Can theology really be practical for youth ministry?". 

We (me/Barefoot) loaded up the professors with Immerse Journals to take home to their students and had lots of good theological  conversations about youth ministry.  I also watched the Giants win the NLCS, the Missouri Tigers beat Oklahoma and the Chiefs win big... doesn't get much better than that.  Another highlight was discovering that Mark Cannister, Professor of Youth Ministries at Gordon College, cited by work extensively in his article on Spiritual Formation in the academic focused Journal of Youth Ministry.

 

Help Jack

Ideas or suggestions for Jack?

I read the book Presence-Centered Youth Ministry a number of years ago and, in part, it helped motivate me to pursue a DMin.  As a result I am currently enrolled in the DMin program at Carey Theological Seminary in Vancouver BC. My area of study is How do twentysomethings define themselves for or against their parents, family, home, friends, church, culture and Jesus Christ.  In this, it is clear that I would benefit from a specific DMin level course related to the faith development of either youth and young adults or specifically young adults - or as I prefer to call the twenty-somethings.  Are you aware of any theological seminary that focuses on youth and young adults?

With thanks,

Jack Duckworth 

International Student ministries Canada

Article on Jeremy Affeldt on MLB.com

Chris Folmsbee pointed me to an article on the Major League Baseball web site on Jeremy Affeldt.  Jeremy is in the middle of the National League Championship Series.  The Giants are up 2-1 over the Phillies.  In the article Jeremy talks about his passion for rescuing victims of the slave trade and sex industry.  He also gives me a gracious shout out... read the article here.

Secret Siblings

Mike Crawford, my friend and fellow Jacob's Weller, continues to make amazing music.  We have a very artist rich church community and Mike has created an environment where theology, creativity and imagination are dancing together beautifully.  In this video Mike describes his "Secret Siblings" both those who are making music and people like me who are ministered to and inspired by what's happening.

Mike Crawford and His Secret Siblings from josh franer on Vimeo.

 

 

How has evangelism changed in the past two or three decades?

Check out the latest Slant33

 

Why I like to be in KC

Ten days ago I was whining in this post that I wanna go home.  Of course, the biggest reason why I wanna be home is my lovely wife of almost 35 years (Dec 28).  Vicki is my best friend, an amazing wife, wonderful mother and much more. 

On Thursday our Youthfront staff watched the movie Romero together as a part of our monthly formational practice.  The movie is about the life of Oscar Romero, who was appointed Archbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador during a very tumultuous time in the 1970’s.  Great injustices were happening throughout the country and the poor were being exploited, raped and murdered.  Archbishop Romero was assassinated because he was willing to  stand up against gross injustice.  The movie portrayed many different ways individuals who claim to be Christians react to what is going on around them.  The issue of what it means to “do justice” was the focus of our staff discussion.  The questions that we wrestled with following this film are still provoking our imagination and dominating our conversations.

We started the weekend out early, on Thursday night we had family over for dinner, my parents, Micah and Jessica, Daniel and Lexi. 

On Friday we settled with our insurance and a roofing company to get a new roof on our house after it was damaged by a major hail storm.  Friday morning into the afternoon Topher Philgreen and I worked on finishing touches of our Youthfront Budget with our budget directors.  OK, that part wasn't loads of fun but it has to be done.  Friday night Vicki and I saw the movie Like Dandelion Dust starring Mira Sorvino which has won several film festival awards.  This is a really good movie that resulted in the two of us having a serious cry.  Trailer below.

Saturday morning we went to the City Market to stock up for the week, yes... home cooked meals.  We hooked up with Micah and Jessica, and also ran into Vicki's parents, brother, sister-in-law and niece.  Saturday evening Daniel and Lexi came over and we enjoyed the fruits of the market.  We ate on the deck in perfect weather and watched the S.F. Giants beat the Phillies.

On Sunday morning Vicki and I got ready for the Chiefs game and planned to arrive early to take in the Arrowhead atmosphere.  The last thing I did before  we walked out the door to head to the stadium was grab our season ticket package.  I freaked out at first because I couldn't find tickets for the game.  I looked at the parking pass, saw the schedule and started laughing when I realized that the game wasn't in KC but in Houston.  Stink.  It would have been a beautiful day at Arrowhead.  Instead we watched the Chiefs let a big lead slip away in the last few minutes of the game.

After church on Sunday evening we headed to the Uptown Theater for Sufjan Stevens in concert.  We went with Micah and Jessica and had great seats in the front row of the balcony.  The venue was sold out and filled with tons of friends from Youthfront, Jacob's Well, NTS, Youth Workers, etc.  Sufjan was stunningly good.  What a great way to wrap up a wonderful weekend at home in KANSAS CITY.  Only bummers of the weekend were a Chiefs loss and Giants losing game #2, although Jeremy Affeldt pitched well.

I wanna stay home... 

 

 

A nurse like Jessica...

As Jessica, our daughter and Micah, our son-in-law are approaching their first wedding anniversary.  Here is a recent post by Micah talking about Jessica.  I particularly like his last paragraph.

 

Had you asked me if being married to a nurse meant that I saw her in the trenches helping people 7 months ago, I would have said “no.” Now I would say “yes.” Jessica and I were on our way home from an Easter celebration last spring when we witnessed a horrible motorcycle accident. She was among the first on the scene to try and help the person. It’s tough to remember how things actually happened, but it is as if she leaped out of the car while I was still driving to go and help.

Almost two weeks ago, a FBI chase ended with a crash just a few houses down from our front door. Jessica was home that morning, ran out of the house, borrowed paper towels from a neighbor, and began providing care to a pregnant woman who was in the car being chased. Apparently the man driving the car was wanted for questioning surrounding a homicide and the woman and her 6 year old child were also in the car. After helping the woman with her injuries, Jess sat with the young boy for awhile until ambulances arrived and took them away to be treated.

Then just a week ago we were celebrating my sister’s birthday with her at Oklahoma Joe’s (no doubt the best barbecue in the world) when an elderly man appeared to be struggling. Well before ambulances arrived, Jessica was talking with the man, taking his pulse, asking critical questions and assessing him—still in her scrubs from work that day.

These are just a few instances I have been able to witness or have heard about outside the walls of the hospital recently. Add to those stories the countless times she’s been involved in lifesaving efforts at Research Medical Center and taking care of patients who appreciate her so much they send cards and flowers after they leave. She’s amazing. When I’m old and wrinkly, unable to care for myself, and borderline insane, I’m comforted by the thought that she’ll take great care of me. And when I am experiencing any of those aforementioned symptoms between now and then I have the same assurance. She’s wonderful. If only more people in the world could be taken care of by a nurse like Jessica.

Just Two Weeks Away

Andy Root & Enroute

On Thursday, October 28 Youthfront will once again host Andy Root for a Youth Worker Training Day in the morning. In the afternoon, Barefoot will provide an optional, bonus Enroute training workshop - details below.

Andy will spend the morning and into the early afternoon with us, discussing material coming out of another of his newer books The Promise of Despair. Titled the "The Melting of Identity," Andy describes our conversation as such:

"One of the greatest pursuits for late modern people (especially those of younger generations) is to construct an identity for themselves. But as we have seen recently, the fluidity of our culture does not allow for our identities to be carved in stone. Instead our identities are always transitioning with new jobs, new marriages, and new ideas. The cultural necessity of identity transition can be painful and difficult; it is easy to feel lost within the transition. What then should the church do?"

There is no cost to you for this event, but a $10 donation is encouraged. Barefoot Ministries will once again partner with us, and will graciously provide lunch from Oklahoma Joes.