Mike King

Hey Youth Workers, Let's Begin 2014 With Some Play Time

Hey all youth workers in the Kansas City area, on January 9th we are going to try to get 2014 started off right by taking some time to play together at the Gage Center in Blue Springs, MO.  This is a fun place - check it out here -> www.gagecenter.com  The Gage Center will also provide lunch for us.  The experience will include:

• Dodge Bow
• Largest indoor ropes course in the Midwest
• Inflatables, giant foam pit, trampolines & rock wall

If you can come, email Jamie Roach at [email protected] and let us know.

 

Justice-Centered Mission Experiences, in KC and Mexico

Everyone gives lip service to helping without hurting.  We all know about toxic charity.  But your mission trips and your service projects still don't look any different.  And every summer we bypass our own city's blighted neighborhoods on our way to help out another city with theirs.

 

This summer, do justice right.  Come alongside vulnerable neighborhoods and bear their burdens with them.  But go deeper.  Unearth the tragedies that have been inflicted upon them.  Learn how they got that way and what we can do to heal these wounds by more than good intentions.  This summer, join a Youthfront Missional Journey in the Argentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas or at our newly-reopened site in Croc, Mexico where we'll help your church move from charity and mercy to justice.   Talk to one of our staff today.

 

A Liturgical Transformation... A free download for the first 50

Several months ago I was asked by Dr. Fred Edie, Associate Professor of the Practice of Christian Education at Duke Divinity School to write an article for an edition of the Liturgy Journal in which he was serving as guest editor.  Here is how he approached me, "At the Dallas National Youth Worker Convention I snuck into several prayer times led by members of the Youthfront staff. I was impressed by their passion and, obviously, by their attentiveness to a rule of life rooted in liturgical prayer. Since this is not your mom and dad's evangelicalism (or youth ministry, for that matter), I was deeply curious about how this vision took root, how Youthfront, an organization with an historic Evangelical heritage, their staff and other young people are engaging with it, and why they imagined it is an important way of being in youth ministry in the present age. Can you write an article telling the story of how this came about?” 

I entitled the article, A Liturgical Transformation.  The first 50 people who click on this link can download a free copy.

WHO SAID THIS? I Can't Stop Thinking About This...

Several days ago, I got an Advent Daily Dig featuring a quote that I can't quit thinking of.  I've read it to a few people and asked them to guess who said this.  Most people think of Pope Francis, which makes sense because he has us talking about the kind of issues that this quote addresses.  We are talking about it because through his behavior he is pushing the conversation captured by the following quote to the forefront.  The Pope has been called a Marxist.  Jesus was called names also, it goes with the territory.  So now, for the quote. 

"Let everyone examine himself in the light of the Gospel and see hoLew far he is from Christ, and what is the character of his faith and love. There are many who are enkindled with dreamy devotion, and when they hear of the poverty of Christ, they are almost angry with the citizens of Bethlehem. They denounce their blindness and ingratitude, and think, if they had been there, they would have shown the Lord and his mother a more kindly service, and would not have permitted them to be treated so miserably. But they do not look by their side to see how many of their fellow humans need their help, and which they ignore in their misery. Who is there upon earth that has no poor, miserable, sick, erring ones around him? Why does he not exercise his love to those? Why does he not do to them as Christ has done to him?"    Who said this?  (The answer below)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martin Luther, the Father of the Protestant Reformation

 

I'm Loving This Data. I Hope It Silences Some of Our Critics.

Over the last several years, I, and Youthfront have recieved criticism for challenging young people to cooperate with God's Mission in the world to bring restoration and redemption as a significant part of their Christian Formation.  Doing works of mercy and justice have been criticised as being a replacement for evangelism.  I can't begin to tell you how often we've heard a label of "social justice" attached to us as a criticism.  Most of the time, I've, we (Youthfront) absorb the criticism and continue to do what God has called us to do.  But, to be honest, it often stings because it comes sometimes from friends, or former staff of alumni who want things to stay how "they used to be."  For sure, I, we no longer train young people to engage in evangelism that starts the narrative with the fall of humanity into sin.  The story starts with God creating human beings in the image of God and that is good news.  Yes, the story includes the sinful fall of human beings.  We are all broken and in need of the work of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who brings redemptions and ultimately the restoration of all things.  We who know Christ are called to cooperate with God's movement to bring about the restoration of all things - our broken relationship with God, our own broken relationship with ourselves, our broken relationship with others and our broken relationship with the entire cosmos.  Fortunately, those who have been critical because they believe their culturally shaped understanding of Christianity is the "only truth" are being exposed more and more as having a theology that is more nationalistically and politically inspired.  Those who are embracing a more robust understanding of Gospel and the life of Jesus Christ who believe that Jesus didn't come just to get us into heaven when we die but to pick up our cross (not a democrat cross or a republican cross, and certainly not a rich cross or an American cross) and follow Jesus, bearing witness to the good news, to love mercy, do justice and walk humbly with our God. This gospel is one that young people are willing to give their lives to, and YES, they are engaged in evangelism.  Here is the just released data from the BARNA Group.  Take note, "Millennials are the only generation among whom evangelism is significantly on the rise."

All that follows in the rest of this post is from the Barna Group from their report on The Most Evangelistic Generation.

They've been called "the social justice generation," and for good reason—Millennials are actively taking up the cause of the poor, the oppressed, the orphan and the widow. Yet the most common critique leveled at this surge in social compassion is that it comes at a great expense. Sure, skeptics argue, they might feed the hungry and free the captives in this life, but what about the next? According to this view, Millennials are elevating physical needs over spiritual needs and forgoing evangelism altogether. Yet the latest Barna research reveals this is not the case. In fact, in answer to the question of evangelism on the rise or in decline, Millennials are a rare case indeed. While the evangelistic practices of all other generations have either declined or remained static in the past few years, Millennials are the only generation among whom evangelism is significantly on the rise. Their faith-sharing practices have escalated from 56% in 2010 to 65% in 2013. Not only that, but born again Millennials share their faith more than any other generation today. Nearly two-thirds (65%) have presented the Gospel to another within the past year, in contrast to the national average of about half (52%) of born again Christians.

2014 CAMP REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

YOUTHFRONT CAMP WEST

 

Youthfront Camp West is perfect for upper elementary and middle school age students!  We are passionate about bringing youth into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ so we do camp in a way that allows authentic discovery and growth for each camper. We do this using three primary values...

 

Fun. There's no denying that a huge part of being a kid is having FUN. We believe one of the best ways to worship God is through wholesome play. A typical camp day holds plenty of time for activities like swimming, a high ropes course, theme nights, paintball ($7), riding ATVs ($7, ages 12+), the Blob, karaoke, sand volleyball, water sliding, and more!

 

Environments. We provide an atmosphere where students grow in their relationship with God while having a blast in an environment specially tailored to their needs. Time and space is carved out for students to connect with their creator through play, worship, community, scripture, solitude, prayer and reflection.

 

Community. We are about learning and living in community. Doing so sparks greater passion and pushes us to think more deeply as a result of being in community. We also surround students with adults who have an overflow of an intimate relationship with Jesus as they share life together and build meaningful relationships.

A Free Advent Resource for Youth Workers to Help Families of Young People

- Youthfront Presents To You -

 

Advent 2013: Journey To The Manger

 

The word advent means the coming or arrival of something important.  Advent is the season when the church celebrates the coming or arrival of Jesus.  The Advent Season is all about anticipating the arrival of "God with us" as a human being born in Bethlehem.  Traditionally, Advent is celebrated on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Youthfront invites you to join us during this Advent season by participating in this Journey to the Manger, a guide available to you through download.

 

Suggestions for observing Advent together as a family:

1.  Create the right atmosphere.  On Sunday night, turn down the lights, light some candles and play some soft Christmas music.  Gather your family together in a comfortable room and sit close together.  

2.  Go through the appropriate week's lesson provided in this guide. 

a.  Set up the manger scene as described for that week

b.  Read the assigned Scripture with quiet enthusiasm.  Consider taking turns reading each time.  

c.  Select some questions that seem to be most appropriate for your family and discuss them together.  

d.  Engage in the activity together.  Be sure to read through the activity beforehand so that you are prepared.  (Note - week  2 the activity is before the Scripture reading and discussion).

e.  Read the closing prayer.

f.  Sing a Christmas song together.

 

3.  Enjoy a favorite family snack together.  Consider choosing a snack that is usually enjoyed only during the holidays.  Over the years it is fun to see how your family comes to associate that snack with Advent and Christmas.  

 

The most important thing to remember is that being together is the most important thing! Don't try or expect to create the perfect evening (especially if you have a two year old or an adolescent!)  It is not about perfection but being present to God and one another.  Expect that there will be fidgeting, bizarre questions, distractions and maybe even some fighting.  That is all OK.  Know that what you are doing matters deeply and will be remembered.  It will shape and form your family for years to come.   

 

Click here to download the Advent guide.