Mike King

A Celtic Prayer and Video for St. Patrick's Day

My friend, Jeff Johnson, recorded this based on a prayer attributed to Columba of Iona. I've had the privilege of taking a pilgrimage to the remarkable little island and "thin place" of Iona. This video was shot at Columba’s Bay, Iona, Scotland.

A Prayer for Women on International Women's Day

Today is International Women’s Day. Below is a prayer written for women around the world by Deborah Hirt and brought to my attention by Christine Sine.

She thinks about all woman who deal with marginalization at many levels. She especially focuses on women who face physical dangers and she weaves her thoughts among the Prayer of Saint Francis.

Lord, make me an instrument of peace:

Bless all women who daily strive to bring peace to their communities, their homes and their hearts. Give them strength to continue to turn swords into plowshares.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love:

We pray for all women who face prejudice, inequality and gender disparities. Help us see and face the discrimination against women in all the many forms it may take.

Where there is injury, pardon:

Comfort all women who suffer from the pain of war, violence, and abuse. Help them to become instruments of their own reconciliation and peace.

Where there is division, unity:

Forgive all women and men who let differences breed hate and discrimination. Let your example of valuing all of creation help us to see that we are equal partners in the stewardship of your world.

Where there is darkness, light; where there is untruth, truth:

Comfort all women who struggle in the darkness of abuse, poverty, and loneliness. May we stand with them in light to acknowledge their suffering and strive to remove the burdens of shame or embarrassment.

Where there is doubt, true faith:

We pray for all women who live in fear of their husbands, fathers, and forces that control their lives. Help them to be empowered to be their true selves through your everlasting love and faith.

Where there is despair, hope:

We pray for all women who live in the despair of poverty, violence, trafficking, slavery, and abuse. May the light of your love bring them hope.

Where there is sadness, new joy:

Help us to see the strength and goodness in all women and men.

Transform our hearts to celebrate the love and grace of all people.

And may we be blessed with the courage of St. Clare of Assisi to follow our own path of love for you and all sisters and brothers.

AMEN.

Teen Staff - Make An Investment

For years, we have offered our Teen Staff program to high school students. It has been said to be one of our greatest strengths. This program is one element of our high school ministry. We believe, as many of you have said, that this program is a rich program that contributes to the spiritual growth of our teens in a way no other program can. 

 

As a result, we are dramatically expanding our Teen Staff program, not only at camp but also throughout the ministry of Youthfront. With the expansion of Middle School Camp programs moving to both Youthfront locations, the launching of a new Day Camp Program, the expansion of our Something to Eat initiative and other programs being developed, more opportunities are available for teenagers to serve. And, we can involve a lot more high school students in our Teen Staff program each week! It's a great win-win!

In order to grow, we have to fund this program. As with any program, Teen Staff requires significant resources to operate. To help us offset the significant ministry costs, we are creating a Teen Staff Fund where donors can sponsor a Teen Staffer. We need to fund each position at $100 per week. Teen Staff students are covering the first amount by contributing $25, leaving $75 that we need you to fill. Your $75 donation sponsors a Teen Staff position for one week. We have 700 positions to fill for the summer at all our camp locations. We need you. Will you consider sponsoring one week (or more) for a gift of $75 per week?

 

An Amazing Opportunity for Young Adults Interested in Youth Ministry through the Iona Project at Cal Farley's

Cal Farley’s is an internationally renown residential community near Amarillo, Texas open to at-risk children ages 5 to 18. It is one of the best programs in the world for helping at-risk youth. Mike Wilhelm, Senior Chaplain at Cal Farley's, is a good friend and donor of Youthfront. Mike has brought several Youthfront staff to Cal Farley's for training staff. He has also brought Cal Farley residents to Youthfront camps. Mike is a giant of a man and an amazing spiritual leader. Mike launched a program called the Iona Project that is making a big impact.

The Iona Project is an innovative youth ministry internship at Cal Farley's (paid with benefits and housing). The program is currently in its third year. Participants live life together as an intentional community-- -fixed hour prayer - a weekly community meal - weekly spiritual formation - cutting edge trauma-informed childcare training - and soul-shaping Boys Ranch youth ministry responsibilities! Here's an important feature: The Iona community is comprised of 6 members: 3 gals and 3 guys. It is a one-year commitment with one guy and one gal being selected each year for a second year, to join with the 4 new incoming members. So there's an overlap built into the program that gives the community a seamless nature. Thus the beauty of the program is that it has great stability while at the same time considering the nomadic nature of unmarried millennials. Here's a sample of the things they do: Lectio continua: The community's 9-month consecutive read through entire Bible; Weekly lectio divina, utilizing the church calendar RCL readings; Group spiritual reading of Bonhoeffer's, "Life Together"; Group Enneagram work; No less than 56 hours of childcare training, that includes Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) and Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). Participants present a year-end reflection paper to the Cal Farley's leadership group. Those completing all requirements of the program receive a “Certificate in Spiritual Formation & Youth Ministry” from the Cal Farley’s Childcare Institute. Mike is currently recruiting now for 2017. If you know young adults who are looking for an amazing, challenging, yet rewarding opportunity, have them contact Mike Wilhelm - mikewilhelm@calfarley.org

Check out more details at beformed.org

 

LaCygne - A Place for High School Youth to Come Fully Alive

LaCygne 2015 from Youthfront on Vimeo.

 

I Think Evangelicalism is Destined to Die of Its Own Success...

"I think evangelicalism is destined to die of its own success and it will go the way of mainstream Protestantism because there’s just—it depends far too much on charismatic pastors, and charisma will only take you so far. Evangelicalism is constantly under the burden of re-inventing the wheel and you just get tired. For example, I’m a big advocate of Morning Prayer. I love Morning Prayer. We do the same thing every morning. We don’t have to make it up. We know we’re going to say these prayers. We know we’re going to join in reading of the psalm. We’re going to have these Scripture readings. I mean, there’s much to be said for Christianity as repetition and I think evangelicalism doesn’t have enough repetition in a way that will form Christians to survive in a world that constantly tempts us to always think we have to do something new."

Stanley Hauerwas in an interview with Al Moehler

Hey Pastors, Youth Pastors, Church Staff... Start off 2014 Right.

If you are a pastor or staff member of a church, we want to extend an invitation for you to join us at LaCygne any Monday or Tuesday night in February. You are welcome to stay both nights and leave sometime on Wednesday or just one of the nights. You can set your arrival and departure times.

This is a great way to start off 2014 with a time to replenish your life with Christ.

LaCygne is a community centered on 3 daily prayer gatherings, contemplation, and serving others. You are invited to study, rest, pray, walk the trails, or work. The community will take care of everything for you at LaCygne: a private room to stay in with a bed made up, meals, and space for work or study. There’s wifi available too.

The community prays at 8:30am, 12pm, and 5:30pm. On Monday nights prayer is at 8pm instead of 5:30. Prayer times last 15-20 minutes. You are invited to join the community for prayer if you would like, but you are certainly free to use the time however you wish. There are no requirements. You are free to join the community for meals or eat in solitude, or with others who have joined you for this time.

This special absolutely free of charge. It would be a gift to us to be able to serve and host you. LaCygne is about 1 hour south of downtown Kansas City on highway 69.

If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please visit https://youthfront.com/lacygne-february-special/

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.

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.

Join Me and Some Great Friends at REFRESH

Where:

Youthfront LaCygne 22626 E. 2400 Rd. LaCygne, KS 66040

Youthfront LaCygne is set on 600 acres of beautiful prairie land, dotted with trees, streams, a lake and sacred spaces, all inviting people to discover what it is to be fully alive.

When:

October 11 and 12

Time:

7:30 on Friday – 5:00p on Saturday

What to expect:

This retreat is not going to be filled with sessions you feel obligated to attend.  Rather, you will have unhurried time to play with your kids, take a walk through the autumn leaves, hang out in the snack shop with friends, tell stories around the campfire and pray together.  You will be encouraged to slow down and connect with those you love most.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION