I got a phone call last night from a good friend. She wanted to let me know that a student of ours had committed suicide last week and they thought that the services were to be held today. AR was a great kid with some nasty things to overcome and he tried hard. So did his dad in trying to find help when they moved from VA to MD. I remember AR wanting to help and when things were bad, helping others actually gave him a purpose and a reason to try harder. So I'm sad because this life is gone but am prayerful that he is no longer in pain and is in heaven.
So...if you're reading this and you are despairing about life...ask for help. Email me. Call a friend. Don't stop asking.
It's early and I haven't done a lot of research yet but I'll come back with some resources...both for where I work and nationally. Start here...American Foundation for Suicide Prevention There is a lot of good information as well as links for both people in crisis and those that love and support them. I'll keep looking and keep posting.
I pray that you are all blessed with someone who is looking out for you and I know that God is there for you too.
T.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Musings in Mission
So...here it is...my very own blog. I hope this space becomes a jumping off point for youth and for adults as we continue to grow and develop our faith lives. And here I go...
I've been inundated with the many -ologies of theology this past week (I started seminary and went through a week of orientation). It's hard not to take the theories and to compare them with current practices in the churches that I attend (yes..churches plural...).
The one that has been on my mind a lot is the idea that church is of the people and by the people and...where are all the people? People my age (early 30s)? Youth (yes...you high school age people)? I realize that there are compromises that one makes about church and other life events/responsibilities, but in ministering to kids and then to adults my age, I feel a void. I also hear that church is boring and has no meaning (which isn't true but that's another post)...which then brings me back to my original question...where are the people?
What would it take to get people to not participate in traveling sports teams - or have those sports teams not have tournaments and games on Sundays? What would it take to get young adults to church on a Saturday night before they head out with their friends? How amazing woul dit be that every worship service ended up with "standing room only"? How do you teach or model that church can actually be interesting if you open your heart and let the spirit in?
So...that's one part of my mission...to bring relevance and importance to church for the youth. Sunday Breakfast club starts soon and I hope that the youth see it as an important venue for asking those questions and trying something outside their comfort zone to get meaning through and out of worship.
I've been inundated with the many -ologies of theology this past week (I started seminary and went through a week of orientation). It's hard not to take the theories and to compare them with current practices in the churches that I attend (yes..churches plural...).
The one that has been on my mind a lot is the idea that church is of the people and by the people and...where are all the people? People my age (early 30s)? Youth (yes...you high school age people)? I realize that there are compromises that one makes about church and other life events/responsibilities, but in ministering to kids and then to adults my age, I feel a void. I also hear that church is boring and has no meaning (which isn't true but that's another post)...which then brings me back to my original question...where are the people?
What would it take to get people to not participate in traveling sports teams - or have those sports teams not have tournaments and games on Sundays? What would it take to get young adults to church on a Saturday night before they head out with their friends? How amazing woul dit be that every worship service ended up with "standing room only"? How do you teach or model that church can actually be interesting if you open your heart and let the spirit in?
So...that's one part of my mission...to bring relevance and importance to church for the youth. Sunday Breakfast club starts soon and I hope that the youth see it as an important venue for asking those questions and trying something outside their comfort zone to get meaning through and out of worship.
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