Attention Youth Leaders: Converge

Very Excited what 3DYC and the Central District of the Missionary Church has put together for January 14-16, 2011.  Converge is targeted for upper class High School Student Leaders.

Check out the promo video:

Converge 2011 Promo - Students from converge on Vimeo.

I've been asked to be the facilitator/presenter on the topic of Global Awareness and Justice Issues.  What I love about the setup of this conference is that I will not simply be speaking on this training track, but instead creating space for students to discuss, question, and challenge each other over the topic.  On top of that, I've already had the opportunity to interview two great minds on the topic: Tony Campolo and Kara Powell.  There are three other tracks being offered as a part of this conference:

• Faith and Culture (Facilitator Clinton Faupel.  Video Presenters David Crowder and Dan Merchant)
• Leadership Development (Facilitator Terry Linhart. Video Presenters Bo Boshers and Josh Griffin)
• Innovation for Change (Facilitator Carrie Badertscher.  Video Presenters Austin Gutwein and Zach Hunter)

The 4 general sessions will be split between the 4 topics.  Students will select on of the topics to be their track to do through the whole weekend.

At NMC, we are requiring all our Summer Missions Trip team members to participate in the event.  We are also looking to take several of our key Student Leaders.

If you are youth pastor or leader, I would highly recommend checking out this conference.  It's going to be top-notch. 

Links:

Converge Website

Converge on Twitter

Hitting the Road

I'm heading out for the next 11 days for some family time.  There will be occassional timed posts or a pic or two I may send from our time, but blogging will be sporadic at best!

How Do I Know?

We are in the midst of a 5 week series titled Happily Ever After? (thanks to  Josh and the gang at Saddleback HSMfor letting us rip of the series and artwork).

The series is focused on seeking to discover God's views on High School romance, dating and sexuality.

In week 2 of our Series, we split out the gals and guys for one of my favorite nights.  I led a guys panel with the girls, and Geoff interviewed a gals panel for the guys where we answered questions to help better understand the opposite sex.

In the gals panel, one question we weren't able to get to was, "What are some of the qualities I should be looking for in a guy that will help me know he has integrity and loves God?

I promised the gals I would get our guys panels response and post it here on the blog so they can see.  Here's what the guys said:

• Does he value honesty?  Is he an honest person?
• Is he Kind - to all, not just those he's trying to impress?
• Does he show respect - to females, in particular?
• Does he treats his mom well?
• Has he set his boundaries set far away from the sin line?
• Would you be proud to introduce him to your parents?
• Is the guy “other-centered” or “self-centered”?
• How does the guy treat others? Especially the “least of these”? Is he kind and considerate or does he make fun of others?
• How does the guy treat girls? No one is perfect and we all make mistakes, but does he consistently exhibit the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
• Does the guy encourage the girl…spur her on in her walk with the Lord? Does a relationship with the guy seem to assist in drawing her closer to the Lord or is it pulling her further away from God?
• Does his life show evidence that he is following Christ?  It is a myth to believe that someone has truly accepted Christ, yet there is no sign of a transformed life.
• Where are his priorities?  How important are church attendance or other opportunities to deepen his walk with God?
• Does he speak up when given opportunities to talk about his relationship with God?  Some guys may be more quiet than others, but if he never takes the opportunity to talk, there may be room for questions.

I love the thoughts the guys shared.  Hope you pay attention to them gals.

Hey mature Christian guys, throw out some of your thoughts on the topic in the comments section if you'd like.

My New Favorite Song

My mind and heart has been in Uganda a lot lately.  Since our 2nd child received a gender, a face, and a name, I long to get him home with us.

Last week, my friend Corey gave me a great opportunity to attend The Story of Your Life Tour with Jonny Diaz, Josh Wilson and Matthew West.  The main reason Corey asked me to come was because of a song on Matthew's New Album, The Story of Your Life.  Matthew asked fans to send him their life stories.  He received 10,000.  He went to a cabin for two months, and out of the stories came up with 11 songs inspired by the stories.

One of the stories was about an international adoption.  As Matthew shared the story and then the song, a smile came on my face and tears had to be held back, because it hit the heart of the "One Life at A Time" theme that ties to our little guy joining our family.  Enjoy the tune, and go out and buy the album.  I recommend the deluxe version with the videos explaining the story behind each song.

The story behind the song:

One Less by Matthew West (The Story Behind The Song) from emicmg on Vimeo.

The song:

The 50 States as Movies

Interesting.

Link love to Cinematical for the image.

What Gets Me Fired Up #9 - A Change of Scenery

I live in a community and culture that tends to embrace change at a very slow pace.  I am a member and victim of this culture.  I'm a member in that I like to have a level of comfort and pacing as a part of my life.  I'm a victim that deep down, my creative tendencies love to switch it up and try something different.

I especially benefit from a change of scenary.  A few examples from this week that have made this very clear:

• The Fall:  Something comes alive in me during the Fall Season.  I find the creation-lover in me coming to life.  Trees, crops, and sunsets sum up why I love this time of year.  In all cases it is the literal change in scenery that is unfolding before my eyes.  I see the reality of a mighty, loving, and beautiful Creator as I enjoy the changing of his creation.
• The Office Switch:  Jason Thompson took one more step into the dark side by moving out of the Student Ministries wing and into the Main Office area.  In the process, we made some shifts which put me in Jason's old office.  This change of scenery has me fired up to be at work.
• Study Time:  If I really need to get some preperation or study time in for a message.  I'm best if it's done outside of the church.  I switch between ou Main Street Coffee House and Martin's.  But in both cases, getting out of the church setting and having a change in scenery fires up my mind.
• Vacation Time:  After church Sunday, Janelle, Katylynn and I will be heading to Detroit for the night then on to Florida for 11 days of Vacation.  I'm so fired up for family and fun time, but I'm also up for getting out of Nappanee.  Not because I hate Nappanee (I'm actually quite fond of it), but because there's just something in me that gets refreshed when getting out of the normal environment and into another one.

I love the familiarity of my home, my family, my job, and my Savior.   At the same time I hate the monotony that can come in my life if I just keep going through the motions of day to day.  Give me a change of scenery, and I give you some extra effort because that's what gets me fired up.

Went to put gas in my car. One less part to my car now.

Life With a Daughter...

This morning we have been playing with Strawberry friends. After having a picnic, we put them in a circle for story time. Now they have all decided to take a nap.
It's been a fairly testosterone-less morning.

What's In A Name?

So, people have been asking us, why Moses for his name?

It's an incredibly complicated answer (not really).  Since we started the process, Janelle and I had been talking through names.  We had a good narrowed down list for girl names, but had nothing on the guy name end (for some reason, Janelle just couldn't get into Peyton Manning Prenkert... she's so stubborn sometimes).

When we received word of a baby boy in Uganda that was matched to us, we were also informed that the orphanage caring for him gave him the name Moses.  After hearing about him, we had to shake off the shock that we were having a boy instead of a girl (for some reason, we had both pictured a girl... probably because we currently have a girl).  Then, we both talked about the name given him.  Upon the finalization of adoption, we can grant our son any name we'd like.  The more we thought about it, we really like the name and implication of Moses.  

Our ultimate prayer is that, as God has brought us a child in the brush, we will be able to raise him to grab hold of the divine calling and purpose God has given him.

An Adoption Update: A Big Announcement

13 Months ago I made a big announcement here on the blog concerning the Prenkert family... we were growing by one, this time through an international adoption. 

HERE'S THE INFORMATION ON THE PROCESS SINCE THEN:

We've gone through a lot of steps and a fairly steep learning curve since that announcement.  As we prayed through our decision, God gave us clear confirmation on the organization (Holt intl.) and the country (Uganda) for our adoption.  The trick has been that Uganda is a Pilot program with Holt, meaning they are just getting started with working in that country.  Early on, we were informed that the positive would need to be prepared for potential delays and unknowns. We have definitely experienced both in the process.  In communication with Holt, the hopeful timing has fluctuated between months and years on certain aspects of the process. They have been very honest, gracious, forthcoming in available information... simply all-around fantastic to work with.

The process is has been tedious.  Initially, Holt outlined it to us in this manner:

1. Choose A Placing Agency: Not all agencies are equal. Not all approaches are the same.
2. Choose a Country Program: Aim to have at least one program in mind when you apply to Holt.
3. Apply: Complete Holt’s application online or return a printed application by mail.
4. Homestudy: During this 2-4 month process, you will explore issues related to being an adoptive family, in-depth, with your social worker.
5. Prepare the Dossier: “Dossier” is a formal term for a collection of documents prepared in a specific way.
6. Apply for USCIS Approval: You must obtain permission from the U.S. government to bring a child into the United States from another country as an immediate member of your family.
7. Wait and Prepare: The waiting time for a referral varies by country.
8. Your Child Referral: A full-disclosure agency, Holt strives to deliver accurate and thorough information about your child.
9. Meeting your child: Once legal steps are complete, Holt will help coordinate arrangements to meet your child.
10. Post Placement: Upon your return home, your social worker will visit your family.
11. Finalize or Re-finalize your Child’s Adoption: Several months after your child is home, Holt will issue consent for you to finalize your child’s adoption in the United States.
12. Life together: Adoption is a lifelong journey.

In August, we were informed it was time to begin steps 6 and 7, which was much later than planned.  We were also informed that, due to complications in the court systems of Uganda, we needed to be prepared for 2 trips to the country.  Finally, we were told that although there was not set timetable, we needed to be prepared for as much as a 2 year wait before we would be bringing a child home. 

NOW, HERE'S THE CRAZY COOL EXCITING PART:

We went to work immediately on our USCIS and Dossier.  Two weeks later, I received a call from our representative at Holt.  Two weeks later we received a completely unexpected call.  Holt had received several referrals from Uganda and felt they had found the a child that was to be a member of our family.  So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to our son, Moses:

 Moses was born July 2009, and is currently being cared for by Ugandan Holt partners in the capital city of Kampala.  He is a healthy little boy, and we are extremely excited to get him home with us.

So, now what? That’s the same question we asked. Although we don’t have a lot of answers, we can share with you what we do know.
We have completed our Dossier (international lawyer papers) and have sent it to our agency. From here it will be authenticated and sent to Uganda. The Ugandan partners will secure the Probation Officers Report that is in favor of the adoption. The lawyers will work on affidavits for the courts and hand it to the Court Registrar for a court date. This whole process will take up to 6 months. So this means that our first trip should take place in the next 6 months (around March). We will bring Moses home on our second trip, hopefully 2 months after that.

Again, these are hopeful dates, but international adoption has to have a high level of flexibility when it comes to timing (meaning 6 months could easily become a year). Although we would love to have him home with us as soon as possible, we are trusting God and His timing.

Although he is halfway around the world right now, we already rejoice in the 4th member that has joined the Prenkert family.  God is good, and we look forward to being together as a family soon!

Story Time before Story Time

It was determined this morning that all friends need to read a book in bed. Little Minnie is reading Dr Seuss ABC. Big Minnie Strawberry Shortcake. Bubby the Bible book.

What Gets Me Fired Up #8 - Adoption

I recently read that if one out of every six Christian couples in the world were to adopt a child, there would be no orphans in the world.

When Janelle and I were presented with the thought of adoption, I was the hesitant one... so many preconceived notions and fears.  Lot's of questions...

1. Would I love the child the same way I would if I were to "have my own"?
2. What if the child is devastated when learning he/she is not "ours"?
3.  Am I giving up on the potential miracle of us getting pregnant if we take the route of adoption?

Thanks to the prompting of God's Spirit and an amazingly bold and compassionate wife, I was able to open up to taking the route of having a family through adoption.  From that point on, my questions were not answered.  Instead, I discovered they were completely the wrong questions.

1. I need not worry about loving the child as if she were my "own".  She is OUR child as much as any child could be OURS.  This means two things, any child is ultimately entrusted to our care.  We don't own any.  Yet, to the level at which she has taken on our name, joined our line, she is a Prenkert as much as any other Prenkert.
2. So I'm concerned she'll be devastated in learning she's not "ours"?  Read thoughts directly above.
3. Rather than giving up on miracles, I have experienced more moments where I've thought or said, "Only God could accomplish that" than any other situation I've faced in my life.  

Don't get me wrong, adoption is an amazing adventure filled with angst, uncertainty, expenses, and potential pitfalls. As we've been through it once and are going through it again, we know it will never work the same way twice.  Yet, a simple hug and a kiss from a little girl I call "Skippy" are enough to remind me that it is all worth it.  It's Skippy along with an update on our current adoption tomorrow that confirm adoption is what gets me fired up!

What Gets Me Fired Up #7 - Smurf Turf

I've never been a big fan of college football.  I blame it on growing up in the shadow of the Golden Dome.  I just never got into the Fighting Irish (even when they were good).  I'm not a hater.  Just not a fan.

Over the past 10 years, I have become a die-hard Colts fan and avid NFL follower.  Really, in all honest the Indianapolis Colts are what gets me fired up.

But. this year I have decided to give College Football a try.  I figure to really get into it I need a team.  In 2007, I watched the Fiesta Bowl (I seriously watch that little) and it was quite possibly the best football game I've ever seen.  Boise State shocked Oklahoma in overtime.  Well, Boise State is no longer a team that schocks.  They will likely be the #1 team in BCS rankings when they are released next week.  

I've decided Boise State is my team.  This is for multiple reasons...

• Nobody in this area is a big fan, so I get to always be the Bronco apologist in discussions.
• They are a contraversial team in that they play in such a weak conference.  Makes it quite enjoyable when talking to SEC, BIG 10, or BIG 12 fans (Nebraska is losing as I write this, by the way).
• They have a blue field.  I mean, come on!
• I actually enjoy their style of Football.

To say the Boise State Football gets me fired up at the same level as previous posts would be out of line, but it is quite enjoyable being that annoying guy that incessantly tweets and comments about his team, which gets others pretty fired up.

D.R.C. Revisited

Watching this video took me back to 4 days in April that have forever changed my life. 

Rape as a weapon. I saw this first hand while in the D.R.C. I heard the stories of multiple women in multiple settings who were living similar stories to the video. 
It is heartbreaking.
It is wrong.
It is necessary that the people of God speak up for these who are not being heard. 
What can be done? 
Here's a few thoughts.

1. Pray.  Pray for those victims of rape who are hurting.  Pray that the Almighty God would wrap his arms of love and healing around each and every woman of the Congo who has been ravaged.
2. Conflict-free phones.  Ask your cell phone provider if the minerals used to make your phone's computer chip are conflict-free.  If they tell you they do not know, ask them what they are doing to ensure that their cell phones are not continuing the savage rape and murder of millions (yes millions) in the D.R.C.
   *to take it a step further, consider not purchasing a cell phone unless it is guaranteed to be free of conflict-minerals.
3. Support the Congo Project.  While Caleb Bislow and I were in Goma, we met two amazing women who were provided hope and healing to rape victims.  Caleb returned with a burden to see the Jehovah Jireh get a new location for their ministry.   With Jason and Rachael Thompson's leadership as well as the generosity of multiple supporters, the money was raised and the building purchased!  There is still potential or improvements on the building and furnishing the inside.  Check out the project's Facebook Fan page for more info on this.

What Gets Me Fired Up #6 - Spiritual Grandparents

At NMC, we've placed a high value on multiplication or spiritual reproduction.  One thing I often pray for is that our students will become spiritual grandparents.

What I'm really getting at in this prayer is this...

A student would have the privilege of loving, sharing, and leading someone to a relationship with Christ (become a "spiritual parent"), then invest in that individual to the point that he/she would have the privilege of loving, sharing, and leading someone to a relationship with Christ (become a "spiritual grandparent").

Our mission statement for NMC Student Ministries is to see students move from religion to relationship to spiritually reproducing.  Although becoming a spiritual grandparent is not the only way this happens, nor is it the only true sign of someone living in a healthy relationship with Christ, it IS a powerful symbol of both.  Students making disciples who make disciples is what gets me fired up...

You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

2 Timothy 2:2

What Gets Me Fired Up #5 - My Family

Everybody says that they have the best spouse in the world, but everyone else is wrong. Everyone says their child(ren) are the most beautiful around, but again, they are mistaken.  I have to be very honest that I often don't want to be at the church or doing my Youth Pastor duties.  I would much rather be at home or out with my family.  As we look to increase the size (and diversity) of our family next year (update on the adoption coming soon), I all the more desire to spend time with the most important congregation God has called me to minister to.  Jesus said, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?"  In the same, but slightly different way I ask, "What good is it if Derry has a thriving youth ministry, yet forfeits his family?"

It's the amazing two ladies (and another child to come) that God has blessed me with that really count.  That's what gets me fired up!

What Gets Me Fired Up #4 - Stories

Last Wednesday Night we did something a little different that we are going to do about every quarter in our Senior High Ministry.  It was called Stories and Songs.  We ran 9th/10th Small Groups a little longer and spent a little focused time with the 11th/12th Grade in the Fieldhouse.  Once everyone was together, we removed the message element and had 3 different students share their stories (or, I guess the churchy word would be their testimonies).  What took place was a powerful time of bringing glory to God through music and lives.

There's power in story. 
Tell me a principle and I will kind of track with you. 
Tell me a story about a person who lived out a principle and you will inspire me. 
Tell me I can overcome a trial or situation and I'll be encouraged. 
Tell me the story of one who has overcome in a similar situation and I'll believe it can happen.
There's power in story, and that is what gets me fired up!

Youtubesday: Mad Movie Wednesday

We have 2 High School students who are doing an internship with us from the school.  As a part of their internship, they have been put in charge of doing Wednesday announcements.  As a part of that, they have done "spoofs" of various films and utilizing them to tell our announcements.  This one they did was incredibly creative... 

What Gets Me Fired Up #3 - Religion v. Relationship

It's why I do what I do.  I spent 18 years of my life attending church, knowing all the right answers, trying to figure out how to avoid hell, and, in the end, far from God.  At 18, something clicked (I guess you could say I got it).  There's something fantastic about the fact that we as humans, can interact with the Almighty creator of the Universe.  Actually knowing and experiencing a relationship with Jesus Christ has wrecked me for life.

Religion without relationship is dead, empty and incomplete.
Connect in an authentic relationship and everything changes.

Helping students move from Religion to Relationship is what gets me out of bed, and it is what gets me fired up!

What Gets Me Fired Up: #2 - The Bizman

I'm in Detroit for 2 days with my good friend and parnter in ministry Caleb Bislow.  Caleb is an itinerant speaker and runs a ministry called "Unusual Soldiers."  The best way to explain the heart of Unusual Soldiers is that they run with the love of Christ toward the people, places and situations that many Christians run from.

You've heard the saying, "When a door closes, God opens a window."  Caleb tends to believe, "When a door closes, God may be asking you to kick it in and go through it."

Caleb challenges me.  I believe I have been able to play the Barnabas to his Paul role in the great commission in multiple ways.  When I find myself getting comfortable and stagnant in my faith, I find a couple days with Caleb to be a good remedy.

It's not the man that gets me fired up.  The fire inside the man is what gets me fired up!

What Gets Me Fired Up: #1 - Teenagers "Getting It"

It takes up different forms, but it's one of my ultimate goals in Student Ministries.  It's what keeps me coming back.

• It's more than a religion.
• It's not about me.
• I can make a difference in my peers lives.
• God wants my heart to beat and break for the things his beats and breaks for.
• He has a plan/calling for me.
• The "cool" things I've been running after really aren't all that "cool" after all.
• The Holy Spirit is active and moving in my life.
• I listened, heard God speak, and obeyed... crazy-cool things happened!

It's like a light bulb turns on in their eyes.  Sometimes there's smiles.  Sometimes there's tears.  All times, it's worth the pain, doubts, prayer, prodding, listening, sharing, praying, getting frustrated, encouraging, confronting, praying, and did I mention, praying.

Suddenly there's something bigger worth living for in that teenagers life, and that is what gets me fired up!

What Gets Me Fired Up

Going to do a little series over the next couple weeks on things I passionate about.
I'm calling it "What Get's Me Fired Up!"  I think it will explain itself as it goes.

Sprint, Walk, Rest

I've started running.  It's in preparation for our 5KIN in November.  I'm also doing it because I'm getting severely physically inactive.  I'm a week and a half into training, and actually enjoying it. But that's not the point of this post.

This is about the pace of ministry, and more specifically student ministries.  A youth pastor once told me, "finding daily balance in youth ministry is a pipe dream."  I was deeply bothered and thought he should be fired from his position.  Years later, I find myself fully agreeing with this seasoned veteran who sought to give me some advice.

Don't get me wrong.  I think finding a life balance in the student ministries world is entirely possible, but it can only be discovered over longer periods of time.  Balance can best be found over a year.  There's a huge desire to find a nice jogging pace when it comes to handling schedules, church/home life, student crises, programs, logistics, trips, parent meetings, staff meetings, personal Time With God, message prep, hanging with friends, and about 20 other things before you get some sleep.  "Jogging" just doesn't happen  Instead, I think there are 3 paces or rhythms you will find/ or need to find over time to create "balance."

Sprint: These are the moments that can bring you to life in ministry. A missions trip, Fall Kickoff season, major programming days (Wednesdays or Sundays in my case), or Summer Camp would fit in this category.  There's long hours, great energy and often fantastic spiritual fruit. 

Walk:  These are times where the pace slows way down.  The crises are less, the events are not pressing in, and/or programming is scaled back.  It isn't "going through the motions," but there is a slower feel around.  Some may say these times never exist in ministry. That may be true, but these times NEED to happen. If they are not, the calender needs to be cleaned up. 

Rest:  These are the break times.  Days off or vacation time, these are the moments where there is a need to  just STOP and unplug from it all.  These times, for me, are absolutely essential for two reasons.

1. To appreciate what I have in ministry.  Too much of a good thing can become a bad thing.
2. To prioritize family.  I want there to be times when my family has ALL of me.  No chance to get called away for anything church-related.

If I run and walk without resting, I will crash at some point.
If I run and rest without walking, I will grow to resent ministry.
If I walk and rest without running, I'm just lazy.

May those in ministry know that daily balance is a pipe dream, yet balance can be found over time.

Game Time

We have several friends watching the Colts game with us this afternoon.

Feed My Starving Children

Getting oriented to feed some starving children.

Quick Hits

• Our Feed My Starving Children event starts this afternoon at NMC. 
• The past two Wednesdays in Senior High we've been asking 2 big WHAT IF questions for this school year.  I believe we are ready to make an impact on teens in crisis locally as well as the global crisis of human trafficking.
• 100 babies have been in the doors of the AGC Abandoned Baby Center in Kenya.  Actually, baby 101 showed up early last week, and reminds me what doing nothing is not an option. (read story on baby 101 here)
• It's our Outreach Event season.  The Preteens have a roller skating night the 6th, Senior High Hayride the 13th, and Junior High Hayride the 20th.  These are great times for our students to invite to a church event those spiritually lost or struggling friends they've been investing in.
• We sent out our brochures and applications for our 3rd annual Winter Retreat at Spring Hill Camps.  Gonna be a great one this year!