There/Here Thinking

I love our Summer Ministry at NMC. Although we continue with a scaled back Sunday and Wednesday program, the heart of our Summer Ministry can be summed up in one word... TRIPS.

DCGO
IMPACT Mexico
Jr. High Camp
Sr. High Camp
Preteen Camp

I think the whole area of "trip discipleship" is our specialty at NMC. These trips are fun, memorable, and life-changing. Each trip has a varying level of intensity and focus, but they all are significant in our game plan to see students move from Religion to Relationship to Spiritually Reproducing. I'd say the key element in taking the trip and moving into something deeper is living out "There/Here Thinking".

Simply stated, "There/Here Thinking" is understanding that almost any significant experience, lesson, or breakthrough that happens there (in Mexico, Washington D.C., or at Camp) has application and implications here (back home).

It's awesome watching the there/here lessons unfold in students.

• At NYGO last year, the student who was harshly rejected by an individual he was seeking to share the gospel with. As he debriefed his devastation over the event, he realized it was because the individual reminded him of his father back home. When he returned here, he went out with his dad and had an incredible discussion about Christ.
• At one of my first IMPACT trips, I'll never forget the student who was simply broken over the vast sea of people and realizing how many of them did not know Christ. The sparked a desire to return to the sea of faces in his own High School and seek to be more intentional and aggressive in his efforts to share his faith.
• The gal at Summer Camp who knew that her life was filled with way too many good things that were keeping her from the God things. She chose to lay down her final year of track in order fully dive into the IMPACT Ecuador trip the following year. On that IMPACT trip, she experienced Christ at a depth and understanding she hadn't before which caused her to redefine her college major (that's called, there/here/there/here thinking).

I could go on and on with these stories. How do we do this? are a few key ingredients that we infuse into these trips...

• Extensive Training leading in: Not the case with the Summer Camps, but the GO and IMPACT trips have months of training meetings and a retreat leading into the time. They start "here" before we go "there" and practice/learn.
• Lot's of Process Time. Every trip contains anywhere from 30-60 minutes of daily TAWG Time Alone With God). Students are given basic coaching on personal Bible Study, prayer, journaling and worship, and then get out and do it. GOD SPEAKS IN THESE TIMES. It's often these moments students will remark where the "There/Here" lesson translates.
• Debrief. We stop and talk about what we're learning A LOT. In small and large groups. On bus rides and in group times. Through strategic exercises and impromptu conversations. We are constantly stopping and asking students "What is God doing in/through you, and what is the take-home lesson?"
• Leaders. When looking for leaders for our trips, I'm looking for shepherds who know how to help students process. Some adults want to go on these trips for their own experience. The best leaders are there to do everything they can to enhance the students experience. The best leaders ask students tons of questions about their experience. The best leaders pick their game up in the student's down-time because they know it's in those times they can engage in the "There/Here Thinking."

I'm excited to see the There/Here Lessons that will be happening again this Summer!

3 warriors

As mentioned below, I've been on a whirlwind tour that involved New York City and two camps.

There have been three others who took the same journey. All three of these individuals played significant leadership roles on these trips; going above and beyond the already above average level of commitment that leaders put into these trips. To them, I say thanks for your investment, encouragement, and friendship. You are all heroes, and I consider myself very fortunate to share such experiences with you.

Thanks Janelle, Brad and Jeff!

Meet my new "Friend"

As mentioned in a post below, while at NYGO I had a chance to meet a "starving artist" named BobbyK while at Central Park on the 4th of July. We sang a few Beatles Songs together, and he wrote a song especially for us.
It was a great time talking with him about his life.
BobbyK has a myspace music account. On Friday, we became "friends".
I checked out his songs, and I gotta say, I really like his "Jack Johnson" style. Especially loved "Gotta Change Our Crazy Way". Stop by and check him out here. Bobby, if you read this... hope you find success in your career, and know that you have a guy in the cornfields that remembers you, and is praying for you.

Home Sweet Home

It was great to sleep in my own bed last night.
It was great to see my dog.
It is great to sit in my family room and stare at the wall.

It was a great week. Significant life lessons and life change. On Thursday, I gave the team a little exercise to help them debrief their experience, to determine the next steps to take, and to dream about what is going to take place as a product of this trip.

As the students shared, some clear "themes" came up as they sought to sum up their experience in one sentence. 3 words I heard again and again...

1. Compassion.
2. Prayer.
3. Obedience.

Also, in the action steps, there were significant themes...

1. TAWG (Time Alone With God)... specifically getting up earlier to do so.
2. Follow-up with friends and families written; with specific deadlines to do so.
   
3. Memorize Scripture (various weekly commitments)
4. Commitments to start, join, or continue with a "Prayer Group"
5. Commitments to "park benches" (everyday areas where they encounter opportunities to initiate conversations and build relationship).

I'm VERY excited about what I've seen God do in and through our IMPACT Mexico team. I EXTREMELY pumped over where I see the kids from our NYGO team heading. I DEEPLY believe we are on the verge of a FRESH MOVE of God in the next year at NMC Senior High.

Heading home

Sorry, don't have much time... bus should get here any minute.
We had a great day yesterday. Some divine appointments that included feeding the homeless, getting over $700 back to its rightful owner, and a young lady accepting Christ.

The team is spent... in a great way. Looking at the team in the elevator lobby on the 4th floor reminded me of a football team at the end of a hard fought victory. They wanted to celebrate, but were simply too exhausted to even show emotional excitement.

Parents and church, be proud of this team. They've stepped out in boldness & obedience, and they've seen God in great ways.

Pray for us from 12:00-2:00 as we stop to really dive in to how we're going to take this all home!!

We hope to be home at midnight. If it's going to be earlier or later, we'll pass the phones around to give you a call.

Great week. Great God. Greater things to come!!

nygo pics thursday at a glance

Evangelism at a glance

"We can do this."
"You start it."
"No you start it."
"Maybe we should pray."

"So you've lived here for a while."
"Oh we're just here talking to New Yorkers and asking them what they think about God."
"We're actually Christians; which means we've devoted our lives to following Christ."

Meet our new Sister in Christ!

NYGO Update - What is Success?

Yesterday was very analogous to out spiritual journey. Upon reaching Central park, we found ourselves exhausted and spent. It was the 4th of July. There were a lot of couples and families spending time together for the holiday. Many of us found ourselves wondering if we should bother them. Some of us just wanted to get the time done with.

It's interesting this is a very accurate picture of the majority of our days spent following Christ. If I were to look at it from a calendar year, here's how I see the lives of most students run...

June through August - refreshing, refocusing, energized, eye-opening, growing
September through November - Living out loud, going for it, seeing good things.
December through February - Getting tired, breaks that tend to be very busy and exhausting,
March through May - Sick of everything, Loss of focus, just trying to get through.

Yesterday was a March through May day. As we pulled the team together, I took some time to ask who thought their day was successful, who thought their day was unsuccessful, and why they would answer the question....

Hannah walked up to a couple of gals that were playing Boggle, and asked if she could join them. As their conversation went along, Hannah discovered that one of the gals was Jewish. Through the conversation, Hannah was able to talk to her about her Savior and Messiah, Jesus. Kalyn Lantz (back home) said she was specifically praying Hannah would be able to share her faith with a Jewish person.

Brock has been growing like crazy. The first day, it was very hard for him to talk to anyone. On Monday, he had a rough day of rejection, but was able to listen as Brad talked with several individuals. On Tuesday, he sat with Brad again, but this time added in his own questions and thoughts in the conversation. Yesterday, he, on his own, approached several individuals and was able to carry on some great conversations about Jesus.

Justin has been a conversational juggernaut. He has had some great conversations and seen very amazing results. Yesterday, he approached many people, but none of the people wanted to talk.

I was walking along the famous fountain (it's in a ton of movies) and our girls had been stopped by BobbyK, a musician who does Beatles Sing-alongs. Kristen had requested "Yellow Submarine" so 7 of us sang along as he played. He asked what who we were, what we were doing, etc. and Kristen told him that we were a church group from Indiana talking to people about God. He then, somewhat jokingly broke in to "Amazing Grace." He really enjoyed talking with our kids, yet continually was asking me questions (I told him I was their Pastor). After our fun time together, I got a chance to sit with him for 20 minutes where he really opened up about his life and some of the tough things he's had to go through recently. In that time, I met an incredibly kind, sweet, intelligent, hurting, just out of college young man who has been desperately seeking truth. I was able to share some insight into his life, and let him know why I believed Jesus Christ was worth pursuing. He gave me his myspace account, and I hope to continue our conversation/relationship.

Craig was tired and didn't want to do anything yesterday. He chose to fight through it, and took a seat beside a Chinese guy on the same fountain I met Bobbyk. Through the conversation, it become clear that this man was ready to find out how he could have a relationship with God. Craig explained the message of salvation with him, and asked him if he would be willing to become a Christ Follower. He said yes, and Craig took time to walk him through the sinners prayer to receive Christ.

So, back to my question, what was success? Was it the results? I don't think so. I challenged the students to remember that as a Christ Follower we must remember that success can only be measured in our obedience to God. Whether is was Hannah taking that obedient step to play Boggle, or Justin taking the steps and being rejected, or Brock taking each step along the way to build his boldness, or Kristen stopping to sing with Bobbyk, or Craig pushing through the tiredness, it was in the obedience to God that we can call success.

Below is BobbyK and I talking, and in the background is Craig talking with our new Brother in Christ.

There are many stories to share about our time here. Most are stories of success, some are unsuccessful stories.

My question for you today,
Was yesterday a successful day?
Were you obedient to God?
Will today be a successful day?
Will you be obedient to God?

John 14:23
23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

NYGO Pics - Fireworks??

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NYGO Pics - Ministry at Central Park

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NYGO Pics - Wednesday Training and Lunch

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A NYGO Update

Thanks for the Comments everyone... at the end of a VERY LONG day yesterday, I was able to read nearly 60 words of encouragement, scripture, and prayers to our team.

Yesterday was very full. It started off with our morning training session. I don't think the team realizes how fortunate they are to sit under the training of Mark Mittelberg (Becoming a Contagious Christian auther) and Cliff Knechtle (from The Great Debate and Give Me an Answer!) have been training us in apologetics, evangelism styles, and basic Christian Doctrine.

Cliff took some time to address some of the tough questions we have encountered on the streets or at home.
Mark took walked through understanding "Truth". He talked about 3 this world tries to define truth:

1. Truth is "what works." (If it works it's true)
2. Truth is "what Fits." (If it lines up with other beliefs I have, it's true)
3. Truth is "what IS".
   

It was some Great Stuff.

Then we headed to Battery City Park, which is on the South Point of Manhattan (great view of the Statue of Liberty. The day was filled with very meaningful conversations (Justin Easton and Dave Peppin both talked to a one person for nearly the entire 2 1/2 hours), there were also continued points of rejection and hard hearts.
We are definitely learning what the first scripture we memorized is all about...

I Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have; but do this with gentleness and respect.

From there we had "Free Time". We were just a few blocks from Ground Zero. We took some time to visit what is still a very heartbreaking site. There is still nothing "built up" there. We walked over to the St. Paul's church, the old church building where the rescue workers slept during the cleanup efforts. We took some time to pray for those still working through the loss of 9/11, for the people we had talked to that day, and for those at home God is calling us to minister to.

Next stop, Madame Tussaud's was museum. You can check out the pics below and see the fun from that.
Supper was in Times Square.
We capped our free time with a trip to the top of the Empire State Building to see the City.

Even though it was a free evening, it was exhausting.

This afternoon we head to Central Park for our ministry time.
It will prove to be an afternoon where we learn what it means to find our strength in Christ while we are weak.

Then we're going to get some down time... about 2 hours where I'm going to make everyone stay in their rooms, rest, and relax.

This evening we head to the west side of Manhattan to see what many say is the greatest fireworks display in the entire world. They take place over the Brooklyn Bridge this year.

Continue praying, God is up to good things!!!

NYGO Pics - Empire State Building

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NYGO Pics - Madame Tussaud's

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NYGO Pics - Ministry in Battery Park

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NYGO Pics - Tuesday Morning Training/Lunch

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NYGO Pics - What happens when Carter gets the camera?

Encouraging words can still come in!

Okay readers, I know there were nearly 300 of you who stopped by here yesterday, but at this only 22 of you found it fitting to post a word of encouragement, a prayer, etc. (big thanks to those of you who have done so).

The team is dragging, emotionally spiritually, and physically drained. Can you imagine how much it will mean to them when I can read a ton of notes from friends, family and complete strangers.

I won't be doing this till late tonight, so there's still time!!!
Go here and leave a short word of encouragement, a prayer, scripture, etc. Leave your name!!!

By the way, several of us just ate lunch at Rupert G's Hello Deli (made famous on Dave Letterman's Late Show). He actually short-changed me on my meal, but I caught it. I proceeded to speak loudly, "Rupert G just tried to rip me off!!" He laughed.

NYGO Pics - Concert of Prayer and Group time

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NYGO Pics - Bryant Park Ministry

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