Student Life started out as a camp ministry operating camps. They have grown incredibly over the past several years. They now hold camps all over the United States and in Ukraine. Each spring they also host several student conferences as well as having a couple of ski retreats each winter. In the past few years they have begun to publish curriculum to be used for students in Sunday School or small groups and recently started publishing adult curriculum.
Last spring Student Life invited youth pastors who participate in their camps or conferences to come here to Birmingham to participate in a two day retreat for youth pastors. The cool dealio is the fact that they are hosting this event and charged us as youth pastors $0.00. FREEEEEE!
All we had to do was get here and get a hotel.
Last night was our first session that lasted well over an hour past schedule. Some girl came out and played the guitar and sang a song, no clue who she was they didn't announce her, the song was great. Then Chris Tomlin came out with just his guitar player and keyboard player, no flashy lights, no drums or bass, and led us in worship in song. Chris even had them take his image off the big screens and only put up the lyrics (they weren't needed either, even on his new stuff). The worship in music was awesome. Then Louie Giglio came out and talked about grace. That was awesome as well and addressed a few issues I have struggled with in my life and sometimes even struggle with. He spoke from 2 Corinthians 5:21 and awesome verse and chapter to study when thinking about grace. From there we went back to more worship in music with Chris and it was an incredible time.
Louie asked the question that students often ask after camp, "Why can't our church worship be like worship at camp?" Hmmmm . . . . . something to think about.
The cool deal is the fact that Student Life did not promote any of their products or camps, there were no commercials. Student Life just wants to minister to us youth pastors. An added bonus that Chris Tomlin and SL gave us all copies of his new album. SWEET!
5 comments:
This is awesome!
awesome. sounds like a nice needed time of excitement and renewal.... wish I could be there to hear loui and chris. : ) Enjoy your AL stay, come back before IKE hits!
Answer to Louie's question...
At camp you are separated from most of the distractions of the world and surrounded with people who are pointed toward God and pointing you that way, too.
It's a great environment for worship, but it's not the real world. Not to say that worship "at church" can't be just as incredible. It just takes a lot more focus and commitment to "turn our eyes upon Jesus...and the things of earth will grow strangely dim..."
also most churches take a shotgun approach at worship instead of zeroing in on a target they try to have a worship service that pleases everyone.
Most church worship gatherings are by no means targeting students in middle or high school. If they did most of the older people (over 22) would leave. Yet we expect teens to sit in a service and "like it" when the service is not aimed towards them.
I had the same thoughts as you Andy, on Sunday as Abbey was fidgeting during the service. At a church I attended in Texas, they had church just for the youth. Hmmmm maybe.......
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