Todd Rohrer
There are a lot of different ways to go about Recreational Ministry, but one we don't think of is missions. Typically when I think of recreation, I think of games and sports and what not. Missions does not fall into that schema, but it is certainly a part of recreational ministry. These trips offer opportunities for community building and that, I can see, is the heart of recreation. When Julie brought the students into class, a lot of them talked about just watching people worship God in these unusual places. Some talked about witnessing to people. Others talked about just seeing people being excited. One of the boys, I feel terrible because I can't remember his name--he was the one in the orange--he talked about the boy on the playground who had been shot by gangsters. He felt--he had compassion--for those who didn't know if they'd be safe at night. These missions trips not only build community within the students, but between them and the neighborhood. As Julie said, "It is when we are in over our heads that we have to rely on God and we are stretched."
And just to wrap up with some notes, Julie mentioned 3 steps of doing missions:
1. Provide the opportunity. If you don't set it up, who will?
2. Frame it (help them make connections of why they're doing what they're doing)
3. Celebrate it. Let them share what they learned and know they did well.
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Missions is something I never really knew how to categorize. However, I agree with Todd, mission trips provide community building. Having gone on a few trips I realize every time that the community you build with those you experience the trip with will not be forgotten for years. Most of us went down to Orlando together this Spring Break, and I think all would agree that the trip brought us a lot closer together, and allowed us to meet many new people. Mission trips, I have always framed as a Senior High thing, because that is how it was where I went to church. After hearing the kids pour out their hearts on Monday though, I realize that younger students get just as much out of it as the older teens. The younger students are often stereotyped as too inexperienced and self-centered to go on a mission trip, but the trips could put things in perspective for them and allow them to see that there are people everywhere who are a lot less fortunate than them. They can realize (like Julie's students did) that even though they have less that God still loves them, and tehy can still love God. Mission trips are a great way to serve and to build relationships with your group and with the people you go to serve.
ReplyDeleteI really wish I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip at a younger age. I went on my first mission trip the summer before I entered high school and it was a life changing experience for me. Hearing the students from Julie's church showed me that you are never to young to start serving others. Planning our own mission trips also was really interesting to me. I learned the importance of planning details and involving student input. Working with the kids on Monday night showed me that people of all ages can serve and can be changed through serving.
ReplyDeleteBeing that I am an ICS major I'm a fan of missions. But I didn't think that little kids should go because they might be too young to understand. But seeing those kids in class on Monday and hearing them talk made me realize that kids do need to serve. It doesn't mean that they have to go to Africa for a summer, but even just a weekend is totally cool. And they understand. That's what surprised me. They didn't talk about how different it was and how they felt uncomfortable. They talked about how awesome it was to share the love of Jesus with other kids their own age. It was awesome hearing from them! I think more churches should have a missions trip for kids, too so that they can become missionally minded followers of Christ :)
ReplyDeleteClass on Monday made me realize the importance of having kids go on mission trips. Each kid in class had something important to say about the trip and about the people they met and interacted with. They learned much from their trip and they are willing to continue to live out the things that they learned. After seeing this I learned that there should be more of an emphasis in churches on getting kids to go on missions. It is important to let kids learn things like this early so that they can keep on having a desire to witness and help people.
ReplyDeleteI heard and appreciated honest and real answers from the kids that were with us Monday night. People our age seem to have ways of categorizing and manipulating a missions experience to fit in with what we have previously experienced. For them, the time in Cleveland was out of their comfort zone and allowed then to see different perspectives.
ReplyDeleteTheir worldview has changed and the sooner that can be assimilated into the life of a student, the more impact they should have in the world and evangelism will come naturally and through their lifestyle.
Jessica:
ReplyDeleteI had never been on a mission trip until my freshman year of college. It was always something that I wanted to do but my church never presented the opportunity. When thinking about missions, I really did not think of 5ht and 6th graders going somewhere for a week and serving. If anything, they would just do something in the community. After Monday's class, I really realized how much of an impact not only can they make, but how much of an impact it makes on the student. They were changed for the better, and much earlier. I believe that by doing missions earlier, world views will change and that their lives will change for the better. The church needs to emphasize not just going and serving, but missions needs to be a lifestyle incorporated into every aspect.
I feel that Missions is extremely important not only for youth, but especially for children. In my own perosnal view, I never really understood missions until I had reached the youth group. I feel that Missions is a great resource in living out our faith and it provides the recreational aspect as well. The Concept of serving others in today's society I feel is a lost feeling. So many people are only concerned with themselves and it is transending onto the younger generations. Mission trips are insturments that churches use as a way to connect the students to God's mandate to love others and to teach them through experience. I feel that we could talk to kids all day all about service and loving others, but until they live it out themselves and experience it they won't grasp the concept.
ReplyDeleteAt my former church we had a trip that sounds very similar to the trip the students from Shepherd talked about. The trip was for fifth and sixth graders and it was annual mission trip to Charleston, WV. It was something that every kid in the youth group looked forward to, and for good reason, it was probably the most memorable trip I ever went on.
ReplyDeleteI have been out of the country and on many other trips but this tip was special. Some of the reasons i think it was so impactful was because of the age level. This age seems very eager to learn, serve, have fun, but not so worried about "Jr. High stuff". For many it' the first time they are going away from their family for an extended period of time. It also opens up your mind and heart to you at a young age.
It was wonderful to hear the honest responses from the kids last Monday. It really did bring me back to some of my memories of a missions trip. The trip built such a strong sense of community with my class. I think that trip changed the way our class was all throughout high school.
I think providing and planning a mission trip for children and teenagers to go on is good for their spiritual development and for their growth with the group. Seeing what God can do with any age and being able to experience what we are called to do is what children and teenagers need to do. I think by letting them take part in a mission trip will impact their lives forever. When the kids came and talked about their trip i felt as if they were talking about an experience that just happened moments before they walked into the room. They let it effect them in a way that was visible as they spoke about it. Which personally i think is just what God wants us to be like after a trip like that.
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