I had a great time in Joplin this year, every year CIY does a great job of putting together a conference that is refreshing and rewarding and challenging. The speakers and seminar leaders did a great job of passing on information and encouraging the youth workers assembled. There were just over 300 workers this year, which makes one wonder why more don’t make the trip. CIY is certainly trying to figure that out, I heard that if they did not have more than 300 they would not be doing the conference in 2006.
For this report I am going to go day by day through the highlights of the convention.
On the weekends I stayed with Larry, Heather, and Klarissa Osborn and Joe Presler (and the first weekend Aaron Earlywine and Jeff Nichols) at Greg and Susan Murdock’s home. They have 6 kids who are all home schooled. Very nice family with a large house (4000 sq ft). Greg is CEO of College Press Publishing.
During the week I roomed with Aaron, Jeff, Ben Smith, and Bill Krause. I shared a car with Aaron and Jeff.
Sunday we went to College Heights Christian Church (CHCC) a church of about 1500. We attended the 8:00 AM contemporary service in the church gym. Their interim youth minister (Beau Hamlin) spoke at all 5 services this Sunday. At 9:30 Joe, Aaron, Jeff and I attended the "Espresso Class." This was a introduction to the church that met at the coffee cart in the “Hospitality Center in the Auditorium Foyer.” We heard a short history of the church, took a tour of the building, and learned about the core values of the church and how to get involved. I picked up a newsletter, bulletin, and missions newsletter if you are interested in learning more about this church. Also at http://www.chcchurch.org/.
Beau Hamilin's message (from John 4) was about being able to trust God, even after the Tsunami of the previous week. “The world will see a trustworthy God – when they see a trustworthy people”
IDEA: The preschool department had video monitoring in each of the classes, which was shown on a TV in the check-in counter (it was angled so that both attendant and parents could view the monitor). The check-in counter had locked doors so no one could enter without permission from the attendant.
IDEA 2: The whole church studies the same book of the Bible. They are on a 4-6 year plan of going through the Bible. I got a sample of their plan.
Monday night Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Ministries spoke (http://www.marshillchurch.org/). He leads (and he is definitely a leader) a ministry that reaches out to the post-christian culture in Seattle.
Highlights from his message: The Gospel- is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…we need to teach Jesus. The Culture- We are to be involved in our culture as missionaries. The Church- Christ gave Himself up for the Church. He died for the Church. The Church is His bride. Do talk bad about His Church and don’t let others talk bad about His Church.
Goals for his students: Be Christian – Love God and Love the Church…Be Missionaries – Love your neighbor.
Three things to do: 1. Critique the media – don’t avoid it but evaluate it. Teach students to think. What does God think? Help teenagers to learn to critique. He reads teen magazines and discusses the false gospels and false heavens portrayed by the contemporary culture. 2. Teach them to love the church. 3. Train them to love the Jesus of the Bible. Its about Him! When He teaches He shows how the OT points to Him. Take them to Jesus. Not the Jesus the world sets up but the Jesus of the Bible who is victorious, king and lord!
After the main session there was a Q&A time with Mark Driscoll.
-He talked about Pastor Dads – in each home dad is to be pastor to the family.
-There method of study is that the whole church studies the same book of the Bible. Sermon, small groups, Children, Youth, and Pastor Dads all have lessons from the same book of the Bible.
-Their church meetings progress like the gospel message. 1. Preparation – 1-3 songs. 2. Presentation of the message 3. Decision time. 4. Communion. 5. Celebration – longer worship in song.
-Their intro to Christianity/church class is 10 weeks in length.
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