An Interesting Moment @ the MidSkool Movement

Two weeks ago, we had our MidSkool Movement Youth Service.  On Sunday Mornings at the First Church we have approximately 70 middle school aged youth that attend.  A few months ago, we launched the MidSkool Movement Service once a month on Sunday Mornings.  Luis Abbott and Christian Johnson are the Main Coordinators of this group of young people.  They do an incredible job prepping for activities and connecting with this age group.

The First Church Children's Ministry Department  conducted a Sunday School Training Seminar a few weeks back with Brent Regnart - Children's Pastor of CLC and Bro Jerry McCool, a very awesome and dynamic Children's Evangelist.  Alot of things were mentioned, but one of the main things that stood out - especially when working with a bunch of crazy, hyper, and unchurched young people was that you must have classroom / activity rules communicated.  You cannot enforce rules if you have not communicated them to the youth you are working with.

With that being freshly engraved in our minds; Luis, Christian, and I made a "Rules" Video for the MidSkool Movement Video.  We were so proud of it.  We had fun making it.  Let me give a little insight into youth ministry.  There are alot of challenges in working with today's young person, but there are fun parts of it as well.  Creating media that can be played in your venues, can be alot of fun.  Here is a Video Recap of the Service, and at the end of the video is the Rules Video that we were so proud of.

So back to the story.  We thought we had it down.  All bases covered.

Room 9 was packed. Excitement was in the air.  The theme of the Movement Service was "The Tightest Gift Ever".  We were going to discuss the real reason of Christmas, and why Christ came.  We had wacky games, awesome giveaways, and off tha hook crowdbreakers.  We were even giving away an IPOD.

As we were 3/4 the way through the service, we were making our way to the "message" segment.  Christian was leading us in praise and worship, I felt to take the mic and sing one more song before I began to launch into the "Message".  The presence of God was there.  Kids were on their feet with hands in the air singing and praising God.  We were right in the middle of the song "Here I am to Worship" when out of the corner of my eye, I witnessed a Blue Bomber Kid get up out of his seat and make his way to the second row, and with all that he had began to punch another Blue Bomber Kid in the face.  In fact, it was so bad, that the kid on the second row got knocked down to the ground as the other continually pounded him. Immediately Bro Richard Masoner, who by the way is one of the coolest Dads/Pre Teen Teachers around, jump right in and break it up.  They grabbed both boys and took them out of the room.  I instructed Luis Abbott to contact the Police - and for them to come out and take a report - in case of any injuries that may of occurred. 

The room was quiet.  I looked into the faces of the other MidSkoolers in the room.  I think the state of shock had set in that there was a Royal Rumble in the middle of praise and worship left the room in silence.

See, I failed to mention, that in the Sunday School Seminar with Regnart and McCool - that one of the main points that McCool really hit on - was working with "Object Lessons".  That "Object Lessons" really help a child to identify with the lesson attempting to be communicated.

I had just had the best "object lesson" take place right there in front of the rest of MidSkoolers.  I quickly took control of the situation and said,  "That when you have the Holy Ghost - you don't have to act out in violence.  That when you have the tightest gift ever, You don't have to fight - but the Lord is with you."   I still felt the presence of God, right there in the Midst of Summer Slam.  I continued to minister to this awkward age group.  A group that seeks identity.  A group that struggles with insecurity. A group that seeks acceptance. God was in room 9.

That night, Victoria - a girl that has been riding the Blue Bomber for a while now came back to service & was sitting in the front row with her Sunday School teacher- Shannon Erickson. She responded to the preaching of Bro Ari Prado and was drawn to the alters seeking God.

After a decade of being involved in youth ministry, I am convinced more now than ever that young people really do need Jesus.  One of the many goals our youth ministry has this year is to connect and minister effectively to the Midskool Age Group.  It is a group that the world is quickly trying to impact and affect.  Please continue praying for the Revivalution Youth Ministry in 2009.    

By the way, in the rules video, we failed to communicate " No Fighting".