Prayer Garden Ministry

While it is still fresh on my mind, I had to write this post.  First off, I have to say that I work with the most awesome, passionate minister.  I am so happy for the opportunity of learning under her and being able to see her passion that is so evident.

Our church has a soup kitchen ministry where we provide lunch 5 days a week for the people in the Hartsville area.  This ministry has been going on for years.  The building that we use is right across the street from the main Church buildings.  A couple of weeks ago, it came up in a church meeting that a few people who are waiting for the soup kitchen to open, congregate in our prayer garden that is located on the main church building side.  It has been so hot out that these folks are just looking for some shade and the prayer garden provides that for them.  Fran, the minister, suggested that she start a devotion and prayer time with these people.  One thing about Fran is that when she see's a need, she goes for it.  She prayerfully considered how she would go about doing this. This past Sunday she announced to the church that she will be starting the Prayer Garden Devotion for the people who go to the soup kitchen.  The devotion will begin at 11am-11:30am every Wednesday.  She asked the congregation to pray for this new ministry and if anyone would like to be apart they are more than welcomed.

The day came and I saw Fran rushing past my office eager to see where this new ministry will lead.  I stopped what I was doing and followed right behind her.  When we got to the garden, another member of our church, David Allen, was there to be a part of this ministry.  But we were missing the soup kitchen folks.  Soon after, 3 guys showed up and were looking at us from across the street.  They waved at us and I returned the wave, but it did not look like they were even going to attempt to walk over to us.  So Fran, the brave, Godly women she is, walked over there and before we knew it, we had David, Terry and George with us ready to hear the devotion.  These 3 men were the most thankful and polite men.  They were so respectful as they listened to Fran share the devotion.  During that moment, I knew God's presence was there.  After the devotion, Fran asked if there were any prayer concerns and David immediately told us that his fiance is sick and will be needing surgery and that he also has some health issue's.  During this time, we had more member's from our church come and congregate with us.  It was so awesome to see that these church member's were willing to go to where these people are (most being homeless) and talk and share God's love with them.  After we prayed, Terry sang this beautiful song for us.  During that moment, I just knew that this was the right thing for us to do.  Fran saw a need, and God provided a way for her to meet those needs by starting this ministry.

Those 3 gentlemen have already blessed my life in those few short minutes of spending time with them.  I am so excited to see where this ministry leads and where God leads these people.

My Generation Needs to Grow Up

I am reading a book called, "The Godbearing Life."  This book is a great book for anyone who works in youth ministries.  I love reading self-help type books, especially in the youth ministries area being that that is one of my fields of work.  One thing in books about youth ministries is that there are always statistics in them.  Although I have read many, I am still shocked about these statistics that I read in these books.  Honestly, I have no idea why I continue to be shocked, knowing that I grew up in the age where drinking at 13 was normal, going to a high school where teen pregnancy was very high, and STD's were a problem.

Here are some of the statistics that are in the book that I am currently reading:
*77% of 8th graders have report having used alcohol.
*Parents spend 40% less time with their children than they did a generation ago.
*Roughly 1 million teenage girls become pregnant each year.
*1/4 of all new HIV infections occur among those under age 21.
* 73% of teenage girls agree to have sex with their boyfriend in order to please them, then later regret it.

To me, these statistics are more than shocking, they're sad.  One thing that I can not understand is that ever since social media, it has become popular to post the drunk pictures or (excuse my language) the slutty pictures.  It has sent our youth into a downward spiral and what they do not realize is that once you post a picture like that on the Internet, there is NO way to fully delete it.  More and more businesses are checking out potential employee's facebook before even considering to interview them.  Whether you are of age, or underage to consume alcohol, posting drunk picture's is not smart.

As I was looking at my facebook today, I came across some very inappropriate picture's of teenagers.  The worst part about it, is that the age difference in the teens range from freshman in high school to people who have already graduated college.  I can not imagine being my age and partying with high school freshman.  I blame these so-called young adults who first off buy these kids alcohol and then proceed to party with them.  What has happened to my generation of people!?!?!  The way these young girls were dressed was completely offensive and inappropriate.  Why is this becoming okay?

I am not against drinking.  I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.  I do however have a problem with underage drinking, and drinking with the intentions of getting drunk.  But my biggest pet peeve is the people who are of age to drink who party with kids and provide them with alcohol.  We need to start taking responsibility, even as young adults, to protect the kids and teenager's in our world.  It literally hurts me to see these type of pictures posted all over the Internet.  I just wish people my age would grow up and start acting like an adults and be the role model they should be to the younger people.