SBS all over again!

It's been four years since I was in School of Biblical Studies (SBS) at the U of N in Kona, HI. Four years later, I am staffing the first ever SBS at our young YWAM base here in Ozark. Although I am on staff, I almost feel like a student once again. In four months we will take our eight students through a study of the New Testament, but because it has been so long since I did it myself, it's as if I'm doing this all over again. It's great, because I get to sit in class and learn just like the students, without having to do any homework!

But seriously, I am anticipating gaining a firmer grasp of the Scriptures through the course of the next few months.

Hawksbill Crag, Lost Valley

Supposedly two of the most beautiful places in Arkansas, we planned to go see Hawksbill Crag and Lost Valley this past Saturday, giving the new students an opportunity for a little adventure. Located along the Buffalo National River, it is about a 2 hour drive from us here in Ozark. I was so excited. Saturday morning I awoke to a downpour of rain covering nearly the entire state. I'm all about rainy weather and cooler days, but of all days for it to rain, just had to be Saturday! Have to say I was a little disappointed, but what can you do? Another time, I suppose.

Girls, confusion, and the Bible

"The Bible is confusing to me. I don't know, but every time I try to read it, it just doesn't make sense."

I help out with the youth group at my church by leading worship. This week, the regular youth leader didn't show up, so I was left to do both worship and the devotion. I asked the girls (that's right, it was myself and six girls that night) to meditate on five verses in Psalm 40, and after 5 minutes, we would gather back together and share what stood out to us.

I was met by statements from two girls that surprised me. One said the Bible confused her; the other that she didn't know how to read the Bible, that she had never read it before!

My experience that night both disgusts me and excites me. Disgust, because here are two girls who have both been raised with some church, maybe not a lot, but some, and the Bible is a foreign object to them! I am not blaming my own church specifically, but in general, what is the Church doing wrong that its young people are not gaining Biblical understanding? Something is seriously wrong with that! This is the "Bible belt," after all.

But it excites me in the sense of an awesome opportunity to see young people grow into a relationship with God. The Bible should be our foundation. During the School of Biblical Studies which we are running here this fall, we will have our students offer a mentoring program. As they learn to read and study the Bible, they will mentor one or two high school students, once a week, in the same stuff they learn. I hope to get these two girls involved in that program.

School of Biblical Studies

On September 18th we begin our very first School of Biblical Studies (SBS) here at Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Ozarks. So far, we have 8 students who will study through the entire New Testament in four months, using the Inductive Study Method. One of the things lacking in the church and in my generation is a lack of foundation in Biblical understanding, so I am excited for this opportunity to enable our students to study and learn God's word. I also realize that in the process I will develop an even deeper understanding myself. As a staff we will share teaching responsibilities, and we will also bring in people outside of our staff to teach . I am preparing to teach 1 Thessalonians and the Gospel of John. I completed an SBS myself, covering the entire Bible, a few years ago in Hawaii, and it was the best nine months of my life. What better way to grow in my relationship with God? And now I have the privilege to give others a similar experience!

Go Team Development

It's not about the money. It's not even about you. It's about relationships. As a staff we have been participating in a seminar for the past couple weeks on how to build a Go Team, or as it is commonly referred to, raising support. I have been encouraged, challenged, reminded, and taught. In Latin America, a soccer (futbol) team is more than just the players on the field. Many of the fans who attend the games are actually an official, card-carrying member of the team. Their job is to out-cheer the opposing crowd. If the team wins, the players will stand in front of the crowd and applaud and thank them for a job well done. A Go Team is similar in many ways. As a missionary, I have the responsibility to build a support team around me, not just for financial support, but for the purpose of partnering with others to see the Kingdom of God established in our world. So that is what I've been learning, along with practical ways to develop a Go Team.

Grounds & Maintenance

44 acres, 4 large buildings, miscellaneous equipment - some in disrepair, a very small budget, and no one with much experience to take care of it all.

Sounds like a good combination, eh? That's the situation here. A guy could spend all his time mowing the grass here if he wanted to - or repairing the lawn equipment so it can be used! Broken water heaters, air conditioners that don't function properly, an entire building that needs to be gutted and refurbished, trees that need to be cut down, brush cleared, rock walls needing repair, and the list goes on. Talk about an immense challenge! All these things are necessary if we are to do what we set out to do: create a place to train up and mobilize young people into world missions.

I juggle this with my other responsibilities, but it's not as if I'm alone in it. Some of the other guys help out with lawn care. Some of our students will work on these things when they arrive. Groups of volunteers come and work. People donate money and materials. And through it all I learn and gain experience.