Thursday, 27 December 2018

3 Ways You Can Serve Teenagers in Your Church
Jaquelle Crowe

Some think teenagers are precious works in progress, and others are overwhelmed by their messiness. Many church members think serving teenagers is a lot like serving babies: there are those who have the "gift" of youth ministry, and those who simply don't.

And let's be honest—teenagers can be messy. I'm a teenager, and I admit that. We aren't always the easiest to serve. Even those of us following Jesus are still young, inexperienced, and have much to learn. We're in a different stage of life than any other church member, so it can be difficult to relate to our persistent challenges, struggles, and questions.

But whether you know it or not, the teenagers in your church need you. They need the whole church—pastor, stay-at-home mom, single, married, retired—to love and welcome them as fellow members of the family.

Over my 18 years in the church, I've seen three ways every church member can (and should) serve their teenagers: by getting to know us, by not underestimating us, and by teaching us.

1. Get to Know Us

Love can't thrive where stereotypes and misunderstandings reign. If you don't know the teenagers at your church, you can't serve them (Gal. 5:13). Start by pulling them into the life and heartbeat of your church through communication. Walk up to a teen or two this Sunday and ask them about their week, about their studies and hobbies, and what they've recently read in the Bible. Tell them about yourself. Create a meaningful dialogue as the first step to building a relationship. You'll discover fears, insecurities, needs, and desires that will equip you to serve them with an intentionality you wouldn't have otherwise.

Teenagers need adults to be our friends, not just our teachers. That's important to us. It shows us we're welcomed and loved. Too often Christian teenagers can feel like second-class citizens, like we're in limbo between "first class" adult members and "third class" little kids. But investing in us reminds us that we're part of the family. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about members of the church as different parts of the same body—eyes, ears, feet, hands. He paints a picture of unified diversity. In other words, the church needs middle-aged eyes and 20-something ears and senior hands just as much as it needs teenaged feet.

2. Don't Underestimate Us

When considering how to minister to the Christian teenagers at your church, don't stifle us with low expectations. Expect that we're thinking and growing, that we're pursuing truth and holiness, and that we want sound doctrine. Don't perpetuate stereotypes of ignorance or immaturity without foundation. That's unfair. We don't think of the seniors in our churches as inept and senile. We know they're individuals with real personalities and passions. 

Sometimes adults can make faulty and hurtful assumptions about teenagers without even realizing it. It bothers me when I hear negative generalizations about my generation. Yes, there are some immature teenagers. Yes, there are some teenagers who are consistently irresponsible, disrespectful, and disobedient to their parents. But that's not who we all are.

So don't expect the worst from your teenaged church members. Don't underestimate us. Raise your expectations for us to those of any other young and growing Christian.

3 You need to teach Us 

Now I know I said earlier that teenagers need you to be our friends, not just our teachers, but the key word was just. We most definitely need you to teach us too. We're looking for a certain kind of teacher, though. We're looking for those who'll come alongside us and humbly demonstrate what it means to live for Jesus, not instructors who want to lord knowledge over us or stuff rules down our throats. 

I can't tell you how much my church has taught me about compassion, kindness, gentleness, service, speaking the truth in love, and forgiveness. Most of it has come just from watching them live. I watch how they make meals for families in grief. I watch how they resolve conflicts. I watch how they sit with people who sit alone or greet visitors with inviting warmth. I watch how eager they are to learn the truth, how they care for children, and how they pray in public.

Teenagers are watching you, too. I promise you that. We see it all, we think about it all, we learn from it all. The church members who've taught me the most are not the Sunday school teachers and youth leaders. They're the people 10 feet out of the spotlight who've served me by modeling godliness and grace.

*Will You Help?* 

So I get it. Teenaged Christians aren't always the easiest to serve. But here's the thing—we need you. We're at a critical stage in life, coming into our own, piecing together answers to our biggest questions, and forming our lifelong relationship with the church.

To you, church member, I ask: Will you help us? Will you be there for us? Will you get to know us? Will you expect great things from us? And will you teach us what it means to follow Jesus?

We may be different than you, but we're all running this race together. Please serve us, and let us serve you.

Jaquelle Crowe is the author of This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years (Crossway, 2017). She's also the co-founder of The Young Writers Workshop and lives in eastern Canada. You can follow her on Twitter.

Thursday, 6 December 2018

BOWEN UNIVERSITY, SOARING HIGHER


BOWEN UNIVERSITY,  SOARING HIGHER

FROM  Prof.Joshua Ogunwole 
Vice-Chancellor
Bowen University, Iwo. Nigeria 

 I understand what it means when strong emotions intermix with additional financial burden especially at this economically hard times.

It is on record that the University approved a search into identified rooms after a tip-off and 43 students were approached to submit themselves for dope test. 37 agreed while 6 refused (I will come back to the refusal). Of the 37 that were examined, 24 tested positive to some drug metabolites while some were found to have been in possesion of prohibited substances . Imagine what a statistician will do when interpreting that number against our population. Those who refused to submit themselves for a dope test were in fact on our list of the most notorious- but these ones immediately violated our laws and were charged for insubordination. I will not be a VC that will graduate students who will refuse to obey constituted authorities.

To the reason for the action of the University, may I start with what I have observed within just few months of this administration. From the lens of student discipline, I have observed that there are lots of very young, timid but highly intelligent students (boys and girls) amidst the large section of our student population- I have also observed that there is a few of very experienced students who are hard drug users and suppliers and who have found their way into the institution due to our porous borders in the past and who are now bent on influencing the larger section of students whose primary purpose here is to study in line with what Bowen accepts in her extant regulations. I am a parent and heaven will hold me responsible if any of your ward fails to glorify the Almighty God in Character and Learning.

Bowen through her motto stands for Excellence and Godliness. May I ask what is excellent in drug and what is Godly in dangerous addictions? That stand (in our motto) will not change because of a few students (24 of them) who tested positive to drug metabolites of frightening degree and type and most of whom are behind the moves to cause unrest on campus. Let me assure you that Bowen will be ridden of these ones. We cannot build any meaningful structure on drugs; the structure in a matter of time will collapse and such collapse may not be good for incalculable reasons.

Cherished Parents, please,   you need to bear with us at this time as we take this opportunity to think-through the next phase of this institution painfully, collectively and prayerfully.

I pray for Gods in-exhaustive provision for you.

Thanks and God bless.





 

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

Oluwabukunmi Popoola
Minister, Missions and Church Development
Lagos Central Baptist Conference
+234-803-374-3808
"I am pressing on" Phil 3:14

Thursday, 28 December 2017

CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM WITH AMBODE FOR THE PEACE OF LAGOS STATE

Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheik Abdul Hafeez Abu (left); Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs) Idiat Adebule; Governor, Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Commissioner of Home Affairs; Dr. AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem; CAN President, Lagos Chapter, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola; Prof. Abdul-Lateef Adetona; Dr. Kehinde Babarinde at the inter-faith parley last Tuesday in Lagos

Development can only come in an atmosphere where peace reigns. This is why many scholars often believe that development and peace are Siamese twins. It is for reason that it is argued that any community and society that seeks development must promote peace within its domain.

The psychology of peace being critical to development also rules the thought flow of Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. This was evident when he hosted an Inter-Faith Parley of Religious Leaders and Organisations in Lagos recently. No wonder, Ambode was excited that two years after he assumed duty at the governor of the Centre of Excellence, there has not been religious crisis in the state. And because there are no religious crises, it has allowed his government to think right which, no doubt, has given room to accomplish some of the developmental strides the state is recording.

The parley, which had clerics from both Christian and Muslim faith in attendance, saw both sitting side by side without any qualms. Entertainers from both sides were also invited to spice the event and the performances raked in wide applause from the congregation.