Reason to Believe
“Zack, I need to tell you something,” one of the girls from my youth group whispered nervously to me. I was in my typical Sunday-morning-hurry-up-mode and was just about to enter the sanctuary to help lead that morning’s worship. But she seemed so very agitated that I knew I needed to stop and listen. She continued solemnly. “I have decided to renounce Christ.” I tried not to let the shock to my heart spread to my face and give away my dismay. It’s never an easy thing to hear from a student. Plus, I was a “rookie” youth minister, having only been full-time for a year. I stuttered and stumbled. How should I respond? I had five minutes until the service started!
“Okay…” I said, buying a moment to collect my thoughts. “That’s a pretty big decision. Before you do that can we meet? I just want to hear how you came to that decision.” Thankfully, she agreed. For the next five weeks we met to discuss her wrestling with faith. I discovered that she was having doubts about her doubts, but her boyfriend, who was an atheist, had had her tied up in knots, logically. So we just started from the beginning. I let her talk. I let her ask questions. I tried to offer her answers where there were answers. I really didn’t know if we were making any progress.
The first scene repeated itself some weeks later. There she was, just before I entered the sanctuary, but this time she handed me a note, smiled and walked away. I didn’t know what it would say. Was she fully renouncing Christ? I opened it cautiously…nervously. The ruled pages contained two words, centered on the page: “I believe”. That student is now in her mid twenties and her faith is still active and it is her own.
After that experience, I realized there was something that I wasn’t doing in my area of ministry. I wasn’t addressing doubt. Teenagers have questions and my teaching of “doctrine” (while all well and good) did not also make time for addressing their doubts.
The 12th Grade Apologetics Series here at the Church of The Apostles is designed as an attempt to ask some of those questions. As seniors transition into college, new ideas will be encountered, faith will be tested. The Apologetics Series begins the conversation that I feel is necessary for every student to, at some point, begin to have. That conversation is between the student and the teacher, the student and their spiritual mentors, the student and his or her parents, but ultimately (and most importantly) between the student and Christ. There are four weeks remaining for the apologetics class. If you are a senior in high school and you would like to begin that conversation, make plans to join us on Sundays at 9:15 AM in the Den. If you’d like more information (or you just have a question) you can contact me at zcarden@apostles.org or on facebook at www.facebook.com/zack.carden
~Zack Carden, College & Transition Pastor
Winter Mission Project Recap
Our Winter Mission Project for 2012 took place over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend. We stayed at Rescue Atlanta, a day shelter and church that caters to the homeless community of Atlanta. While there, we partnered with an organization called Samaritan’s Feet. On Saturday, we distributed almost 300 pairs of new shoes to the homeless clients of Rescue Atlanta. As a part of that distribution, our students were able to wash their feet before they fitted them with new shoes and socks.
It was really amazing how the STS students ministered to the homeless people. Many of them prayed together, shared stories and shared the love of Jesus Christ. As I walked around the room changing buckets of warm soapy water, there were a few times that tears came to my eyes as I listened to teenagers praying with the shoe recipient or when a student’s eyes lit up as another homeless person was escorted to their foot washing station. It was a day that I will never forget and I know that the STS students who were there feel the same.
Watch the Winter Mission Project 2012 Video
“Whobilation Celebration” recap
Valet parking. VIP service. A spectacular play at the Fox Theatre. This is just a glimpse of what was experienced at the STS Mother/Daughter Grinch Event. For the event, we focused on our STS 5th-12th grade girls and their moms. Our desire for this occasion was for each lady to feel special and taken care of. We hoped to create a festive and fun environment that would also be relaxing, stress free, and put everyone in the Christmas spirit!
Upon arrival at the church, each mom and daughter was greeted by the STS men who offered valet service, as well as welcomed and served them throughout the morning. The room was full of festive music, décor, and treats. When each lady entered the “Grinchified” room, her eyes glowed with excitement and joy. The day was full of fellowshipping and laughing together as we shared a meal, exchanged ornaments, and enjoyed the Grinch play. It was a very special time of fellowship among believers as we experienced the joy of the season and of our salvation.
May this season be one of joy as we are reminded of our Lord’s love and faithfulness. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!
Christmas “Whobilation Celebration” Photos
If you would like any of these pictures in full resolution, please email David Fritts.
True Thanksgiving
Last week I was in a retail store with Cate, my three year old daughter. One of the ways that Cate likes to shop is to be on daddy’s shoulders. Her little 35lb frame sits well on my shoulders and my ears provide wonderful handlebars. Conversation is usually centered around one common question: “Daddy, can I have that?” However, on this particular day we focused on another question: “Daddy, what is that?”
Cate had never seen a telescope before. The large box was displayed on an end cap in the toy section. It was obviously placed there to draw the attention of lurking toddlers. Cate asked the question again. I guess she realized that I wasn’t going to answer the first time. I was actually daydreaming about wanting the telescope for myself. “Daddy, what is that?”
“Cate, that’s a telescope” I replied. “People use those to look at things. You can use it to look at stars. It allows you to see that they are really big.” Cate responded, “like God.”
Cate’s response reminds me of a verse in Psalm 69
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30
Two things come to mind when I think of the word magnification.
1. Microscopes: allow us to get a glimpse of how small something really is.
2. Telescopes: allow us to get a glimpse of how big something really is.
In Psalm 69:30, David says that he will “praise the name of God with a song” and “magnify him with thanksgiving.” This is not a microscope magnification. David is not declaring that he wants to make a small God look bigger. This is a telescope magnification that David is declaring. He longs to make God’s greatness be seen for what it really is.
This should be the cry of all Christians. We should long for our lives to be telescopes for the world to see the greatness of God.
I chose to blog on this verse because this is the week of Thanksgiving. Notice how David says that he will magnify God. He says that he will “magnify him with thanksgiving.” When we give genuine thankfulness to God, he is magnified. Genuine gratitude from the praises of His people brings glory to God. It magnifies who He is.
This Thanksgiving, let’s not just be thankful for the things that God has blessed us with. True and worshipful gratitude is not simply delighting in the things that God has given us. True and worshipful gratitude (thanksgiving) stems from delighting in how big and amazing God really is.
The STS team prays that you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
~Brian Skaggs
from Buddy the Elf
I want to thank all of you STS students who worked so hard to pack those Operation Christmas Child boxes! It really gets busy around here and us elves have a hard time getting all of our work done. We especially love these boxes because the children who receive them are so appreciative! Not only do they get some toys but they get to hear the gospel message. It is so important that they know there are people around the world who care for them.
I hope you all enjoyed spending time with your friends while working so hard for something so important! That’s what Christmas is all about, right? Sharing the love of Jesus with others?? Thanks for your generosity; you brought so many cool things to go in the boxes. Well, I guess I’ll see you again next year!
Merry Christmas!
Buddy the Elf
