"I'm a Little Scared" by Lacy Ngo

“Can we read some stories before I go to sleep?” Hilt asked. “Of course, let’s read the ‘God and Me’ book first, I replied as I snuggled my 6 year old. I always cherish those rare moments when he wants to snuggle. This particular night was the night before he had one of his lung procedures at the Children’s hospital. The next morning, Hilt, who has a condition called bronchiectasis, would be put to sleep so that the doctor could suck the mucus from his lungs. I could tell Hilt was a little nervous as we opened the “God and Me” book to the page we had left off. “God and Me” was a daily devotional book for kids. Sometimes God seems to find ways to speak to us and to let us know that He is with us; this particular night was one of those nights.  The devotion for the night was amazingly about going to the hospital, and God giving us doctors and nurses to help us feel better! As I was reading along, Hilt noticed this coincidence and exclaimed, “How did God to that!” I just smiled and said, “I don’t know how He does things like this, Hilt, but I am so glad He does!”

The following morning we were headed to Charlotte for the procedure. My little tough boy timidly said, “Mommy, I am a little scared.”

“I know sweetie,” I replied, why don’t we pray.”

Hilt sweetly prayed, “God, will you cuddle me?”

That simple prayer was one of the most beautiful prayers I had ever heard. It was so genuine and shocking coming from my little high-energy boy who always says, “I don’t know?” when I ask him to pray or says, “Noooo cuddles!” on most days.

Thank you God for comforting us when we are a “little scared.”

When Spouses Get the SAME Call by Lacy Ngo

On one busy Sunday morning, my children and I hurried into church ready to find our seats for the service. My husband, Chad, who sometimes plays guitar for the service, was already at church. As we walked into the church, I noticed a large table filled with pictures of adorable children from all over the world. I made a mental note to check out the table later. After church, I went to the table and learned that the children pictured were children in need of a sponsor. Once you signed up to sponsor a child, you would send the child’s family much needed money as well as notes and letters of encouragement. I was immediately drawn to a little boy named Matt. I wanted to sponsor him, but knew I needed to see if my husband would want to sponsor someone as well. I asked Chad if he wanted to go over to the table and check it out. I didn’t want to pressure Chad or convince him to choose Matt. When we walked over to the table with probably 30 to 40 children’s pictures, Chad picked up Matt’s picture and said he would like to sponsor him. I ecstatically exclaimed  "He is who I chose!!" I couldn’t believe it! We both chose Matt on our own! We knew Matt was the child we should sponsor. We still continue to sponsor and pray for Matt and his family today. 

The Road to Ministry by Val Kenney

As we have just completed our fifth Youth Week at Quest, and I am now over midway through my fourth year as St. John’s Youth Minister, I find it important to me to share my faith story and how I came to full time youth ministry through the writing of this blog called “The Road to Ministry.”

In 1969, my family, which included an older sister and a younger brother, moved to Savannah, GA from Jacksonville. I was nine years old.  I have to say that Savannah is where I have my fondest memories of my childhood. Savannah is where my involvement in UMYF began.  After moving to Savannah my family almost immediately found a church home at White Bluff UMC.  My parents inserted themselves and their three children into the life of White Bluff UMC.  My parents were very active in the church from teaching Sunday School and helping at church dinners. My mom was in charge of all the crafts at Vacation Bible School, and my dad was active in the United Methodist Men. My mom even directed a womanless wedding play at the church.

I was a typical child, but I did cause my parents a lot of grief with my choices and my antics both at school and at home.  I was a terrible son as I was rebellious and mean spirited.  Then in July 1975 things changed.  I was 15 years old and had just completed the 9^th grade when I attended a high school Summer youth camp called  Epworth-by-the-Sea at St. Simons Island, GA.  The week I was there would begin to change my life.  The week started out being boring to me, but little did I know that on Tuesday, July 15, 1975 I would feel the presence of God and that night accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.  I was so on fire that my mom noticed something had changed in me.  I told her I had accepted Jesus as my Savior.  She was happy and relieved because for a long time she had been fervently praying for God to come into my life and wake me up.  Things were good for about 11 months after that.  Now I still had my faults and sinned every day.  Then in April of 1976 my parents announced to us that my dad was being transferred from Savannah, GA. to the Birmingham, AL area.  I was not happy, not at all.  I was active in UMYF in Savannah and had a girlfriend that I would have to leave now.  We moved in June or July of 1976 to Montevallo, AL just south of Birmingham.  I got my first job with Pasquales Pizza, a restaurant owned by Pat & Dottie Reynolds. Pat and Dottie Reynolds were the parents of Cindy Sudderth, who would 6 years later become Cindy Kenney, my wife of 34 years.  That is another story in itself.

After we have moved to Montevallo, AL, we found a church to join but it really didn’t work well for us.  You see, I was working 40 hours a week then and on Sundays.  So after moving I wasn’t involved in UMYF at all.  So let’s jump ahead to when I was 19 years old (1979).  I started volunteering with the middle school youth at Central UMC in Alabaster, AL.  My interest in the youth program was partly due to my 13 year old brother who wanted to be with his school friends at youth group.  This is where I first felt my call to youth ministry.  I acted on that calling by going to the church administration and said, “I feel called to youth ministry and would like to lead the youth.”  The answer I received was not the answer I expected or wanted to hear.  Their answer, “You are too young!”  I was completely devastated, hurt and yes even angry.  So much that I walked away from that church dejected, beaten and deeply hurt.  Looking back though, after many years, I can see God in that saying, “You were too young.”

I joined the US Navy in February 1981 and spent four really good years on active duty.  But something was still missing.  Cindy and I married in June of 1982 and I was Honorably Discharged in 1985.  I immediately went to work for Pitney Bowes, Inc. in Jacksonville, FL. My dad had worked for them in Birmingham. Something was still missing in my life.  In 1985, Cindy and I joined 1^st UMC in Jacksonville, FL and almost immediately felt the call to help with the youth group as a volunteer.  There was a younger man at 1^st UMC who was the youth minister.  He welcomed both Cindy and I into the youth group as adult volunteers.  We were there for 3 years and loved helping with the program.  In 1988 I transferred to Tampa, FL from Jacksonville with Pitney Bowes.  Cindy and I immediately found a church, St. Paul UMC in Largo, FL, to call our church home for our young family.  Eleven years later, in 1999, I felt another stirring in my soul for youth ministry but did not know how to act on it at that time.  You see I then was in the 14^th year of a career in the copier industry and was moving up the ladder towards upper middle management.

Now fast forward to January 21, 2005 the worst day of my life!  I was let go from my job just three weeks short of 20 years.  I was completely devastated!  I had poured my heart, soul, tears and blood into my career.  But this loss was about to put into motion the ride of my life.  After losing my “career,” I took a job at Auto Zone, which I had gotten through a friend and brother in Christ.  But working retail was not what I was use to after 19 years as a copier technician and manager.  I then took a job at Office Depot in the print shop.  One particular day, I had a really bad day at work. I went home and changed my wording on Monster.com looking for a job back in my field of expertise.  I found a job listing with Konica Minolta that would require me to move to the Carolina’s.  Konica Minolta paid for my move.  We found our home in one visit to Rock Hill.  We also found St. John’s after visiting three other churches in the area and knew as soon as we walked into St. John’s that we were home.  I started helping with Quest in August of 2006.  Austin Bond was hired as the youth minister at St. John’s in July 2007.  In August 2011 Austin announced that he was moving back to his home area to be the youth minister at Belin UMC in Murrells Inlet.  After Austin Bond told the youth he was leaving, a couple of youth responded, “is Val replacing you?”  Looking back that was the first affirmation.  I promised Jenifer that I would definitely pray about the opportunity.  The next day as I was traveling to Knoxville, TN for work every church I passed had on their signs the same scripture, Jeremiah 29:11.  Every song that came on the radio was about trusting God and stepping out of the boat.  Looking back I can see God putting everything into motion by my losing my job of 19 years.  Konica Minolta paying for my complete move to Rock Hill, finding St. John’s and finding Quest.  God does work in mysterious ways.

Words cannot describe the joy I feel daily since Chaplin Spencer called me on November 15, 2011 to offer me the position of Youth Minister at St. John’s.  I am blessed beyond measure each day to be in ministry with each of you, to be in ministry with amazing people on staff at St. John’s, and to see youth grow in their faith and come to the knowledge of God’s immense love for them.  Thank you God for telling me, when I was 19 years old, “You’re too young.”

"A Communion Blessing" by Lauren Reinhardt

(Names have been changed for privacy.)

“She probably won’t even know you’re there, or at least won’t acknowledge you,” the nurse said flatly.

I had come bearing my Holy Communion bag from St. John’s containing the elements, some tiny cups, hand sanitizer, and written instructions (whew!)—and my nervous gut was right there with me. Sure, the elements of bread and wine (wafers and juice) may have been blessed previously, but I felt completely out of my element! Wandering the halls of the nursing home, where folks were napping or moaning or staring into space, made me feel wholly unprepared for anything remotely holy.

I had never met Doris before, but the nurse threw wet blankets on any fire of hope that she might have joy in sharing the sacrament of communion—let alone show any recognition of my presence!

I found Doris lying in a reclining wheelchair in a common area, said hello, and introduced myself. No response. A fleeting thought said—OK, you tried, and the nurse was obviously right. It’s not going to work, so go on to the next person on your list. I’m a stubborn sort, so I pulled up a chair hoping to prove that nurse wrong.

I continued to explain why I was there and asked if she would like to take communion. Nothing.

Finally, in resignation blended with a wilted hope that some awareness was in those blank eyes, I asked her if she would like me to pray with her. Nothing.

I gently took her hand and began praying out loud, using her name, and thanking God for her and whatever else came to my heart that moment.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

At that moment, she turned to me with sparkly eyes and said, “Thank you. That was so nice.”

I talked with her a bit more, but she returned to her dazed and confused appearance, and never responded to questions or anything else I said.

Communion as we know it in the church is the service of Christian worship at which bread and “wine” are consecrated and shared. We sit at the table with the Lord Jesus and partake in oneness with him.

But communion also means the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level. That is the communion the Holy Spirit facilitated in that moment with Doris. I fully felt the presence of Jesus. It was a God thing.

We are expected to share our faith and tell nonbelievers how Jesus Christ has changed our lives. No matter what our maturity level in our Christian walk, we all have something to offer. Too often, we believe the devil’s lie that we don't really know enough or haven't been a Christian long enough to make a difference (or, in my case, the negative thoughts of “abandon ship and leave Doris, because this is not going to work.”). Not true! By pushing those thoughts away, I got to experience the awesome presence of God. I may stumble over Bible verses or even the "accepted" way of saying things, but I have experienced (and continue to experience) the love of the living God, and that is exactly what each of us is called to share.

 “Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am with them.”— Matthew 18:20

May you be blessed with his presence this advent!

The Creator, Redeemer, and Guardian: A Quote from the Pentecost sermon by James D. Curran

“The counselor that was assigned to me, for the sake of anonymity, we will call him Joe, worked very close with me… in one of our sessions he said, “I saw you brought a Bible with you, are you a Christian?” I said, “Yes sir.” He said, “Do you believe in God the father almighty?”  I said, “Yes sir.” He said, “Do you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” I said, “Yes sir, I do.” He said, “ And have you welcomed the Holy Spirit into your heart and surrender to His will?” I said, “ yea, I think so?” He said, “That’s a no.” God's eternal invitation to a relationship with His grace and majesty, is dependent upon our acceptance of, congress with and worship of Him in all three forms, Father, Son and Holy Spirit the blessed Trinity of Creator, Redeemer and Guardian, and when we invite the Holy Spirit into our hearts, that His will be done through us, how can we not have hope. Hope that with the Holy Spirit working through us, we will fulfill God’s kingdom purpose in our lives.” James D. Curran

Making Family Memories as Overnight Family Promise Host by Lacy Ngo

 

My 5 year old, 2 year old, husband, and I just finished spending the night at St. John’s as the overnight host of our Family Promise guest. This was one of the highlights of our summer, and we have had an eventful summer. Our experience of staying overnight at the church was even more special than eating dinner with Cinderella and Prince Charming at Disney World! When the evening began, we loaded up our car with our luggage, some fun books, and family games, and headed over the church.  As soon as we walked into the building, a friendly young boy greeted Hilt, my son, and asked Hilt if he wanted to play cars with him. They were friends in an instant. When dinner began, the same little boy asked if Hilt could sit with him. Later, this young man noticed that I did not have a chair, and without a word, he walked to the other side of the room to get me a chair. I was amazed at how thoughtful this little 7 or 8-year-old boy was. He not only, generously shared his toys with Hilt, but was observant to the fact that I did not have a chair. It was an honor and joy to spend time with such thoughtful and kind hearted people. After dinner, our guest headed off to get ready for bed, and my little family headed to the lobby to play some of the family games we had packed. We snacked and played our games together. Then, we headed to our room. The fun didn’t end there. We pushed our air matrices together and read books before dosing off to sleep. Our room was comfy and came with a TV and DVD player. We noted that next time we would bring a DVD along with our games. The next morning we packed up our things and headed to Hardees for a special breakfast treat. All of us made such fun memories as a family that night, and we are ready to volunteer for our next overnight stay at our church.

A Lesson From Crosswalk Sunday School Class (Paraphrase from James Williamson)

Sometimes our children go through pain, and as parents, we want to keep them from it.  But then I think back on some of my hard times and how much I have grown from it.  I sometimes even realize later that I am glad I went through the hard time, because I see how God used it.  I think, God as our parent, may feel the same way.  He doesn’t like when we go through pain, but he knows sometimes it will help us.