State of AHYEAH Report 2009

State of AHYEAH Report 09’


Looking Back:

The year of 2009 has been an incredible year. For me it has been a year of personal growth in dependency on our Lord, in learning both the logistical and ministerial sides of youth ministry, and relationships with the staff, parents, and youth. For the youth, it has been a year of stretching challenges, loads of fun, memorable experiences, relational and communal development, and major spiritual growth. Many of them in the midst of life’s highs and lows have learned to seek Christ and have regular God-times.

Of the goals laid down in last year’s report, many of them have come to fruition, and several of them, though incomplete, are steadily blossoming. Thus far (Jan.-Aug.), we have had 8 successful major events including both “in-house” and “come” events. These events were the Revolve Tour, 30 Hour Help Drive, Spring Break Camping, Out of School Bash, Viking Night, Shopping with Dom, Extreme Camp, and Back To School Battle Cry.

Concerning the goals to work toward discipleship, one youth has grown and shown himself a man of integrity with a seeking heart after God. He has moved into a place of leadership co-leading the J.H. small group and being a leader on trips and youth events. Also, with the entering of 4 youth from the children’s ministry to the AHYEAH, three of them are set up into discipleship relationships with three of the spiritually mature youth. God is awesome. These three older youth are on a weekly basis getting together with Jacqueline and myself for discipleship meetings where we disciple them to disciple the younger ones.

Other highlights include:
• My successfully writing and sticking to a 6 month calendar (Yea).
• We have an established Events Group (5) which takes on larger events and divides up the work so that the event can be of much greater quality.
• Also, where we started the year with a rather unstable worship team; God has orchestrated 5 or 6 consistent youth, being lead by Jacqueline, that put forth a Spirit lead and quality worship experience.
• We have had two successful major fundraisers (30 Hour Help Drive; Flamingoing).
• AHYEAH is 9 months through the year and spent only 70% of the budget.
• Our attendance on Wednesdays has increased from an average of 12 to 18.
• Our attendance on Sunday nights has increased from an average of 24 to 29.
• The spiritual hunger of the youth of AHYEAH has grown outstandingly.

This highlight is probably the one I am most excited about. Towards the end of 08’ and beginning of 09’ a major concern of the state of AHYEAH was the acceptance level toward both new people and those who were different within the youth group. New youth were quickly made fun of and made to feel like outsiders, and several of those within AHYEAH were having similar experiences. Our awesome God has taken that wall of communal constipation and crumbled it to the ground. Just this last Wednesday, a girl came who was completely new to Abiding Harvest. As she came in, she was barraged by greetings, hand shakes, smiles, and one youth immediately declared her a friend and insisted she sit with her. God is AWESOME!

Looking Forward:

With 2010 only a couple miles away, there are several goals that I believe would greatly increase the ministry of AHYEAH and also the ministry in AHYEAH. God has had leader development on my heart for the past few months. Out of that has come CJ Rogers stepping into leadership, three youth, who are being discipled discipleing three of the younger youth, several Wednesday nights have being co-lead by youth, and an expansion of youth that are on the worship team.

I would like for Wednesday nights to grow into being completely youth lead (leading the message topic, leading worship, and planning the game). Also, prayer is being put forward for three more youth to become small group co-leaders, and also leaders on trips and events. And finally, I would like to see the 3 discipleship relationships that are being set up to be fully developed and flourishing; then when new children come up from the children’s ministry to do the same with them (perhaps even doubling the discipleship relationships within AHYEAH).

I believe that an achievable goal is to shoot for a higher attendance to AHYEAH nights. Whereas our average is 29, we will shoot for 35-40, and target more than before the youth that belong to Abiding Harvest but do not necessarily come to youth services. Also, I would like to grow our event attendance by 50%, especially our “come” events (ex. where we had 54 come to the Out of School Bash, we should aim for 80). Another goal is to see four established small groups after AHYEAH nights (older and younger guys and older and younger girls) with adult leaders and youth co-leaders.

To create more concern towards selflessness and reaching out, we will once again begin every other month with a brief description of another ministry (foreign or domestic) and end a month with some sort of donation to that ministry (clothes, shoes, money, etc.). I would also like to have regular monthly service projects where we target people in need here in OK and give of our time and talents for them (paint a house, repair windows, bring food, etc.). And finally, we should better support the Belize trips. This past summer, although several of the youth went, other than a public prayer time over them, we did very little. This year I would like us to come up with creative ways to support and sponsor our youth that have chosen to go.

Spiritually, you can already hear my heart about setting goals for these youth to grow in love for Christ, a burden for others, and a passion for learning and worshiping. However, a specific goal that I would like to point out is the next wall past the general acceptance of AHYEAH. Although God has taken that battle and brought us victory, there is still and underlying sense of prejudice towards other races and leaning on stereotypes instead of love. To this point AHYEAH is a youth group consisting of Caucasian youth. They have had little experience with other races other than negative stereotype reinforcing encounters at school, and we are always weary of what we do not understand. I am going to be praying that God in His own God-way will integrate AHYEAH with new cultures, then for the youth to be open and accepting to those cultures and lay down their preconceived ideas and taboos.

Finally, for our newly painted and good running bus, it would be extremely prudent to get the air conditioner fixed. The steam behind this goal has nearly dissipated. Also, I would like to create some youth-y magnets to put on the sides for and during youth events. Finally, I would like to have a complete stereo system installed to replace the decomposing one that we presently have. This would include new radio (with line-in; very important) and four quality 6x9s.

I am so stoked about what God has done, is doing, and where He’s taking us. His plans are still blurry, but His hand of direction will continue to guide. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and grow here at Abiding Harvest. It is an honor that Jacqui and I take very seriously. God is AWESOME! Amen.