Discipleship in Action

Over the last 7 years, I have experienced so many opportunities to live out my discipleship of Jesus through the Christian community of The Church.  I have always loved to teach and lead in fun ways that involve action and participation.  Even as a child I was ready to help and teach younger children.  Isn't that what discipleship is all about?  Not just to learn about Jesus' teachings but to invite others to journey with us as we become more deeply committed to Christ and to walk together....

I can't remember a time when I didn't know who Jesus was.  In many ways, I think I was born a Christian - but I only know Christ now because of so many who took the time to pour into me - older kids, young adults, teachers, parents, grandparents, mentors....the list goes on and on.  Their love and support have sparked a light in me that I just can't bury and save for myself.  This light is so beautiful and bright I have to share it with others.  That is what discipleship in action is all about.  Some of my most moving experiences have been serving children. I have participated in Vacation Bible Schools for the last 7 years and in some years, I have done it twice.  I have taken Vacation Bible School to Africa and Alaska.  I have worked with preschoolers, 5th graders, teen volunteers, adult leaders, and pastors.  There is one constant regardless of who you are serving with:  everyone learns something through a time of laughter, excitement, joy, and sincerity.



I regularly reflect on the Gospel text from Mark

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

What an honor it is to participate as the hands and feet of Christ in the blessing of children....

What a priviledge it is to learn how to receive the kingdom of God like a child from children themselves...

How amazing it is to spend a week with children, "for to such belongs the kingdom of God"

to dance

to sing

to create

to love

to laugh

and to learn

Emerge Young Adult ministries values inter-generational ministry.  It is part of who we are.  Older people, for our entire lives, have poured into us, guided us, loved us, supported us, and walked with us as we became more deeply committed to Jesus.  How could we respond to such care in any other way than to turn and care for others?  Centenary UMC loves kids - which is why we love Centenary.  Whether you are a parent, a teacher, a single person, a married person, a man, or a woman - there is a place for you to serve kids this summer.

Would you consider praying about how God might delight in using you and your gifts to minister to his beloved children in the Danville community during VBS this June?

Jill Winter, our Director of Children's Ministries is deeply dedicated to making this ministry available for both our children and for you to put discipleship into action.  She has lots of availability and flexibility to match your gifts with an area of service.  You can serve in a music shop, a law court, a geometry shop, a toy shop, a scribe shop, a pottery shop, a mission shop, or as a group leader taking kids from place to place.  There is plenty of room to partner up with a friend and serve together.

June 23rd-June 27th

Later in the summer I will be serving with our Youth Ministry Team on their summer trip to Panama City.  I expect, based on past experiences, that those two service opportunities will be the highlight of my summer and will connect me to our loving God in deep new ways.  My prayer is that you would join me and we could share in this wonderful experience of discipleship in action.  Comment here or contact Michelle Harris (info on Contact page) to get more information or to sign up to serve.  I will be there...hope you will too.
 

When Christians Get it Right

A group of young adults recently ended their 6 week journey through Adam Hamilton's book, When Christians Get It Wrong with a discussion on Homosexuality.  We began the study by noting that young adults outside of the church perceive Christianity to be judgmental  hypocritical, too political, sheltered/closed-minded, and above all anti-homosexual.  In research done by Dave Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons in 2007, 92% of young adults polled believed Christian people were against homosexuality.  Today, the controversy has only escalated as we are dealing with nation-wide debates on the sanctity of marriage and the world-wide Christian Church is experiencing polarization over this sensitive ethical issue.  One key difference in today's culture compared to generations in the past is that nearly every young person knows and loves someone who is openly gay.  Often people are deeply troubled by the idea that their best friend, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, or child would be called an abomination by God, or alienated from the family of God.  Its no longer hypothetical - its real - and its personal, leaving all of the affected caught in a web of confusing thoughts and emotions.


It is natural to struggle with how to reconcile Christian tradition, biblical teaching, experience, and logic.  In fact, it is often in our doubts and challenges that God meets us where we are and guides us toward the light.  In my own struggles, I have felt God move me to respond in love to people who find themselves compromised in some way with Christian tradition, not just in the sexuality debate, but in marriage, divorce, politics, war, and science. Praying diligently and relying on the Holy Spirit for the necessary words and guidance is essential in reaching out to anyone with love and respect.  The greatest gift we can give others is an invitation into healing relationships with the Triune God.  Although there are many questions and uncertainties about God's morality and justice, we can move forward trusting that God is holy and good and working to make all things perfect and beautiful.  In this spirit, we have the freedom to offer relationships of redemption and wholeness in the grace of Jesus Christ to all people, even in the midst of disagreement.

Over the last six weeks our focus has not been to find a black or white answer to the complex ethical dilemmas in the 21st century.  Instead our goal has been to learn how we can differ intensely over crucial issues such as our beliefs about the afterlife, politics, science, and even sexuality, while remaining united in

Christ, knowing we belong together in the family of God.  As Tony Campolo said, "Let not an issue destroy the fellowship.  Let not a difference of opinion alienate us."  After all, eternity is a long time to spend with someone - we may as well learn to love, despite our differences.  With the strength and grace of Christ, it is possible to be deeply committed Christians and disagree on issues in respectful, peaceable ways encouraging fellowship rather than alienation.

In our Wednesday night discussions, a group of people filled with love for Jesus and a desire to share it with others, came together and shared personal and theological challenges with one another.  We thought critically about what we believe and why we believe it.  We asked ourselves tough questions.  We discerned how God speaks to us and guides us.  Most of all, we considered how Jesus reveals the fullness of God and asked questions about what Christ would do if he were living our lives.  We remembered that although Christ came to fulfill the law, he did so with compassion, mercy, understanding, forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation, consistently valuing people as children of God; as his own brothers and sisters.  When Christians get it RIGHT - we become the living Body of Christ untied in a powerful witness that can powerfully change the world for the glory of God.  We love sacrificially, unconditionally, and selflessly inviting and welcoming all of us who are broken to a place where Christ can make them powerful in their weaknesses.

As we go forward from our conversations about when we get it wrong and how we get it right, my prayer is

that we would all continue to grow in Christlikeness and that the Holy Spirit would keep working diligently in our hearts to teach us how to love our neighbors and to love God.   1 John says that when we love one another, God lives in us and God's love is perfected in us.  May we know that we don't need all the answers - but what we do need is an abiding life in God together, remembering that "we love God because he first loved us."

We're Emerging

As we continue to develop and grow, please join us in praise and thanksgiving for God's grace and work in this NEW ministry.  

Share this info with your friends and help spread the word that young adults in the Danville area are coming together to love and serve one another and our neighbors.