Lakewood United Methodist Church
Monday, September 06, 2010
of North Little Rock, Arkansas
LUMC YOUth:
“WE EXIST TO BRING YOUTH CLOSER TO GOD”
 
Under the Influence, the Winter Retreat, will be January 29-31 at Mt. Eagle. The deadline for registration is January 17. Do it today!

(April 27, 2009)  What a great week of service and experiences we had while in Atlanta over Spring Break. We worked for MedShare International, which sends surplus medical supplies to developing nations. We helped sort and box approximately 1500 lbs. of supplies from catheters and spinal needles to gauze and iodine. We also worked for the Atlanta Community Foodbank Community Garden Program, working in mulch, compost, repairing beds, setting posts and more to benefit neighbors in that part of Atlanta.
 
For two afternoons we worked in the Jonesboro Community in a mobile home park alongside the Salvation Army, and it was quite an experience, but it was awesome. We helped to provide a Vacation Bible School-like experience for the children living there. We helped with crafts, snacks, recreation, and a Bible story for the approximately 30 children who showed up. It was tough for some of our YOUth because some of the children, mainly boys, swore at our group, insulted some of them, and fought among themselves. Needless to say, it stirred quite a discussion about understanding the circumstances and living situations these children are in, and caused our YOUth to realize that they themselves did not pick their circumstances and living situations. It was an eye-opening experience.
 
Lastly, we worked for Habitat for Humanity for a day and a half painting the inside of a house, doing yard work and planting grass. We completed all of the tasks well before the scheduled quitting time, and the man we worked with said we probably helped save the new homeowner approximately $4000-$5000. Also, the men that were working on the house just couldn’t believe all of the work that our group did, how well the group worked, and just the fact that they would give up their spring break to come do something like that. I am proud to say that I received an email from the Habitat group in DeKalb County, and the family has already moved into their new home.
 
Last year our YOUth had almost 1300 hours of service through all of our trips and mission outings, and will likely do as much this year. During this time of year, it brings about change with the graduation of our seniors, and the entrance of our Confirmands/6th graders and it reminds me of how I hope that I am responding to God’s call in my life and the lives of the YOUth.
 
Serving God by serving others is part of our YOUth Mission Statement that the YOUth Council created almost two years ago. It says: “We exist to bring youth closer to God, to provide an open, nurturing forum to face life issues in our personal walk of faith, to be in fellowship with one another, and to be in service to God’s people and creation.” I really think that sums up what the YOUth ministry is all about here.
 
Doing so much mission and service isn’t always the most popular thing for teenagers. It isn’t always fun, it isn’t always rewarding, and it isn’t always easy. We could do a lot less service and replace it with a lot more fun stuff and likely have more YOUth participate. But a lot of ‘fun stuff’ generally doesn’t create disciples nor does it show an expression of one’s faith.
 
It reminds me of the church that we stayed at in San Antonio last year. Travis Park UMC was a large, wealthy congregation in downtown San Antonio, but mainly kept to themselves. Some new leadership came in that implemented a lot of plans to serve the community, the homeless, and the mentally ill. Shortly thereafter, approximately half of the congregation left and wanted nothing to do with such plans. The church is still going and serving those around it. The remarkable thing is that once their focused changed, they noticed that their grounds were cleaner and there was no more graffiti on the church. The people being served on the street began to take care of the building because of what the remaining congregation was doing for them. 
 
I think this kind of sums it up: James 2:14-18 says, “Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, ‘Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!’ and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup - where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, ‘Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department.’ Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.” (from The Message)
 
Thank you to this congregation for its range of support for the YOUth in what they do to go beyond the walls of the building and live out their faith. 
 
--Brandon Bates
 
YOUth Welcome!

  The youth of Lakewood UMC proudly give you their website. We hope you enjoy learning what the youth are currently doing and what's to come in the near future. For more information, contact Brandon Bates, our Youth Minister. You can also read his blog, be our Facebook friend, or take a look at some of our pictures. 
 

 
Lakewood YOUth Mission Statement: We exist to bring youth closer to God, to provide an open, nurturing forum to face life issues in our personal walk of faith, to be in fellowship with one another, and to be in service to God’s people and creation.

Lakewood YOUth Vision Statement: A youth group passionately pursuing God together with all it takes, inviting and welcoming students to come as they are and going into the world as God wants us to be.
 
 
Our schedule: