Author: Brian Edwards

Dear Muir’s Chapel Youth Group,

Lent is a time for reflection, sacrifice, and growth in faith for many Christians. The 40 days leading up to Easter are an opportunity to come closer to God and to strengthen your relationship with Him. Here are four ways that teenagers can grow in their faith during Lent:

1. Fasting: One traditional way to observe Lent is by giving up something for 40 days, such as a favorite food or social media. This sacrifice can help us understand what it means to deny ourselves for the sake of our faith and can also help us become more grateful for what we have.
2. Service to Family Members: Lent is also a time to serve those closest to us, including our family members. Consider serving your family by doing chores, cooking meals, or simply spending time with them. This act of love and selflessness towards our family members can help us grow in compassion and empathy and bring us closer to God’s heart for those in our daily lives.
3. Prayer: Spending time in prayer and reflection can help us connect with God and deepen our faith. This could include set times for daily prayer, or simply taking time each day to reflect on God’s love and grace.
4. Study: Lent is a great opportunity to study the Bible and learn more about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. You could join a youth Bible study or spend time reading a devotional book that helps you grow in your understanding of what Jesus did for you.

Remember, Lent is not just about giving up something for 40 days; it’s about growing closer to God and becoming more like Jesus. Take advantage of this time to reflect, sacrifice, and grow in your faith.

Wishing you all the best during this Lenten season,

Brian Edwards

Meet Mercy, an 8-year-old girl who lives in Uganda. She is a special young lady who has captured the hearts of our youth group. The group learned about Mercy through an organization called Food for the Hungry and was inspired by their mission to help children in need. The youth group is excited to sponsor Mercy and make a positive impact in her life by providing her with food and other essential items she needs to grow and thrive. They believe that even a small act of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life and they are looking forward to being a part of Mercy’s story.

The youth group has made a commitment to give $38 a month to help provide for Mercy’s needs through Food for the Hungry. They also plan to write letters to Mercy to let her know she is not alone and that she is loved and cared for. The group is passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with Mercy and is excited for her to learn about His love and the difference it can make in her life. They believe that through their sponsorship, they can help provide the resources and support Mercy needs to grow into a healthy and thriving young woman, all while sharing the message of hope and love through Jesus.

One of the most important things we can teach our young people is how to experience the joy of God’s presence in their everyday lives. God is always with us, but it can be easy to get caught up in the distractions and busyness of daily life and miss His presence. Here are four simple ways that we can focus on God’s presence in our everyday lives:

1. Start your day with prayer: Take a few minutes each morning to set aside time for prayer. This can be a simple prayer of thanksgiving for the new day or a more in-depth time of reflection and conversation with God.
2. Listen to worship music: Music has a powerful way of connecting us to God. Listening to worship music can help us to focus on God’s presence and to feel His peace and joy in our hearts.
3. Read scripture: The Bible is a powerful tool that can help us to connect with God. Set aside time each day to read a few verses or a chapter of scripture. It can be a good idea to choose a specific book or passage to focus on for a certain period of time.
4. Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and focusing on our thoughts and feelings. Take a few minutes each day to simply be still, breathe deeply, and focus on God’s presence in your life.

By taking time to focus on God’s presence in our everyday lives, we can experience the joy that comes from being in a relationship with Him. It may be small things, but it can greatly impact our daily lives. Remember that God is always with us, we just need to open our hearts and minds to His presence.

As youth ministry leaders, it is our responsibility to not only provide a safe and supportive environment for young people but also to equip them with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the complexities of the world. This includes having difficult conversations about current events and social issues. We address difficult topics from time to time. We do it openly and honestly. We have not had conversations at youth group about the current conversation our church is having about sexuality or possible disaffiliation. In the weeks to come and as decisions are made, we may possibly address these issues as a group. Please continue reading to understand the way in which we would have these difficult conversations. It may be helpful to your family if you have these conversations at home.

When leading youth through these conversations, it is important to approach them with empathy and understanding. Many young people may not have the life experience or perspective to fully comprehend the gravity of certain issues, and it is our job to guide them in a way that is both informative and sensitive.

Here are a few tips for leading your youth through difficult conversations about current events:

1. Create a safe space: It is essential that youth feel comfortable and supported when discussing sensitive topics. Create a space that is physically and emotionally safe for them to share their thoughts and feelings.
2. Encourage open and honest dialogue: Encourage youth to share their thoughts and feelings, and create an open and non-judgmental environment where they feel comfortable expressing their opinions.
3. Use age-appropriate language and examples: Be mindful of the language and examples you use when discussing complex issues. Keep in mind the age and maturity level of the youth in your group.
4. Emphasize the importance of empathy and understanding: Encourage youth to try and see things from other’s perspectives and to recognize the complexity of different issues.
5. Encourage seeking God’s truth: Remind youth that they can turn to God and His Word for guidance and truth as they navigate complex issues and seek to understand His perspective. Provide resources such as Bible passages or devotions that may help them in their journey to seek God’s truth. Emphasize the importance of a personal relationship with God and His role as the ultimate source of truth and understanding.

Leading youth through difficult conversations about current events is not always easy, but it is an essential part of our role as youth ministry leaders. By creating a safe and supportive environment and empowering youth to think critically and empathetically, we can help them grow and develop into informed and compassionate members of the church and society.

Teenagers are awesome but they need our prayers. At Muir’s chapel, we want to continually lift up our youth in prayer. We ask you to join us in praying for them. We’d be honored if you’d pray the following 5 Prayers for our youth. If you’re a parent of a youth, you know how important these prayers are!

1. Safety and protection: Pray for our youth to be kept safe from harm and for them to make wise decisions that will protect them from danger.
2. Physical and emotional health: Pray for our youth to be healthy in both body and mind, and for them to have the strength and resilience to cope with any challenges they may face.
3. Wisdom and discernment: Pray for our youth to have the wisdom and discernment to make good choices and to discern God’s will for their life.
4. Relationships: Pray for our youth to have positive and supportive relationships with their peers, friends, and family, and for them to be a positive influence on those around them.
5. Spiritual growth: Pray for our youth to grow in their relationship with God and to have a strong foundation in their faith. This may include praying for their participation in church and other spiritual activities.

As we look ahead to the year 2023, it’s clear that our youth ministry will continue to be a vital part of Muir’s Chapel’s mission to reach and engage young people in their faith journey. In a world that is increasingly unchurched, it is more important than ever to provide young people with a solid foundation in their faith and to help them develop a deep and meaningful relationship with God.

But what will youth ministry look like in 2023? It’s difficult to say for certain, but it’s likely that we will see a continued focus on adapting to the changing needs and interests of our young people. This might involve finding new and innovative ways to engage young people in their faith, such as through social media and other online platforms. It might also involve being more responsive to the concerns and needs of young people and being willing to adapt to their changing needs and interests.

Another important trend in our youth ministry in 2023 will be the need to prioritize diversity. This means being more intentional about welcoming and engaging young people from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences. It also means being more sensitive to the unique challenges and needs of different groups of young people, and being willing to tailor our approach to meet their needs.

Ultimately, our youth ministry in 2023 will be about investing in the next generation of leaders. It’s about equipping young people with the tools and skills they need to be successful in their faith and to make a positive impact on the world. By investing in our youth, we can help to shape the future of the church and to create a brighter and more hopeful future for all of us.

We will invest in our youth by helping them grow in the 5G’s …

Gather = Fellowship. Deepen ALL relationships  (to God, to each other, to the adults, to the church). We understand we gather to support, love, and encourage each other even to a sacrificial level.

Hebrews 10: 24-25 24 Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. 25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing.

Ephesians 4:3-6 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

Grow = Discipleship. Spiritual Growth. We want to grow in our faith.

Luke 10:27  He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:22-23  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Give = Service. Use your spiritual gifts to meet the needs of others.

1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

Matthew 20:28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Go = Evangelism. Share Christ. Be ready to give the source of hope you have in life (1 Peter 3:15)

Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 4:19-20 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Glorify =  Worship. Giving God all the credit and praising Him above all things.

Matthew 5:16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 4:24  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

We are definitely Better Together!

I didn’t belong to a youth group when I was a teenager. I missed out on having a group of people encourage and support me. That’s why I’m SO passionate about youth ministry. It provides a safe place for youth to be themselves while growing in their faith.

Growing up I had friends who went to youth group but they never invited me. Do you know anyone who could benefit from youth group? Invite them to come. Why? Because we’re better together! How do I know? Cause the Bible told me so (and now I have experienced it)!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

⁹ Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ¹¹ Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? ¹² A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Let me introduce myself …

I’m Brian Edwards and I’m the new Director of Youth and Discipleship. I can’t tell you how excited my family and I are to be a part of the Muir’s Chapel family! My wife Lisa, daughter Emma, and son Levi are pumped about the youth ministry at MC and can’t wait to jump in with both feet and get started building relationships!

If you ever have any questions or need to reach me for any reason, please feel free to do so. Here’s how …

Email: bedwards@muirschapelumc.com
Office: (336) 299-1913
Cell: (336) 543-4672

I can’t wait to get you know your family. I truly believe one of God’s greatest gifts He’s given us is each other! I believe we’re called to support and encourage each other. This I know to be true … WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER!

I can’t wait for SNY (Sunday Night Youth)! It’s Sunday night, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and we start with dinner. Yummmmm!! Why? Because families eat together!!

If you’re a parent – I hope to see your child Sunday night!
If you’re a youth – I can’t wait to hang out Sunday night and begin this adventure together!

Peace,

Brian Edwards