Taking Advantage of a Teachable Moment

Recently on the way to an 8th grade basketball game (I'm the coach for Clark/Roosevelt) I overheard some of my players calling an Indian boy on our team a "terrorist". Knowing the two boys who were making the comments I understood that they were mostly joking around with the boy whom they both like. Yet as I sat there I sensed the Holy Spirit prompting me to take advantage of the opportunity, a teachable moment if you will. When we entered the locker room I told the kids we were having a team meeting. I gathered them around a marker board and began to write the words: Black White Indian. I then told them that I had been offended by some of the language that was used on the bus and wanted to talk about it. I asked them to shout out negative terms or thoughts that people have about each of the three races on the board before them. "Racist" they said for whites, "poor" they said for blacks, "terrorist" they said for Indian. I then had three boys come forward as representatives of each race and asked them to say things that described them. "Funny", "Hilarious", "Fun to be around", were some of their responses. I told them that language, whether joking or not, says a lot about how we choose to think about each other. A prejudice, I said, was when you chose to have negative views about all people in a race or ethnicity, because of a few bad apples. "I am a white man, and there are white men who are in the KKK, but I hope that when you met me you didn't think I was an angry racist bigot." I closed the time by saying that scripture says that we should treat others the way we would want to be treated and that we should do the same with the words we use toward each other. As I reflect on the whole interaction, which lasted about 5 minutes, I am thankful mostly that I was "there", that I was able to speak the truth of God into a teachable moment with these young men who have come to really like and respect me. I am convinced that many of them, especially the Muslim Indian, will remember my words for the rest of their lives. Thanks to everyone who supports SCYM and gives me the opportunity to be "there" in teachable moments like this.

Chris LeMaster
Associate Director

Elizabeth Baker

For the last few months, I have been leading a bible study once a week with 3 eighth graders from Clark Middle School. These ladies all attended Impact World Tour in the fall, and said afterwards that were interested in attending a bible study. Although I didn't know these ladies, I was involved at Clark WyldLife and was asked to start the study with these girls. Initially, I was very excited to meet these girls, but also a little intimidated by the idea. I had no idea what their church background or understanding of the Bible might be, and I was worried about how to explain something as complex as God and the Bible to a group of girls who might very possibly have no prior understanding of them! I was also curious how open and willing to interact these girls might be with me, since I was a complete stranger.

On the first day I met with the girls all my concerns with them not opening up were immediately relieved. These energetic, talkative young ladies were excited to meet me and wasted no time in getting to know one another. As I drove them over to Un Mundo for our bible study, they told me all sorts of information, from what their day was like at school to what they thought about my shoes and everything in between. I soon realized that rather than struggling to get them to open up, I might struggle with getting a word in edge wise!

This was my first time leading a Bible study for people younger than me, and my biggest concern was how to present the bible as being real and relevant, without dumbing it down and selling it short of the power of the words. As I was looking for material to study, I came a cross a lesson on the fruit of the Spirit. I thought that this would be a nice, easy topic to start with, since I could break it down easily and do just a couple every week. The girls seemed to enjoy the study, and were excited to come back every week. We have moved on to a new topic now, but I still ask them each week if they can remember all nine of the fruits of the spirit, and they've still got em! The most challenging thing for me is that while I was leading this study, each week the Spirit would convict my heart while I was speaking. Although I was starting with what I thought would be an "easy" topic, I realized that the Bible's truth cannot be lessened or simplified, and that it always has the power to teach and convict. The word was just as sharp and true in my heart, although I had heard it many times, as it was to these girls who were hearing it for the first time! I am so grateful for the opportunity I have with these ladies, and I ask that you would be praying both for these girls and for the work the Spirit is working in their hearts, and also to me, that I would be open and obedient to his pushing and prodding in my heart as I meet with these girls.

Elizabeth Baker
SCYM Volunteer

MVPF Update: Wise Guys groups have started

The Miami Valley Partnership for Fathers is off and running, and SCYM has started four "Wise Guys" groups for middle school guys that are aimed at teen pregnancy prevention. So far 30 guys are participating - some from health classes at Schaefer Middle, and others are basketball players at Clark Middle. Facilitators Chris LeMaster and Ted Rastatter are doing a great job with the groups, and we hope to get a close-up report from them up on the blog soon.

We've collected some data from the groups so far, and while some things were not surprising, a few figures were startling to me.

• Only 12 of the 30 guys, or 40%, live with their fathers. This includes some boys who live with their fathers part of the time.
• 6 of the 30, or 20%, live with their grandparents or another guardian - not with either of their biological parents.
• Of these boys who do not live with their dads, or even with their moms, they were much less likely to report that they have an adult to talk to about girls.

These statistics, while troubling to me and I hope to you, too, tell me that we are in the right place doing the right thing. How desperately our city's young men need mature, responsible adult men who will invest in them and model for them what a healthy relationship with the opposite sex looks like. How passionately our God, who calls himself a "father to the fatherless," cares for these young men and calls us to reach out to them in his name.

We're so grateful for all the partners who pray and support SCYM to enable us to be "in the right place doing the right thing"! God bless you.

Faith Bosland
Executive Director

Christmas and Consumerism

Please note, the following is not an appeal for money or really about SCYM at all - just some things I've been pondering this weekend.

I don't know if this is the first year it happened or just the first year that I paid attention, but you knew it was coming. As the doors of a Wal-Mart on Long Island opened at 5:00 am on Black Friday, a maintenance worker was trampled to death by a bargain-seeking crowd. Not only did frenzied shoppers step past the injured man, reports stated that many customers became irate when told the store was closing early due to the man's death.

Sickened. Shocked. Saddened. I am, and I hope you are too. Neither you nor I were there. We did not take part. I like to believe that we would have acted differently. We are not responsible. And yet - why do I feel in part responsible? Why does my gut say that our culture of consumerism is in part responsible? Why do I grieve over what we have become? Because while it's easy to point fingers and say, "How dare they," when I examine myself I realize that the same ugly impulse, the impulse to get and to clutch, is found deep within me.

There is nothing wrong with things. The Bible makes it clear. There is even nothing wrong with the pleasure that things can bring. I truly believe this. But there is a sickness in a culture that says I must get, I deserve things. I deserve things I cannot pay for. Once I have the things I deserve, I want more things. Because consumerism at its worst puts its death grip on our soul, choking out the life of Jesus in us, and we don't even realize it until we see the horrible extremes it can reach in an angry crowd.

It's in me, this sickness of discontent. Much more than I want to admit. It shouldn't be, but it is, and I suspect it always will be. I confess that I often think things like:

My six-year-old coat is starting to look a little shabby. I deserve a new one.

My kids wear a lot of hand-me-downs - clothes that look great - but they're not clothes I picked out myself. I deserve to buy them new things, so that they look even cuter.

Our kitchen is outdated looking - why not redo it now and pay it back later, so that we can enjoy it?

The angry crowd reminds me of what I have potential to become, if I let these thoughts go unchecked. They are far from God-honoring; in fact, the greed and discontent in them keep me from being sensitive to his voice. So, for this holiday season, I am resolving a few things that will help fight the chokehold of consumerism in my soul, disciplines that I hope will put my spirit more in line with God's:

I will be content with the coat I have for another winter. In fact, I may even get out the leather reconditioner and see if I can touch it up.

When I go out to eat this holiday season, I will order less than I want and tip more than I need to.

I will give to someone who needs it.

I will be glad for my kids' hand-me-downs and the people they came from.

When I am shopping, I will smile at store workers and thank them when they help me. I will not roll my eyes at the customer who is too slow, the person who takes my parking spot, or the person in front of me with too many items. These people are all my neighbors.

At least once, I will put paper money in a red kettle, not coins.

I will publish this list, to hold myself accountable.

May we all know and hold onto the one who came to serve and to give this Christmas season. May we all slow down, breathe deep, thank God for what we have, and give generously of ourselves.

Faith Bosland
Executive Director

GirlPower

These past two weeks have probably been the most rewarding weeks for me. The girls are beginning to respond and truly bond with some of the volunteers, and it’s such a blessing to watch. Thursday, after our basketball clinic and in light of the upcoming holidays, we all listed one thing for which we were thankful. One of the girls brought a smile to my face when she said, “I’m thankful for GirlPower and for all the new friends that I made.” Another girl again lifted my spirits when she commented, “I’m thankful for GirlPower because it helps me get my priorities straight.”

All of the girls are working hard towards their Girls Night Out on December 6^th. In order to attend the Girls Night Out, they have been challenged to complete a star sheet. They receive stars for attendance, helpfulness in the kitchen, improved grade reports, meeting goals, meeting that week’s challenge, or anything else they believe I will reward with a star. The Girls Night Out will consist of a fashion show, put on by them, at my house. But, ssshhhhh, they don’t know this yet. I’m currently taking clothing donations from girls on Wittenberg’s campus so that each girl can go home with a new piece of clothing. All of the volunteers will attend the Girls Night Out and serve as the audience as well as fashion consultants.

I’m so thankful for those who pray for the program and for the girls that come. Keep praying! The girls are becoming more and more at ease and love to receive advice from the volunteers. Likewise, pray for the volunteers. Pray that we all heed wisdom in our guidance and answers to some of the girls’ life questions. It’s been such a fantastic semester, and I’m looking forward to all of our new plans for the spring semester.

Aubrey Herbst
Girl Power Director

Stand in the Gap

I was blessed with a strong Christian upbringing. My parents instilled in me good morals and the importance of living a Christ-centered life. Now that I’m an adult, I am more aware of the world’s hurts. I am heartbroken for the breakdown of families. I see on a daily basis the aftermath of abuse, neglect, and addictions. Children’s lives are being turned upside down and they are being discarded. The world is a cruel place but there is hope.

Christ is at the center of this hope and He is calling us to help. We need to stand in the gap and mentor these hurting souls. That’s why Springfield Christian Youth Ministries was founded. We have the platform to make a stand and to change lives! I count it a great privilege to love and witness to these students. I’ve seen first-hand the positive influences that we (through Christ) have made. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to help the hurting and lead students to the Lord. If we all make the effort to step out of our own comfort zones, we can make a huge impact for the Kingdom of God!

His Servant,

Angie Bishop

STARS and Summer Day Camp Director

Anger Management Groups

This semester I have had the opportunity to sit in and help with an anger management group for 6th grade students at Clark Middle school. Chris has done a great job leading the group, and he has been a great example to me of how to patiently work with this challenging age group. As we continue to meet each week, the students are starting to open up and share their lives with us. It is a sad but true reality that most of these students come into the anger management group with much on their shoulders. Problems with broken families, peer temptations, and the common hardships of the middle school years are the real issues that need to be discussed and worked through at group. When we start to get to know these students and find out about their lives, it is not a surprise that many of them deal with anger issues.

Even though we have only been meeting for a few short weeks, I have seen improvement in the students’ attitudes already. Chris provides great opportunities for the students to use different activities and games to help express their feelings and emotions. I look forward to seeing more improvement in the attitudes and actions of our 6th grade group, and I hope that all who read this will join with all of us at SCYM in praying for the youth of Springfield. God is doing great things at Clark and Schaefer Middle schools.

Kevin Napp
SCYM Volunteer
Junior, Cedarville University