Important Lessons on Understanding God's Unknown and Known Will

I get very excited when I think about how much of a positive influence a person can have on young men and women. Figuring out God’s will for us is a question we will constantly be asking ourselves and ultimately Him. To learn the benefits and ways of seeking God’s will at a young age is vital to the beginning of a relationship with Christ.

Mr. Todd did a wonderful job of laying this out for discussion in the 6-8^th grade boys room on Sunday. I would like to share this model with all of you, I found it to be helpful to my own walk with God and the way it was talked about with the students I could tell they were getting it. As you know, a big part of City Impact’s curriculum is written with the intent to be in the word; I mean physically getting a bible and finding scripture to read. Here is the model I was talking about.

I. Figuring out Gods known will

2 Tim 2:23-24- Don’t Argue, Be kind

James 1:19-20,26- Slow to anger

I Thes 4:5-5- Purity

Col. 3:23-24- Work hard

II. Figuring our Gods unknown will

Rom 12:1-2 and James 4:7-8- Submission

Phil. 4:6-7- Pray

Proverbs 20:18- Advice

Proverbs 3:5-6- Trust

The students really seemed to be engaging Mr. Todd in conversations over this topic. Mr. Todd had the opportunity to discuss all the short phrases listed in God’s known will and God’s unknown will. All of the points Mr. Todd brought out of scripture are vital to each one of us in our walks with God.

I think it was wonderful that these boys were able to learn about why it is not good to argue, and how we should be slow to anger, and how important it is to work hard and keep ourselves pure. This lesson provided multiple opportunities for students to gain understanding of how they can best live according to Christ.

Social Justice Team Update

As ILA was gearing back up, each leadership team did an activity to welcome new students to the teams and set the tone for the new year.

Mrs Miriam, the Leader for the Social Justice team, heard of an idea for an activity from another staff member. This idea came from an organization called “World Hunger” and it’s called a poverty simulation. A poverty simulation requires various people to participate in a dinner. Some of the people are treated to a fancy sit down meal, and the others are told to sit on the floor and eat rice and beans. After hearing about this, Mrs. Miriam thought she would do her own poverty simulation with desserts.

When the students arrived to Mrs. Miriam’s class room she asked for two volunteers to be team captains. After the two team captains were selected those captains selected their groups. There was 2 in one group and 3 in another group. Those two groups were then led into another room where they were presented with a beautiful spread of fancy bowls, ice cream, brownies, and lots of wonderful toppings! Team 1 was told to go over to the table and sit down and then Mrs. Miriam served the team their choice of ice cream and toppings. Team 2 stood by the door and watched as Team 1 was treated to dessert. Then, Team 2 was told to go sit on the floor and they were able to pick just one little animal cracker and eat it!

Mrs. Miriam said that they all sat there for 10 minutes and it was very awkward in the room and the students could definitely feel the tension. One student in particular, Cameron who was on the team of ice cream eaters, sat in what Mrs. Miriam described to be as pure agony. Mrs. Miriam said that Cameron had a look on his face like “ you are not going to make me eat this in front of people!” Finally, after sitting there not eating anything Cameron sighed and ate the ice cream. Mrs. Miriam explained to me that she did not say anything to the students while all this was going on, because she really wanted them to “feel” what was going on.

When their time was up they headed back into their classroom to discuss what was going on. Mrs. Miriam started asking questions as to what they felt about the situation they had just come from. Cameron said it was very awkward and said that he felt guilty and wanted to give his ice cream to those who did not have any. Diamond, who was on the team of animal cracker eaters, said that it was unfair that one team got to eat ice cream. Mrs. Miriam asked the team captains how they felt about the groups they chose. Donte felt good about picking the group that got to eat ice cream, but Dillon said he felt guilty for picking the group who only got to eat animal crackers.

Mrs. Miriam was able to talk to the students about how the decisions they make every day affect those around us. She also talked about how people in poverty must feel like those who ate just the animal crackers every day! She also had the opportunity to talk about unfairness and gave a definition of Social Justice as righting wrongs. She then went into introducing what Social justice would be looking like for the new year. Mrs. Miriam introduced 3 main points Now-looking at what is happening now, New- Gods perspective, and How- How we can live out Gods perspective.

Mrs. Miriam feels that it is very important to find practical things that these students can do to affect those around them. I could not have been more excited to get this story from Mrs. Miriam, I hope you are as touched as I was.

High School Girls Servant hood

Last semester, the HS girls group had become very small in numbers. Most times, throughout the summer there would only be one student. More often than not I chose another class room to sit in on and therefore missed the opportunities to visit the High School girls’ room. I decided to make a goal for myself to visit the High School girls’ room when we came together again for our first ILA meeting at First Baptist Church.

I was so excited when I walked into the High School girls’ room on Sunday because I saw not just one but three students! In fact, there are 7 high school girls are the roster, but a few were unable to make it the first night! Mrs. Anna is also a new addition (not to City Impact) but to the High School girls’ classroom and will be co- teaching along with Mrs. Mollie.

As many of you readers know, City Impact places a good amount of importance in each student setting weekly impact goals. Impact Goals are ways the students can bless others during their week with God’s help and grace. On Sunday, Mrs. Anna began by talking about how this summer the Lord taught her a lot about having a servants heart, she stated that “sometimes no one notices your acts of service, but God does”.

Mrs. Anna went on to share with the girls a passage from the Bible in John 13 where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. She was able to relate a story from her trip to Costa Rica this summer; she talked about how no matter what kind of shoes you were wearing your feet would get dirty, very dirty! She also talked about how in Jesus’ time there would be servants at each home who would wash the feet of whoever would enter the house.

Mrs. Anna went back to the story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples and talked about what an ultimate act of service this was for Jesus our creator, the king over the entire universe; He stooped down and became a servant and washed the dirty feet of his disciples. All this to say, talking about this story lead into talking about Journals and how they are the students personal journey of how God is shaping them to be servants “you are learning how to wash the feet of others every week”.

I have heard that story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples many, many times, but never had I heard anyone describe so beautifully the act which Jesus did. Mrs. Anna really wanted to emphasize how important it is to think of their Journals as a spiritual endeavor, not just something they have to do.

After all the talking the girls dove right into writing their goals for the week. On Monday, Patty decided she would set her alarm and get up early enough to make Kiesha’s bed. Diamond said, that on Monday she was going to help out at home by cleaning and clearing out the living room and the bedrooms for a garage sale, she wanted to do this because her mom usually does all the cleaning and clearing out of things. Mercedez is going to rub her dad’s feet and back on Tuesday when he gets home from work because she knows after a long hard days work he will appreciate it.

I left that room that night with a new understanding of what Jesus has done for me.

Grand Opening

Tuesday August 11 was marked down in City Impacts history as a very special day; a day which will change the ins and outs of how Bible Club and ILA program look.

For quite a few years, City Impact had the opportunity to host the Bible Club and ILA programming at Middle Cross Church (also known as Central Alliance). As we know, our plans are not always God’s plan and within the past year City Impact received news that they would no longer be able to use Middle Cross as their place for hosting Bible Club and ILA. After a long process of seeing where God was going to lead them in the search for a new building, God led us to First Baptist Church here in Lincoln.

On Tuesday August 11th, First Baptist opened up its doors and City Impact welcomed new and many old families to the Grand Opening. Being in the position I am at City Impact allows for me to just sit back and observe the flow of things, especially when events take place. This night was filled with tours of the student’s new classrooms, great food, and a live magician.

Mrs. Ashley had approached me a few days prior to the Grand Opening event and presented an idea, this idea would consist of me taking family photos of all the families who attended the Grand Opening that evening. I was so excited and agreed to do it. When the time came on Tuesday, I set up my backdrop stand and my tripod and began to snap away. Taking the pictures was such a great idea and we plan to give each family a copy of the photograph.

During the evenings activities I was able to observe many students and their families having a great time, it is truly a wonderful thing to witness first hand what God is doing through City Impact.

Committed- Zach & VaDoll

Zach

VaDoll "V-Diddy"

I have been attending the ILA program meetings as an observer for a few months now and have been struck every time by how dedicated some of the students are to the ILA program. Particularly, I am speaking of two students Zach being one and VaDoll the other. Zach is an 8th grader in Mr. Todd’s classroom and VaDoll is a 9th grader in Mr. Ty & Adam’s room. The reason I am speaking of these two boys is because over the short period of time I have been with City Impact I have noticed dedication by these boys to attend not only the program on Sunday evenings, but also other activities which correspond with helping ILA.

For instance, one Sunday the philanthropy team (who is working towards raising enough money to build a playground for the children of the Friendship home) held a carwash from 12pm – 4pm. Both Zach and Vadoll, who are not even on the philanthropy leadership team, were at the car wash helping out their peers. I am talking about this because I noticed that even though they spent all afternoon outside working, they still chose to come to the evening program from 6-9pm! Then, they did the same thing again the next weekend!

This really made me take notice and these boys, so I did some investigating. You see, Zach and Vadoll come to ILA with Mrs. Precious (who is the reroute coordinator) and so I was just thinking that she made them come. I decided to find out from Precious what the truth was. After speaking with Mrs. Precious I found out that Zach and Vadoll have been involved with City Impact for the past 5 years and every bit of it has been important to them. I asked Mrs. Precious if Zach and VaDoll come because she encourages them to or by their own choice. I was informed that because City Impact means so much to them they are always willing to help out in whatever way possible to give back to City Impact. --Evian Schindler, Youth Program Communications Coordinator

ILA Love Languages

Recently City Impact welcomed Tasha to the team as the new assessments coordinator, and I thought it was about time I stopped in to see how things were going in her department. Now, if you are like me you may not know exactly what the assessments coordinator does. As I began to speak with Tasha I couldn't have been more excited to learn about what she was currently assessing.

Currently, Tasha is working with students one-on-one and having them take a test from the book The five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman. The test the students are taking helps them identify their top Love Languages and in turn helps us better fit the need of these students. Love Languages are ways the student feels cared about and valued. For Example, some students feel loved by receiving gifts, while others need a hug or high five, some feel special when someone serves them, or by simple words of encouragement.

After talking with Tasha a bit more about this test she pointed out that in most of the tests she has noticed that "acts of service" is in the top three of most students love languages. She went on to tell me that after the student takes the test, she spends time explaining to them what those love languages mean because she does not want the students to feel like they are just taking a test, but really feel like there is a reason behind it.

Tasha expressed to me that she feels as though a big part of the students ranking "acts of service" in their top three love languages has to do with their participation in ILA. Tasha plans to send a copy to all parents of students who have taken the test, because she feels it is important for them to know how they can better love their child. We also plan to distribute each student’s love languages to their ILA classroom & small group leaders.

Having read Gary Chapman's The five Love Languages myself I know how helpful it was to me to know what my love languages were, I think that is why I was so excited to see that City Impact was taking the time to assess the love languages of the students.