Letters for Planet Impact Scrapbook

Hey everyone. Ady and I would love to put together a scrapbook with letters from our Planet Impact people through the years (students and leaders). Thank you to those of you who already gave us notes. If you wouldn't mind writing one for us, please bring it to us this Wednesday night. If you can't be here Wednesday, you can e-mail it to me @ revkevjr@yahoo.com Thanks!

Letters for Planet Impact Scrapbook

The Time Has Come

Dear Planet Impact,

Six years ago I was sitting in my home in Chesapeake, VA watching the closing date on my house rapidly approach. God had called me to step down from my position at our church without telling me where we were going. After lots of interviews and even turning down some job offers, I was on the house phone with a church in Chicago - the last on my list - when suddenly my cell phone began to ring. Not recognizing the number, and in the middle of a conversation, I let the caller leave a voicemail.

When I hung up my wife asked me how the interview went. “OK,” I replied. “I’m not sure. It could possibly be a fit. They’re talking about flying me out.” She then told me I needed to listen to my voicemail because a church on Long Island had called me. Long Island? I didn’t know anybody on Long Island, and I certainly hadn’t applied to a church there. The message said, “Kevin, this is Roger Erdvig. You don’t know me, but I heard that you are searching for a new ministry position, and I would like to talk to you about an opening we have for a youth pastor.” Within just two weeks or so we had flown to Long Island twice and two days after closing on our house we were en route to work at Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle. The rest is history.

It is with mixed emotions that I write to you today. For a while now my wife and I have felt God was moving us on from SGT. Back in November I had some conversations with Pastor Zarlengo about the restlessness in my heart, and I decided it was time for me to resign from my position. For the sake of my family and seeing that the senior class (the kids who were in 7th grade when I arrived) had the experience of only having one youth pastor during their youth ministry years (A rarity! The average American youth pastor lasts less than 2 years), I committed to finishing out the school year.

Thanks once again for the incredible friendships and memories you have provided us with. Some of my most cherished memories are: raising up an incredible team of caring adult youth leaders, getting our students outside the walls of our church and seeing so many of them step up as servant leaders in our own community, beginning youth small groups (today there are 14 different small groups), leading 11 missions trips, winter retreats, connecting the youth of SGT to the Long Island youth network in a deeper way, all of the one-on-one conversations, and the opportunity to grow as a husband, father, and leader through all of the ups and downs.

At the time of this writing I am exploring a few options, but I am still not certain exactly where we will end up. Here we go again! I would appreciate your prayers as we seek to walk the life of faith and enjoy the adventurous life of following Jesus. We look forward to staying in touch.

The Time Has Come

Lighthouse Mission Outreach

Today a small group of students from Planet Impact went to the Lighthouse Mission in Bellport to help with the Kids' Club. Over 100 kids showed up, and it was such a joy to help out with the lesson, crafts, and serving lunch. We had a blast letting God's light shine through us. May God's love leave an indelible impression on these kids - many of whom are living in very difficult circumstances. Thanks to Pastor Jim and Andrea Ryan and SGT volunteer Deborah Maffettone for inviting us to help out!

Lighthouse Mission Outreach

Pink's Peek Into the World of Broken Kids

There's something that I really like about Alecia Moore. . . aka Pink. She's not afraid to expose her insides, she's not afraid to tackle the tough stuff, and she's not afraid to show the rest of us what it's like to be a part of the rapidly growing demographic known as broken and hurting kids. I know that she scares alot of people. I would love to sit down with her to simply listen to her tell her story. I've been drawn to the stories in her music since she first burst onto the scene years ago. As someone who studies youth culture, she's my go-to girl whenever I'm looking for a music video or lyrics that reflect the world of the young.

Her latest song ... Read Walt Mueller's full review here.

Pink's Peek Into the World of Broken Kids

What You Need to Know About Grace

What You Need to Know About Grace

99 Thoughts for Parents of Teenagers

Yesterday I finished reading the very excellent little book 99 Thoughts for Parents of Teenagers by Walt Mueller, founder of the Center for Parent and Youth Understanding. Walt does a tremendous job of offering insights that are not just cute statements but nuggets of truth filled with and grounded on solid theology. It's a MUST-HAVE for every parent (whether your child is already a teenager or not). Click on the 10% Off Coupon at top of this blog to purchase the book at Simply Youth Ministry. Stick it in your bathroom (that's what I do ... seriously!), put it on your nightstand (that's what my wife does), throw it in your car to read while you're sitting waiting for your kids to finish soccer practice, whatever. Invest in yourself as a parent! Below are a few samples from the book.

1. TEENAGERS ARE A BLESSING, NOT A CURSE.
I will never forget the overwhelming wonder and amazing joy I felt when my first child (and all three since) was born. “I’m not worthy! What did I do to deserve this?” is what I cried out to God in gratitude for this great gift. Shortly thereafter, our daughter became a teenager. During my weaker moments, the challenges, confrontations, and difficulties sometimes left me asking God, “What have I done to deserve this?” Then I was reminded of Solomon’s wise and truthful words: Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior’s f istful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! (Psalm 127:3-5 The Message). Whether God graces you with easy parenting times or strengthens you during difficult parenting times, those children God gave you were gifts on the day they were born—and that hasn’t changed! They still are.

5. ADMIT IT: THE TEENAGE YEARS ARE TOUGH!
It helped us to view our teenagers as people stuck in an earthquake—the earthquake known as adolescence. Think about it. The teen years arrive swiftly, pass rather quickly, and radically alter the landscape of a child’s life. And just like real- life earthquakes, the earthquake of adolescence leaves its victims feeling all kinds of stress. They are juggling physical growth, new sexual urges, changing relationships, a host of new pressures, the quest for finding answers to a multitude of questions, and the desire to belong. Next time you’re ready to throw in the parenting towel, picture your teenager struggling to live through the onset and aftermath of an earthquake. They need you now more than ever!

9. PATIENCE IS A PRIMARY PARENTAL VIRTUE!
How easy it would be if adolescence were an overnight phenomena. But the process of moving from childhood to adulthood takes time. In today’s world, the assumption that the adolescent years cease and a teenager becomes an adult at the age of 18 is no longer valid. New discoveries regarding the biochemistry and physiology of the human brain, along with a host of cultural forces (later marriage, extended college education, massive debt, living at home, delayed maturity) have fueled things like extended adolescence and emerging adulthood. Both are nice-sounding terms that when translated simply mean that our children are taking longer to grow up. Some are even wondering if adolescence extends to the age of 30! This process can be grueling and frustrating for those parents who desperately want to see their teenagers make good choices on the road to adulthood and arrive at the destination sooner rather than later. The tables turn, and we become the ones asking over and over, “Are we there yet?!?” Remember, God is at work and the process may take some time. Be patient!

13. GOOD PARENTS DON’T ALWAYS RAISE GOD-HONORING CHILDREN.
A great amount of parental guilt has been fueled by taking the words of Proverbs 22:6 as a promise: Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. The first half of that Proverb includes an imperative that we must follow. The responsibility we have to nurture our children in the faith is non-negotiable. But the result mentioned in the second half isn’t, as we tend to think, a guarantee. Rather, it’s a general statement about the way things may end up. The reality is that history and the world around us—maybe even the world in our own home—is filled with examples of wonderful, committed, diligent God-honoring parents whose first priority in life has been to train up their children in the way they should go, only to see some of those children choose to go in the opposite direction. The first father we read about in the Bible—God, the perfect Father—saw his first two children, Adam and Eve, rebel. There are many families where good parents have raised multiple children, some who have chosen the narrow path that leads to life, and others who have eagerly pursued the wider road that leads to destruction. What we can’t forget is that ultimately, God’s Spirit is the one responsible for bringing about the change in our children’s hearts. We have no clue when that change may come. Our duty is to remain faithful and obedient in our calling as followers of Jesus who have been charged with the task of nurturing our children in the faith—regardless of their response to our efforts at any given point in time. And just as God continues to love his rebellious children, we need to do the same.

99 Thoughts for Parents of Teenagers

Reach Out Don't Freak Out!

Joshua is only in 6th grade, but he already gets it. He understands that the good news of Jesus is not something to be selfishly hoarded, but generously shared with others. A few weeks ago he arrived at our middle school program with three of his friends from school. The next week he invited those three back and more. His dad was so excited and supportive of his passion that he crammed Joshua and six other kids into the car and got them all here where they have been having a blast and hearing the gospel.

Joshua's passion for the lost is exciting. Wanting to encourage and equip him, a few weeks ago I gave him Greg Stier's new book Reach Out Don't Freak Out - a 30-Day devotional for students to motivate them with practical tips for sharing their faith. As he was reading it, God really deepened his understanding and gave him the boldness to do what he did. When I asked him how the book has helped him, Joshua replied, "I learned how to start spiritual conversations with my friends and ask them questions about God."

If you are looking for simple, practical way to help your students be more effective in reaching their friends for Christ, use the 10% Off Coupon at top of this blog to purchase the book at Simply Youth Ministry. It's listed under "Books for Students" or you can search for it by title: "Reach Out Student Devotional."

Reach Out Don't Freak Out!

Poll: When do you have a regular devotional time with God?

Click here to vote.

Poll: When do you have a regular devotional time with God?

Do You Know What Your Kids Are Listening To?

Do you know what your kids are pumping into their minds and hearts through the media they are exposing themselves to? What songs are they listening to? What TV shows are they watching? What movies are they seeing? What websites are they visiting? As parents we need to know what our culture is throwing at our kids, not so that we can go hide in our Christian bunkers, but so that we can engage our kids and help them discover the messages in media, discern, and decide if it's worth listening to or watching. Walt Mueller, founder of the Center for Parent & Youth Understanding is leading the way in challenging families to work through these things together. Here are the Billboard Top 10 songs this week, followed by a blog post about Lady Gaga's song and video. By the way, if you have not listened to the song IN IT'S ENTIRETY, you need to!

Billboard Top Ten:

1. Born This Way - Lady Gaga
2. F**k You (Forget You) - Cee Lo Green
3. E.T. - Katy Perry Featuring Kanye West
4. S&M - Rihanna
5. On the Floor - Jennifer Lopez Featuring Pitbull
6. F**kin’ Perfect - Pink
7. Grenade - Bruno Mars
8. Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You) - Enrique Iglesias Featuring Ludacris & DJ Frank E
9. Till the World Ends - Britney Spears
10. Blow - Ke$ha

Walt's Blog Post about Lady Gaga's new song. 

Do You Know What Your Kids Are Listening To?

A Middle School Top 10

Monday night at PI-678 (our middle school program), I had the students get together in small groups and come up with their Top 10 Characteristics of a Good Friend. After having them share their thoughts I gave a talk on friendships.

The Big Idea was: "I have to be the kind of friend I want."

When I got home I compiled their lists. Here are the Top 10 overall qualities they look for in a friend (in order):

1. Kind
2. Respectful
3. Honest/Truthful
4. Caring
5. Trustworthy
6. Loyal
7. Encouraging
8. Common Interests
9. Helpful
10. Good Listener

A Middle School Top 10

Superior Parenting? ... What do YOU think?

I recently read an article entitled "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior" by Amy Chua. Give it a read and I would love to hear some thoughts.

"A lot of people wonder how Chinese parents raise such stereotypically successful kids. They wonder what these parents do to produce so many math whizzes and music prodigies, what it's like inside the family, and whether they could do it too. Well, I can tell them, because I've done it. Here are some things my daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were never allowed to do:

View Full Image

Amy Chua with her daughters, Louisa and Sophia, at their home in New Haven, Conn.

• attend a sleepover

• have a playdate

• be in a school play

• complain about not being in a school play

• watch TV or play computer games

• choose their own extracurricular activities

• get any grade less than an A

• not be the No. 1 student in every subject except gym and drama

• play any instrument other than the piano or violin

• not play the piano or violin.

I'm using the term "Chinese mother" loosely. I know some Korean, Indian, Jamaican, Irish and Ghanaian parents who qualify too. Conversely, I know some mothers of Chinese heritage, almost always born in the West, who are not Chinese mothers, by choice or otherwise. I'm also using the term "Western parents" loosely. Western parents come in all varieties.

All the same, even when Western parents think they're being strict, they usually don't come close to being Chinese mothers. For example, my Western friends who consider themselves strict make their children practice their instruments 30 minutes every day. An hour at most. For a Chinese mother, the first hour is the easy part. It's hours two and three that get tough.

Despite our squeamishness about cultural stereotypes ... READ the FULL article. 

Superior Parenting? ... What do YOU think?

"The Stranger"

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Texas town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... Not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished.
He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.
His name?.... .. .

We just call him 'TV.'

He has a wife now...We call her 'Computer.'

- Author Unknown

"The Stranger"

Let's Ride 2011 NYC Day 5 (Wednesday)

This morning we ate breakfast at 8:30am. It was Jon Mee's Birthday!!! so we sang "Happy Birthday" to him. We then packed up and cleaned the church building we were staying at. We then got a group pic in front of the church and met with Pastor Ron and shared our thanks to him for their gracious hospitality. He shared some thoughts with our team, and we prayed for their work. At noon Don Anastasio arrived with the church van and we loaded all of our luggage into it to be driven back to the church. We then had our final small groups time. On Monday we walked Wall Street so we wouldn't have to trek all the way back there for today's learning experience. Our theme today was "Greed." After small groups we ate lunch, did our final cleaning and headed to the subway which we took to Jamaica where we caught the train back to Smithtown. We walked over to Buona Sera where we had a team pizza dinner. At 6:30pm we drove everyone back to the church where we unloaded the van. Before breaking up into our Wednesday night small groups we shared testimonies from the trip and watched a recap slideshow. We thank God for a safe trip. May fruit remain!

Let's Ride 2011 NYC Day 5 (Wednesday)

Let's Ride 2011 NYC Day 4 (Tuesday)

Today our theme was Building Bridges and we talked about how God has built a bridge to us in the person of Jesus, and how we need to be building bridges (relationships) with lost people to connect them to Jesus. As our discipleship adventure we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn, had lunch outside on benches in the freezing cold, them walked back. It was a tough (simply because of the cold), but good experience which lent itself well to some great conversation about what is involved in reaching the lost. Read more below...

Then this evening we had the privilege of going to the New York City Rescue Mission where we worked with Rev. Ron Panarello. Before the service began we witnessed the "Bed Lottery" at the Mission wherein they select guys to have a bed and shower for the night. Unfortunately, the men who are not selected usually end up sleeping outside in a doorway, under a box, in a dumpster, or in the subway tunnels. It was very humbling to experience. When the service began we did some group singing, Mike and Claudia led a few songs, Ron called on a number of our students to get up and share their testimonies - beginning with my 9-year-old daughter Natalia, I shared, then Ron preached, and our team prayed over the men. The best compliment we received was from Ron who said our students did a wonderful job and we had an open invitation to come and work with him anytime. I was proud of the team!

Let's Ride 2011 NYC Day 4 (Tuesday)

Let's Ride 2011 NYC Day 3 (Monday)

Last night our team had a powerful time of worship and prayer ministry for about an hour-and-a-half. It was one of those special God-moments and a very special time for us as a team. 

Each day on the trip we have a discipleship theme that is discussed at length in small groups and is reinforced by visiting a site in New York. This morning we our theme was the Bible's call for us to be hospitable and welcoming to strangers. So at 11am we boarded a ferry and headed to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We spent about 4 hours visiting the two Islands. After that we walked up to Wall Street (which will tie in with our discussion on Wednesday) then took the train up to Chinatown and Little Italy where the team was able to do some shopping. When we returned to the church we had dinner then did a bunch of cleaning around the church, and some of the girls sorted out items that our team donated, making gift baskets for children who attend the church's after school program. We were also blessed to have Tommy LaBarbera's dad stop by for a visit! After breaking up into our small groups to converse about our experience and unpacked them in light of our biblical study, we enjoyed playing games and some ice cream. 

Let's Ride 2011 NYC Day 3 (Monday)