Youth Choir

[divinemusician]

Just keep a switch beside you and all should go well.  Every now and then just swat it through the air and let them hear that "whiiiirrrr" and carry on.

i see we are on the same page here... hahaha

[Brittsings87]

I'm sure you're going to do a great job Britt, don't worry things will work out.

Much prayer much pah-buh
Little prayer little pah-buh

  Thanks Vonne

HAHA AND YOU RIGHT... AND I JUST LAY HOLY HANDS... 

But in all honestly, I tell my parents and my youth, THEY WILL BE SOMETHING, THEY WONT BE NO THUGS THEY WONT BE NO BABY MOMMAS OR DADDY'S, NO _OES... (U FILL IN THE BLANK), THEY ARE GOING TO BE SOMEBODY IN LIFE, THEY WILL HAVE SOMETHING, THEY WILL BE AWESOME MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD, THEY WILL UPHOLD THEIRSELVES...AND NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES FROM ME, I WILL SEE MY KIDS THOUGH

The sad thing is I am not even the Youth President, it is a big thing going on between him and me. (its a long story more so his part becaue he really does not like me, he is one of those knows everything and you can't tell him anything and it is his way or no way, big on his pride and a woman possibly cant know more or do better than him) he came in and took christmas plays, easter plays, everything from the kids, all the kids do is sit at church and look crazy...

But i don't let his ignorance stop me, I do most of my ministry outside the church and the kids love it and the parents respect me more than they do him

like one of my youth got drunk (17 years old, under peer pressure, in which i know for a fact he was) and instead of the parent calling our "youth president" she called me, I got him, we went to church that sunday, I talked to him and ministered to him, he stayed at my house for two days to sober up and things, i made him also write me a report on alcohol and what it does to the body, not only did he do my report but he told somebody that i am close to, if it was not for me and my sister (best friend who is named Kisha as well) taking him in, showing him love, and letting him know he is somebody, he would have tried ot kill his self (because even though the ppl he stay with go ot our church it is soem serious issues in their house) but anyways... so i deal with a lot at my church with my youth and i go the extra mile becasue we are bringing up good citizens and good men and women of God.

Yeah I can understand what you're saying. My youth Pastor did the same thing. Stripped the youth from EVERYTHING, he said they were gonna do that until the youth learn how to act right. And it really discouraged one lady that use to go to my church because she started like a drama ministry and had sooo much planned out for us. Like one day we went to an orphange, then she had on the calendar for us to go to ATL for something can't rememeber. But yeah, and now he's not even active in the church, but yet he's still the youth pastor. So for a while the youth never really did anything except sit in church and look crazy as you stated lol. Some have even left the church. Which is why my Co Pastor asked me to direct because she said the youth isn't active, they need something to do.

[divinemusician]

Yeah I can understand what you're saying. My youth Pastor did the same thing. Stripped the youth from EVERYTHING, he said they were gonna do that until the youth learn how to act right. And it really discouraged one lady that use to go to my church because she started like a drama ministry and had sooo much planned out for us. Like one day we went to an orphange, then she had on the calendar for us to go to ATL for something can't rememeber. But yeah, and now he's not even active in the church, but yet he's still the youth pastor. So for a while the youth never really did anything except sit in church and look crazy as you stated lol. Some have even left the church. Which is why my Co Pastor asked me to direct because she said the youth isn't active, they need something to do.

YEP He is our YOuth minister as well... the sad thing is he is the pastor's son, nobody knows how he got this position bc he has never ever ever ever done anything with the youth prior to him getting this "title" and makes so many promises that he breaks ALLLLLLLL the time.... when he  FINLALLY plans something the kids say they only way they aer going to do it is if we be there or if we say now you got to do it in spite of what you may feel. Now he just planned a trip and all the kids stay they are not going!! he burned his own bridges... but he can't see that which is sad, he only wanted the position for a title

[kodacolor]

HAHA AND YOU RIGHT... AND I JUST LAY HOLY HANDS... 

But in all honestly, I tell my parents and my youth, THEY WILL BE SOMETHING, THEY WONT BE NO THUGS THEY WONT BE NO BABY MOMMAS OR DADDY'S, NO _OES... (U FILL IN THE BLANK), THEY ARE GOING TO BE SOMEBODY IN LIFE, THEY WILL HAVE SOMETHING, THEY WILL BE AWESOME MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD, THEY WILL UPHOLD THEIRSELVES...AND NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES FROM ME, I WILL SEE MY KIDS THOUGH

The sad thing is I am not even the Youth President, it is a big thing going on between him and me. (its a long story more so his part becaue he really does not like me, he is one of those knows everything and you can't tell him anything and it is his way or no way, big on his pride and a woman possibly cant know more or do better than him) he came in and took christmas plays, easter plays, everything from the kids, all the kids do is sit at church and look crazy...

But i don't let his ignorance stop me, I do most of my ministry outside the church and the kids love it and the parents respect me more than they do him

like one of my youth got drunk (17 years old, under peer pressure, in which i know for a fact he was) and instead of the parent calling our "youth president" she called me, I got him, we went to church that sunday, I talked to him and ministered to him, he stayed at my house for two days to sober up and things, i made him also write me a report on alcohol and what it does to the body, not only did he do my report but he told somebody that i am close to, if it was not for me and my sister (best friend who is named Kisha as well) taking him in, showing him love, and letting him know he is somebody, he would have tried ot kill his self (because even though the ppl he stay with go ot our church it is soem serious issues in their house) but anyways... so i deal with a lot at my church with my youth and i go the extra mile becasue we are bringing up good citizens and good men and women of God.

Wow @ your Youth President

and Wow @ your testimony.  That's awesome!

[kodacolor]

YEP He is our YOuth minister as well... the sad thing is he is the pastor's son, nobody knows how he got this position bc he has never ever ever ever done anything with the youth prior to him getting this "title" and makes so many promises that he breaks ALLLLLLLL the time.... when he  FINLALLY plans something the kids say they only way they aer going to do it is if we be there or if we say now you got to do it in spite of what you may feel. Now he just planned a trip and all the kids stay they are not going!! he burned his own bridges... but he can't see that which is sad, he only wanted the position for a title

*in operatic voice*

Ahh!  Nepotism at it's finest!

[divinemusician]

*in operatic voice*

Ahh!  Nepotism at it's finest!

welll  i kinda would not say that about our pastor... more so the son taking advantage of a situation, you see our pastor is in a wheelchair... he has had like several strokes, and things... the son we are talking about was in the car with him one day (he was drving, the son) and he got in an accident that left our pastor paralyzed, so he preaches from the wheelchair... my father is the associate pastor, so i think the son took advantage of a situation and when our pastor was down... feed him a whole bunch of NOT TRUTHS and got the position because how he got that over my mother, me, my best friend and a few others in the church... we will never see... its been aobut 5 years since he has gotten htat positon and needless to say, some you have left, had babies, went to jail, not interested in church... and you konw i honestly believe it is all bc of our youth dept. we aren't teachin these kids nothing and lets me honest know ah days parents really need help!!! you got a few parents that really got it going on, but most parents they need the church to tell their kids the TRUTH about sex, marriage, being a woman, being a man, loving inspite of, etc. not just about cars and houses God will bless you with.

and htat is what I do, I keep it very real with both parents and youth, if i say it to the youth, i say it to the parent... i make sure me and that parent agree before i do anything or take their kids anywhere....

like with the group, me and my best friend take them out once a month, whether it be bowling, back to our house for bbq and movie, etc whatever (mind you the parents don't give us a dime, however we ask them not too because we understand times are hard and me and my best friend are single so we try to be a blessin when we can) anyways one of the rules is if they participate in the fun... they participate in Bible lessons, etc...

in sept we have a Bible Breakfast we are doing at the house... Romans 12 presenting your bodies... in this we will also address presenting your body as far as taking care of yourself, men: groom yourself, wear nice clothing when need be, take pride in who you are know your worth, etc. Women: you are beautiful and wonderfully made, you don't need a man to validate you, groom yourself, present yourself in a womanly fashion... etc.

lets be real our youth need to be tought... our parents are scared to talk about it, the church don't want to talk about it... somebody got to tell these youth the truth about the matter... like i said i do everything through the parents, my mother and father approve of everything before i present it and not only that but I get direction from God on what to say, do etc with the youth...

(sorry, i know the thread was not orginally about this)

[kodacolor]

This is good.  This is very good.  I co-sign 100%.  I stumbeled across an article a while ago (and they were talking about this subject on the radio one time) that said that churches teach youth about abstainance and condoms.  I really think both need to be taught.  However I don't agree with the way it was being taught.  The message that was sent, for the most part, was 'God says sex is for married folk, but since you're going to disobey God anyway wear a condom.'

IMO it should be taught in a way the promotes what God asks of us.  I really like how you teach them how to be men and women.  I doubt most youth ministries do that.

[divinemusician]

This is good.  This is very good.  I co-sign 100%.  I stumbeled across an article a while ago (and they were talking about this subject on the radio one time) that said that churches teach youth about abstainance and condoms.  I really think both need to be taught.  However I don't agree with the way it was being taught.  The message that was sent, for the most part, was 'God says sex is for married folk, but since you're going to disobey God anyway wear a condom.'

IMO it should be taught in a way the promotes what God asks of us.  I really like how you teach them how to be men and women.  I doubt most youth ministries do that.

WHAT!  I am happy the church talks about sex but never would i say well being htat you going to do it anyway here is a rubber... lol... HECK NO my youth know not to even try me like.... it is what God says anything less is disobedance and although God will forgive you... do you keep on sinning knowing it is wrong? I actually have quite a few teens who have not had sex, and I be real with them....

YES WE DO GET THOSE NIGHTS WHERE WE WANT SOMEBOYD (THIS IS FOR THE OLDER ONES) WE ARE HUMAN... BEING SAVED DOES NOT ELIMINATE YOUR HUMAN -NESS TO WANT THINGS... THE BIBLE SAYS SIN FEELS GOOD TO THE FLESH, AND I TELL THEM OF COURSE SEX, CHILLIN, ETC GOING TO FEEL GOOD BUT THERE IS A HIGHER CALLING YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN A ONE TIME DEAL OR A WOMAN THAT ONLY LIKES YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE CUTE OR A MAN WHO THINKS YOU ARE HOT...

MEN FIND A WOMAN WORTH MORE THAN RUBIES... YOUR FAVOR IS IN HER

WOMEN RECEIVED A GODLY MAN TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE,

let me stop because i can type a book, but i agree with being real with these youth and still standing on Gods Word. I don't like saved folk that act like they don't get a craving for sex (single folks) every now in then, cold showers run out quickly... what do i do next. How do we tell a man to get up from a situation where he is craving that woman and vis versa... we need to talk about this, our youth is faced with temptation on a day to day base and we as church folk act like we can't feel, see, or understand them... that is bull... we are still human...

ok i am stopping NOW!!

[kodacolor]

let me stop because i can type a book, but i agree with being real with these youth and still standing on Gods Word. I don't like saved folk that act like they don't get a craving for sex (single folks) every now in then, cold showers run out quickly... what do i do next. How do we tell a man to get up from a situation where he is craving that woman and vis versa... we need to talk about this, our youth is faced with temptation on a day to day base and we as church folk act like we can't feel, see, or understand them... that is bull... we are still human...

ok i am stopping NOW!!

Red:  Gon' head and preach precha! 

One thing I'm trying to do is to make a list of things that work for me that may work for others when it comes to "the craving".  Lol.  I've noticed that when it comes up I don't want to listen to gospel music.  So I turn gospel music on.  I read parts of the Bible I find interesting, go for a drive, do something to keep my mind off of it.  Even prayer works.  I've noticed that sincere prayer with praise first works better.  Also, I stay out of any an all room that feed "the craving" and stay away from dudes that may feed "the craving".  I think of things I wanted to do that day cause 9.5/10 I haven't done them and could be doing them in place of thinking about sex.  But so far that's what works for me.  This kinda stems from this thing I read on Yahoo Answers! about how kids will have sex out of boredom.  In order for you to give in to any temptation you have to co-sign with your flesh but if you're too preoccupied with something more interesting or you love the Lord enough to respect his wishes (which works the best) then it becomes easier to not sin in that way.

If I have a male friend going though the same thing I'm going to see what he does and hopefully we can make a blog about our methods. 

[divinemusician]

Red:  Gon' head and preach precha! 

One thing I'm trying to do is to make a list of things that work for me that may work for others when it comes to "the craving".  Lol.  I've noticed that when it comes up I don't want to listen to gospel music.  So I turn gospel music on.  I read parts of the Bible I find interesting, go for a drive, do something to keep my mind off of it.  Even prayer works.  I've noticed that sincere prayer with praise first works better.  Also, I stay out of any an all room that feed "the craving" and stay away from dudes that may feed "the craving".  I think of things I wanted to do that day cause 9.5/10 I haven't done them and could be doing them in place of thinking about sex.  But so far that's what works for me.  This kinda stems from this thing I read on Yahoo Answers! about how kids will have sex out of boredom.  In order for you to give in to any temptation you have to co-sign with your flesh but if you're too preoccupied with something more interesting or you love the Lord enough to respect his wishes (which works the best) then it becomes easier to not sin in that way.

If I have a male friend going though the same thing I'm going to see what he does and hopefully we can make a blog about our methods. 

COOL... that works... let me know. Our kids need to be told the truth about a lot of issues and most church folk, we act to holy, so heavenly bound and we are earthly no good, we think that we don't feel like that or we better than that etc... we are human and flesh is flesh, your flesh craves sin, thats why we have to crusify it daily and put on the armor of God!!

Like you said those are some good methods that need to be talked about in the church, our youth don't have to give it saved or not, they don't have to be what the world says  they will be... they can be kings and queens of the most high, yes our walk with Christ is a great walk but if you ain't stumbled then let me know your secret but until then we need to address REAL ISSUES with these kids and stop actin like we so HOLY that we sit on God's Executive Board (G.E.B.) and we are not tempted, that sinful things don't come to attack us, these youth are in need of REALNESS not another I am too saved to even think that... lets get real... I tell them yes, I am 25 years old, I am still the "Big V" bc I choose to respect God and my body, and you can do it too, yes it comes times where it is hard and my male friend lookin too good, and yes that voice says one time wont hurt but I made a promoise to God and myself... You can do it too.

but you hit everything on the head...

[kodacolor]

COOL... that works... let me know. Our kids need to be told the truth about a lot of issues and most church folk, we act to holy, so heavenly bound and we are earthly no good, we think that we don't feel like that or we better than that etc... we are human and flesh is flesh, your flesh craves sin, thats why we have to crusify it daily and put on the armor of God!!

Like you said those are some good methods that need to be talked about in the church, our youth don't have to give it saved or not, they don't have to be what the world says  they will be... they can be kings and queens of the most high, yes our walk with Christ is a great walk but if you ain't stumbled then let me know your secret but until then we need to address REAL ISSUES with these kids and stop actin like we so HOLY that we sit on God's Executive Board (G.E.B.) and we are not tempted, that sinful things don't come to attack us, these youth are in need of REALNESS not another I am too saved to even think that... lets get real... I tell them yes, I am 25 years old, I am still the "Big V" bc I choose to respect God and my body, and you can do it too, yes it comes times where it is hard and my male friend lookin too good, and yes that voice says one time wont hurt but I made a promoise to God and myself... You can do it too.

but you hit everything on the head...

Not only that but some adults are scared to talk to kids about it.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard or read on forums "If I tell them about it they'll want to do it more".  No...If you DON'T tell them about it they're more likely to do it more!  I would think it would be a hard subject to bring up.  It was for my parents.  There was only one time where my parents initiated "the talk".  My mom was making dinner and my dad was watching TV.  (The TV room and the kitchen are connected) and this commercial came on and said something like "talk to your kids" and my mom said in a half joking voice, "we should talk to them."  So my dad called me and my sisters in and said, "Ya'll know not to have sex before you're married, right?"  We all said, "yes".  And he said, "Good. Now go do your homework".  lol

However I have gotten my parent's POV on certain things by striking up convos myself by saying stuff like, "I was on the internet and..."  or "I was talking to my friends and...."  or "such and such happened and..."  You know?  9.5/10 I was telling the truth about where the source of the information was coming from.  It took me a while to stop calling sex "it" around my parents, though. 

[divinemusician]

but you know what it aint even all about sex these days...

We need to teach them a lot about life, how to do job interviews, be good husbands and good wives, lets be honest half the children at the church have single parent homes and a young man needs to be trained in the dos and don'ts of a husband, father, man, etc. the same with the females.

Train up a child... that just don't mean in "church related issues" train them up in life!!! I am who I am because I had a mother that trained me up right, a father that validated me at home, I didn't need a man to tell me I looked good because my father always called me beautiful so when it came out of a boys mouth, my next response was, thats all you see!!! tell me something else, lol.

A lot of our youth don't have the blessing of having a family liek me and yours, both parents, etc. So validation is lacking and to me, it is the church responsiblity to pick up the slack, after all if we don't do it, THE WORLD IS OUT THERE TO DO IT!! We can't fault the world any longer for grabbing our youth, because we as a B.O.C. have failed to 1. Keep it Real with the youth, 2. Let the youth know their worth, etc. Not everything needs to be preached from the pulpit, get down from the pulpit and get amoung your youth and be REAL with them, let them know you are human but you are special too because you belong to God...

[kodacolor]

CO-SIGN!!

[Brittsings87]

So, today was the 3rd rehearsal. There were more kids, but that wasn't all of them, the rest will be coming next week, oh boy! 

Well, as I was turning on the sound board and setting up the mics, I wasn't quiete ready for them yet, and I was on the phone while I was doing this. The kids just come rushing, and grabs the mics and talking all loud, then my lil godsister who is 4. Keeps telling me to give her a mic, and to put the stand directly infront of her and lower it. I'm like Jadyn, this isn't your own personal mic, you have to share! lol (the kids are like 4-10 btw). Meanwhile, their all running around, and just out of control! lol My co pastor couldnt be there tonight because she was a lil busy with something. But my goodness! Once I was ready for them I got them all under control! lol Only thing is.. they all wanted a mic to themselves, they almost started fighting over the mics! Lawd.. help! LOL