Jonathan Gleason

World Vision 30 Hour Famine

Today, nearly 8,000 children younger than 5 years of age, will die from causes related to hunger. Tomorrow, and the next day, this story will repeat itself. Physical needs matter to God. That’s why Jesus’ miracles include things like healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, and feeding 5,000 hungry people. Kids rate high in God’s eyes. Jesus is pretty clear in Matthew 18:5— “Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” When Jesus’ disciples tell Him to send the hungry crowd away in Mark 6:37, He turns the tables on them by saying, “You give them something to eat.” When they are unable, Jesus uses the sack lunch of a young boy to perform an amazing miracle – multiplying the loaves and fishes and giving them to the disciples to share until everyone in the crowd had had enough.

On May 3^rd – 4^th, our youth group is participating in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine. By doing this event, we will be taking part in a modern day miracle – going without food to feed our own crowd. This isn’t just another good cause. It’s about walking in Jesus’ footsteps and reaching out in compassion to feed and care for hungry children.

Here’s how it works. Each of our small groups, (within our larger youth group) has set a fundraising goal and is looking for donors.  On May 3^rd and 4^th we will experience hunger together for 30 hours. The bonus? Those 30 hours are going to be a blast – filled with ministry, fun events/activities, engaging learning experiences and much more. Every dollar we raise can help feed and care for a child for a day. That means that if we raise $5,000, we can feed our own 5,000.  Remember, the boy with the sack lunch didn’t have much; just five loaves and two fish. But a little is a lot when we give it over to Jesus. For more information or to donate, check out our group webpage at http://support.worldvision.org/goto/180.

Let’s Try Something New!

To shake hands or to hug? A question, which has led to many awkward social encounters in my life. Over three years ago, when I first came to LCC, this was not a question I wrestled with. Although not expressed, my thinking was simple, “I don’t really know anyone here, Of course I’m going to shake hands.” That thought was shattered when a freshman girl, her mouth full of braces, hair stylishly messy, came up to Dayna and me and said, “I’m a hugger” and proceeded to give both of us hugs. That was my first encounter with Jenny Hansen, and I am grateful that it was not my last.  Although, it is difficult for me to accept, Jenny and the many other freshmen students, who welcomed me as their youth pastor over three years ago, will all be graduating seniors next month. Wooohoooo!  They’re finally out of my life! No, I deeply love each one of these students and the excitement surrounding their  graduation stems not from seeing them leave but seeing them stay, partnering with them in a new ministry here at Lighthouse. I’m happy to announce that this Fall, we will launch a young adult’s ministry to engage our graduating seniors, as well as others in their twenties.

Although, we officially begin this ministry in the Fall, we want to invite our young adults to join us this summer for a couple of BBQ’s. Our goal will be to enjoy good food, build relationships and seek God’s direction as we move this ministry forward. Please set the following dates aside and join us if you are graduating or in your twenties: July 26th & August 23rd

There is another change taking place as we start this new young adult’s ministry. I am in the process of turning over the majority of my responsibilities surrounding our midweek children’s program (FaithWeavers) to Angela Kerr. Although, I will continue to be the overseeing pastor of the program, Angela will basically be doing all the hard work. Angela was the FaithWeaver preschool director this past year and did a fantastic job. She not only has a passion for children’s ministry, but has earned her degree in teaching, is a leader in Promise Land, created and organizes a community kids group, which hosts multiple gatherings each week, and has four wonderful children of her own. Our FaithWeaver ministry is clearly in good hands. I encourage all of you with a heart for children, to please partner with Angela next year in this ministry.

Jonathan Gleason, Youth Minister

Relational Youth Ministry

At 19, I entered the murky waters of youth ministry for the first time, and realized that in the eyes of my students I was old, out of touch and unable to relate to them.

“Jonathan, you don’t understand.  Things have changed a lot since you were in school.”

“Yeah, two years ago, we were riding carriages to school and doing math problems with an abacus.  Life has changed so much.”

I discovered quickly that my success as a youth pastor would not come from me being hip and cool – I thought I already was but students weren’t impressed. Most of the time I felt as though I sat on the porch, outside their world, waiting to be invited in. Weeks in ministry turned to months and months turned to years. The more time I spent with students, the more often I was invited into their lives to hear about a struggle, to share in a joyful milestone and to see who these students truly were when the masks came off.

This past month, one of our students turned 18 – the magical age where a young person becomes an official adult. To my surprise, a friend of the birthday girl asked if I could help plan a birthday party involving a scavenger hunt. As she put it, “I think it would mean a lot to her and I know she would love it.” Somehow, this 31 year old, out of touch and un-cool youth pastor was being invited off the porch and into the lives of these teens. Of course, I agreed and went to work planning a birthday party. The scavenger hunt included twenty crazy experiences including, dancing in a fountain, “coning” at McDonalds, toilet papering a friend’s house and I think I may have even eaten a snail.

At the end of the night our birthday girl, (whose actual birthday was two weeks earlier) had this to say, “My 18^th birthday went from being the worst birthday I’ve ever had, to being the BEST!” Were any deep spiritual conversations had that evening, any new commitments for Christ made? No, but for one night, the armor that students carry with them every day was removed and I was invited into their lives to know and be known by them.

What about you? Do you have young people in your life, who you can be building relationships with? Have you tried to impart spiritual truth and felt like it was going in one ear and out the other? I’ve been there and the encouragement I would give you is to be patient, ask questions to encourage real conversation, listen instead of lecture, put yourself in situations where students can talk freely and never stop loving them.

Jonathan Gleason, Youth Minister

It’s Harvest Time

“We’ve got company coming.” What does that statement imply? It implies that for the next several hours you and the rest of your family are going to be cleaning, cooking, decorating and sweating a lot.  It may imply that in all the stressful preparation, one of your family members may say a sharp word and a fist fight will breakout.  OK, maybe not a fist fight but certainly words will be exchanged. At Lighthouse, the phrase, “We’ve got company coming” is replaced with, “Easter is right around the corner.” The implications are the same, minus the fist fighting and exchanging of words.

In most churches in the U.S., Easter Sunday is the largest attended service all year.  Company that we haven’t seen all year, decide to drop by and pay a visit.  We as a church are excited to see them and dedicate hours of preparation to make them feel loved and welcomed.  Each year the question begs to be asked, “Why doesn’t our company come by more often?”

As a youth pastor, I ask myself a similar question all the time.  In fact, in newsletter articles in the past, I’ve addressed the huge issue of young people walking away from their faith and from the church.  Everyone has an opinion on the subject and there is probably some truth in most of these opinions.  However, I would like to share one thought that challenges both young people and adults. Greg Stier, president of Dare2Share.org explained in a recent article what he viewed as the solution to people walking away from their faith or the “Easter Sunday Christian.”  His answer? “Evangelism.” His reasoning goes like this:

1. “We want teenagers to live out their faith.  Evangelism requires them to practice what they preach.  Nothing motivates young people to live a more authentic life than knowing that they’re being watched and evaluated by their friends.”

2.  “We want teenagers to get into scripture.  Nothing motivates kids to get into the word more than a friend asking them tough questions that drive them to the Bible for answers.”

3.      “We want teenagers to depend on the Holy Spirit.  Evangelism helps young people depend on God like they never have before.”

As we get ready for company this Easter, I think it would be enriching for our souls and our faith to pour our hearts into evangelism.  Many of us have made the commitment to “Bring Ten.”  This year, let’s make Easter not only a time to invite but actively evangelize.  “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest fields.” Matthew 9:37-38

Jonathan Gleason, Youth Minister