The Dream Paper

I don't normally do this, but what the heck... the paper makes me smile, I had a lot of fun with it... so maybe you'll enjoy it.

The assignment was to write about your dream junior high youth min... no limits.

He gave us a few areas we had to address like programming, the building... etc. Since I didn't write it in the form of an essay, let's see if you can pick up on all the content (most of it is labeled, some is not)

Without further ado,

"IMAGE"

If you throw any number of Jr. High students into a room, you are guaranteed one thing: chaos. This, of course, is best witnessed in their actions, but even the quiet ones are blindly navigating a minefield of explosive changes in their minds, even if they don’t realize it. For this reason, our youth ministry will seek to meet the needs of their changing physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs.

*IMPORTANT*

As a precursor to the rest of this assignment, I plan on taking over the Upper Peninsula… or maybe the entire state of California, in order to accommodate this ministry and its facilities.

THE BUILDING

As you enter the doors you discover what every adult expects to find when working with Jr. Highers-chaos. But this chaos is intentional. There are bright colors, textures, and different environments all around you. To your right you discover what you can only gather is an art studio. Peering inside the clear Plexiglas wall, you see several smock wearing students covered in paint and hard at work at their latest masterpiece. Some of the students have obvious giftings for art, others are simply having fun, but all are smiling.

Next to the art studio is another Plexiglas room. Within this room, however, are tomorrow’s rock stars… and it’s sound-proof. Lost in their own world, you can almost see the dreams of stardom and influence lingering above each of the students’ heads. Every possible instrument is lined up, begging the student’s experimentation. Some of these students, it is clear, have amazing potential. Others, as with the art studio, are simply enjoying themselves, relieving stress, and trying on new hats.

As you continue, three blurs of colors whir by you. You’ve come to the Xtreme sports park. Here you have skaters, bikers, and skateboarders proving-or attempting to, anyway- that they can defy the laws of physics. Next to these students is an indoor climbing wall with several students clinging to it like spiders as they hover above the ground.

Separated by a waist high wall and ceiling high sports netting, there are courts of all kinds- except for the legal kind, that is. There are also football and soccer fields, outside, you notice, peering out the windows. Once outside, you notice a ropes course where the fearful are encouraged to keep going and take a step of faith. You also see several fire pits and cabins scattered through-out the grounds.

MINISTRY ROOM

As you return to the building you notice a stair case headed below the “chaos” of students exploring who they are. Following the stairs, you come to what you can only describe as “wide open space.” While large, it seems pretty simple. Apart from lighting and a stage that looks pretty portable, the room is plain. According to a volunteer you question, that’s because each gathering has a different, interactive feel and look to it. Almost as though it were rehearsed, a group of ruggedly handsome men come around the corner with materials for that week’s meeting in hand. Apparently, they would be building a big fish for the students to meet in, as they would be learning about Jonah. Hmm… interesting, you think to yourself.

LEADERSHIP

As you head to the other side of the ministry room, you decide to take a seat at the café. Perplexed, you wonder aloud, “what is the leadership of this place like?” Well, you obviously spoke a little louder than you intended, because a nearby leader heard you and joined you in your booth (which, I might add, is made out of a classic car J).

Introducing himself as an Intern from France, Philippe goes on with enthusiasm, explaining that the ministry founders felt it important for their students to experience and learn from a diverse group of people. This was done partially so that the students would gain different perspectives, and partially so they would learn to look past appearances and into the heart and soul of a person. In order to find this diverse group of people the founders took the ministry’s personal jets and flew all over the world, interviewing and tracking the best of the best in all talents, personalities, and life history.

Amazed at the mention of jets, you inquire further, “Jets?”

“Oh Yes” Philippe affirms. He explains that the jets also enable the ministry to bring in speakers and enable mission trips to all parts of the globe at a fraction of the cost a ministry would normally need to pay.

As you continue to look around you notice that each leader, identified by brightly colored tees, is incredibly unique. And yet, they seem to all be working towards the same “unspoken” goal- love. Philippe awakens you from your thoughts and explains that there endless rooms you’ve yet to see, and leads you on to further discovery of this ministry simply known as “image.”

__________

-Asher