Well, D-Now is officially past, and I thought I'd record a few of my thoughts about how it went, what I thought we did right, and what I feel needs improving for next time.
It's strange the things I've gotten from this D-Now thing. I've been challenged in my own walk with the Lord, encouraged by hearty meals of a spiritually satisfying fare, learned more of the 'stories' of friends He's given me, worked hard, slept little, prayed much, loved more. And, as is so often the case, with 'highs', come 'lows', in battle there are not only victories, but casualties also.
Y'all up for another prayer request? Several things happened that were so discouraging - people I thought were so 'on track' so to speak, in their thinking, and then to find out they are extremely lax (or worse, indifferent) in areas that are REALLY important! People who are really strong in some areas, but so sure of themselves, in a way, that they refuse to admit they might be wrong in another area. And then, perhaps most of all discouraging, a rumor involving someone I would have bet my last dollar (not really, it's a figure of speech) that they could not lower themself to such a flippant disregard of holiness. This one is maybe the worse, both because of the person, and also that I'm not sure whether to believe the rumor or not. You know the saying, "innocent until proven guilty"? I'm hanging onto that, but (figuratively) not too hard, because the original source of the 'rumor' assured me they would not joke about such a thing, and also another witness, when questioned, verified that something of the sort had happened - this person though, was not sure of who had actually been involved. I'm hanging onto that small doubt. I really don't know what to ask you to pray, except that somehow I would find out that my faith in this person would be rewarded with assurance of it's validity.
On the other hand, there were a couple of big encouragements! One was getting to talk to some of the 'band members' and hearing their courting beliefs. The younger girl, the sister, is 16 and the young man who is courting her went to school with Archer when they lived up north, so I'd guess he's Archer's age, which is 18. Her parents want them to wait until she is at least 18 before they get married. Neither one of them have ever kissed anyone, and I found that so refreshing! - you wouldn't believe (well, maybe you would) how flippantly that practice is treated, even among 'Christians', or people who call themselves such. I used to take it for granted that pretty much all believers followed that standard, but I have been sadly surprised, and rudely awakened to the fact that that's just not true anymore. That little visit was one of the great encouragements of D-Now for me - there are those out there still who believe that what is "true, ... honest, ... just, ... pure, ... lovely, [and] ... of good report" is the standard by which we should seek to live.
The other, is the two young people who professed Christ during the event!
The other, is the two young people who professed Christ during the event!
Probably the biggest part of D-Now was the "Prayer Walk". An amazing set of 18 'stations', each focusing on a different area of prayer (I'll try to post the details on each one, a little later, with some pictures too, maybe), and such a potentially powerful experience. We did it the last night (Saturday), and had scheduled from 9:00 to 11:00, I believe, to go through it. The plan was that each group (and it's college-age leaders) would go through one behind another, with one person in a station at a time, with the directors at the beginning sending people in in about 5-minute intervals. As I said, we'd scheduled 2 hours for everyone to go through. After about an hour, those that were waiting (who were more than half the number) realized that we were not going to get through in two hours, so it was agreed that the leaders who were left would wait and go through some other day, and just get the kids through.
The last ones finished after 12:30 the next morning.
Trissy and I went through it several days later, and I can easily see why it took so long. I could have spent an hour in some of those places. I pray the Lord used this experience to touch hearts and work in lives.
Sadly, some of the leaders didn't ever get to go through, because many of the rooms we were using as stations were also Sunday School and class rooms, and needed to be put back in order. With school, work, and other interfering schedules, many of us just were not free during the time before it was taken down. I think only about half of us leaders were able to do it.
So, now, here is my opinions list:
What I think we did wrong:
1. Just two days of D-Now.
It was too short. It started on Friday night, went all day Saturday, and unofficially ended after church Sunday morning. It took until the middle of Saturday for everyone just to calm down, focus, and get our minds off of the things that were cluttering and pressing in on them. By the time the 'momentum' was gained, D-Now was over.
2. Too few 'church' services.
There were only two times of preaching messages, and only three music services. 'Revivals' in the old days used to go on for weeks! It took that long for people to let go of things that they were hanging onto, and let the Word of the Lord take effect. You don't cook meat for a few minutes, and hope it's done! The best way is to put it in the crock-pot, surround it with an environment of permeating onions and spices (prayer, Bible study, good music), and let it simmer for a good long time. Then, it becomes tender.
3. No 'closing' service or meeting.
We should have had some sort of congregational ending, to officially close D-Now. As it was, the students just strung out and on home, at various times Sunday morning. There was no follow-up to the Prayer Walk of the night before, and many of the groups were so wiped out that the scheduled Saturday night small-group time was just skimmed over.
4. No meeting of leaders and workers after the event was over.
It would have been good to have a sort of 'debriefing' time with all the leaders, workers, and volunteers who made D-Now possible, to discuss what we did wrong, what we did right, and what we would change, should there be a 'next time'.
5. Little group prayer.
We did have one prayer service with the leaders and most of the core workers on Friday evening before the kids started arriving. I think it would have been good to have a sort of walk-through prayer time, going through the rooms and buildings, and praying for the Lord's blessing and guidance during the event.
Also, we should have had a designated prayer time afterwords (possibly during the 'debriefing' meeting?), spending time to thank the Lord for the blessings He provided, and the two precious souls who were saved during the event.
6. Too little 'structure' sometimes during activity time.
Some of the kids were beginning to get distracted and into mild mischief during some of the lulls between games.
7. Too little time for the Prayer Walk
Maybe next time, the groups could go though it at different times during the event, while other groups are otherwise occupied, allowing each person to take more or as much time as they need, while going through it.
What I think we did right:
1. Made the college kids the group leaders.
We are young adults. We need to be given positions that will stretch and challenge us to become leaders for Christ. Now of course, if one is not spiritually ready to lead others, then they should not be in a primary position of leadership. But in that case, put them with someone who is spiritually grounded, where they can learn what it means and how important it is, to grow in their faith and abilities for the Lord. I think Bro. Mike did a pretty good job of pairing up the leaders (each small group had two college-age leaders).
2. Had alot of small-group, one-on-one type discussion time.
People (kids especially) will open up to someone in a close, cozy, comfortable, and non-threatening situation. There were reports of good discussions and serious, thoughtful questions that took place between students, leaders, and host-home adults during the group session times at the host homes.
3. Had preaching as well as the more informal small-group settings of teaching.
Meeting as an entire group, being in a more 'formal' environment, encouraging attentiveness, and listening to a preacher teach from God's Word, is an invaluable experience. The Bible says that the Lord uses the "foolishness of preaching" to work in hearts and lives.
4. Used a great small-group study.
I thoroughly appreciated Andy Stanley's teaching on this subject of Prayer. Some of it was just a tad modernized for me, but the basic foundation stones, and the firm roots in Scripture were very much intact! If you ever have a chance to go through that study yourself, watch the entire messages (not just the small-group sessions), and I am convinced you will learn so much, while being encouraged and strengthened in your walk with the Lord.
5. The Prayer Walk.
This was an absolutely wonderful tool, and such a powerful experience. I know some of the adults of Victory Rd., who weren't even personally involved in D-Now itself, took advantage of it being available, and many expressed their appreciation and blessings they'd gotten from it.
6. Much prayer.
I believe, even though there was not alot of collective prayer among the workers, that D-Now was held together by the glue of persistent, passionate, pleading prayer. So many times little things kept happening that could have potentially stopped (certainly hindered) the event from even taking place, but there were always people praying, and I believe the Lord acknowledged and blessed our efforts to please Him.
7. D-Now.
So much we learned! So much that was gained that we could not have experience quite like this, any other way. It was a step of trust, a huge project to tackle, but the Lord guided us in this experiment, this endeavor, and with His guidance came His blessings and encouragement.
I hope we do it again!
-Kyrie<><
The last ones finished after 12:30 the next morning.
Trissy and I went through it several days later, and I can easily see why it took so long. I could have spent an hour in some of those places. I pray the Lord used this experience to touch hearts and work in lives.
Sadly, some of the leaders didn't ever get to go through, because many of the rooms we were using as stations were also Sunday School and class rooms, and needed to be put back in order. With school, work, and other interfering schedules, many of us just were not free during the time before it was taken down. I think only about half of us leaders were able to do it.
So, now, here is my opinions list:
What I think we did wrong:
1. Just two days of D-Now.
It was too short. It started on Friday night, went all day Saturday, and unofficially ended after church Sunday morning. It took until the middle of Saturday for everyone just to calm down, focus, and get our minds off of the things that were cluttering and pressing in on them. By the time the 'momentum' was gained, D-Now was over.
2. Too few 'church' services.
There were only two times of preaching messages, and only three music services. 'Revivals' in the old days used to go on for weeks! It took that long for people to let go of things that they were hanging onto, and let the Word of the Lord take effect. You don't cook meat for a few minutes, and hope it's done! The best way is to put it in the crock-pot, surround it with an environment of permeating onions and spices (prayer, Bible study, good music), and let it simmer for a good long time. Then, it becomes tender.
3. No 'closing' service or meeting.
We should have had some sort of congregational ending, to officially close D-Now. As it was, the students just strung out and on home, at various times Sunday morning. There was no follow-up to the Prayer Walk of the night before, and many of the groups were so wiped out that the scheduled Saturday night small-group time was just skimmed over.
4. No meeting of leaders and workers after the event was over.
It would have been good to have a sort of 'debriefing' time with all the leaders, workers, and volunteers who made D-Now possible, to discuss what we did wrong, what we did right, and what we would change, should there be a 'next time'.
5. Little group prayer.
We did have one prayer service with the leaders and most of the core workers on Friday evening before the kids started arriving. I think it would have been good to have a sort of walk-through prayer time, going through the rooms and buildings, and praying for the Lord's blessing and guidance during the event.
Also, we should have had a designated prayer time afterwords (possibly during the 'debriefing' meeting?), spending time to thank the Lord for the blessings He provided, and the two precious souls who were saved during the event.
6. Too little 'structure' sometimes during activity time.
Some of the kids were beginning to get distracted and into mild mischief during some of the lulls between games.
7. Too little time for the Prayer Walk
Maybe next time, the groups could go though it at different times during the event, while other groups are otherwise occupied, allowing each person to take more or as much time as they need, while going through it.
What I think we did right:
1. Made the college kids the group leaders.
We are young adults. We need to be given positions that will stretch and challenge us to become leaders for Christ. Now of course, if one is not spiritually ready to lead others, then they should not be in a primary position of leadership. But in that case, put them with someone who is spiritually grounded, where they can learn what it means and how important it is, to grow in their faith and abilities for the Lord. I think Bro. Mike did a pretty good job of pairing up the leaders (each small group had two college-age leaders).
2. Had alot of small-group, one-on-one type discussion time.
People (kids especially) will open up to someone in a close, cozy, comfortable, and non-threatening situation. There were reports of good discussions and serious, thoughtful questions that took place between students, leaders, and host-home adults during the group session times at the host homes.
3. Had preaching as well as the more informal small-group settings of teaching.
Meeting as an entire group, being in a more 'formal' environment, encouraging attentiveness, and listening to a preacher teach from God's Word, is an invaluable experience. The Bible says that the Lord uses the "foolishness of preaching" to work in hearts and lives.
4. Used a great small-group study.
I thoroughly appreciated Andy Stanley's teaching on this subject of Prayer. Some of it was just a tad modernized for me, but the basic foundation stones, and the firm roots in Scripture were very much intact! If you ever have a chance to go through that study yourself, watch the entire messages (not just the small-group sessions), and I am convinced you will learn so much, while being encouraged and strengthened in your walk with the Lord.
5. The Prayer Walk.
This was an absolutely wonderful tool, and such a powerful experience. I know some of the adults of Victory Rd., who weren't even personally involved in D-Now itself, took advantage of it being available, and many expressed their appreciation and blessings they'd gotten from it.
6. Much prayer.
I believe, even though there was not alot of collective prayer among the workers, that D-Now was held together by the glue of persistent, passionate, pleading prayer. So many times little things kept happening that could have potentially stopped (certainly hindered) the event from even taking place, but there were always people praying, and I believe the Lord acknowledged and blessed our efforts to please Him.
7. D-Now.
So much we learned! So much that was gained that we could not have experience quite like this, any other way. It was a step of trust, a huge project to tackle, but the Lord guided us in this experiment, this endeavor, and with His guidance came His blessings and encouragement.
I hope we do it again!
-Kyrie<><
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