Fall Practicum Week 2
Week 2 (9/14/08)
Record of Ministry Activities
Plan and Coordinate Youth Events on Tuesday (1 ½ Hours)
Supervise and Coordinate Youth at Nursing Home (3 Hours) – This week, instead of just staying at the church and having a typical youth group night, we decided to switch it up and do something outside of the church. This week, we decided to go to the nursing home in order to lift the spirits of some of the residents there. We spent the entire time there this week instead of going back to the church.
Total Ministry Activities: 41/2 Hours
Personal Reflection on Ministry
This week was a little more difficult because it was actually the first time I’ve been in a different environment with the students than in the typical church setting. It was actually kind of nice to get a change of pace and a change of scenery in my ministry with these students. Too often we are sitting at the church on the couches talking about going somewhere and doing something other than talking. This week, that actually became a reality and I was very impressed with how the students responded to being put out of their comfort zones. On a personal level, I was a little nervous going to the nursing home, because it is just an uncomfortable place to be. Well, I was blown away by how comfortable the students were in going to the nursing home and just meeting people. I did have to be the encourager in a couple of areas (like actually going into rooms to talk). But I was so impressed at how easily the students talked to different people in the nursing home. It really gave me a hope for the maturity of the students. As far as my ministry leadership went, I was encouraged by how willing the students were to follow me. I encouraged them to go into different rooms and talk to the residents and they actually did. One of them came out after talking with one of the residents and said, “I just talked with one of James Dean’s basketball teammates!” He was so excited, and as a result, I was too. I’m starting to realize that student ministry is about celebrating the small things, but celebrating them big.
Spiritual Reflection
This week, spiritually, was better than last week. When I got to speak to some of the residents at Colonial Oaks, I was shocked with how happy some of them were. Lets be honest, a nursing home is literally a death bed that people are put into. To me, it is one of the most depressing places on earth. And yet, there were people there so full of life. I didn’t think that could be possible, but it was and is. It was just such an encouragement to see that God does not see age, but instead, life. These people don’t see their situation as a negative thing, they just see it as another stage of life. One of my favorite colonial oaks memories was when I just walked into a ladies room and just started reading scripture. She just sat there and smiled. After I was done, she said, you read scripture very well. You’d make a wonderful pastor. A confirmation of my call to ministry, just in reading scripture. God is good.
posted by Tyler Murphy @ 4:47 PM
1 Comments:
Tyler, it sounds like you really have a great oppertunity at your church. I would like to know more about how i can get involved with Colonial Oaks like you have been, and where is your church located. It sounds like you have really gotten the hang of spiritual management and time management. When do you prefer to do your devos? I find that after church i am just drained and i have little or no motivation, so i do it in the morning. I noticed you didnt have any youth events on your blog. Do you guys do events often? or do you guys not have that many? If you were interested you could do some events with me and we could feed off each other? Well just a suggestion, also do you think we could have lunch sometime and talk about youth ministry and practicum life? Ok well i look forward to your blogs this semester it sounds like you are going to have a great time. I will be praying for you in your church.
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