For almost 20 years now I have been trying to add creative ideas for use in the local church. In the early days Nailscars.com was just a place to publish some scripts, but it has become a collection of creative ministry resources for youth ministry and worship.
I began writing a blog more to process my own thoughts more than anything else. As I started writing the comments that I got back from people amazed me. As I was honest with my struggles most of them would write and say “Thank you.” “It is just nice to know someone else struggles with these same things,” was a common response.
So this has become a place where I share the struggles and successes of being in youth ministry. I hope that you find something that God can use in your life and ministry.
I recently returned from M-Fuge in Mobile Alabama. We had 5 kids (ages 12-18), one youth leader, and me,the parent. I know this is important work for these kids to learn, but I am wondering if I am the only one who thinks the neighborhoods were entirely too dangerous. I was in a drug den!!! The last day there were gunshots not far from the site. Some kids were outside and actually saw the gunman. I have spoken with the Mobile Police Dept. and they assured me that untrained children should not have been there. They also said that there were plenty of low income areas that were not so dangerous. I think drugs and guns should be dealt with by adults only. I was responsible for these kids. I admit that I was scared out of my mind. I hope that M-Fuge will address this issue and I hope that God understands that I really tried to have my heart in the right place. Some of these kids were not mine and I was so relieved to get them back safe to their parents. Please know that I am not wealthy and spoiled and never get my hands dirty. We are just regular working people trying to make it. Just trying to raise 2 kids to be the best they can be. I wish that my camp experience had been more rewarding. I will do more research before taking kids on another mission trip. Thanks for your time.
I hear where you are coming from, but my prayer will always be. "Lord, lead us into places where we need you to keep us safe."
I have completed my 6th year at M-Fuge and I have never felt like I was in danger. We traveled into some places with Habitat for Humanity that were pretty rough (we cleaned up needles off the streets) but I always knew we were safe. I don’t know if it was faith in God or my own ignorance.