by Brian C. Laird
Sanctuary Christian Ministries is a unique ministry that can sometimes stand out in the way that things are done. For instance, groups tend to meet every other week instead of on a weekly basis. We also emphasize "Diamond Theology" in the middle of everything we do. In addition, we like to focus more on actions rather than the knowledge of scripture. This and other choices to how Sanctuary is run were made very deliberately, and maybe not for reasons one would expect. To help us understand this further, let us take a comparative view of just the youth ministry of both Sanctuary and some other organizations: Sunday school and youth group.
When a child attends Sunday school at a local church, he or she will often hear a bible story presented to them in different ways. There may be a craft that helps reinforce images in the story and a song the whole class will sing. In fact, by its very name, Sunday school suggests that the idea is to teach kids about the not only the bible but also lessons that can be learned from the verses and stories presented within. When the children return to their parents, they often have something tangible to present to their parents to show what they have learned.
A youth group tends to have a little more variability in how and what is learned. In a youth group, there are usually many activities designed to give the kids a chance to hang out and bond with others with similar values who will potentially be better friends than those made elsewhere. There are often weekly meetings where the youth learn about issues, values, or other ways to improve themselves. This can have many different facets and outcomes, but all approaches tend to focus on things these youth can do to be better people.
Granted, there are always exceptions and some Sunday schools and youth groups will not fit perfectly into these categories, but most seem to include these general aspects. This being said, Sanctuary groups fill yet another need than those cared for above. These groups may indeed have some crossover as one week a Sanctuary group might focus on a particular bible story. Alternatively, this same group might focus more on giving tools to better handle situations and be better people. However, to better penetrate and permeate people with the love of Jesus Christ, we believe it is imperative to help people discover and gain a new identity in all they do. This identity is based on Jesus Christ and the gift of his love to all of us.
Let us now look back at some ways Sanctuary groups may stand out that were touched on earlier. First, remember that most Sanctuary groups meet every other week. These groups help to establish our identity. We do not wish to become so caught up in getting to our weekly meeting that it becomes routine or more important than our mission. In addition, not meeting every week allows us time to bring our identity into the world, but is still often enough for us to get refreshed and reminded of who we are inside. As this idea is so central to everything we do and are, it becomes clear why we always want people we meet to know that they are of inestimable value, just like a diamond in a pile of stones. This is "Diamond Theology" and it is at the heart of our identity as PALs. We have been created in God's image and He loves us no matter what; no matter what we do, there is nothing that can take that love away from us!
And as we discover our identity, we find that we can't help but be more action oriented. We wish to share this with the world, and they can best experience the love of Christ if we share it with them. While knowing scriptures and the lessons within are important, it is also important for us to act on those lessons and the lessons God gives to us every day so that we may be a light shining in the world for Him.
By Robert A. Laird
Every day people both Christian and non ask me to pray for them. It doesn’t come as a surprise when Christians I know ask me to pray for them but when people who aren’t ask for the same thing, it always amazes me. Even though they aren’t believers, they realize that the faith of my life is something special and it is something they are willing to place some hope in. Since I last wrote an article for the Insider I have had friends ask for prayers for missions trips as near as across town, to across the country in New Orleans, to across the globe in Taiwan. Others have asked for prayers for their health. One person I know (who isn’t much older than me) was in the hospital last week with congestive heart failure. He wrote in a blog after the experience about how I was the only person he talked to every day throughout the experience. Another friend is facing cancer on her own without a family to support and pray for her and only a couple of close friends (who have supported Sanctuary financially WAY beyond their means, and reminded me of the widow in Luke 21) who stand by her and love her through it all.
People all around us are facing things and need prayer. Christian or not, a regular phrase I use when someone shares with me a concern is, “well, I’ll be praying for you.” Whether they are believers or not, I generally get a very big thank you for that. Anyone can do this. It doesn’t take a lot to pray for another, it’s just a simple conversation with God and can be as quick as a “Lord, just lifting up Jon! Thanks!” Prayer is a conversation with God. Everyone needs it and it helps keep our faith vibrant and strong during the good and the bad times. It also can be life changing for the person praying and/or the person being prayed for.
Starting this month, I will be highlighting one prayer request posted on Sanctuary Online here on the Sanctuary Insider. It is my hope that you will read the prayer request here, pray for it on your own, and then respond with words of encouragement on Sanctuary Online to the original post. I strongly believe that this could be a life changing experience as we all focus together on praying for specific things. This doesn’t mean we should neglect any of the other prayer requests posted, but I just hope to bring extra awareness and extra prayers to the prayer request of the month.
This month we will be highlighting a prayer request posted by KSWYATT. It is for Kent Williams and Monica Whitaker. You can read the entire prayer request here: http://sanctuarychristianministries.com/SanctuaryOnline/viewtopic.php?t=242
This is also where you can post your responses. This is a health and relationship prayer request that is quite in depth and quite serious on several levels. Please take a few minutes to check it out, pray for it and respond! I know they will be VERY thankful for the support!
Living to Love groups are getting ready to birth from Robert Laird’s new book, Before you Date, targeting young teens before they start building relationships with the other sex. Jeanette Laird is coordinating with youth pastors in Colorado, and board member, Rev. Dwight Nave is excited about it and taking it to his Presbytery in Virginia. Meanwhile Robert is working on making the already tested curriculum marketable – to get our resources out and to bring in needed funds to continue the Sanctuary ministry.
· Helping them realize the value of themselves and others and how to respect that.
· Helping the see the pitfalls of handling it cheaply.
· Together with accountability of leadership, Christian friends, and parents – teens will come up with their own guidelines and guard rails – a plan to use anticipating situations, so they avert surprises and mistakes.
Previous middle schoolers, some now graduating from high school, have benefited from the 6-8 week course in California a number of years back. They still hold each other accountable to things they decided when they see a friend start to stray…in the spirit of love and care.
Our middle schoolers are not nearly naïve as many parents seem to think they are. They see relationships, healthy and not, in their school-mates, friends and their families, movies, our world. If you were a wall flower, you’d hear them talk more about girls or guys than you’d dream. It’s all around them – starting at early elementary! I was helping test kids in Robert’s Kindergarten class 20 years ago and dropped my jaw when two little girls were talking about their “sexy underwear” Wake up parents. It’s here. Let’s work together to arm them.
PALz in Greeley will resume with the school year, rebuilding all in how specials they were created and are in God’s sight. We have moved to the Laird’s home in Greeley, as opposed to the church in LaSalle, to reach more kids (friends) and help some who were being lost from travel inconvenience. It will be a great year!!
Another Sanctuary Women’s Group in Greeley, Colorado using What Happens When Women Say Yes to God, by Lysa Terkeurst, starting in September…a weekday evening yet to be determined by those participating, starting at 6:30pmto be done earlier . Like before a safe environment to invite all faiths and unchurched neighbors and friends where they will find is totally fine to ask the questions they always wanted to, and receive support for wherever they are in life. Group size will be limited to about 12 to allow this to happen. Let Jeanette know if you are in jeanette@chucklaird.com or 352-9911. This is your chance to invite that person that would be afraid to walk through the church door! Know that she will be warmly greeted and accepted into Jeanette’s home. J
Gas prices are up and giving is down. God still has a BIG job for us to do in our hurting world. Pray about how you can help Jesus wrap his loving arms around the wounded and disillusioned through Sanctuary Christian Ministry. The same efforts cannot continue without funds to support it…but God is faithful in the good times and the bad. This ministry was born out of the bad, but has blessed many people, broadening paradigms and ways of reaching outside our church walls, and also creating safer pasture for the wounded within.
Before You Date is out and you can help it make a difference in young people’s lives! I have been working on this book for over three years. It was developed from a class I created to help students prepare to enter the world of relationships. It has been proven to be effective as students hold each other accountable, along with their family and mentors.
As a youth pastor, I have seen many churches sidestep the issue of dating. I’ve also seen parents put off the issue until later thinking that their child is in middle school and it isn’t needed yet. I can tell you that from countless conversations I’ve had with students (yes, even fifth and sixth graders!) that they ARE facing the world of relationships and dating at this young age! Healthy or not, we need to be addressing this issue in a healthy way within the Christian community, because the rest of the world isn’t going to wait for us to decide it is time. The world is throwing messages at our students of “go for it” or “just do it,” all which stress instant gratification. The main message the church has thrown out is to not to date or to not kiss until marriage. While these are excellent ideas and goals, many of the students in our churches have moved beyond them.
In Before You Date, we encourage students to come up with boundaries and guidelines for their own lives with the support of friends, families, and mentors. Then these supporters help the student stay accountable with these decisions. We have been teaching this class for several years with some members of our first class just graduating high school. I am pleased to say that they have stuck with the boundaries and guidelines made years ago with the help of other members of the class, families, and myself as their youth pastor. As more groups have gone through this course, we have been excited to see its success replicated. It has been an exciting and rewarding experience developing this curriculum and book and seeing it work!
Now is the time where you can get your local youth group or churches involved with this new book and help share its important message of boundaries, guidelines, accountability, and value based on God’s love for us. Please grab a copy of this book and share it with your local youth pastor, pastor, youth board member, or parent of a middle school student as soon as possible. I am very passionate about this issue and really feel that it is an area where we as Christians do not lead our youth in a strong enough way!
If you have any questions about this book, please email me at r.laird@sanctuarychristianministries.com and I’d be more than happy to answer them! You can purchase Before You Date here: http://www.lulu.com/content/2526931.
Thank you for your prayers and support!
Peace,
Robert A. Laird
Director of Student Ministries
Sanctuary Christian Ministries
