Wanted: Youth Director

Lisa, Donna, and I met this week and began our conversation with the fact that it felt like Groundhog Day, as in that movie where the guy keeps reliving the same day over and over and over again. We were yet again discussing the search for a youth director after, yet...

Kids Disciple Club

Two weeks ago, Redhead Hall wasn’t only the home to the Young Men’s Bible Class, but also to young messy beautiful children! Or, you might say, the Kids Disciple Club (KDC).  As the Vacation Bible School kids took over the Life Center as they were ‘diving into the...

Being with our high schoolers, In Joy

I had the real joy of being with 12 of our high schoolers for the Montreat Youth Conference. Now I know some may say being away for a week with 15 under one roof and going to the grocery store multiple times and coordinating schedules may not sound very joyful, but it...

From sanctuaries to communities

What does it mean to be Presbyterian today? This is a question Presbyterians and the Presbyterian Church have wrestled with from the beginning. For much of our history going back to the Protestant Reformation, Presbyterians have defined ourselves based on our...

A bouquet of pencils and more

School supplies lists. I remember them. Three of them each Fall, one for each child. All of them long, not only pencils and paper but, hand sanitizer before hand sanitizer was cool, tissues, wipes, erasable markers, highlighters, scissors. Often a new bookbag and a...

An energizing experience

An auditorium full of teenagers, each participating in simple choreographed dance moves to various songs.  Some youth are all in, some less so, but, boy, is there a lot of energy.  If you’ve ever been to a Presbyterian youth conference, you, too, have probably done an...

With our youth at CROSS Missions

The photos are one thing, the stories behind them are what matter. Perhaps you saw some of the photos on social media from our time at CROSS Missions in Charlotte? Donna Chase and I were fortunate to have been with these youth. This recap is connected mostly to six...

See the mystery, not the problem

“Just because something is easy to measure doesn’t mean it’s accurate. Or that it matters.” This is a quote from Seth Godin’s latest book, The Song of Significance. Godin is arguing for leaders to focus on the right things, rather than on ready distractions. He goes...

Re-orienting our view

I don’t know about you, but I have always loved good children’s books.  I marvel at the way authors can creatively communicate so much through a story that we – children of all ages – can enjoy. We recently read Max Lucados’ You Are Special.  By the last few pages we...

First Aiders: Here when you need us

This past week some of the staff and congregation members participated in a 2-day training to be a Mental Health First Aider. The training was conducted by the Kellin Foundation, an amazing organization here in Greensboro. We know that mental health challenges are on...