's initiation into our youth group . . .

[Guest guest]

This weekend was " initiated " into our church's youth group. 

Friday, we had a " Passing the Torch " ceremony.  Each rising 6th grader was

officially " graduated " from the children's ministry and given a book, The Power

of a Praying Teen by Stormie Ormartian.  The kids went up one at a time when

their name was called, they were given their book and the people from the

children's ministry said something about them.  's teacher noted that he

had helped with " Wheel of Fortune " in their class (they played the game to learn

the Bible verse of the day).  The teacher would do the buzzer sound when

someone got it wrong, and that the day came when said, " I want to do it

(the buzzer sound) myself! "

Saturday the youth group put on what is called a " kidnap breakfast " for the 6th

graders.  Several groups of grownups and students went out and woke up the 6th

graders and tossed them, pajamas and all, into their cars for a trip to the

church building, ending in breakfast.  The kids are woken up with bullhorns,

singing, etc.  (The parents come later to the church building with a change

of clothes.)  didn't participate in the " kidnap " part; probably

because they didn't want to totally freak him out.  ( thought

would enjoy it; I appreciated that they were being sensitive to .) 

While the parents were in one part of the youth center getting information about

the youth program and what's expected out of the kids--and also an overview

about adolescence in general--the kids were practicing a musical number to be

performed the next day.  Apparently it's a tradition that the 6th graders do

some sort of performance on their first Sunday (one of the classes did a

performance to " Eye of the Tiger " .  This group's song was " Thriller " , and most

of the kids had on gruesome makeup; a couple wore masks, and one was dressed as

a skeleton.  The only thing wore (besides his regular clothes!) were

his ear protectors (due to the noise).  He danced along with everyone else. 

It was very funny hearing one of the kids singing along with .

They then lined up on the stage and our youth minister went down and asked them

their name and where they went to school.  answered both questions.  I

was pleasantly surprised that remembered the name of his school!!

Their " initiation " was ended when our youth minister told the rest of the kids

to " kidnap a 6th grader and have them sit with you! "   Whereupon the youth

stormed the stage and did just that.  I recognized the boys who took ;

they are a couple of kids that help with the communion cleanup along with

. 

The grownups involved in the youth ministry have been doing a lot of research

and praying about welcoming into the ministry.  There are several

adults who have volunteered to be with him during that time and do some

one-on-one teaching with him.  and I will also be looking at the programs

and deciding which ones are currently appropriate for him.  For example, he

wouldn't get anything out of some of the retreats because they involve sitting

and listening, and he's not at the point yet where he can take in some of the

activities.

But all in all, It looks like HE will do just fine!!  The thing that has been

communicated to me over and over is that is welcome in the group and

they are very excited to have him. Tina

Hacker:   " Any last words before I throw you in the dungeon? "

Digit:   " Yeah.  We're outta here! "

--From Cyberchase

Nuclear option in 2010.

Betsy Ray/Tacy , 2012, Deep Valley Party.

Adam Savage/ Hyneman, 2010, Mythbusters Party.