For my students...

As was blatantly evident from some conversations held last night, there are some valid and honest questions and concerns circulating through our student community. This should not come as a surprise, nor should it be simply swept under the rug of "oh, they're just kids." The majority of these students are communicant members of this church (CRPC) and have not only a right to these questions, as they pertain to their church, but a right to a fair and tender treatment of theses questions and concerns.

As such, I attempted to give an adequate answer to some of their questions and concerns last night. The students I spoke with were genuine in their concerns and also quite willing and open to discuss them in an unbiased and humble manner. Thus, we were able to converse together as loving brothers in Christ. As we chatted I tried to present the facts of all that has and is taking place in our church as I know them. I was also able to encourage these students to be mindful and aware of a couple of things.

First, in all of this there is a great deal of emotion involved. Not that emotion is all bad, but emotion unchecked by reason and facts can wreak havoc on any situation or conversation. So, I humbly asked these students to keep this in mind and to be a people who don't overly cater to emotions but check them with truth. Also, when someone comes emotionally charged, making accusations and definitive statements of which the students don't have adequate facts and truth, I requested them to kindly defer from discussing the situation.

Second, there is a lot of here-say and second hand information being disseminated amidst our community. Therefore, I asked these students to check the sources of those who are speaking this or that to them. If it has come from someone who heard from someone else, then to dismiss it as what it is - gossip! It is very easy to not only misconstrue a persons words when you hear them from that person, but when you hear it from someone who heard it from someone else, this leaves much room for misunderstanding and even reinterpretation. So, I asked them to just be careful what they count as truth and facts and what they count as gossip.

Finally, I encouraged our students to consider the frailty of people. We need to remember that we are all vessels that are so easily broken and that the utmost care needs to be taken in dealing with each other. We must seek to be a gracious and loving people, even to those we count as being of differing opinion than us (Matt. 5:43-45). So, as we are engaged in conversation regarding all that is taking place here @ CRPC, we must be swift to entertain the proverb that says, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Prov. 15:1)

This was my humble word to the students I spoke with last night. I know that I was unable to answer all their questions and satisfy all their concerns, but it is my hope and prayer that they will continue to come to us. I hope and pray that as life descends quickly and heavily and even harshly upon them that they will come us. They will continue to question and have concerns and wrestle with their faith. As this happens, we are here for them. We (the Student Ministries dept.) love all our students dearly and deeply! We love those who signed the petition and those who didn't. We love them regardless and pray diligently for all of them. We are here, and we are praying that we would spend ourselves and be spent for these students and their families.

So, for my students:

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Thank you for sharing your lives with us and for allowing us to minister to and with you! Let's make our ministry truly heaven on earth!

Num. 6:24-26

For His Kingdom...