Brian Mateer, Youth Pastor, First United Methodist Church of Martinsville, VA 

I recently went with my four daughters to an aquarium store in Richmond, VA.  We were going to help their grandfather select a few fish for his new aquarium.  I had been to pet stores before but never to a store that specialized just in aquariums and the creatures that go in them.  I was not prepared for walking through the front door of the store and seeing floor to ceiling tanks with fish, amphibians, aquatic plants and anything else you can think of that can live in an aquarium.  I was amazed by the different habitats and the variety of animals in this relatively small strip mall store.

Just when I thought I had looked at all of the tanks, I was told by an associate that there was a completely different area that housed all of the salt water tanks.  My daughters and I were directed through what seemed to be a stockroom to the other side of the store that had just as many salt water tanks as fresh water.  As my daughters “oohed and awed” over the sea stars, colorful lobsters and exotic fish, something caught my eye in one of the lower aquariums.  I crouched down to see the most beautiful and gracefully floating orange jellyfish with blue spots that seemed to be shining.

I quickly checked the name tags on the tank to see if I could identify the name of the jellyfish.  Exotic names such as Star Polyp, Vietnamese Mushroom and Flowering Anemone appeared on the tags.  As the associate walked over, I asked her the name of the orange jelly fish.

“Orange Jellyfish” she replied.  Perhaps sensing my disappointment she said, “It can go in fresh water and salt water!”

Excitedly, I thought to myself “Wow, this is one of God’s amazing creatures.“

“How much is it?”  I said.

“$19.99,” she said.

“Is it hard to care for?”

“Not at all.  It is artificial!” She began to chuckle.  “It tricks everyone.”

I left that day a little bit dejected and I have thought about it numerous times since then.

After reflecting on that experience, I have come think of it as a metaphor for youth ministry.

During my early years in youth ministry I was always looking for the next best thing:  a new book to read, a new curriculum, a new song or game to play, an exciting trip or something cool for the youth room.  The new idea looked good from the outside, and to some degree was successful.  However, there was a problem; we could have taken that same youth ministry model and put it in any other church anywhere.  It did not matter the location of the ministry or who the participants might be, it would always look good and be successful.  The problem is that it just floated along with no life and there wasn’t much growth.

More recently when I look for what I want to do with our youth program, I look for flexibility and ease in being able to tailor it to our unique context in Martinsville, VA.  It is one reason that I put such a high value and attention to the 30 Hour Famine.  There are excellent ideas, materials and suggestions on how the whole event could look; but, it also allows opportunity to make it unique to your individual ministry.

Furthermore, the 30 Hour Famine has many intangibles that I look for in an event that can be transformative in a teenager’s life:  leadership opportunities, it’s experiential, mission focused, it can be intergenerational, has a global emphasis and allow for participants to live out the teachings of Jesus.

This is why the 30 Hour Famine is the perfect LIVING orange jellyfish for our little aquarium.

“Do the Famine!”

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Saying thank you – learning to savor.

I’ve started to try to remember and then write down everything that I am thankful for. This has become a spiritual discipline of mine for the past couple of months.

Sometimes I miss a couple of days but I definitely take the time to reflect and remember and document. So I don’t forget. So I don’t forget and so I don’t forget to say thank you.

I have a list in a notebook that I keep in my backpack. And I have a list on my ipad.

- The people who come in and out of my life

- The words that a friend shares with me

- Laughter with my youth

- Time to drink coffee and read a good book

- The smell of the trees on a hike in the morning

Experiences. Views. The who, what, when, where and why… Really it can be anything!

Why I started this

I have a dear friend, Val who started this practice in the past year. She read Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts and took on writing out 1000 things she is thankful for. I remember when first I stumbled onto Val’s blog and read through a list of 50 things she is thankful for. It was so random and vulnerable and full of grace.

Reading Val’s list of thankfuls honestly challenged me. I feel like I am someone who is pretty good at recognizing moments as they are happening and maybe even saying thank you as they happen.

But I don’t always. And I certainly don’t always remember them.

I finally started. When I collect 50 different “Savorings”(what I call them) typed up in my ipad then I add them to my blog. Sometimes I can add 50 in a few days. And sometimes it’s over a couple of weeks.

It’s been a humbling experience. I am having a lot of fun remembering as much as I can. And it really doesn’t take a lot to do. But I do have to be intentional to do it.

“One of them turned back when he saw he was healed.

He thanked God with a loud voice. He got down on his face at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him. He was from the country of Samaria.” Luke 17:15-16

Soo…

Most likely you are a youth leader. You’ve either already led a 30 Hour Famine or you are considering when to do it later this year (right?!). You intentionally take 30 hours(plus) every year to give up food, time, internet, sleep and more so that we and our youth can experience what other children and teenagers around the world go through on a daily basis.

Intentional time. Without.

The 30 Hour Famine experience changes us (youth and adults).

The 30 Hour Famine helps bring changes for them (children around the world).

So what if.

What if we spent intentional time throughout the year to experience and remember what we go through on a daily basis.

Intentional time. To say thank you.

It might be harder. To recognize, turn back and say thank you. EVERY DAY.

But by doing this maybe we can also encourage our youth to be more intentional to recognize, turn back and say thank you.

How could that change us?

How could it bring more changes for them?

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Team Ethiopia!!

Adam. 15. East Greenwich, Rhode Island
“I’m probably one of the weirdest people you’ll ever meet…but in a good way of course.”-Adam.              He said it, not us! Adam radiates with a passion for cooking, 70s music and caring for others. His unique and hilarious Study Tour application caught our attention and after talking with him further we knew his joyful spirit and uncanny wisdom were qualities this team would benefit from and his heart for others would truly grow from this experience.

Ashtin. 16. Sun, Louisiana

From the moment you meet Ashtin, she’ll have you laughing out loud. Contrary to her picture posted above, Ashtin has a deeply-seeded issue with birds (apparently penguins are the exception). Ashtin’s genuine spirit shines through her intriguing humor. She has participated in the Famine for 6 years and was chosen as a student representative on her church’s board to select a new pastor, which demonstrates her unmistakable wisdom and excitement to further the global church!

Caitlin. 17. Jackson, Michigan

In Caitlin’s own words: “I’m a lover of coffee, coffee shops, coffee shop music, conversations over coffee, and all things coffee.” Other than being completely obsessed with coffee, Caitlin has a spiritual centeredness that is distinctly different from most 17-year-olds. She brought wisdom to the table that made our team take a step back and think about our spiritual health, stating, “I used to love my beliefs more than I love God.” Caitlin will be an amazing ambassador for 30 Hour Famine and for Christ’s Kingdom in the years to come.

Caryann. 16. Clarkston, Michigan

Caryann’s trip to Ethiopia will be her first out-of-country experience! Her longing to have a deeper understanding of the 30 Hour Famine ministry and to gain meaningful relationships from her experience was something that truly set her apart. When Caryann isn’t busy being the sweetest, most empathetic girl you’ll ever meet, she can be found listening to acapella music or hunting for thrift shop steals!

Erin. 19. Massapequa, New York

When Erin was asked if she wanted to share something unique about herself, she said, “I’m a lot of fun!” Anyone that has met Erin would definitely agree that she is, in fact, a lot of fun. However, when it comes time to get things taken care of, Erin is the woman for the job. She is extremely passionate about serving others, and even created an advisory board to get children in her community to partner with children around the world. There is no doubt she will continue to lead amazing efforts upon her return from Ethiopia.

HP. 17. Charlotte, North Carolina

When he isn’t fishing, playing guitar, or playing football, you can find HP at youth group mentoring younger students or… making random sound effects (which we are both nervous and excited to hear in Ethiopia). HP’s leadership qualities were seen in his application and spoken so highly of in his letters of reference. His passion for the Famine is so evident and we are excited to be able to offer him a spot on this years’ trip.

Jenna. 17. Clarendon Hills, Illinois

Jenna has the type of presence that makes you comfortable the second you meet her. Her passion for life is contagious and her intentionality with people is so evident.  She is a HUGE country music fan, always eats dessert first and loves watching and playing sports. Jenna’s passion for ministry, specifically medical ministry, will take her far in life and we can’t wait to see where she ends up someday!

Spencer. 14. Barrington, Illinois

Spender loves to play soccer, watch the Chicago Blackhawks, and watch movies (his favorite is Lawrence of Arabia!). Self-proclaimed WWII buff, he is the youngest student that will be going on the Study Tour to Ethiopia this year; however, he is wise beyond his years. When asked whether he would like to spend his life working in ministry, he answered, “any job you do is a ministry.” Point taken, Spencer—we can’t wait to see how this trip will transform you and impact your future!

Tess. 17 (almost 18!) Dublin, OH

Tess was not selected for the team just because she loves to organize (when she was little she used to organize the movie bin at the video store for fun), although it will come in handy! Tess is an incredible young woman with an eloquence and compassion for others that is truly amazing. She is a Famine veteran having participated 6 times and for the last 3 years has led the event at her church. We are so excited to hear see how she will share and tell her story when she returns!

Wade. 17. Creedmoor, North Carolina

Wade is truly one of a kind. He describes himself as “strong-willed, outgoing, and caring”—all things that catch your eye immediately after talking with him for just a few minutes. When Wade isn’t hanging out with kids or playing sports, you can find him doing anything and everything associated with the outdoors! Wade’s service-oriented heart and commitment to youth ministry are extremely impressive, and will be a constant benefit to this year’s Study Tour team.

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The BEST way to grow is learning from our mistakes–and Jesus generously provides hundreds of opportunities for failure during a year of ministry, especially with an event like the 30 Hour Famine.

Take 30 minutes by yourself (or with a team of 30 Hour Famine volunteers over burgers or coffee) and use this simple “one-hand” approach to think about how God can use those mis-steps for an amazing Famine (or any other ministry event) next year.

My biggest learning curve in doing the 30 Hour Famine was being willing to “dive” into my mistakes–figuring out how to let God re-direct my plans by lighting up my blind spots in neon colors.

Five 30 Hour Famine mistakes

Thumbs Up

Like most things in life, start off on the positive. What people and experiences were great, irreplaceable and amazing from this year’s 30 Hour Famine? Write them down with BIG letters. Learn how to be a cheerleader for the good stuff God did. From the first few minutes as the students arrived until the “post-Famine” meal- what worked well? Remember and celebrate how great doing ministry with God can be.

Pointer Finger

Next, right down the experiences, teachings, videos or other parts of your Famine that really drove home the point. Just because we are older than the teens we serve doesn’t mean that we are wiser. Something that we would never anticipated can bring the Famine into clear light for our students. As you think (or talk) try to discover what the steps within EXPERIENCE were, since it is often easier to build a similar process without just repeating the same event.

Middle Finger

Be honest, some things about every ministry experiences are awful. As Paul writes in Philippians 1:29  “It has been given to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him” and, well, most are self-inflicted wounds! Was it your planning, your patience, your people, yourself? Did a particular game or idea completely miss? Did you pace your energy to last for the entire 30 hours?  Did your volunteers feel appreciated? Each of these painful failures can make next year’s Famine better as we respond to their honest critique on our leadership.

Ring Finger

What deeper commitment did God call out during this year’s Famine? Was there a particular calling that your students felt toward those in need- a particular child or nation, a particular need or relief branch within World Vision? Orient your ministry toward the calling God seems to be making and plan similar serving or giving events in the future that match that commitment to eliminate hunger.

Pinky Finger

Finally, what are the small things you could have easily missed during all this evaluation that made this year unique. Remember, God often speaks in a still, small voice amidst all the noise of ministry- so what lesson could easily be missed? We’re often so STUCK on our thoughts and analysis that we miss small things like how this year’s 30 Hour Famine made us or our students “feel”.  What small things resonated beneath all the action of the 30 Hour Famine that will help us transform next year’s events into something amazing.

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This week, the World Vision blog is highlighting the work of World Vision in the area of hunger. One of the people asked to highlight hunger was Hilary Hilpert from the 30 Hour Famine team.

She shared:

“When youth pastors lead their students through the Famine, they’re challenging them to be part of something bigger than themselves — to take action for God’s kingdom and help save the lives of hungry kids. Since it began in 1992, students around the country have raised more than $150 million to help combat global hunger through World Vision.” source

Did you catch that number? American teenagers have raised over $150 million to combat the effects of hunger around the world. (For reference: That’s three times the net worth of Taylor Swift! Or two Taylor Swift’s and a Justin Bieber.)

As this video points out: $150 million more than merely an impressive number. It’s also had an unbelievably important impact on some of the world’s children.

One thing I adore about the 30 Hour Famine is that it connects the American teenager, most of whom have never been forced to miss a meal, yet most of whom face different and real nutritional challenges in their lives, with families who really and truly can experience a significantly better life when the realities of hunger are addressed.

The 30 Hour Famine is more than an activity or something to do or even a fundraiser. It’s something real which makes a difference in the everyday lives of people around the world. It’s an opportunity for the whole world to see what activated teenagers can do. While the Famine is impactful to them we must also not lose sight of the fact that it is making a big difference in other people’s lives today.

The Famine gives teenagers a chance to see what they can do. And it sends fair warning to others– this generation is serious about issues like hunger.

The post Teenagers Make a Big Difference Combating World Hunger appeared first on 30 Hour Famine.

I don’t know why I haven’t done this before! As you read in my last blog I have been reluctant to do the 30 Hour Famine for a while now. But now that we just finished our first one I am so glad we did it.

Here are a few things I learned from my first famine.

My students really will get excited about fundraising. We don’t do very many fundraisers and I always thought my youth wouldn’t be excited about it. But give them a cause they believe in and they will be all about it! I was very proud and surprised by all of my students fundraising efforts.

A community service project is a great addition. We split up into two groups; half helped plant a community garden, and the other half helped install a wheelchair ramp on a person’s house. Doing hands-on mission while we are learning about missions around the world is a great idea!

The 30 Hour Famine materials are engaging and informative, especially the tribe games. My students loved the challenges and competing against each other all while learning about hunger around the world. This was a highlight of our time together.

I learned that the tribe games take preparation. This is something I will be better at next year. Things went well but I think they would have gone even better if I had prepared a little more. The materials they give you are great you just need to know the materials well.

Having communion with the entire church at the end of the 30 hours is a great way to break the fast. This is something my students requested and it really was a powerful way to end the fast and a great way to include the entire congregation in what we were doing.

My students didn’t complain about being hungry. It was a cool to see the students encouraging each other as the night went along. It really was a “we are all in this together and we can do it” kind of attitude.

These are just a few things I learned. It has just been over 24 hours since we finished our Famine so I am still processing it all. But I know this it was well worth the time and effort. My students grew closer together as a group, grew in their understanding of world hunger, had fun even without eating, helped our community, and raised over $2,000 for World Vision.

It is awesome to see what teenagers can do when given a cause they are excited about it!

The post I just finished my first 30 Hour Famine and this is what I learned appeared first on 30 Hour Famine.

When something is TBD (to be decided) it means that there is a missing piece.  A part exists that can’t be described yet. There are unknown variables floating around that keep a description from being full.

In contrast, I can give the converse statement “to be known” a similar acronym TBK.

But that’s just odd, right?

I wouldn’t label something TBK because the questions have been resolved. Whatever it is, we call it that. We describe it in it’s fullness. We have the information we need because it is known already.

We wouldn’t say that a party is TBK when we know that it is tomorrow, that it is for a friend whose name is Phoebe, who lives in the bungalow at mile zero in Key West Florida.

If I get a party invitation for “sometime in June” there’s nothing I can really do to respond but to look for another more descriptive piece of information.

Once we know something or someone it changes our descriptions.

It changes our outlook.

And it changes our actions.

The discussion is important to me because I believe we must do our best to know the people we reach out to, to be able to tell the story, to be able to bring a group a full understanding of a situation, to have a face and a name in our minds when we do whatever we can for those in need.

But how do we know people who live thousands of miles away?

Doing events like the 30 Hour Famine give students a chance to step into the world of those in need for a day. The Tribe games change the TBD status of loving others to a TBK status–where they are able to identify, recognize, understand, name, and talk about those who who are in need.

Not only are they able to identify those they are trying to support but they are able to identify with–in a hungry solidarity–even in it’s brevity– it’s a powerful catalyst for mental paradigm shift.

They decide for themselves, that they took food for granted. They feel the pulling on their stomachs that indicates an uncomfortableness, they learn names and stories and begin to see themselves as one of those who suffers. And they want to change things as they are being changed.

We are able to describe what we have seen, what we have felt, and what we know.

Then we can do something. Knowledge is powerful. Solidarity sets knowledge on fire.

It’s then that we find young teenagers and those who lead them doing things we never thought we could do before. Because we are able to recognize what needs to happen now, we know names, we see faces, and we see ourselves standing together as insiders in the Kingdom of God.

In the most gracious way I can ask, will you consider who your ministry knows?

Who is in front of you know that is TBD? Who do you need to learn to recognize? Be able to identify and identify with? Have you sought to understand? Are they someone you talk about often? Can you name him, her, or them? Are they seen?

Hagar praised her God.. “the God who sees me.” (Genesis 16:7). We can’t help but to become a people who seeks to see others. Let’s open our eyes, enter into the realities, ask loving questions, feel what it’s like, and begin.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-2

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I’m not a great Christian, despite the fact of my being a pastor (or perhaps because of that fact). I don’t pray a ton, and I go through long stretches of reading my Bible only when I’m working on a sermon or youth group lesson. Worse still, there’s lots of people who’ve reached a hand out to me for help–some money, a ride to the bus station, a hotel bill–who I have very eloquently refused, longing for the solitude of my car and the comfort of my iPod.

Being a Christian is hard. Like, really hard. The dance of discipleship is tricky and strenuous. It stretches our endurance at this turn and demands restraint at this stop. If not for the call of God, the grace of Jesus, and the strength of the Holy Spirit, nobody could do it. We’d all fall in a heap on the floor.

My fourth experience with the 30 Hour Famine taught me yet again that, as hard as it is to be a Christian, it’s even harder when you’re hungry. That realization hit me hardest about 27 hours in, right after I puked. I stumbled out of the bathroom to find two students aimlessly goofing off, students who obviously needed to be redirected to some more engaging end, and I just walked past them into the kitchen to fetch some water. Never said a word.

That this is something that needs to be “realized” tells you that I’m never hungry. In fact, most of the time I’m convinced that my safety is the barrier between me and a passionate life of discipleship. I’m so full. I’m so lazy. I’m so content. If only I suffered like the poor and hungry, I would lean more on God. Because what else do the hungry have but God? It rings almost Psalm-like.

We say that about teenagers too. They’re so entitled, so privileged, so comfortable–how can they possibly relate to the plight of the poor and hungry, much less choose to share in it? This year’s Famine experience lent some evidence to those sentiments, as students were stealing food we had stashed away to make snack bags for the homeless.

That’s the exception, not the rule. In fact, when I recommended after last year’s Famine that we could do a version of the event, only without the fasting, it was the students who shouted me down and insisted on it as the most important element of the experience.

The great good that comes of the 30 Hour Famine each year is this: students and their adult leaders get a very clear look at their limits. Further, we’re learning that the poor and hungry are functioning at those limits all the time. So we pray that the hungry would be filled, even as we curse the discovery of another stashed away granola bar wrapper.

God help us all.

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Nikki Myers, Famine Team

I am pretty confident that as I write this, I will get a confused call from our IT department asking why on earth I’ve spent so many hours on YouTube this week. Well, it’s been for good reason and yes, it’s part of my job!

Last week, we received a lot of applications for this years’ 2013 Study Tour to Ethiopia. I am blown away by the passion, creativity and the heart for others that I have seen in so many of our Famine students! Watching these 3 min videos has been such a humbling reminder of why the Famine program exists.

A few things I have come to realize going through this process:

-        These students, (as you know), will change the world. They will go on to be missionaries, teachers, and work in ministry or the non-profit sector. They will impact those in their direct circle and those they come in contact with, even if only for a brief amount of time. I know, because in 3 short minutes, I was impacted by them.

-        They care a lot about these issues and want proof of the change they are making. We rely on you (leaders) to update your students throughout the year on their impact through Famine, so like us on Facebook to get updates on how your funds are being used and how your group can stay involved.

-        Fundraising can be awkward. Many teens made a point to mention this in their video. We completely understand the fear of asking people for donations but it’s such an important part of what we do. Because of the money your group raises, families can now grow food on their own! Hundreds of thousands of lives have been completely changed because of these “awkward” moments. So thank you for encouraging your students to do this part.

-        On the subject of fundraising, you don’t need to have a big bold personality to be a big bold fundraiser. Some of the gentlest spirits fundraised huge amounts.

-        There are some crazy talented students out there with video production skills. Leaders, utilize them!

-        I have a pretty sweet job. I get to go with some of these kids to Ethiopia! I don’t know who they are yet… but I am already pumped.

The next two weeks will be a huge challenge as we can only take 8-10 of these incredible students. It has been such a privilege to meet some of the faces across the country and hear how the Famine has affected their life. Thank you for investing in your students and teaching them about the heart of God.

The post After many hours of Study Tour submission videos… this is what I’ve learned appeared first on 30 Hour Famine.

Ah, summer! I learned from a good friend a long time ago that an enormous stumbling block of student ministry happens when the program shuts down during the summer. You get all of this momentum, 30 Hour Famine, camp, mission trip, and then you stop for a couple of months to recharge. Summer is when student ministry heats up for us, and, in Texas, I mean that literally. That doesn’t mean you have to speak, come up with small group questions, and run “programming”, but rather invest more into relationships than ever.

If you’re like our student ministry, 30 Hour Famine is over. You have turned in the money (please turn in the money) and you may already have your sweet rewards. In the minds of students the experiences of Famine are long gone. But they don’t have to be. Between camps and mission projects and movie nights, take some very intentional time this summer to plan, think, brainstorm, and create a Famine environment for your student ministry.

Going on a mission trip? What a perfect way to hearken back to many of the experiences you had with Famine! Did you put together a devotional for the Famine? Why not reuse some of them, intentionally, so that students might see the consistency in scripture of helping those who suffer.

Back in high school, I did the whole “write a letter to yourself and your teacher will mail it to you in 5 years” thing. It was great. My middle schoolers have no idea where they will be in 5 years, but they might have an idea where they are in 6 months. Why not have students write a letter to themselves that they can open up and read during Famine? It can be encouragement, stories, verses, etc… Not sure if they’re doing Famine? Have students write extras so the students who don’t get letters will still have one.

Have you ever planned your Famine the summer before? Yeah, me neither. Why don’t we do it though? If it’s such a big deal, then why do we wait a month or two before Famine to get those wheels running? Grab your adult volunteers, feed them, brainstorm ideas with them during summer. In fact, do this anyways for the year, then you can see how Famine fits into where God is leading you to teach this upcoming year.

Give students the power to speak into your decisions. So you’ve had your meeting with leaders, now do the same with students. You would be incredibly surprised how much they will respond to this. Grab students who have done the Famine, others who have been around for a while, but never did it, and then also grab a new kid who doesn’t even know what Famine is. Ask them questions. Give it away to them.

This year, I shamelessly stole an idea from fellow Famine leader/Malawi-trip friend, Ross Carper. He told he that his group of middle schoolers actually sponsors a kid through World Vision. How cool is that? So we did too, a 10 year old boy from Cambodia. I let the kids decide on who, where, and how old. Every month now, a different small group will write letters, send notes and pictures to our sponsor child. Throughout the summer and the entire year, this is a great way to keep students connected with the heart of God.

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