Well, this week I spent my evenings working on the finishing touches (furniture, cleaning, etc) for a new youth organization in my neighborhood. I'm very tired, but feel pretty good about the work. I've really enjoyed hanging out with everyone, watching passers-by as they crane to watch the activity, etc...
This new youth facility is called The Realm. It's owned and operated by my church, First Baptist Church of Harvester. It's the brain-child and love labor of the Youth Minister, Jamie George.
Jamie has no doubt taken some heat to see this thing to completion. Even though he got the funding and it's nearly complete, he still has to consistantly deal with questions about security, controlling the flow of visitors, etc. Some people think it's lavish. It is. Some people think it's over-kill to have such a building for “kids”. Some people don't like the design. Some people think they teach a different message than THEY'D teach. Well, let me give you my $0.02.
First, I've supported the construction of this building since the introduction of it to the church body. Certainly, I had quesitons just like everyone else. How was it going to be staffed? How were all of the “nooks and crannys” going to be monitored for less than pure activities? How was the facility going to be used, not just by the primary group (youth), but by the rest of the church body (that is actually paying for it)? How are we going to pay for it?
Jamie answered every question, and continues to do so, with such enthusiasm, such passion, such vigor that it's hard to question whether it's God-motivated. Jamie ADORES those kids. He loves to guide these young adults into the not-young adults(?) that they'll become. Jamie also KNOWS these kids. He's so cool. He's so crazy and nice yet in-your-face it's scary. Imagine Johnny Depp (a la Pirates of the Carribean), Mark Lowry (a Christian comedian), and Jerry Fallwell all wrapped up into one person. (Incidentally, Jamie graduated from Liberty, Fallwell's institution.) Jamie is also uber-real. He says that's the key. Don't be someone you're not to anyone, but especially teens. They can smell it.
His philosophy, as I understand it, is that the Realm will attract people that a youth area inside a church could never. It's also very modern architecturally with red lights, gears, VERY industrial looks on everything. It's got tons of video console stations (every flavor), foos-ball, air hockey, ping pong tables, pool tables, you name it. It's got a theater for concerts and large meetings. It's got TONS of classrooms, offices, and meeting rooms. It's got a recording studio for both video and audio. In short, it's the bomb.
This week, I saw things that validated a lot of what Jamie has been saying. One night, I was the only one there. I was waiting for the “night crew” to get there so that the building wasn't left unattended, and I sat in the upper loft area to wait. During my 45-minute wait, I must have seen 10 cars drive by to investigate this new building that had suddenly popped up. All they could see from the outside was the industrial exterior and red lighting. They could probably only see some game tables inside. But they stared for a few minutes nonetheless. And they just kept coming. The design of this building alone drew people to it. That's huge. Once stuff starts happening and word gets around, that'll also draw people.
Let's be clear...Jamie isn't doing this for the sake of spending money and having a cool place to hang out. Jamie's mission is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But to talk to his target audience, he has to be able to interface with them. That means that they can't be in a threatening situation or environment, certainly not a church, can't be preached at, can't be told everything they're doing wrong in one fell swoop. Be friends. Teach the Bible. Show them cool stuff that even Christians can do. Once these (and most) people understand that being a Christian doesn't mean that you only wear suits, slicked-over hair, and on listen to hymns all day, they are more receptive.
It's amazing. I can hardly wait for it to open. I may even try to help out, if they need it. Even if I don't, this is a building of today and the future. This will reach people today for Eternity. It will do the same for the youth of tomorrow...including my own boys.