aaron_mitchum's Xanga

Goodbye and Hello

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:27:28 GMT

I have been stubborn about it for five years but I am finally leaving Xanga.

My blog has now moved to: http://aaronmitchum.typepad.com

That's where the new posts are, see you there!

Selah

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:03:05 GMT

After experiencing Jeff Johnson's Selah services for the second time last weekend and some long talks with him about how those are born. I have put together one that we will be attempting to divulge this Sunday with both the middle and high school students at Hillcrest Covenant. I'm excited about this and pray the Lord will use it to give those of us in the room a pause in our lives that will bring God's presence deeply.

It took a long time to put together all of the prayers and psalm readings and songs (some Johnson's, some Taize, some original and some contemporary) and rehersal last night went well but to pull it off seamlessly will take some more practice between now and then. One of the things I like so much about the Selah is the lack of attention on the front. It less about a personality driven worship experience. It seems to allow more direct connection between the community and God. More on this after Sunday.

Altar 2007

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:31:30 GMT

Usually during an event put on by YouthFront I am busy through out it and don't have the opportunity to enjoy it, this was not the case at the Altar this last weekend. For me it began Thursday night when I picked up Jeff and Susie Johnson. Jeff is an artist who in the last few years has began to specialize in leading what are called, selah services. You can read more about this at his Selah website or the Selah service blog. Page and I felt very blessed from spending time with Jeff and Susie this weekend, both through his services (which center around silence, psalms and meditative songs) and in the many conversations we had.

Friday night was the official start of the weekend, it was then that I met the featured lecturer, conversation guide and communicator, Ian Cron. Ian is also an artist, an Anglican priest at Trinity Church in Greenwich Conn, author and gifted communicator. Here's what made this weekend so special concerning both Ian and Jeff, their generosity. Each were extremely willing and desired to get to know people and enter into conversation with them. As an artist I felt enriched being exposed to these guys.

We focused on the life of Saint Francis, and his pursuit of Jesus Christ in his life. This included looking at films, hearing lecture's, conversation around camp fires, the reading of poetry, liturgy and of course the telling of jokes and stories. Complemented by Jeff's Selah services I wasn't ready for the weekend to end. Page remarked that our Sunday morning liturgical service was the perfect gathering for her, she would love to have a service like that every week.

Another hi-light of the weekend was being with the Teen Staff (from both South and West) again. The formal part of our interaction was on Saturday night when we gathered in the snack shack to remind each other of the truth's we learned during the summer and to share about what's happening in our lives right now. This was concluded with praying together and singing the doxology. It was a great time and turn out!

A view from one of many sacred spaces at the Altar

Some of the Teen Staff and I having a great time :)

Jeff Johnson and I

Even Bono got to come!

Page and I out walking on the path's Saturday

The chapel was an awesome and sacred feeling place

Worship Song Writing

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:54:42 GMT

This topic is close to my heart. I have had many conversations with friends over the last few years about how to write worship songs today. Maybe more specifically about what to write about. I ran across an article that Brian McClaren wrote on the topic. It was exciting to read for a few reasons.

First, that in Kansas City I believe a handful of people have been writing and incorporating many of these practices, thoughts and have seen some success (i.e. God being more at the center in the song, the reality of life shining through in our lyrics, biblical themes being explored that aren't normally in music, the arts being used [poetry, prayers, spoken word, music as more than just a four chord highway for the lyric to drive on], and something that wasn't spoken of; how the church community is being used in worship, looking inward more than outward in who leads and who is used).

Second, it brought up some new thoughts and challenges that were enticing to hear. Theology has always been important in worship song writing, but for too long it's been a narrow inward focused theology that's driven it. This theology has shaped a culture of church goer's. Songs that are personal and about them and their relationship with God connect much more than others. I get this, I'm a product of it. It's much easier to "interact" with God at a personal I Thou relationship. But it seems that the Bible calls us to more than that. Again, we see that all of these things connect back to the ecclesiastical theology we have. Our worship writing (a.k.a. teaching) should be overhauled, and if that happens it won't stop there, that Kool-laid leads to a broader understanding of what it is to be a Christ follower. Leader's are needed to bring forth a reminder of the other areas included and maybe even more central in our worship to God.

Finally, the tone in which it spoke was soft, non-confrintational. It spoke from a posture of humbleness and a desire to serve the church rather than critique and mock it publicly. This showed love.

McClaren Link to the PDF download

Postmodern Youth Ministry Conference

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:35:15 GMT

The Postmodern Youth Ministry Conference went very well. My boss Mike King blogged about it, you can read a summary of it at his blog.

YouthFront/SonLife Merger

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:20:29 GMT

As many of you know I work for an organization by the name of YouthFront. It's been an exciting adventure at YouthFront in the last few months. We have now merged with SonLife Ministries. Here is the official advertising going out in the magazine's and the official press release.

Press Release
Thursday, September 20, 2007—For Immediate Release

Sonlife Ministries Merging with YouthFront

Sonlife Ministries, Inc. has merged with YouthFront, Inc. effective September 1, 2007 in order to “maximize ministry effectiveness” of the two organizations. Formerly a Chicago-based ministry, Sonlife will relocate to Kansas City.

For more than six decades, YouthFront has brought young people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through camps, campus ministries, mission trips, creative programming, and leadership development. For nearly three decades, Sonlife has provided Christ-centered training for students and adult leaders through training seminars, conferences, and creative resources.

YouthFront President Mike King and Sonlife President Chris Folmsbee share a conviction that “the youth ministry community is pregnant with expectation and desire for fresh and innovative approaches to youth ministry that are both creative and also theologically and ecclesiologically sound,” says King. Folmsbee adds, “We see youth ministry paradigms shifting away from an overemphasis on programmatic/event-oriented and information-focused styles toward a more robust and holistic understanding of Christian formation. The need is greater than ever to guide young people in discovering how to live as Christ in all areas of their lives.”

YouthFront will continue its tradition of developing innovative youth ministry around the world through its commitment to the development of youth ministry philosophy, theology, and practice. Sonlife will continue to move forward as a church-assisting organization serving youth workers by facilitating networks; developing and providing training; offering coaching, consultation, and spiritual direction; and creating resources and programs for youth workers and students. Through the new YouthFront organization, all present Sonlife training and development programs for youth workers will continue, including Enroute, Shaping a Missional Community, Shepherding in a Culture of Change, Refresh, and Leadership of the Heart. All training experiences for students will continue, as well, including Merge, Awake and Reveal.

“This merger seems natural because of the alignment we have, not just between Chris Folmsbee and me, but also between the organizations that we have led,” says Mike King. YouthFront sees Sonlife’s innovation of a new wave of youth worker participation in training and formational experiences. Sonlife sees YouthFront as innovating new ways to do youth ministry and spiritual formation of adolescents. Consequently, merging together will allow each organization to realize greater ministry impact. Folmsbee states, “I am expectant that God is going to do amazing things through our coming together. I believe we will look back a few years from now to identify many things God has done to strengthen the church through the development of youth workers and students.”

For questions regarding this merger or to seek more information about the ministry of YouthFront and Sonlife, please contact Andy Garlich at 800-770-4769 or AGarlich@YouthFront.com

Andrew Bird Show

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:45:22 GMT

Last night I had the privilege of witnessing musical prodigy and genius, Andrew Bird in concert. Bird is a musician who defies the boundries of genres. Part singer song writer, part jazz and classical violinist, part story teller and whistler extraordinare. I had fallen in love with his music on CD but the live show literally blew my mind! He plays his violin like a guitar half the time pitzing (plucking the violin strings). His intonation was flawless and no matter what he was playing he was ALWAYS in tune. The other impressive thing was his looping abilities. Bird would loop his violin's and create vast musical landscapes. This process takes good timing. At the end of the show I went up with Mike Crawford to look at his gear and was surprised to see his looping pedals were just two simple Line 6 delay pedals. I thought they were going to be custom looper's built especially for his show. With the Line 6's if you mess up there's no where to hide, everything shut's down. Translation, all of your loops stop and a horrible silence permeates.

All to say, man that show was freaking amazing.

Middle School worship and EPIC turns one

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 01:32:13 GMT

I spent the majority of my weekend on a retreat with middle schoolers down at Table Rock Lake. What a wonderful time. I was there to lead musical worship. Which went very well.   The kids were ready to meet with God and we really did. There was also cliff jumping, tubing, and GIANT games of mafia. No program except the morning and night meetings. People didn't need it, community formed naturally from the time spent together.

The view was great!

Mafia.

Camp fire

Then tonight Page and I's small group (EPIC) turned one years old and we had a birthday party.

Roeland Park living

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:34:28 GMT

Last night I was at my weekly men's group. Most of us live in the same neighborhood and are around the same age. All of us have been believer's in Jesus Christ for many years and have in one way or the other become tired, disillusioned, or burned by the expectations of the Church. It's refreshing to be with these guys and to be without the "necessary" Christian language or goals. We're not an expositional bible study, we are guys who block off two hours on Thursday's to live life together amidst our community. We're not trying to accomplish any goals. Which is a relief, because it's those goals that have exhausted me over the last years. Those goals which have slowly seeped in to my mind and made me think they define who I am.

Part of our conversation last night was about "out reach" ministry. This is an important genre of ministry for many Christians. The act of intentionally befriending or inviting people to an invent for the sake of sharing the "gospel" with them. Now, sharing the gospel is pretty much a core value to any Christ follower. How this happens though, was the dis-connect we were led to talk about. The question was brought up, if we want to love people for the sake of loving them how can befriending someone not for the reason of their friendship but for the purpose of sharing doctrinal truth's really love them?

Another part of this genre is the act of getting people to come to our place's of worship. Doesn't that seem backwards? Why make people come to you? Our feelings led us to believe that living amongst people with authentic and awkward love will bring the gospel forth in the best way. When people are ready or come to a crisis of some king and if they have had a trusting relationship with you they will come to you about because of the faith they have seen lived out in your life. This process can be a struggle because we've been taught that we must speak in order to save people, that it's up to us. Well, it's not up to us to change people. In fact we couldn't if we wanted to. This thought of "I feel guilty for not sharing my faith. That person could have been "saved" if I had shared" doesn't add up. The Holy Spirit is the only one that changes people's hearts.

Authentic love is not perfect. I sometimes avoid my elderly widowed neighbor because I know she'll talk my ear off. I rush inside, and usually feel a little guilty. But on my good days, I walk over, chat and love my neighbor and I am loved by her. In summation, real people need some real grace in how we live out faith in Jesus Christ.

Postmodern Youth Ministry Conference edited links

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:46:09 GMT

I'll be giving a seminar at the Postmodern Youth Ministry Conference put on by the Nazarene Theological Seminary. The seminar will be over the office's of prayer and other contemplative exercises that have been effective in my life and ministry both at YouthFront and other area's of ministry I've been involved in. Mike King will be tag teaming with me on this seminar. This will be my first seminar to give, so I'm a little nervous but excited. It'll mostly be stories I think. At the end we'll conduct an office of prayer.

You can see info on it here.

It's exciting to be in these conversations that are trying to redefine the proverbial "box" that everyone has been trying to "think outside of" for many years now. The more I'm a part of listening to these conversations the more I'm convinced that the re conception of how the church will operate (not just look) is starting in youth ministry. One angle of that conversation involves people looking back at figures in history who have modeled a life that left a relevant example of what people are wanting. For more on this check out the interview I was able to have with author Ian Cron (Chasing Francis) on the Studio 47 podcast. Ian gives his thoughts on Saint Francis of Assisi and why Francis's life still entices people.

                          Click here to listen to the Ian Cron interview

                          Or you can find it on iTunes, simply search for Studio 47