And the MVP goes to...

Almost a year ago, the 5/8 Club leaders gathered to plan for the spring semester. We discussed how things went during the fall and what we could do to make the program better, keeping in mind the program's goals: that it would be safe, fun, and productive for everyone.

At Abundant Life, we believe in high standards and high support. At the beginning of each year the boys make their own rules, and everyone (leaders included) signs their name to them, agreeing to abide by them. We use a discipline policy called the Standard Response to deal with misbehavior. In general, the first infraction results in a warning, the second infraction results in a timeout (missing the beginning of free time to help clean up after dinner), and the third results in the student being taken home and missing the next field trip. There are other nuances, but I'm simplifying here for the sake of time and space.

This policy has worked pretty well over the years to maintain a safe, fun, and productive environment, but it's certainly not perfect. Too often, it has resulted in leaders harping on poor behavior and failing to recognize good behavior (parents and teachers can probably relate). At this particular leaders meeting, one of my volunteers had an idea: What if we made a concerted effort to praise and reward good behavior on a weekly basis? The reasons would be two-fold: to esteem those who are doing the right thing, and to encourage others to follow their example. A quick brainstorming session came up with a new initiative: the Most Valuable Participant (MVP) award.

Each week, leaders would be on the lookout for students who are listening with their ears and eyes, participating (e.g. asking and answering questions, volunteering to help), and being respectful. At the end of the evening, leaders would come to a consensus on who the MVP was for the younger (5th-6th grade) and older (7th-8th grade) boys and announce it in front of everyone. The winners would receive a Gatorade and their name on the MVP Wall of Fame, on display each week.

The MVP Award comes with one more perk, perhaps just as important. The parents of the MVP winner receive a congratulatory call or text to let them know how great their son was that week. The responses from the parents may be my favorite part, to hear them beaming with pride and eager to praise their son for setting a good example for his peers. It makes the boys feel even more special, and it makes the parents feel more involved in what we do. The MVP award has been been well received by the boys, and it's brought a fun and positive vibe to our Monday night meetings. It may be less than a year old, but I have a feeling it's here to stay.

The Power of Prayer

So this literally just happened. I arrived at work this morning and realized that I had misplaced a check that I had brought with me yesterday to deposit. It wasn't in my pockets (I was wearing the same jeans; don't judge me), and I didn't see it last night when I emptied out my pockets after returning home from 5/8 Club. I figured it must have fallen out of my pocket at some point yesterday when I was pulling out my keys or cell phone. Unfortunately, I was in a bunch of places yesterday: home, my car, the Abundant Life house, the Chinese restaurant, Food Lion, the office, the bus, a kids' house, Trinity, and another kids' house. The prospect of finding it didn't seem all that great.

This afternoon, I thought I'd look for it in the few places in my close proximity. I grabbed the key to the bus and went outside. As I walked to the parking lot, I looked at the grass around the walkway and thought about how far a check could blow in 16-24 hours. I continued on to the bus and walked through it. No luck. I then walked over to my car and checked around the driver's seat. Nothing. Finally, I went in the trunk to grab something. As I closed the trunk and turned back toward the office, I prayed to myself, "Lord, please help me find this check." Immediately a small piece of paper in the parking lot caught my eye. I walked up to it and unfolded it; it was the check.

Sometimes we wait years for our prayers to be answered. Sometimes we never get the answer we are looking for. But every once in a while, at least for me, the answer comes instantly. No one understands these things, but I know it has to do with faith. So here I am, just like in the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin, calling on you to rejoice with me :)

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." - Matthew 21:22

Kids Say the Darndest Things, Pt. 14

I was just looking back through my Discipleship notes from this year, and came across a couple of funny quotes I thought I'd share.  These were on separate nights.

8th grader (reciting Isaiah 53:5 from memory): He was crushed for our inequalities...
Note: Coincidentally, this same mistake was made by a 9th grader on another night.

9th grader (after I told him to turn to Romans 8:31-32): Is it near Isaiah?
Me: Further.
9th grader: Jeremiah?
Me: Further.
9th grader: Matthew?
Me: Further.
9th grader: Mark?
Me: Further.
9th grader: Peter?
Me: Too far.
9th grader: You said Romance?

An easy mistake

Last week we were sitting at the Abundant Life White House waiting for kids to arrive for the summer program. I spotted two 5th graders coming down the street, and a short distance behind them, someone I assumed to be a certain 6th grader who lives next to them, judging by the white sneakers, light skin, and short black hair. I said, "Here comes E and M... and J too!" One of the kids said, "That isn't J! That's K's grandma!"

He was right.

Richard says the darndest things

My co-worker/partner in ministry Richard has a penchant for butchering names. When our 5/8 Summer Program began a month ago, he mentioned to the boys some of the movies we might watch together. Among them were Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. He described it as starring "Goody Cuban, Jr."

Start 'em young

The other day a 5/8 Club member told me that his sister was expecting her first child, a boy. I asked if he was excited. He said, "Yeah, because if we stay in Charlottesville, maybe he can be in 5/8 when he's between 5th and 8th grades." I'm excited about that idea, too.

Kids Say the Darndest Things, Pt. 13

Last week in Discipleship, I asked if anyone remembered what we had talked about the week before. We're studying Love this semester, and the lesson was on Jesus washing his disciples' feet. There was a lot of silence, and one student said, "I forgot." "It was something Jesus did for his disciples," I told them in an effort to jog their memories. To give them another hint, Jonathan, my co-leader, lifted up and pointed to his foot. "Oh!" exclaimed the one who admitted forgetting. "Kissing people's shoes?"

Pass It On

Our Discipleship program for 8^th and 9^th grade boys meets on Tuesday nights, and we eat dinner together, study Scripture, and play games.  The UVA men’s basketball team was playing a home game against Virginia Tech several Tuesdays ago, and since my parents had generously donated three tickets, I thought I’d buy a couple more and we’d take the boys.  One of our regulars couldn’t make it, so I was scrambling to find someone to use his ticket.  Fortunately, I found an 11^th grader, who had been in Discipleship two years earlier and studied the same topics we’re studying now.

It was great for the boys to bond with him over the material, CHS soccer, and Camp Wabanna.  But what I was most excited about was that I asked him if he remembers any of the memory verses we gave him two years ago, and he said he still practices them!  It’s always nice to know that seeds you planted are still bearing fruit years later.

In case you’re wondering, these are our memory verses this year:

Study Series on The Apostle Paul: His Life and Letters

Romans 4:25

Romans 6:23

Romans 8:31-32 (beginning at “If God…”)

Study Series on Love

Matthew 22:36-40

John 13:34-35

Isaiah 53:5

1 Corinthians 13:6-8 (ending at “Love never fails.”)

Soccer, Reconciliation, and 5/8 Club (A Few of My Favorite Things)

Three years ago our 5/8 Club Summer Program was kicking off on Wednesday, June 23, 2010, and we had a huge schedule conflict.  At 10am, the United States Men's National Team was facing Algeria in a crucial World Cup match, it's last in group play.  At the same time, England and Slovenia were playing the other game in Group C.  If England beat Slovenia, the United States would have to win its game to advance. Lose or tie and go home.

My co-leader Richard and I knew we had to somehow work the soccer game into our Summer Program curriculum, because neither of us was willing to miss it.  That year's World Cup was hosted by South Africa (the first on the continent), and I had seen a fantastic short documentary on ESPN about Robben Island, the notorious South African prison where political dissidents, including Nelson Mandela, were held for years.  It told the story of how the prisoners long fought for, and were eventually given, the right to play soccer in prison.  Amazingly, this prison soccer league had an effect on the country of South Africa that endures to this day.  Rather than give the reason away, I highly encourage you to watch the 18-minute documentary yourself:



Back to June 23.  We started the Summer Program as we normally would, at the White House that Abundant Life owns, and had breakfast and talked about our expectations for the summer.  We then went to my house to watch the documentary and discuss it.  Afterward, the boys could watch the game in the living room or play board games in the kitchen.  The game was easily the most tense I've seen.  Despite threatening multiple times, neither team could find the back of the net, and the tension increased exponentially as the clock inched closer to the end of regulation.  They reached ninety minutes in a scoreless tie, with four minutes of stoppage time added (there is no extra time in group play).  England was wrapping up a 1-0 victory over Slovenia, so the U.S. was four minutes from being ousted in the first round, as they were in 2006.

Finally, 45 seconds into stoppage time, a breakthrough.  Goalkeeper Tim Howard collected the ball and threw a long pass to a streaking Landon Donovan down the right sideline.  Donovan took several touches and passed ahead to Jozy Altidore in the box, who crossed to Clint Dempsey.  Dempsey's hard shot was blocked by the Algerian keeper, but Donovan followed the play and buried the rebound into the lower left corner of the net.  Our living room erupted, like living rooms, bars, and outdoor screening areas around the country and the world.  Comically (but painfully), Richard jumped in the air and hit his head on the door frame.  This youtube video very well sums up the joy from that day, and you can read more about the U.S.'s epic 1-0 victory here.  It gives me goosebumps thinking back to it.  

You may be wondering, "Why is this post timely?"  Two Saturdays ago I had the pleasure to see Vusi Mahlasela perform in concert for the third time.  Vusi, known as "The Voice of South Africa," has long used his music to bring awareness to civil rights issues, including during South Africa's freedom movement.  The themes of ubuntu, forgiveness, reconciliation, and justice permeate his beautiful and important music.  Vusi performed my favorite song by him, "Sing to the People," at the 2010 World Cup Kick-Off concert, which you can watch below.  Enjoy!

Sweet Dreams

A week and a half ago I was driving five kids home from snow tubing at Wintergreen on a Friday night.  The youngest of them, a 5th grader, was fast asleep for most of the hour-long ride.  He awoke abruptly when we dropped off a leader, who slammed the door behind him.

"Where are we?  Is we home?"
I told him where we were.  A few minutes later...
"Are we missing someone?"
(He was asleep when we dropped off the person sitting next to him).
And when we arrived at his house and he got off the van...
"I had fun today."
"I'm glad you did," I told him.  "I had fun, too."

You can see pictures from our trip on our facebook page.

Kids Say the Darndest Things, Pt. 12

A few days ago I went to a housing complex where some of the current and former 5/8 boys live to do some home visits. Several kids were playing outside, including two 5/8 boys, and another boy who I've met but don't really know. They saw me and yelled, "Hey Dylan!" I said "hi" back. Then one of the 5/8 boys and the boy whose name I don't know had this exchange:

You don't know Dylan! 
Yes I do! 
What's his name then? 
Dylan!