Practicum Evaluation

When I first declared my major, here at Indiana Wesleyan as a “youth ministry major”, I had no idea, or any knowledge of what a practicum really was. When I heard that I had to do one, I was a little shocked, especially when I heard that we had to find a church, in Marion, in which I’ve never been in before. This semester was my first semester at Indiana Wesleyan. And the fact that really made me nervous was that we had to get 40 hours in this church, this semester.
I called up a church, First Christian Church of God, and I jumped on that. I went in to talk to the youth pastor, Jeff Brady and he was a very nice guy, very pleasing and had a great sense of humor. He told me that the church was in a growing state, and the youth group was a very small size, on a good Sunday, five to be exact. That fact, kind of scared me because I had expectations to be involved with a big youth group and I didn’t really know how I felt about a super small youth group. I have always enjoyed bigger youth groups, but I just told myself that God did this for a reason, and wanted me to be involved with this church.
The services were very mundane and were mostly hymns and very slow piano driven music nothing is wrong with that, it was just a slow moving church. The congregations average age was 65 and tradition was a major part of the worship, the age and the generation reflected that.
So all in all, I had a good experience with my first practicum. I would give myself an average rating and I learned a lot. the slow services were a good change from the average mandatory chapel at Indiana Wesleyan. I’m very thankful that I had the opportunity to do this practicum.

Week 10

This week we had the opportunity to help out the church with their rummage sale. we got a chance to meet with more of the church's members and learn about their involvement with the church. It was really fun helping all the people with their purchases and carrying stuff to their car. It was a new experience, which i enjoyed.

God Bless

7 Hours ( Youth group)

7 Hours


Personal Reflection :
I loved working with the people of the church, it taught me a lot of how the church works and how the money is spent.

Spiritual Reflection :
This rummage sake taught me how to serve others. It taught me that serving others would bring joy to me and to the people i am serving.

Week 9

This Sunday the service was a little different. Instead of having the original, same service like they do every Sunday with hymns, a sermon and then communion . Instead, the youth group (3 kids) lead the service. They played contemporary worship and it was a really nice change, and i think, for the most part, the congregation led it =)

God Bless

2 Hours ( Youth group)

2 Hours


Personal Reflection :

I really enjoyed the service. It helped me see how the older generation would act towards the "youth movement", many thought the beats were pretty fast , but again, its a new experience for them, and it really moved me, seeing the three or four different generations merge together and form to praise God. :)

Spiritual Reflection :
Seeing the youth group engage in church activities has really been a blessing for me to be a part of this, because this is the first time they ever attempted anything like it and it just goes to show ya' God works in sooooo many ways =)

Week 8

This week it rained, and thus we didnt have a chance to play basket ball or soccer but we did get to spend time together inside the youth room. We played their version of pin the tail on the donkey and had a small lesson.

God Bless

2 Hours ( Youth group)

2 Hours


Personal Reflection :

Right now at this point, the youth has really started to warm up to us and we're becoming a part of the youth group. Inside jokes are starting to come up and more good times.

Spiritual Reflection :

The fellowship level is starting to rise and its really starting to be encouraging.

Week 7

This week was a little different, it was sunny out and we got to have youth group outside! it was a nice change. We had the opportunity to clean out the churches garage and learn a little bit about each other through conversation while we worked. We also learned a bit about eachother's strengths and weaknesses. We had a good talk about boyfriend-girlfriend relationships and got the kids' point of view.

God Bless

2.5 Hours (Met and Cleaned out garage)

2.5 Hours


Personal Reflection :
I learned a lot about how dedicated the kids are to working and helping out their own community. And i also learned about myself, about how important it is to be a servant to people.


Spiritual Reflection :

The main spiritual point that i gained today was about how important it actually is to have a servant attitude and how we should serve others and have a good, positive attitude all at the same time.

Week 6

After two weeks of spring break I finally got back into thee swing of things, quite easily actually. This Sunday we took a trip to Winterjam. Winterjam is a christian rock tour that had bands including Hawk Neslon, The Afters and Toby Mac. It was an awesome experience and I had a great time with the kids, learning that music is a huge inspiration for them.

God Bless

5.5 Hours ( WinterJam)

1 Hour (Preperation )

1.5 Hours ( Drive)

8 Hours


Personal Reflection :

I gained alot of knowledge about the kids musical style and preferences. Ii really enjoyed worshipping God and rocking out at the same time at Winterjam.


Spiritual Reflection :

The spiritual aspect was pretty amazing this week being at this Christian music festival. I worshipeed God in hip-hop and rock and even in a gospel style. It was awesome. A really nice change from the usual youth group, especially when building a tolerance when your on the road with the kids and in the van for several hours with them . :p

Week 5

This week we had a normal Sunday youth group, we had a Bible study and then we had snacks and the kids shared some of their personal stories. We only had 2 kids at youth group so there wasnt much discussion, but it was nice to hear a little from the kids.

Also on I attended and shadowed the youth pastor for the Ash Wednesday service, it was quigte an interesting experience. I learned that there was so much more work that goes into a service then i thought. Most of the work actually goes on behind the scenes in pastoral work.


God Bless

1 Hour ( Meeting with Jeff)

1.25 Hours ( Board Meeting)

2 hours ( youth group)

4.25 Hours


Personal Reflection :

This week i learned a lot about the kids that we have in this youth group. Personal stories really helped in the processes of getting to know the kids.


Spiritual Reflection :

This week I really grew from learning to gain tolerance and patience for other people in the church, especially in the "behind the scenes" aspect of the ministry.

Week Four

This week was pretty mundane, we had youth group but we watched Veggie Tales and Jeff (youth pastor) read some scripture. We also began talking about a Music Service that the kids will be doing for the church, its worship, but with the kids music. Like more contemporary bands and some metal and hardrock christian artists as well. I also attended a church board meeting and learned a little bit about what happens behind the scenes of a church, all the knitty gritty aspects, it was a lot more entertaining then I thought it would be ;P. Also another weekly meeting with Jeff.


God Bless

1 Hour ( Meeting with Jeff)

2.25 Hours ( Board Meeting)

2 hours (youth group)

5.25 Hours




Personal Reflection :

This week I spent little time with the actual youth, and learned more about the responsibilities of the youth pastor. The board meeting was interesting, i learned a lot about expenses and the costs of everything that the church has to pay every month.


Spiritual Reflection :

I learned again, a lot about patience this week, dealing with the long board meetings and the minimal, unseen tasks that a pastor has to partake in, but that is all part of the requirement, and i realize that it is a very necessary task, God is working in this church.
=)

Week Tres

Well, its week three of the youth ministry practicum. I was super excited about it this week,
why? Because the youth group was going to a minor league hockey game!

Ok, i had a blast! it was so much fun interacting with the kids outside of the normal youth group activities and outside of church. I found out that they all took a fancy to the game. It was my first time going to a hockey game... but not the first time for the kids!
they all taught ME the does and dont's of the game.

hmmm. you can learn a lot, from these kids!..., possibly more than they can learn from you..

BUT! yes, everyone enjoyed themselves and we had a great time.

.. oh..!! and ICE CREAM is a favorite.. most definitely.

God Bless


.5 Hours ( Prepare for the hockey Game)
1 Hour ( Drove to Hockey Game)
4 Hours ( Hockey Game)

5.5 Hours


Personal Reflection :

I really enjoyed the Hockey game, it was my first one.. so it was an incredible new experience. I think that the kids had a lot of fun!! they couldnt stop talking about it on the ride back from the game.

Spiritual Reflection :

This week was a good chance to get to know the kids outside of their church environment and get to know their "outside" lives. There wasnt much spiritual reflection , although my patience is building every day that I spend with these kids =)

Week Two

Welll week two! and i was super pumped.. because this was superbowl sunday!! not because i like football.. because i dont at all.. like.. at all, well ok its ALRIGHT. but, because i finally got to meet the youth at the church! It was at a ladies house that helps out with the youth often. She had amazing food... have you ever had puppy chow?!! SOO GOOD! anyways, all the kids were wonderful they were crazy outgoing and all told stories about themselves and what they were involved in. I found it incredibly easy to relate to them and keep the conversation moving. Oh and i found out that these kids are rockstars, rockin out on guitar hero, ( they were incredible!)

Another major thing that i noticed was that almost every kid at this party had an earbud in their ear... listening to music.

thought: music.. a wonderful ministry to children

thought: electronics, big plus in this kids lives.


wonderful night, thats enough.
=)


God Bless

3 Hours (hanging out the kids, getting to know them)

1 Hour (Meeting with Youth Pastor)

2 Hours (youth group)

6 Hours

Personal Reflection :

This week was really fun! i'm just getting to know the kids and their just warming up to me, so i expect a lot more interaction soon. I have a really easy time relating to them, probably because i act more like a 13 year old myself :p

Spiritual Reflection :

God has been so good, i realize he put me here for a reason, a youth group with , on a good sunday , 5 kids. It was a little discouraging at first, not gonna lie, but its what was placed in front of me, and im thankful for that. Im learning to listen to His Will and know that His timing is perfect.

Week One

Ahhh... the first week of the practicum. I had fairly high expectations about the youth, like a rather large number but when we got to the church we learned that they are in building stage and at best , on a Sunday they have 5 kids. But God placed us in this church for a reason and Hes going to use us in great ways. We got a tour of the church and learned some very interesting facts about it... like... the average age is 60. I am excited to work with this church and interact with the youth as much as possible. Hip Horray for Christ centered fun =))

God Bless

1 Hour (Meeting with Jeff)


1 Hour