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Adopt-a-School Question from a UYWI participant
By Jeremy | July 23, 2007
I was in your workshop at UYWI for Adopt a School. Just want to say thank you for your encouraging words. Still having a little trouble getting my sr. pastor excited about reaching out and helping the schools. We have 3 schools within 2 miles who are part of the district which ranks lowest in test scores in our state...all being threatened to be closed. What ways would be best to really make him not only aware that these kind of things are going on but that we can help? I've been praying and I have my youth leaders praying but how long til you just get aggressive with it?Because of its timeliness (see our recent "Dream come True"), I wanted to share my response and invite yours as well. ________________________ Thanks for reaching out! Check out my blogpost from earlier today at www.JeremyDelRio.com, which recaps our latest Adopt-a-School testimony. I don't know if it our story could help influence your pastor, but if it could, feel free to use it. On the bottom of that post is a link to a growing collection of Adopt-a-School resources that we are developing. All except the book are free, and the book is available for as little as $2.50 (I think). Regarding your question, finding the balance between submitting to authority and advocating for change is the challenge for all emerging leaders with outside the box vision. It's hard for me to say specifically where you should draw the line without knowing more about your pastor's objections. What are his reasons for not wanting to engage the school? Regarding how to make him aware, I'd suggest doing the homework for him. Make the case that the students in those schools are (a) part of the community he's called to shepherd and (b) need his and your attention. The school is the road to Jericho and the students are the ones who've been robbed and beaten and left beside the road and you want to respond like the Samaritan responded, not the pastor and worship leader who were too busy with church to meet the need. (The Jesus Justice article might be helpful for retelling the Good Samaritan story.) Hope this is helpful. Email any time! ____________________ QUESTION What additional advice do you have for Z?
Topics: adopt-a-school, UYWI | No Comments »
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