Heather, Ryan, and Shari talk with Shana Drenning and Zack Potter on some things coming up at Converge in 2021. 

Converge’s classes will be returning soon!

Shana is a leader at Converge.  Core 4 classes help students to learn what Converge is all about. It is a good way to begin to understand what we believe and who we are. It is more like a family time, hanging with your friends, in a smaller setting and learning. Don’t be put off by the word “class”. It is the pathway to get involved in serving or trips. It is a great way to meet people and get started. It is a great way to learn more about what you believe. You also learn interesting things like the Gates of Hell is an actual place in Israel. And the walls of Jericho fell outward, not inward, showing external evidence when excavated that the Bible is true. 

CORE 4 isn't a class just for students coming to church or Converge that want to serve or go on trip, but alos for those who don't have a belief or foundation as well. 

CORE 4 classes are the 4 main beliefs of Converge: 

1. The Bible is God's word and it's true.
2. God has a plan for you right now.
3. Jesus is our Savior and we need him.
3. We are better together.

Links:
God’s Whole Story podcast

Heather and Ryan sit down (part 2) with Shannon Kahn on how God has worked through his own life.

Shannon has dealt with sexual identity issues growing up and has dealt with marriage and divorce.  Male influences in his life were extremely hurtful, abusive, or dealt with sexual abuse growing up, so didn’t want to be a male. Almost all the men on both sides of his family have dealt with alcoholism. Anger went along with alcoholism with most of those adult males. Doesn't remember being told "I love you" much growing up. Didn’t have a good view of what it meant to be a man.  Didn’t want to be that type of person what he had seen. In his  head he didn't want to be a man like that, but also knew he didn't want to be a women. Had mostly girls as friends because they were safe, the guys his age were also that way so wasn’t comfortable being around them.  That all shaped his difficulty with sexual identity. Sexually abused when he was young and introduced to porn at an early age.  Called gay during middle school, because he was different, didn't fit into the normal. 

Where you in church circles at that time? Parents dropped them off at church but it was pretty conservative. He didn’t remember hearing about salvation. Just tried to do good things and be a good person.  Always had a basis of understanding that there was a God and he knew that that was not how God created him. There was always something to prevent him from crossing the line. The struggle was always in his head than external.

How did you work through that? He eventually saw what other father figures looked like in a healthy way with other families as he got older and that changed his view. He got to see other family dynamics and that helped him to heal and grow. And also to be around community. It is crazy the power of influence. What you see is what you know. 

Was saved his senior year of high school. Went to Creation; that was the first time he remembesr hearing the Gospel message. The assumptions that we make as Christians are so powerful and harmful. There was a constant that he knew God didn’t create him that way. As believers there is always something that we have to deny ourselves of.  If we did everything our human nature wanted it would be disaster.

How could have the church helped? Doesn't  remember being in environments where sexual identity was actually spoken about.  A lot of guys don’t want to talk to other guys about it. The enemy is winning when we don’t talk about it.  It is so easy to isolate and believe that you are the only one going through this. 

Resources:
Wounded Heart,  book and workbook by Dan B. Allender

Joe Dallas, author, has written several books that can be helpful.

Every Mans Battle, by Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, Mike Yorkey

 Be real, Be open. You are not alone in what you are going through.

Ryan and Heather sit down and talk with Shannon Kann about all things TLR, The Living Room, the young adult ministry at WC. Shannon is the Young Adult Pastor here at WC.

TLR is known to build community  –  Foundations class is where you learn the heart behind TLR and what is means to live in community before serving there. Serving on a team is the best way to meet/connect with people. Also after the service they can leave the main auditorium and can connect right away to a group. Serving is like having instant community. 

Young adults crave community. We challenge them to initiate community where ever they are and whoever they are with. We use the 4 C's: Connect, Care, Challenge to grow, and Celebrate. The need for community is not unique to TLR, but young adults talk about it. Community is not just sitting around a table drinking coffee, there is more to it. It is doing things together, doing life together.

People want a safe place to be able to be open and talk about life.

What is unique or special about TLR? The biggest thing Shannon hears from young adults is that they didn’t feel like there was a spot or place for them to be involved at their church. The desire to lead is high. We don’t have volunteers, we have leaders. You either attend their as part of the community or you are a leader. Leaders have a say; they are a part of the vision.

Why is it important to find a community wherever you land after high school? Life it not fun to do alone. Community is very important.

How would you go about finding a community? Often campuses have groups, but be bold to step out and find one.

How do you know if you found the right one? A safe place where you can go with your junk.  

TLR gives a lot of opportunities to share and grow. His entire life people took chances on him. His phrase for the year is “Risk it ____”

Links:
TLR website
Instagram
Facebook

Questions? 
[email protected]

Heather and Ryan sit down and talk with Kent Aldrich on finishing high school and what Christianity looks like for the next generation. 

A lot of pressure is put on senior high school students to know what they are going to do after high school. Let your plans be fluid, don't be pushed into anything. Wasn't sure if he wanted to go to college, then thought about taking a gap year. But decided to jump in to college and then heard about Moody Bible Institute. Wants to be able to do what God is calling him to do without being tied to having debt.

Currently doing a research project on Millenials, mostly, and why they are leaving the church. The numbers of people who said they would be religiously unaffliliated or have no beliefs has increased to 36% with Millenials. Research on how to answer the question, "How can the church better represent the truth that we hold in today's world?"

As Christians, we have taken things that are not necessarily core Christian truths and elevated them above things that are. Hope the future generations will elevate faith in Jesus and not faith in cultural systems.

Heather and Ryan bring Lisa Weaver, Outreach Administrative Assistant at WC, back to talk about short-term missions.

Sometimes you go into short term missions with the idea that "I am going to change the world"...in two weeks or 4 days. You think you know all of this stuff and that you are going to tell everyone what you know. Most people are not going to sign up to go to (Sierra Leone) forthe next 3 years. That is a huge jump to ask. But when you have these small intros to missions, most of the time it is not the people that we are going to to minister to but the poeple that go that are changed. They realize they don't know how much they really know, they realize I am actually more prideful than I though, those people were nicer than I thought they would be, or Jesus probably loved people different than how I try to love people.

What do we do to set up kids well when going on a mission trip? In the Bible is says, "and Jesus live among them" - They need to know that we are going to go and serve the people that are living there full time. We are going to do whatever they need us to do. Not what we plan or want to do. Come in with an attitude to serve. The community knows the people from the ministry and not us, and they don't need to know us. We need to serve them.

The problem with missions is that  it is difficult to find people who want to live there for 3 years. Often poeple will commit to go for 4 days, but not for years. The idea is that God does the work. We often go thinking we are going to "save Mexico". Sometimes what sticks with us has little to do with the stuff that is done there. It is difficult to know the long term effects though that is will have on those going. WC has strong bonds with YWAM Juarez. Like our relationship to Mary Beth Maifield who created a foundation for kids transitioning out of foster care at the YWAM base there. That was with the help of an offering that WC took last year for our global partners. That came out of relationship, we have been sending teams there for years. What is great it that it is not a focus on Worship Center when we go to serve. Like Paul in the New Testament, it is like, "hey I am not there but what can I do". But maybe if people know there is a larger, long term partnership it would make a difference in their willingness to serve.

Trips are a highlight for kids. But in 2020 Converge wasn't able to do trips and it was a loss. It can change the trajectory of your life. (Like it did for Lisa. Listen to previous episode.) God does the work.

Who should go on a trip? Sometimes the people that we least expect to go or we don't think maybe should go, are the ones that benefit the most from it.  Jesus changes the world and sometimes you are there. Sometimes you get to be there. Look at who God chose to use in the Bible.

We can serve people right here, locally. Like at Converge's Summer Serve - we serve our local community. It is not always trips to Jamaica, Hawaii, etc. It is not always glamorous. It is harder to get people to go some place "risky".

Want more information on trips?
Message us @Converge or Worship Center Outreach

Today, Heather and Ryan speak with Lisa Weaver, Outreach Administrative Assistant at WC, on her YWAM experiences.

Kids often feel pressure to know what they want to do after high school. It is often the #1 question they are asked and often they have no idea what they want to do.

Lisa didn’t know what she wanted to do after graduation, but was invited by a friend (with whom she had gone on a short term mission trip to Nashville TN in 10th grade) to go on a mission trip to Guatemala, Ecuador, and Nicaragua which was her introduction to YWAM (Youth With A Mission). She worked in the kitchen and made a lot of guacamole! She came back, worked for her parents business, and then decided to attend YWAM DTS in Tennessee, near Nashville.  The best part of YWAM is the deep, deep community she found there. You eat, sleep, take class, learn how to work through conflict with them. Lisa was there on campus for 3 months and went on outreach to Malaysia for another 2-3 months. Lisa then felt God was calling her to do a secondary school, which is through YWAM but much more specific than a DTS. Lisa did the School of Ministry Development, which is like a leadership school. The schools are incredible, with cross cultural experiences and academic classes. Some classes are accredited and you can earn college credits. You learn a lot about the Bible and also interpersonal skills. She then made a 2 year commitment to go back as staff and lead a DTS school that was soccer focused. Lisa was in YWAM for almost 10 years (part of that time she was in Germany and England, which was during the Olympics). YWAM partners with their local churches and the community. When Lisa felt that God was calling her to go to secondary school she felt it was a gut feeling. She felt that if she did something else it would be okay, but felt that this is where she needed to go that came through a time of praying, asking God, and reading and still being slightly unsure. It is almost like a theme in her life - “Not sure this is what God is saying but I am going to go with it until something else comes up or until God says no”. Stepping out and trusting, it kind of takes the pressure off of feeling you have to make all of the right decisions for your life. After doing a trip in Europe and visiting other ministries, she felt called to return home. Went on a trip to visit ministries in US and then decided she wasn’t called to any of them and was called to work. Got involved in The Living Room here at WC. Got a job she loved and got married. You can have this plan for your life, but even if it doesn’t end up how you thought it would go,  it is still awesome.

Often we don’t know how much we need community until you are in a place where you have it, but then when it is gone you realize how much we need it. The "Great Steak and Shake Debate":  Lisa and her friends debated (while eating at a Steak and Shake) that people are very spiritual or they are secular and there is not really an in-between. Lisa debated that spiritual life is important and the rest of life doesn’t even matter. She felt they just didn’t get it. And now looking back Lisa feels she is the one that didn’t get it. “I thought I knew everything but it turns out I don’t know anything.” Actually God is involved in every area of our life, andwe should put Him first and be passionate about what He’s given us and the passions he has given us. Every Christian already has a call from God. Mathew 28: 19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Links: YWAM - @ywam_org
Facebook - Lisa Weaver
Instagram - @lisahairflipweaver
Email Lisa questions about YWAM - [email protected]

Heather and Ryan sit down and talk with Daniel Seiz, the Worship Pastor at WC.

During Middle/High School he would just joke around singing to be funny and a friend’s mom said that he may have an actual talent. Daniel then sang at church with her daughter - someone saw a gift in him.

Started singing more and being a part of leading worship in the youth worship band. But then he thought it was all about him. I was a sophomore and really wanted to go to Hillsong’s worship school. So when he was a senior he went to school there, moving to Australia for 3 years.  Daniel loved the local church and knew he wanted to be part of a local church.

Community was a big part of the local church in Australia.

Daniel was encouraged by his mom when he would call home crying because it was a new culture and he didn’t feel like he belonged. She did that even though she wanted him to be at home. She encouraged him and that helped him get through it.

We put pressure on kids to know what they want to do in their future and you don’t need to know everything.

How do you balance recognition and lead a congregation in worship? Why wouldn’t we honor people who are giving of their time and talents.  Daniel heard it said this way: You take a compliment like someone was giving you a flower and at the end of day you have this bouquet of flowers that you take and give it to the Lord. That it is God working through you. 

It was a hard transition coming back from Australia. Daniel thought he wanted to stay there, but felt God was leading  him back home to help my Dad start a church. But it turned into an awful experience. It was a crossroad for him and his family. It was a bad experience and he felt hurt by the church. He decided to follow God and decided he wanted to find what other churches were out there. So he Googled churches in Lancaster County and WC was one of the first that come up. Daniel attended and the rest is history.

Daniel fell in love with WC because he felt people loved people here. Humans will always fail us. There is no perfect church. Worship Center loves people for wherever they are in life. 

How do you be real and authentic even though you know people are judging you? You have to care but don’t care. You should be aware of how you are presenting the Gospel. (The worship band can see you, even if the lights are down. We can see you!) Real worship is being honest with God, with yourself, and with your community. That is what keeps us authentic and growing. Being honest to ourselves.

What would you say to those 15 years old that feel they can sign and can go to Hillsong? Daniel is thankful he got to experience another culture, like outside of your norm. Get out of your town and experience something new. Don’t be afraid. God is with you all the time. The young get so caught up in what if I choose the wrong college or the wrong person to marry. God doesn’t work that way. He is with you all the time.

His habit is forgiveness, that is why He is worshipped.

Daniel and his team have been writing their own worship music. He loves that we are a church that allows us to be creative. Check out their music!

 @worshipcentermusic

In this episode, Ryan and Heather sit down and discuss 2020 and look at the year in review.

The many phases of Converge during COVID:

Remember when we delivered snakes as prizes?

Rembember when Ryan was in his basement and Heather was here at church on a Wed night trying to do a live show on Instagram by using just their phones to record?

Remember Converge sign tag?

Remember Parades?

Remember Drive-bys?

Remember Prom-e-not? And Pastor Blade from Victory?

Remember being outdoor all summer – the worship stage, food trucks?

Currently we are in a hybrid phase that consists of live outdoor hangout and WNL (Wednesday Night Live) online.

We are trying to do what may be comfortable for people, as there are many different perspectives. Converge’s policy is a little different maybe than WC in general or other ministries because we are connected more to schools and what we do affects middle school and high school students - so it can have an impact on sports teams, their jobs, etc. We have quite a few different schools represented at Converge and we want to build relationships with and support our community.

Heather and Ryan sit down and talk with Chelsea Mosher about growing up in the church and what was normal in relation to Christmas traditions. What you grow up doing, you see as normal.

What was normal for Ryan growing up in church? Grew up in a Mennonite church. Youth group would visit a nursing home every 5th Wednesday and at Christmas. They would sing Christmas carols and then actually race back to church. They would make cookies and it was very “other-centered” – everyone just did it. Ryan was actually in a men’s chorus that went on bus tours. They also collaborated with other churches in the area. 

What was normal for Chelsea?  We did a program as little kids and went caroling in a neighborhood in inner city Harrisburg. Our youth group did weird Christmas parties, and we did White Elephant gift exchange. We had youth group competitions – singing, poetry – and it was a very big deal. We did all-nighters and lock-ins.

What was normal for Heather?  Everyone just did things in youth group and it wasn’t really a choice. It was what you did, what was expected. We did do a Christmas pageant and my mom made her be in it.

Still building traditions. In a few years you will realize that you actually have them and that is what you do. 

Wonder what kids growing up in WC now, what will their traditions be? Maybe it will include Christmas Eve services. Worship Center does a great job with Christmas Eve services.

Merry Christmas!

Heather and Ryan sit down and talk with Betsy Torres, Community Groups Director at WC, about small groups.

Betsy has been on staff at WC for almost a year and a half. Loves connecting with so many people.  Job is to get people connected, and train leaders to lead their groups well.

Why is it important to get people connected to a small group?  Doing community with others is important. In small groups we are together and finding ways to care for each other and love one another. When we are connected and grow in relationship we are here for each other in good times and bad. You don’t have to do life alone. We just want to be here for each other.

What are practical ways that your group has been there for you? While we were in the process of moving and looking for a place to move our entire family of four, our group leader took my whole family in. They had the room, but we had grown in relationship with them. Proves we are there for one another.

How has that played out for your kids? My kids are involved in their own small groups. They value that and we have always believed in that as a family. One little nudge, like saying hi to a child, is a way to show they are valued and that people care. Now they are in their own groups talking about God. We don’t know the little things that we say how that impacts others, especially kids. 

What encouragement would you give people who had a bad experience before? Give it a try again. We all learn from each other and where we feel most comfortable. Give it a few weeks. We often feel awkward at the beginning, so give it some time. 

What is important in a Converge small group? Maybe use icebreakers, so they get to know each other at the beginning. Something funny maybe to get things going. 

Take a step and join a small group. Or be a small group leader at Converge.