Thursday, September 13, 2012

Generation-LINK: What I've Learned


This is my second year serving as Generation-LINK Staff at Crosspoint Church! I really love it and I’m so thankful for this opportunity.
I thought I’d give a little glimpse into what Generation LINK looks like practically for me and what I learned through this program.
I serve as our Kids Worship Director at Crosspoint. I love children. I always have. When the Lord put G-LINK before me as an option a little over 2 years ago, I just knew I would want to serve with the littlest ones at Crosspoint.
The thing is, I had no experience (other than one year teaching in the two year old room and lots of babysitting). I didn’t know how to coordinate a schedule, keep a nursery clean, equip volunteers and teachers for serving, different curriculums, etc…
Insert Generation LINK.
That’s what this program does. It equips you.
About one month into the program I was given the task of researching and writing a policies and procedures for our nursery at Crosspoint.
I was clueless. I’m not a mom and I wasn’t an education major.
I was encouraged by the pastor I served alongside to spend time talking with other churches about their procedures and what they do that works well. I loved that. I learned so much.
With lots of guidance and many conversations, a policies and procedures was put into practice for our nursery ministry and in February 2012, we held our first volunteer training for our nursery volunteers. And I got to be part of that. Talk about humbling.
That’s another aspect of G-LINK. Experience.
This isn’t your typical internship. I have the privilege to serve alongside some of the most humble, kind, gracious, leaders (our pastors). They invest so well into us. There were many meetings with our Discipleship Pastor, Jason where we looked at the P&P and he gave me feedback and direction. We would meet again and do the same. There was a great balance of oversight and freedom to run with this assignment. I knew that at any moment I could pop into his office and ask questions, but I also knew that he would not be checking in on me every day.
I could never learn what I’ve learned sitting in a classroom. I’ve learned so much about investing in the next generation at Crosspoint through serving as G-LINK Staff. It’s invaluable the knowledge I’ve obtained through watching our pastors lead their families, teach family discipleship from the pulpit, and teach me how to train volunteers, research curriculum, and shepherd our volunteers well.
I absolutely love what I get to do. It’s my dream. Because of  (almost) two years of Generation-LINK, I know better how to do children’s ministry within the local church, and how to help equip families to disciple their children in the home. I’ve gained an invaluable amount of experience that someone my age wouldn’t gain just anywhere. I’ve been entrusted with much responsibility and guided well to carry out my tasks. I’ve learned that this is more than a job, it’s a calling.
My love for children has grown beyond their cuteness, but for their souls. These little boys and girls that I get to oversee are potential brothers and sisters in Christ. They are future pastors and husbands and wives and missionaries.
Oh how I long to teach them well. To teach them of Christ and their need for him as their Savior. I’m learning how to do that through serving alongside those who are wiser than I. What a joy. A humbling joy.
I can’t say enough how thankful I am for this opportunity. I could go on and on about the benefits of Generation-LINK and many more great aspects. Maybe in another blog!
 I have no doubt these two years will produce fruit in my life for many years to come. I’m excited about this second year. I have much more to learn and I’m eager to go deeper.


Posted by Krystal Brummitt

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

India Daze

The day-to-day of my life in India is quite different from my American life where the days felt rhythmic.  When I first got to India, I felt like my days would never find a pattern, but I think they are beginning to fall into a rhythm.

I have now been in India for two months. Throughout July, I lived more of a nomadic life, staying in hotels for the first few weeks then moving to an apartment and finally to my new home with my roommate, Amy, at the beginning of August. Now that I have lived here for two months,  once unfamiliar things are becoming familiar. For instance, constantly hearing a foreign language, smelling strange spices, and seeing all sorts of animals while driving my scootie on the streets. Who knew it would become normal to see a camel grazing or a cow mooing right outside my window?!



During August, Amy and I have kept very busy! On India's Independence Day we participated in a children's program with all the kids from our church. We had so much fun with them: sharing Bible stories, playing charades, running out of gluesticks, and eating cookies!



I have met many new friends and spent much of my time developing these friendships whether over coffee or a meal or by catching the latest Bollywood release! (I have yet to see a movie in theaters in English.) Amy and I are also members at a gym in one of the malls near our house, and we have begun teaching aerobics classes there. We teach Zumba, Pilates, and Spinning. It's a lot of fun and a great way to meet more people, women especially.

Every Friday, Amy and I, along with some of our Indian friends, walk around a local neighborhood. Through this time, we have gotten to meet many people and even been invited into some of their homes! It's always an eye-opening experience to walk in less trafficked areas, seeing the way India lives and going into their homes, experiencing their hospitality. I'm so glad to be here in India and share in the work being done here!

Jai Masih Ki (Praise the Lord),
Rachel