That’s pretty much where I am at right now. The music has been playing, the lyrics have been sung, but now its time to press the rewind button and listen…to actually listen…
A lot of times when we listen to a song we have no idea what the song is about. The beats are sweet and the music sounds pretty tight, but what is actually being said sometimes gets lost. It’s often not until you really sit back and take the time to listen when things come into focus. The road trip has now come to an end. The “song” has finished.
On our journey tons of really great things took place. Numerous ministries were visited, connections made and information gathered. Lives were most definitely being affected and are being changed.
All of this though happened so quickly. Taking it all in and digesting it while on the trip is virtually impossible, thus the reason for me to “stop, rewind and listen” to what is to be learned on this trip. That is 3,200 miles of tape to rewind must I remind you!
As I press play I am brought back to the first ministry stop on our trip. This is Rocketown located in Nashville, TN. This is the ministry founded by singer songwriter Michael W. Smith. Rocketown is more geared towards teenagers and the youth. There is a coffee bar/lounge area, game tables, concert venue with large stage for local and national groups to perform. There is also a huge skate park called “Six Avenue.” This is headed up by Ben Cissell, former drummer for Audio Adrenaline.
Six Avenue was a pretty cool aspect of Rocketown. The demographic the skate park drew was obviously skaters but a lot of whom were non Christians. Tory and I had the chance to sit down with six of the youth who regularly attend the skate park, pretty much whenever it is open. We were given the freedom to ask these kids whatever we wanted. This was fun knowing that these kids were un-churched and really did not care about the Christian faith. I was curious as to why they would come to such a venue knowing this was “faith based”. One of the youth stated that this did not matter to him. “This is where all my friends are.” “This is my family.”
Knowing that Rocketown is faith based did not really hinder them from coming. Another youth stated that, “The staff at Rocketown was not judgmental; they did not throw Christianity down our throats.” Yes its there and yes the staff is willing to talk to the youth about what it means to be a Christian - but what is important here is being the hands and feet of Christ. Being there for the youth, being their friends, showing the love of Christ to them. A lot of the youth that come in to Rocketown are not saved. Some of them may even wear clothing that may be frowned upon. The way they look may not be what you’re used to.
That was something that really impressed me about Rocketown. The fact that a lot of the youth that came through the doors are the same kids a lot of the church going people would cringe at and would be afraid to embrace. Rocketown just looked at them as no different then the next. One kid was sporting a shirt with the pentagram on it while another teen wore a hat that had the phrase “Let’s F*@K.” Didn’t Christ say just come as you are? I know it may make some people turn away but what kind of message would the staff at Rocketown be making if they told these youth they were not welcomed here unless they changed their shirt or took off their hat. I don’t think these kids would ever come back. Their perception of what a Christian is would probably be dampened. What is great about these two kids that I mentions – these are two kids that Tory and I got to talk to and who currently go to the weekly Bible study and are asking the right questions. No they are not saved…no they don’t really believe what Christians believe…but there here. Their coming to a facility that is positive, free of drugs and alcohol, a place where they can feel safe and loved.
Our second major ministry we visited was a club called “The District”, located on the outskirts of Detroit. This ministry was more geared towards young adults, twenty something’s. Here we attended one of their weekly Bible studies. The message that evening was about not being ashamed to call yourself a Christian. It was a powerful message. A lot of times true Christians (not ones who say I’m a Christian just because they happen to go to church for Easter and Christmas or it’s the catch phrase to say – but one who has a real relationship with Christ) are ashamed or embarrassed to admit that yeah…I do believe in Christ and that yes He is the one I strive to live for, the one who died for my sins and yours. It was a powerful message and one that I needed to be reminded of.
The District has more of a sports bar type feel for it, minus the smoke and alcohol. It was great being here and seeing other young adults thirteen hours away coming together to serve their community, praising the Lord and wanting to be the hands and feet Christ called us to be. Many contacts were made here that will be very instrumental for the future of Off The Coast.
Outside of these two ministries there were countless other moments and places we visited that continued the fire in us to bring a facility to the upstate of SC with similar ideas of Rocketown and The District. Tory and I got to talk to random people about our road trip. The people we talked to would lead in with the question “what’s the road trip for” and then we would explain. A lot of the people we got to share this with seemed to be in their twenties…they all expressed that YES there is a need for something like this. I remember one fellow who was working at a cell phone store. Tory and I got talking with him and the guy mentioned that he too is sick of the bar and club scene. He wants a clean place to hang out it. Not a place where you have to get drunk just to fit in or feel comfortable. He wished Tory and me the best of luck. He was from Grand Rapids, MI.
There is so much more I could write and stories to tell but I too am still processing all of this. A lot took place in 8 days and 3,200 miles of driving. I believe the Lord is just starting to let us in on what is to come. I can’t wait to continue this journey. I can’t wait to hear the next song…
Jer ~
