5Ws and How - Part Two

Why was the "Amazing Race Across Astoria" really amazing?

Jason Norlien and I traveled to Astoria, Oregon the last weekend in April for an excellent youth rally. Our friends at Bethany Free Lutheran put us up for the time there staying with the world-famous Editor of the Lutheran Ambassador, Pastor Craig Johnson.

Having a couple hours to visit in Craig's sports-red Madza as we traversed the Washington and Oregon roads along the Columbia River, I thought I would press him for some information.








Holt: "So what's it like being so powerful?"

Johnson: "What do you mean?"

Holt: "Hello!! The Editor of the Lutheran Ambassador?"

Johnson: "What are you talking about?"

Holt: "Pastor Johnson, are you denying that you are involved with that wonderful magazine of the AFLC?"

Johnson: "I have been instructed not to talk to the press. No comment."








Hmmm...peculiar. Pastor Craig gladly visited about every other subject under the sun, but not the Lutheran Ambassador. I will have to plumb that topic in a later blog.



Friday night was relaxed and enjoyable as students and youth groups traveled to the church for the kickoff. Laughter. Snacks. Games. Mocking the guest speaker. Apparently pictures you place on Facebook are public!

Saturday morning was dedicated to sessions. I did my thing. The students were gracious. Pastor Luke Long did a great session on applying the theme. Then came Saturday afternoon: "The Amazing Race Across Astoria".

The intro was straightforward and clear. We were to be placed in teams with driver's that knew the community. All directions (left, right, stop and buy a Wild Cherry Pepsi) were to be delivered by the team. The driver would go straight without team instructions. Each stop would provide a new clue/location to go to.

Soon after being divided up, we were off. Up and down streets. Around the corner. Back and forth. Back and forth. And for our team, back and forth at least one more time. Why? Since stopping to ask directions from the local gas station employee led to wrong info.

Finally, we came to the last location on end of the pier. The van stopped a few hundred yards away and the whole team had to cross the finish line on foot. Some teams ran. I walked as one of our team members wasn't coming down the pier. Too much back and forth created a car-sickness situation came the report. We finally met the judge and designer at the end.

"Congratulations. You're 4th."

Fourth out of six teams. Yes, Jason N's team was first. (Do you want to rub it in again, Norlien?) But our team had a blast, as did the other teams. Even if the race didn't go well, each team had a great story about their adventures.

As I listened to the tales being told, I thought about what struck me as the most amazing part of the "Amazing Race Across Astoria". The judge and designer of the race was a senior high student. My new friend struck me as the modest type so I won't share his name here -- all of us who were there know him -- but the who isn't my reason for blogging.

Many churches and youth groups when a BIG event comes leaves the planning and implementation to the adults. They're responsible. They'll get it done.

As we are concerned about developing maturing, servant-leaders, who will follow Jesus, are there settings that we can allow for them to lead? Can't the local congregation be a great place for a teenage believer to stretch his or her wings to pray, to plan, and to lead?

Will it be polished? Not always. Will there be bumps in students leading? Yes. Will it be worth it? We will see in a generation as these teens continue to live what they are being taught now. More than knowledge, let us give students experiences, skills, and attitudes that reflect a lifestyle and lifetime of following Jesus.

When the race was over, I asked Pastor Craig about the gas station that our team stopped at to get directions. It seemed odd that the store worker didn't know where a location was in his town. It was less than a mile from the spot we were trying to get to. Didn't that seem strange to him as well?

"No comment," came the reply.

I'm sensing a trend.