An 'inconvenient revival' breaking out on Topeka's East Side
I took the liberty to write an article for Examiner.com based on a message sent to me by Jenelle van Norel and I have decided to post in on my blog. I hope the font does not go crazy, but apologies in advance, just in case.
An 'inconvenient revival' breaking out on Topeka's East Side
Jenelle van Norel of Topeka started going to Oakland Church of the Nazarene, 939 NE Oakland Ave., when she heard about the Wednesday night youth services. As she described in a recent email, scores of teens who had grown up at the church were coming to Jesus from homes broken by divorce, abuse and neglect. Many were addicted, cutting themselves, and dealing with homosexuality and promiscuity. Some were homeless.
Parents are not dragging these kids to church. On the contrary. They are finding rides. Sometimes youth leaders pick them up from run-down hotels. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, van Norel wrote, "doing what the Holy Spirit does best, bringing the poor and the broken to Him."
"They're coming out of the woodwork," she wrote.
The group has grown from a few teenagers to 90, triple the number who attend on Sunday morning. Every week a plea comes for volunteers to help with crowd control, clean-up, mentoring or wherever else help is needed.
Van Norel, who feels called to youth ministry, left her childhood church in order to participate in these meetings. She wrote that she wonders why God chose a "small, understaffed church in Oakland" to which to bring these "crazy hurting people with intense problems."
"I heard about this going on when there were just 50 members in the youth group," she wrote. "I thought, 'Wow, how can I hear that and sit comfortably in my pew?'"
"This is an inconvenient revival," she wrote. But she believes this revival does not just pertain to Oakland Church of the Nazarene.
"This isn't just an Oakland Nazarene revival," she wrote. "This is a Topeka revival.
"My challenge to you is what do we do once He has given them to us? ... My question is would your church be ready for it? God has chosen this small congregation with big hearts and has entrusted us with this explosion. It truly dumbfounds me why He has picked to move in this situation, but it is an honor to have such a problem! This is the best problem to have!"
Matt Goodwin is the pastor of Oakland Church of the Nazarene in Topeka. The church telephone number is (785) 232-0142.
An 'inconvenient revival' breaking out on Topeka's East Side
Jenelle van Norel of Topeka started going to Oakland Church of the Nazarene, 939 NE Oakland Ave., when she heard about the Wednesday night youth services. As she described in a recent email, scores of teens who had grown up at the church were coming to Jesus from homes broken by divorce, abuse and neglect. Many were addicted, cutting themselves, and dealing with homosexuality and promiscuity. Some were homeless.
Parents are not dragging these kids to church. On the contrary. They are finding rides. Sometimes youth leaders pick them up from run-down hotels. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, van Norel wrote, "doing what the Holy Spirit does best, bringing the poor and the broken to Him."
"They're coming out of the woodwork," she wrote.
The group has grown from a few teenagers to 90, triple the number who attend on Sunday morning. Every week a plea comes for volunteers to help with crowd control, clean-up, mentoring or wherever else help is needed.
Van Norel, who feels called to youth ministry, left her childhood church in order to participate in these meetings. She wrote that she wonders why God chose a "small, understaffed church in Oakland" to which to bring these "crazy hurting people with intense problems."
"I heard about this going on when there were just 50 members in the youth group," she wrote. "I thought, 'Wow, how can I hear that and sit comfortably in my pew?'"
"This is an inconvenient revival," she wrote. But she believes this revival does not just pertain to Oakland Church of the Nazarene.
"This isn't just an Oakland Nazarene revival," she wrote. "This is a Topeka revival.
"My challenge to you is what do we do once He has given them to us? ... My question is would your church be ready for it? God has chosen this small congregation with big hearts and has entrusted us with this explosion. It truly dumbfounds me why He has picked to move in this situation, but it is an honor to have such a problem! This is the best problem to have!"
Matt Goodwin is the pastor of Oakland Church of the Nazarene in Topeka. The church telephone number is (785) 232-0142.
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