Interview with Pastor Brian Bolt

He had drugs and alcohol in his family. Became a drug dealer/runner. Entered the military and continued to run drugs. In a brawl, he was shot in the head. In the back of the ambulance, "you better know Jesus, 'cause you won't make it to the hospital." He gave his life to Jesus right then. After years of reconstructive surgery and being discharged from the navy, he went back to the drugs on the streets. Former gang members brought him off the streets and helped him through rehab.
He had a really rough background, and yet God has used him mightily. He went through master's commission, got married, and began looking to plant a church in Pittsburgh. With the blessing of certain pastors he did exactly what I would do; He prayerfully looked for the absolute worst spot in the area, Allison Park, and planned to plant his church there. The church takes in the worst people they can find, prostitutes, drug-dealers, gang members, etc. and take them into a home. The church becomes their family. The people who were the worst catch the vision of the church and they do something I am really impressed by, they make them leaders in the church. It has always been my belief that forgiveness involves empowering the person. You don't trust someone until you give them power which can be used to hurt you or help you. This ministry is based on that theory.
In order to graduate from one of the homes, an addict must be "saved", "baptised in water" (in the Assemblies of God, they believe that immersion is the only legitimate water baptism), "baptised in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues" (in the Assemblies of God, they believe that unless a person speaks in tongues then they are not baptised in the Holy Spirit).
When asked about the role of his wife, "I like my wife to clean, cook, do laundry.... women's work." This is a prime example of his humor. Throughout the interview, he has maintained a great sense of humor.
"The home is the backbone of the church." The ministry to the drug addicts is not a side issue of the chruch. I really like how integral he has made the home and people from the home in his church.

Class interview with Jason Lamer

"Find a need and meet it"
"You have to be vulnerable to be taken advantage of."

Average youth group... 20 kids.... spirtual atmosphere 4 to 10...
The first week he preached on repentance. It was not well recieved.
"In a few weeks, I took that youth group from 22 to 13"

After some sexual sin was exposed and dealt with then God began to really move. The youth group exploded. The power of God really moved powerfully.

Made a connection with the local schools. Some youth pastors never set foot on a high school campus. God opened the door to the school when he made himself available. After a student committed suicide, he was invited back to do grief counseling. In the grief counselling, every student said that they had thought of or, a few, even considered suicide. At this point, he knew that he had to go to them, he couldn't wait for them to come to him. He started doing school assemblies. He brought the church to wherever there were large groups of people.
He started to go to schools to pick up a student and take them out to dinner or lunch. In the process, he would meet many other students.

His time at Youth Alive
One of 22 missionaries to high-schoolers in the US. Raises up local churches to pray for their local high schools. Campus missionaries; high school students who are discipled and trained to get their friends saved. Effective campus clubs work through a network of churches.

7 Project:
School principles select the top 6 issues in the lives of students...
Peer Pressure
Coping
Integrity / Character building - "The choices you make will shape the person you will become."
Scholastic Achievement
Drugs / Alcohol

Ones they don't want to touch:
Suicide
Sex / Abstinence

There is NEVER any religion shown during the school assembly. The students are invited back to an evening program and they are always told that at that time the presenters will be talking about their faith. There is never any bait-and-switch.

"Whatever it takes to get a youth to come [to youth group / church], that's what it will take to keep them [in youth group / church]."

Reflections:
He was a humble man and it is easy to see how he could grow a group and connect so many people together. In what he has done, he has shown both great passion and great wisdom. His heart was truly for the youth that he woked with. He was always willing to open his home or his car to youth, whether saved or unsaved. Also, I liked that he never did anything without prayer. He asks churches to stand behind him in prayer with whatever he does in his area. Every major thing that he has done has come from prayer. I also really like how, everything he does he connects with someone else whether they be the town mayor, or the school guidance councillor, or other churches in the area. I think he has probably done much to bring down animosity between the churches in local areas. I really enjoyed that his heart was totally for the youth that he works with.

Test

This is a test of the blogger posting system. this is only a test. If it were not a test then there would be like alarms or something because we're all gonna die!!!