Spring 2009 - Lancaster Mennonite School

CENTERED IN CHRIST, TRANSFORMING LIVES, CHANGING OUR WORLDHeinly calls Kraybill students to radical loveWe are blessed byGod and weshould share ourblessings withpeople in need.- Kraybill eighth graderAlthough spiritual nurture occurs daily at theKraybill Campus, middle school studentslook forward to a special treat each winter whena guest speaker joins them for five consecutivechapel services. Called Spiritual Growth Week,the event focuses on a theme that invites biblicalstudy and discussion.This year Jon Heinly, who serves as youth ministerfor middle and high school grades in the LMSsystem, invited the Kraybill middle school studentsto look at what the Bible says about abundantliving in Jesus Christ. Based on John 10:10,Heinly’s theme was titled, “Get a Life: The GoodNews of Jesus.” Heinly incorporated skits, Biblestories, and small group discussions into his dailyvisits.On Monday, Heinly explained the value ofGod’s commands providing order in the world.Even sports require rules if they’re going to beenjoyable, he said. Tuesday brought a discussionof sin and God’s unconditional love and grace.On Wednesday, Heinly used John 15’s story of theVine and the Branches to discuss the importanceof staying connected to God through the HolySpirit. And he used Galatians 5 to teach themabout the fruits of the Spirit.On Thursday, Heinly used the parable of TheGood Samaritan and the story of 16th centurymartyr Dirk Willems to illustrate what happenswhen one lives out the fruits of the Spirit. In theearly days of Anabaptist persecution, Willemsdied when the persecutor he rescued from drowninghad Willems executed.“That is a really radical love,” Heinly said,“but that’s what it means to love our neighbor.”In brainstorming on how they might love theirneighbor, the students came up with responsessuch as “Don’t talk about others behind theirbacks,” “Be respectful,” “Invite someone to sitwith you at lunch,” and “Don’t laugh when someonegives the wrong answer.”On Friday the discussions turned more global.Outside the school building, the students formed ahuman graph that illustrated poverty in the world.Middle School Principal Daniel Martin said that“Twelve, 13 and 14-year-olds became somber”when they realized that one percent of the world’spopulation controls 40 percent of the earth’sresources and that we in North America are thatone percent.Heinly finished that final day with stories fromGenesis, Micah, James and Matthew that describethe kind of action that comes from loving Jesus.“We will want to turn around and share with othersthe blessing we’ve received,” Heinly said, encouragingstudents to “listen to the call for service” andlook for opportunities to alleviate suffering in theworld, even if it doesn’t involve lifetime missionwork.Chapels and homeroom devotions are just asmall part of the spiritual nurture that happens atthe school’s four campuses. Throughout the PreKto grade 12 system, Christlike values are taught byChristian teachers in all classes and extracurricularactivities.All campuses also have a strong Bible curriculum,parents and teachers who meet regularly topray for their students, and service projects thatencourage students to express Christlike love toothers. At the high school and middle school levels,peer leadership programs allow older studentsto serve as spiritual mentors to younger students.At the high school and Kraybill campuses, therealso are student-led Bible studies. ■LMS Youth Minister Jon Heinlyenjoys connecting with Kraybillstudents during Kraybill’sSpiritual Growth Week. Heinlygraduated from LancasterMennonite in 2003.PHOTO: J. DANIEL MARTIN6 BRIDGES • SPRING 2009