Brian and Libby's Blog

Oh yes it's "eighties" night

Although I have been told that I look about 14 in this picture, it was taken just a few weeks ago. Vertical (that's what we call our weekly student gathering for Northway Student Ministries) ended on June 1st and we decided to send it off with style, eighties style that is. All of us leaders (most of whom were born or attended elementary school in the eighties) were concerned that the students wouldn't dress up...or would attempt to dress up but fail miserably considering that they have no recollection of the eighties. However what we did not consider was how excited all of our students' parents were to dust off the tight-rolled jeans and scrunchies and vicariously resurrect their glory years through their kids for a night. They all dressed up and totally got the 80's style right. The church was filled with leggings, high-tops, short shorts and even mullets. It was a beautiful sight. 80's music (live, played by a mostly student band) filled the air and all of the adults reminisced..."I remember this song...It came out in 1981, and I played it at my graduation party" (To which I responded "uuuuuuuuh...I was born in 1981").
More importantly, that night was monumental for Brian and I. After 3 years of trying different ways to do youth ministry, three years of living and learning, we ended the year on a very, very high note (and I'm not just talking about the length of Brian's jeans). How awesome for Brian to see almost 200 students attend, who couldn't wait for Vertical to start again in the fall. How awesome to see leaders connecting with students, getting e-mail addresses and exchanging phone numbers. How awesome to see students that had taken ownership of their Student Ministry. It was a very good night. Click here for more pictures.

posted by Libby @ 8:21 AM