Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

Middle School mo-jo

Justin Kollmeyer is Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Hwy. 314 in Fayetteville, between Lowe’s and The Pavilion. He invites anyone without a church right now, or anyone “seeking God” to come to Sunday worship at 8:15, 9:30 (Contemporary), or 11:00 (Pipe Organ). For more information log on at www.popdove.com or call 770-461-3403.

By Justin Kollmeyer
Contributing Writer

Let me be so bold as to say, “Never fear! Your churches are here!”

Hey parents, is your middle school mo-jo workin'?

Hey sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, is your middle school mo-jo workin'?

What in the world does that mean? Well, to tell you the truth, I don't really know myself, except to be a way to get us thinking about a very important subject - middle schoolers and parents and life.

Maybe “mo-jo workin'” means that things are going pretty well, parents and middle schoolers are feeling good about each other, and no major problems are causing “wars and rumors of wars” (that's a quote from the Bible, you know).

Dear parents and middle schoolers, I hope and pray that your mo-jo IS workin'! But I have two concerns: prevention and cure.

A few years ago a study by the research organization Child Trends revealed that while parents are trying very hard to do the best for their children, as children move from elementary into middle school, their parents become less and less involved in their lives and activities, and this low level of involvement is one sign that neither the students nor the parents are doing “well”.

The study also offered the “disquieting message” that the peer culture in most American schools is working in opposition to most goals parents hold for their children, including academic success and avoidance of harmful behaviors such as smoking and drinking.

Now, we're not blaming our schools here. It is simply a reality that with less parent involvement in their children's lives, children are less likely to do the good things their parents want them to do. That makes sense, doesn't it?

So, what about Prevention and Cure? How do you, as parents AND as students, keep this bad time from happening? How do you, as parents of middle schoolers who may already be showing signs of drifting from your influence, bring things back together…get your mo-jo workin' again?

Well, let me be so bold as to say, Never fear! Your churches are here! That's right! Humbly, boldly, compassionately, and confidently I tell you that every church in this community has some program or planned activities that will “hook up” parents and their middle schoolers in some meaningful and successful way.

Parents, every church in this community will help you stay close to your teens, making it possible for your good influence to still be the dominant force on their lives. Students, every church in this community offers classes and that's NOT a bad word, you know, or programs that will expect something from you, but with the help of your parents working along side with you will GIVE BACK to you the “best years of your life”!

For example, here at our church, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, one opportunity we offer our middle school students and their parents are the weekly Wednesday evening classes we call Confirmation Classes. These bring students and parents together for learning the Bible, confirming and affirming our faith, talking about faith and life in a real way - not in “plastic-church-piety”, and staying in touch with each other as parents and children…and God. Note: I said these are for students and parents! That's key. And during the week between Wednesdays, parents and students…and God…work together on intentional communication and influence.

It keeps our MIDDLE SCHOOL MO-JO WORKIN'! And that's good!

Then, by the way, as the students leave middle school and head to high school, of course we keep other activities and programs going for high schoolers too. Maybe you've heard of our “God Squad”, for example. Again, every church in our community does something along these lines. Take advantage!

So, parents, please stop for a little “check-up” on what you might do to invest yourself in the life of your dear middle school child. And middle schoolers, please know that we know that your life is getting a whole lot tougher to handle these days, and we as parents and churches care about you and want to do all we can to help you have a good life - and even have some FUN!

Is your middle school mo-jo workin'? We can help.

Kollmeyer is Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Hwy. 314 in Fayetteville, between Lowe's and The Pavilion. He invites anyone without a church right now, or anyone “seeking God” to come to Sunday worship at 8:15, 9:30 (Contemporary), or 11:00 (Pipe Organ). Confirmation Classes are OPEN for ALL middle school students and parents and begin on Wednesday, September 8, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. For more information log on at www.popdove.com or call 770-461-3403.