JAR-mitzvah:
As we looked around, we saw that society dictated to our youth what it meant to be an adult. It was driving at 16 or voting at 18. It was the first time they got drunk or smoked or had sex. Maybe it was the first crime committed. Whatever the case, the coming of age set by society was not the best. We decided to develop our own coming of age. This is summed up in the mentoring, which has been one of the best things to happen to our church. Because the mentors responsibility was only to hold the kids to the requirements they already agreed to, it made the whole process easier for everyone. The kids get someone in their life taking an interest in them and the adults are working on knowing the Lord even more in order to help the kids. We will celebrate what the kids accomplished with a coming of age ceremony. All the leaders of the church will come together and bless the kids who have completed the requirements.
The JAR-mitzvah name comes from the Jewish coming of age and part of the requirements that the kids have to complete...to read John, Acts and Romans.
JARmitzvah - Coming of Age: Rite of Passage
Requirements
- Must be 13 years old. The youth can begin the process before they are 13, but must wait until their 13th birthday before they can take part in the Coming of Age ceremony.
- Must have an older mature Christian to be their mentor.
- The mentor's job will be to call them once a month and go over the following list.
- Must be in the Word of God and in Prayer each day and in Church each week.
- Read John, Acts, Romans. They need to be able to explain each book to their mentor.
- What is one verse in each chapter that stood out to them and why?
- Must conduct interview with one older mature Christian and get their story.
- Must have been in BASIC for 6 Months.
- Must send out and receive back 5 pieces of wisdom.
- These are postcards that they will give out to older mature Christians and those Christians will write on them a word of encouragement.
- Must put together their testimony of salvation and their testimony today.
- How and when did they get saved?
- Do they have an understanding of what it means for Jesus to die on the cross for them?
- Did they repent of their sins and are they turning away from them?
- What is the Lord doing in their life today?
- Must have participated in Community service.
- Must have shared their faith with one person.
- This means telling someone about how they can have faith in Christ, not merely inviting them out to church.
- Must declare their ministry.
- Where are they going to serve the Lord?
- Must abstain from: Sexual immorality, alcohol, drugs, filthy language, and things that promote these.
JARmitzvah - Servant Leadership
- 3 to 3 ½ years to complete
- Must have completed the JAR-mitzvah.
- Must read the entire Bible
- Must have two mentors:
- One in the area of service. Find someone who can do well what you would like to do and talk to them.
- One Spiritual mentor. This will most likely be the mentor you had during your "coming of age" JAR-mitzvah. Find someone who is farther than you are spiritually and talk to them.
- Must listen to CD’s
- The Renewal of the Mind
- Dr. Cho
- Passion
- Way of the Master
- Must take the Inner Healing and Deliverance class or go through the Agape prayer session.
- Must lead 4 people to Jesus.
- Must be a mentor to someone.
- Must be committed (become a member) to a local church.
- Must serve in that local church.
- Must continue in a BASIC group for accountability and growth.
- Must continue community service.
- Must hold a job and begin to consider options for career and follow up on this.
- Must abstain from: Sexual immorality, alcohol, drugs, filthy language, and things that promote these.