Image Up
26/09/13 05:18
Seven years ago, Kenny Putnam started a new business that focuses on high quality art prints, museum-quality photo restoration and printing and framing of images for individuals and families Kenny is a local artist and musician who is a member of our church. The name of the business is Image Up. The concept behind the name is to take images that are stored in boxes and drawers and get them up on the walls where they can be seen. A similar theme applies to artwork. Through his extensive computer skills, Kenny is able to match colors, print on media as varied as canvas and watercolor paper.
Another aspect of his work is the surprise and delight at how much information is still present in old photographs that appear to be sun faded, water damaged or aged in other ways. By using high-resolution scanners and carefully bringing out information that is still contained in the emulsion, he has enabled people to see details in photographs that they didn’t know existed. In some of his museum prints he makes enlargements that show details that were previously unknown.
Last night, Kenny’s business was the destination for our youth group’s Destination Unknown program. The program offers an event each month that involves traveling away from the church to some place that is a surprise to the youth. Parents can find out about destinations before the event, but destinations are kept for a surprise to the youth as they participate. Sometimes the destination is a visit to a mission project; sometimes it is an opportunity to connect with a different culture; and sometimes it is a visit to a local arts organization. Sometimes the youth are given the opportunity to learn about the work and passion of other members of the congregation.
The quest for vocation is as complex and confusing as it has ever been. Young people are confronted with a vast array of different ways to earn a living. There are new kinds of jobs in new areas springing up all the time. At the same time, there are lots of pressures on youth as they discern the direction for their lives. There is pressure to earn significant amounts of money created by parental expectations, the high cost of education and other factors. There is a desire for security and meaning in one’s life. Increasingly in modern society, there is an expectation that young adults establish a secure career path before marriage.
Visits to real people who are able to speak honestly about their lives and careers is one way for youth to begin to think about these complex issues. Doing so as a part of a church group provides a supportive environment and the opportunity to connect vocation and faith.
The youth were impressed with the advanced photographic and computer technology of Kenny’s business. They were amazed at the quality and high-resolution clarity of the work he does. They had fun with a drawing tablet and the palettes of Photoshop software. But they also heard the story of a man who has been able to pursue his passions throughout his adult life. After decades of making his living as a professional musician, traveling extensively, appearing on television and acquiring a bit of fame, Kenny started this particular business after he was 50 years old. For someone like me, a career change at 50 doesn’t seem at all surprising. For youth who expect that they will be able to find a single career path that leads to success, the concept of starting over at 50 seems strange. To them 50 is an advanced age. More than a few of them have heard stories of people like Google founder Sergey Brin who earned enough to effectively retire before he reached the age of 40. They are aware of the pressure to succeed early in their lives and careers. They don’t often think about what happens after mid life.
The evening included a brief bible study on creation and on the fact that all humans are created in the image of God and thus created to be creators as well. Over supper the youth talked about some of their own skills and ability to create. Several of the youth have already discovered artistic talent and found ways to express themselves. Others are still seeking to discover their gifts and talents. Some have a hard time naming things that they do well or gifts that they have.
Early in my career, I believed that youth ministry involved creating experiences for youth. I’ve been on lots of youth mission trips. I’ve taken youth on adventures from skiing to white water rafting and wind sailing. I’ve been to sleep-overs and lock-ins and camps. I’ve attended rallies and youth events all over the country. I’ve sat next to teens as they took their first airplane ride. I’ve driven the car as they left their home state for the first time. I’ve racked up a lot of miles driving vans filled with sleeping teenagers. These days, however, I am convinced that much of the best youth ministry doesn’t involve activities with large groups of youth. The best youth ministry is intergenerational. When youth get to know and experience adults other than immediate family members, their world is expanded. When they see faith at work in the lives of people who are different ages than them they grow in their own faith. Increasingly I seek opportunities for youth to work alongside adults.
A few weeks ago, a young man in our church thanked me for our church having a Woodchuck Society. He said that splitting wood with the group was one of the best parts of his summer. When we started the project, we thought briefly that it would become a youth ministry project. Soon, however, we were unable to find enough youth to accomplish the work. Over the years the program has been staffed primarily by retired people. We joke that we couldn’t run the church with out octogenarians. We really wouldn’t be the same without all of the volunteering done by people in their sixties and seventies and eighties. So the Woodchuck Society has become a ministry of some of the elders of the church. In making that change it has become great youth ministry. The young man who split wood had a more meaningful summer because he was working alongside elders than would have been the case if he had spent his summer with teens only.
Some of our best work occurs when we put people who might not otherwise meet each other into close contact and give them the opportunity to share their faith.
Like Image Up, we take things that might otherwise be hidden and display them for the world to see.
Another aspect of his work is the surprise and delight at how much information is still present in old photographs that appear to be sun faded, water damaged or aged in other ways. By using high-resolution scanners and carefully bringing out information that is still contained in the emulsion, he has enabled people to see details in photographs that they didn’t know existed. In some of his museum prints he makes enlargements that show details that were previously unknown.
Last night, Kenny’s business was the destination for our youth group’s Destination Unknown program. The program offers an event each month that involves traveling away from the church to some place that is a surprise to the youth. Parents can find out about destinations before the event, but destinations are kept for a surprise to the youth as they participate. Sometimes the destination is a visit to a mission project; sometimes it is an opportunity to connect with a different culture; and sometimes it is a visit to a local arts organization. Sometimes the youth are given the opportunity to learn about the work and passion of other members of the congregation.
The quest for vocation is as complex and confusing as it has ever been. Young people are confronted with a vast array of different ways to earn a living. There are new kinds of jobs in new areas springing up all the time. At the same time, there are lots of pressures on youth as they discern the direction for their lives. There is pressure to earn significant amounts of money created by parental expectations, the high cost of education and other factors. There is a desire for security and meaning in one’s life. Increasingly in modern society, there is an expectation that young adults establish a secure career path before marriage.
Visits to real people who are able to speak honestly about their lives and careers is one way for youth to begin to think about these complex issues. Doing so as a part of a church group provides a supportive environment and the opportunity to connect vocation and faith.
The youth were impressed with the advanced photographic and computer technology of Kenny’s business. They were amazed at the quality and high-resolution clarity of the work he does. They had fun with a drawing tablet and the palettes of Photoshop software. But they also heard the story of a man who has been able to pursue his passions throughout his adult life. After decades of making his living as a professional musician, traveling extensively, appearing on television and acquiring a bit of fame, Kenny started this particular business after he was 50 years old. For someone like me, a career change at 50 doesn’t seem at all surprising. For youth who expect that they will be able to find a single career path that leads to success, the concept of starting over at 50 seems strange. To them 50 is an advanced age. More than a few of them have heard stories of people like Google founder Sergey Brin who earned enough to effectively retire before he reached the age of 40. They are aware of the pressure to succeed early in their lives and careers. They don’t often think about what happens after mid life.
The evening included a brief bible study on creation and on the fact that all humans are created in the image of God and thus created to be creators as well. Over supper the youth talked about some of their own skills and ability to create. Several of the youth have already discovered artistic talent and found ways to express themselves. Others are still seeking to discover their gifts and talents. Some have a hard time naming things that they do well or gifts that they have.
Early in my career, I believed that youth ministry involved creating experiences for youth. I’ve been on lots of youth mission trips. I’ve taken youth on adventures from skiing to white water rafting and wind sailing. I’ve been to sleep-overs and lock-ins and camps. I’ve attended rallies and youth events all over the country. I’ve sat next to teens as they took their first airplane ride. I’ve driven the car as they left their home state for the first time. I’ve racked up a lot of miles driving vans filled with sleeping teenagers. These days, however, I am convinced that much of the best youth ministry doesn’t involve activities with large groups of youth. The best youth ministry is intergenerational. When youth get to know and experience adults other than immediate family members, their world is expanded. When they see faith at work in the lives of people who are different ages than them they grow in their own faith. Increasingly I seek opportunities for youth to work alongside adults.
A few weeks ago, a young man in our church thanked me for our church having a Woodchuck Society. He said that splitting wood with the group was one of the best parts of his summer. When we started the project, we thought briefly that it would become a youth ministry project. Soon, however, we were unable to find enough youth to accomplish the work. Over the years the program has been staffed primarily by retired people. We joke that we couldn’t run the church with out octogenarians. We really wouldn’t be the same without all of the volunteering done by people in their sixties and seventies and eighties. So the Woodchuck Society has become a ministry of some of the elders of the church. In making that change it has become great youth ministry. The young man who split wood had a more meaningful summer because he was working alongside elders than would have been the case if he had spent his summer with teens only.
Some of our best work occurs when we put people who might not otherwise meet each other into close contact and give them the opportunity to share their faith.
Like Image Up, we take things that might otherwise be hidden and display them for the world to see.