Kristin McGuirk is Youth Director at New Thought Center for Spiritual Living in Portland, Oregon. Kristin is also Global Camp Director for UCSL. Her deep passion is teen ministries, assisting youth in becoming a transformative force in the world.
A connection with Jami Lula, UCSL youth champion of the year. Discovering the service that Jami has blessed the youth of Religious Science, by simply being his authentic self and sharing the music that moves through him.
Jami Lula shares his gifts through his authentic expression of music, knowing his relationship with God, and empowering the youth to fall deeply in love with themselves more and more. Jami shares science of mind principle with such humor, grace, compassion, and above all, life expression. Jami shares science of mind principle with such humor, grace, compassion, and above all, life expression.
Jami Lula Youth Champion 2009
Jami began working with the youth of Religious Science in the summer of 1998 as musical inspiration for the annual national camp. This was his first exposure to the young minds of our movement. He shared his song, his heart, and above all Jami shared his authentic spirit with every individual there. Everyone left singing Lula’s rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” and wondering how can we get more?
February 2009 Jami Lula was acknowledged at USCL Annual Gathering in Anaheim, California. Jami was this year’s recipient of the Youth Champion Award, an award acknowledging an individual who stands for youth as an advocate, a teacher, and a champion. Youth champions are honored for being a true example of leadership, authenticity, and deep love for the youth of religious science and ultimately the youth of the world. Jami has exceeded all qualifications.
When I was speaking with Jami on receiving this honor, I was amazed by his selflessness. I was also very touched by this conversation:
KM “Why the Youth Movement as a part of your path?”
JL “God wanted it that way, and I fell in love and saw an opening for me to be in service in a big way. I could relate to the youth.”
KM “What is your gift to the youth by being in service?”
JL “I am not certain I would call it a gift, but I can say I offer my honesty and authenticity as a spiritual man, as an artistic man. A man who loves God. I am exactly who I am, wherever you see me.”
I agree completely. As a witness to Jami Lula over the last 11 years I am certain on many things and one is that this man is here to ‘shake and shift’ the world. He stands for God, and is comfortable to share that with any one, especially the teens and young adults. Jami has such a desire for all youth to experience the awakening of their personal dance with God. To discover the source that lives within us all and how good that is! To sing the song of God, without judging the sound that comes out of your mouth, but can feel the emotion of you singing as the voice. Jami is known for bringing anyone who is on the outskirts of the group, kids a bit too shy, up on stage to be loved up by the group, and also to experience the aliveness of there being. It is magical to watch this man work.
What I also find fascinating is the youth complete admiration for the song of Jami Lula. Many youth are known to listen to music that is a bit different than the generation before, music filled with rage, sexual endeavors, and in many cases judgement of the world at large. In the religious science youths iPOD, CD player, phone, facebook page, you will find a common thread of Jami Lula’s music.
The thread is community, spirituality, freedom, surrender, and for many a spiritual practice. Teens are sharing with everyone they know “Something’s Calling Me”, “Spirit in the House” and “Perfect.”
I recently received a phone call from a 15 year old from camp. She was updating me on her life and started to share with me an experience she recently had. Everything in her life seemed to be upside down. It all felt as if her life was falling apart, and out of control. She started to play Jami’s CD, “Something’s Calling Me” and started to weep. In the midst of her deepest cry yet “I won’t waste” started to play. She described to me that there was a release in her body, as if she had let it all go, and started to sing “I won’t waste, I won’t waste one more minute of my life.” It was a new mantra. A new way of knowing that it will all be good, and she was in control in making her life anew.
That is why Jami Lula is 2009 Youth Champion. He is a man sharing with the world his passionate truth, and along the way he is inspiring thousands. Jami is the light that shows up when you are in the darkest of nights. Jami is also a man that brings the greatest laughter to your soul. His embodiment of joy and love is contagious. We as a movement, as a community, as a world are so blessed having the work of Jami Lula in our lives.
KM “Jami, what is the gift you receive from being with the youth?”
JL “What I give them honesty, authenticity, and a lot of new musical ideas. They are fresh, they are closer to the veil than I. They are closer to their wings than I have been in a long time. They love me, I mean they REALLY LOVE ME, they sing the words to my songs and reflect back to me how the music has assisted them to be more of themselves or express more of themselves.”
KM “What is your desire/wish for the youth of New Thought?”
JL “ I am holding that they are here to show us, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we have so much more to bring and offer this planet. I am holding that their generation will allow for a deeper understanding, and compassion for all the peoples of our global village. All will be welcomed. All will be revered, All will be seen. The next peer pressure will be to excel and express the FULLNESS of GODS vision for their lives, other than that, not much.”
KM “What’s next for you in life, and as Youth Champion?”
JL “My desire is to take the music that moves through me to a global arena. I am so preachin to the choir here, and I LOVE the choir, don’t be mistaken. But there are millions of people out there that are hungering for a relationship with GOD, with Spirit in a way that moves through me can guide and open them to. I believe there are a lot of people that want to be inspired. I would like to be a part of the facilitation.”
“AS Youth Champion, I intend to continue to champion the youth and Now, more than ever the young adults. They are in need of our movement more than ever. I encourage all Ministers to open their doors and make available space, for our Young Adults not only to grow, but to Thrive!”
After a moment of reflection what I know to be true is this, like attracts like. Surround yourself with people that are inspire you, make you laugh, empower you, push your limits, call you out on your smallness and you might just find yourself a friend like Jami Lula.
Congrats Jami, you are a champion, we thank you.