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The journey of faith is one of identification as we learn who God is and thus who we are in God. The temptation, as Mark Yaconelli pointed out in our first worship session, is to tie our identity to other things – our vocation, our activity, and the quality of the fruits of our labor. Jesus has shown us that while these things are important, they do not define us. Resisting this temptation can leave us vulnerable as we refuse to use any measuring stick apart from God’s love for us.
In our worship experience, I sensed God inviting me to embrace this sense of vulnerability. Too often I try to protect myself from the voice of my critics, the loudest of which is often my own, by developing a hardened exterior. I must allow my heart and spirit to remain permeable to good and bad, to encouragement and dissent, to life and death if I am to follow the example of Jesus. While I experience a small measure of anxiety at the thought of such vulnerability, I believe that it is in this state that real ministry, given and received, occurs.
Cory Goode, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Signal Mountain Baptist Church, Signal Mountain, TN
The Tuesday evening worship was a reflective time for me. The entire worship experience spoke of the “Faithfulness of God to His Children.” I was challenged by Brad Smith’s appeal to use Souper Bowl Sunday to show God’s love to others. I was reminded that God is looking for availability. The presence of God was manifested in the Music and the Spoken Word. God’s presence represents healing. Healing brings forgiveness and unity.
I also witnessed a message of Hope through the Word of God in Scripture. As the music of “The Sacrifice Acceptable” was played, I reflected on having “a broken and contrite heart” in presence of a Holy God.
The message was a healing moment for me. I was wondering why my kids were not getting the messages I had shared with them.
Also, I wondered why they always did the opposite of what was asked of them. I had begun to think, what a failure I am. Nothing was going according to plans. I had not looked at this as a way God was breaking me. I understand now why I have been crying out to God on behalf of my children. It was meant to be that way. My heart is supposed to be broken by the conditions of our society.
Mark’s message of the Widow’s Mite was challenging. In our society who worships stuff it was refreshing to hear a message about personal sacrifice and self denial. It is time for us to be REAL.
Venessa Edmonds, Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
Hills Chapel CPCA, Decatur, Alabama
Sadly all things must come to an end. As we begin to “wrap up” our time we begin to look ahead to where we came from and anything we left behind. However we must go back, we must go back to our diverse charges both young and old and we go with a message…stay the course.
While Mark never said it, what I heard in my heart was “stay he course.” The stories that we as youth workers involve ourselves in will bless us and keep us when we find ourselves with broken hearts.
Young people are God’s gifts, God’s treasures that we’ve been privileged/honored/blessed to share a little ownership of. Whether a 7th grader or college student we have been placed in their paths so make the most of your time. Stay the course.
Michael Clark
I was struck by Mark’s story if his son and the slow club. First of all, I was reminded of Jesus placing a child before the disciples and telling them to become like children in order to enter the Kingdom. Who but a child in our culture today would think about a slow club?
As I listened to Mark I thought about my numerous “to do” lists. And I was aware that in all my doing I often do not slow down enough to be amazed. After all, I’m a busy adult with way too many responsibilities that keep me from slowing down.
But today – at least for one day – I will slow down. I will invite wonder back into my life. I will allow myself to once again capture my three-year-old self and invite amazement at God’s wonderful creation into my thoughts and my heart.
Mary Jane Pierce Norton
United Methodist Church
I grew up hearing my mother recite “I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Now let us go into the house of the Lord’” practically every time we entered our church. It always seemed a thrilling moment for her, as it indicated to her and to me that corporate worship was about to begin. So when I heard Jay Beech and his band begin to sing “I Was Glad When They Said to Me,” my heart was made glad as it remembered that excitement of a child understanding the importance of the Company of Believers. “Bring on the praise!” I thought. But then, we were “here together; faithful servants from the…,” and I felt alone in this thing (i.e. this ministry), for other than a dear friend, Willa (who was presenting at the Summit), there was no one else from my communion. As I took my seat, I was well aware of the stares that silently screamed, “She’s here by herself.” And I began to feel this roller coaster of emotions that is often experienced in my ministry: “Fired up” one moment because of the opportunity to minister, and “Lord, help me to hold out” the next because the”ministry” seems to be a solo.
There was then, however, that “enchantment” with God that repeatedly occurs in our relationship with Him when we notice how He finds the most inspiring ways to renew and refresh us all – the Garland’s He sends to keep us company, who quietly remind us that God is with us and that He’s not forgotten us; the Diane’s He sends to lift us in prayer, the Diane’s who ironically know nothing about us yet know everything about us. “We Do Not Lose Heart.”
So very often we find ourselves “stuck” in the desert places of our ministries, needing to be lifted, encouraged, prodded, and even coerced. Sure, we recognize the bigger picture, for every opportunity we are given to minister to youth is a gift from God, an opportunity to introduce youngsters to the love Christ Jesus has for all of us. The youth are ministered to, the youth workers are ministered to, and Daddy is glorified. Yes, this ministry is downright draining at times – spiritually, mentally, physically, and fiscally. And to be honest, I sometimes don’t want to do it. But I realized in this worship service that I’m not in this ministry alone, after all. I have God, of course, but I have colleagues, partners in this thing known as youth ministry, as well.
Isn’t it exactly like God to provide the very things we need exactly when and how we need them? Isn’t it like God to send persons into our lives who are willing to go into the desert with us and help us journey back to the Well that never dries? What a wonderfully mighty God we serve! What a wonderfully awesome gift of ministry we have been given to share Christ Jesus with young people around the world. It’s such a special gift…We cannot lose heart!
Adrian C. Evans, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Taylor Chapel C.M.E. Church, Mobile, Alabama
This is a sampling of the conversation that was happening in my head and heart as I was discerning what the Spirit was trying to impart through Mark’s message Sunday night.
Sameness.
Yuck, what a terrible word to describe youth ministry, it’s so generic.
How about togetherness?
Much better.
Single-minded.
No, that sounds too much like narrow-minded.
How about united?
Nice.
We get very caught up in the words that we use to describe ministry, young people, the Church, even God. We sometimes say the same thing as someone else, but don’t like the way the other one said it. So we disagree, come up with our own words and think we have the better way. I’ve often heard it said that what we need is to develop a common language. How about developing a common understanding? I believe we are closer than we think.
Some of our denominations are quite similar, and some of us as individuals are even more so. But, when we start talking religionese (polity, doctrine, yada, yada, yada) we become fragmented and splintered, focusing on our different practices instead of our similar passions. This is the great joy of youth work: we don’t all have to agree about everything all the time, we come together because we can agree on what truly fuels us in ministry.
This is discovered when we Rest, Receive, Repent. Resting, loosens our grip on the worldly things. Receiving the gifts for ministry refreshes us. Repenting purges that which would hinder us. All this R&R&R clears away the clutter that we, and others, have placed between ourselves and the cross; which then again becomes our center post.
Our ministry comes from the center of who we are. Our ministries might look different, but are done in the same name. We are all doing a different dance around the same center post. Difference is good, if nobody was different we would only have melody. But with differences we are able to produce an amazing thing…
Harmony.
Beautiful.
Adrian McMullen, Denominational Staff
Presbyterian Church
(USA)
As I sat in the Disney Leadership Institute session, I was surprised to see how their principles applied amazingly well to youth ministry. If I did not know the context, I would assume the discussion centered on youth ministry. Set the example for others to follow. Create relationships for life. Spark excitement and enthusiasm in others. Recognize and celebrate milestones along the way. Lead by example. Every leader is telling a story about what he or she values.
We as youth ministers are not the youth ministry. Youth ministry happens in the relationships between with youth, parents, volunteers and the church. In order for leadership to happen, we must empower others, provide the resources needed, and let them do the task. We have to be in communication, in constant dialogue, so that we can receive feedback and follow up to continue to minister in the most effective way possible.
Walt Disney said of Epcot, “It will never be finished.” Likewise, our job will never be finished as we continue to live out and guide others on a lifelong journey of faith.
Ruth Perkins Lee, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Auburn First Baptist Church, Auburn, AL
