I sat across the table from a quiet, thoughtful servant from Stonebridge FWB Church on the last day of our recent mission trip. We had spent the week working alongside the men, women & youth of his church - working on invalid’s homes, cleaning up the grounds of their newly completed facility, and holding a Vacation Bible School.
We had watched the enthusiasm and faith of this small mission church as they reached out to their community and loved their neighbor as themself. I had watched their anticipation of God doing great things with humbling awe. And as this quiet, faithful man asked me this question, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of answer he was looking for. Was it big youth facilities and a full time youth guy that would draw the kids they are hoping for?
Is it a kickin’ band and stage lights and smoke machines and lots of LOUD music?
Is it trendy promotions and hip t-shirts?
As I considered how to answer this earnest question, I thought about our youth ministry. I realized how easy it is when God has blessed your ministry to become pridefulor complacent
or something worse.
It is also tempting to think that it is all the “stuff” that we have or do that reaches young people. But I have found that to be so far from the truth. Recently I asked a group of our young people what caused them to connect to our ministry. They all (100%) said it was a significant adult making them feel welcome and special.
Wow! Who would have thought?
So I shared some of those thoughts with this humble servant from this neat church. That they already have everything they need to let God use them to reach young people, if they will just be available for those opportunities. But I want to hear your thoughts. What connects you to the ministry you're involved in? Or what has caused you not to connect? I can't wait to hear your thoughts!
It is so good to be back from our trip and with a renewed passion to be available for God to use us to reach people. Let's anticipate together that God will do great things in our ministry, the the ministry of Stonebridge FWB church and whatever other ministries you may be involved in! God bless...
2 comments:
Saw your blog posted on facebook and gave it a read this morning. As a alumni of Calvary's Youth Group, there are two things that I still look back on and recognize as the reasons why I was connected.
1) Community - The students as a whole developed a community that spanned both social circles and financial status. It is amazing what God can do with students who want to grow in him, together.
2) I agree 100% with the students that you asked about. The adults that spent some of their time, pouring into my life definitely drew me in when I wanted to leave.
I don't think you could have had a better answer for that man.-awww inspiring!
I know before Thor got sick, he and I were just so saddened by the church system-just like that man, actually more so than that. But now, after so much compassion was trust upon us we now see so far beyond the 'stuff' or 'the system' and into the spirit of every person.
Post a Comment