What Keeps You Coming Back For More - Part 1

Last night our Student Ministry team welcomed twenty new volunteers into the LifeLine family.  It was exciting to look around and see the fresh energy and potential.  As they drove away I couldn't help but wonder what God was going to do in each of their lives this year, and how He will use them to intersect the lives and journeys of the students we serve.  

As I laid in bed last night trying to fall asleep, my thoughts shifted from the new faces, to the familiar faces.  The faces of those volunteers who show up every week, year after year to give of their creativity, time, and energy to love and serve students and other volunteers in the name of Jesus.  It made me wonder, with all of the challenges that student ministry brings, what keeps them coming back for more.  

As I processed this question, one particular volunteer came to mind.  We will call him Scott, mostly because that is his name.  

Scott has been around our ministry for eighteen years.  In fact, when I began serving as a volunteer nine years ago, Scott single handedly ran the Jr. High ministry as a volunteer.  While our ministry has grown and changed over time, Scott has selflessly served, lead and loved Jr. high students and leaders for almost two decades.  

So, why does Scott continue to come back to LifeLine year after year?  

Here are my thoughts... I hope to add his in a few days.

1. He loves God... and He loves students.  It seems so simple, but longevity in student ministry takes constant commitment to maintaining health in your relationship with God and maintaining a passion for students.  When one of these is out of place, it's easy to feel discouraged.  

2. He believes that God made him for this.  He believes that God has put Him where he is on purpose and trusts God to use him, even when he can't see growth or change.

3. He believes in what we are doing. He believes that the mission is greater than the politics and keeps the big picture in front of him.

4. He maintains a spirit of humility and grace. If anyone would be entitled to have opinions about "the way things should be done," it would be Scott.  As a staff we realize that our volunteers are our greatest asset, so we work hard to consult their thoughts and opinions on much of what we do.  While Scott often has thoughts, ideas, and wisdom to offer, he always brings them with grace and understanding.  Additionally, when we make decisions as staff, he always respects them, even if he disagrees, even when we are wrong.   

5. He has the support of his family.  Scott has an awesome wife and four very cool children.  His volunteering certainly comes at their expense from time to time.  Over and over again I have seen their encouragement and understanding fuel Scott on.

Thank You

Anne Jackson, one of my favorite bloggers, asked the question today on her blog (www.flowerdust.net): What is "One thing you would tell the Church Leader/Pastor World."

As I thought about the question initially, my mind began to draft a list of thoughts and advice. I would love to say that this list was composed with love and grace, but in all honesty, my original thoughts came from a place of judgement, correction, and even a little unprocessed hurt. A few moments into this foolishness, I became overwhelmed by the selfishness of my thoughts and I began to think about the incredible challenge and responsibility of being in a leader/pastor role.

We all need to be held accountable to what God has given us, and there are certainly times that correction is necessary. However, when most of our time is spent critiquing every move a leader makes instead of encouraging them or holding them up in prayer, I believe we are in error. Leadership is God given. This does not mean that we do not question a leader or hold them accountable, but we must balance this with trust in God's sovereignty.

As I spent more time thinking about the question, I was left with an incredible sense of thankfulness. Here is my response.

Dear Pastor/Leader, Thank you for taking your role seriously. Thank you for working hard to maintain your personal health and integrity, so that you don’t distract us from the gospel. Thank you for pouring out your life to teach us truth and show us what it looks like to live the Way of Jesus. Thank you for constantly studying and striving to teach us and lead us in a way that is consistent with God’s Word. Thank you for the sacrifices you make that go unseen. Thank you for pointing us back to the cross. Thank you for admitting your mistakes and being confident enough to stand for what is right. I’m sure you have plenty of people around you to tell you where you don’t measure up, and I just want to say thank you. Continue to find your strength and peace in knowing that God loves you and He has put you where you are on purpose.

I encourage you to take the time everyday to pray for your pastors/leaders. They need it, and if you are like me, so do you.

Confession: Relationship Really Does Matter

Confession: Sometimes Youth Pastors and Youth Staff trick themselves into believing that it is our incredible planning, teaching, worship, studying, leading, etc. that really sets a student up for life change. Ultimately we know it is God's Word that transforms lives, but we have moments and even seasons where we are deceived. Please don't hear me saying that these things don't matter, because structure and preparation are vital to a thriving ministry, but when the rubber meets the road relationship is most often the avenue that life change occurs through. Relationship, is the conduit through which faith and truth take on flesh. This is not a new concept, but it is something that we always need to keep at the forefront of our minds as we lead and love students.

This is a picture of a group of guys I had the awesome privilege of walking with for 7 years (6th-12th grade) as their leader. These guys mean the world to me, not because they are so cool (which they happen to be), but because in leading them I learned so much about God, faith, spiritual formation, community, and the list goes on, and they learned the same from me. These guys graduated 2 years ago, and due to my role, so did much of my direct connection with students.

Over the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to intentionally spend some time with a group of students. I have re-learned a lot in this short period of time, but more than anything I have been reminded that time spent with students is time well spent. As a youth worker we will never have the opportunity to influence a student the way that their parents can, but we can be a significant adult voice in their life cheering them along, speaking truth, and offering accountability. The time we designate to calling, texting, IM'ing, Facebooking, showing up at events and especially meeting with them in person opens doors for them to see Christ in us and through us. In addition we get the opportunity to be reminded why we do what we do.

In the midst of a crazy schedule, please take time to spend with your students. Remember who they are, remember why God put you where you are, and most importantly allow them to see Christ through you.