This post is sort of unusual compared to then content I usually post. Typically I am posting reflections on my personal journey with the Lord and things that can others can relate to. This post, while still reflecting on my personal journey, however, reflects more on the cognitive side of this. rather than the affective. It is meant to display God's grace in not only my growth in his Kingdom, but also on my professional development.

I have been doing youth ministry for over 5 years now, but this last month marked my the end of my first year of full-time youth ministry. So these are the 5 Things I Learned in My First Year of Full-Time Youth Ministry:

1. You have to use words, but your life is what students listen to the most. I think one of the most depressing things that I had to get over was that my words were not very memorable. One of the coolest things ever is when a student grabs ahold of your message, and journals it, or tweets it, or videos it, or talks about it. But the reality is that this doesn't happen very often. Standing alone, my words don't really do much.  In fact, almost every student I have ever spoken to do not remember 95% of what I have ever said in talks. Talk about de-motivation! But here is the thing, even though not memorable, many of my talks made a big difference in lives thanks to two factors: 1) the power of God working behind my capabilities, and 2) the time that I spent with all of my students showing

them what it looked like to follow Jesus. Though the message in my talks may not have been retained very long, the message of my life was much harder to forget.

2. Parents are not the enemy. Maybe this is an age thing or just very common in youth ministry, but there always seems like there is a cold war going on between parents and the youth ministry. Though no shots are fires, it feels like there is a stand-off for the rights to time and attention of their students. And though we both want the same thing - that the student would grow up to love and serve Jesus with his/her life - there remains this awkward tension sometimes when we meet in hallways on in an email because we don't exactly know what the other is thinking about us. (Maybe I'm way off, but that's the way it appears from my end sometimes.) But one of the coolest things that I have learned in youth ministry is that when that communication gap was bridged, and I could develop relationships my your students' parents, I realized a shocking truth - that parents were actually cheering for me and that they were actually really cool people. They just wanted to make sure that their student was getting the best ministry possible. And when I actually took the time to listen to them, what I heard were stories of fear, joy, pain, success, and longing. Parents want the best for their students and so do I. A little professionalism, a lot of communication, and a little time went a long way to gain their trust and something even greater - a group of some of the greatest cheer leaders on the planet!

3. You cannot possibly over communicate. I don't know how many times it took for me to learn this one. In fact, there are still times where I have to re-learn this lesson. Communication that is well in advance, thorough, and accurate is the goal. Obviously, there are last minute changes that come up, but I have learned that the more people that I tell and the more information I give, the more successfully everyone will be informed. And once of the only complaints I receive with somewhat regularity is that so-and-so didn't know about my well-planned event and really wished they had so they could be there.

4. Lead your youth leaders well and you will in turn lead your students well. I figured this one out very early on. I can only connect with so many students in a spiritually significant way. But when I make an intentional effort to disciple my leaders and lay out clear expectations, I am multiplying our ministry into something greater than I was ever capable of on my own. So now I love to take leaders out for coffee, or invite them to our house, or text them during the week to see how I can pray
for them. And as I am pouring into them, I explain that this is what I expect them do be doing with their small group. Ministry modeled. Ministry multiplied.

5. You're not alone! Man, I tell you what... One of the biggest lies that youth pastors believe is that you have to be the superman of your ministry. You have to know exactly what God's vision is for your ministry, know everybody in the ministry, be super engaging, create an Hillsong Young & Free environment, lead thousands of kids to Jesus, and do all of this under budget. And on top of that, there is the pressure to communicate all of this to your volunteers and train them on how to achieve this. And after some time of believing the lies about how inadequate I was to achieve all of this on my own (despite how noble these aspirations were), I began to become extremely overwhelmed. But one of the most freeing things ever was when I realized that my youth leaders were with me in this. They actually wanted to make a difference too, and they were really good at youth ministry already. All I had to do was give direction and lead on. I didn't have to do everything. I have hands on leaders, other youth pastors, parents, articles and blogs, and my own fellow staff members all to lean on. They are so incredible. I just have to trust that in all of our joint efforts, Jesus is receiving just as much glory as those flashy ministries I follow on Instagram.

(6. BONUS! Google apps are WAY better for working, creating, and collaborating than Microsoft apps! This one speaks for itself.)

This poem is dedicated to all the students at Harvest Baptist Church that I have grown to really love and appreciate over the last few months. This is a result of my journey with the Lord and learning who I really am in His eye as opposed to who I see myself as. So often, we are tempted to think little of ourselves because of how messed up we are, but if we really see ourselves as God sees us, we will realize that there is greatness and worth tucked inside this fragile frame. No matter what the world tells us, or what we tell ourselves, we are wanted by the Eternal Creator.

--- --- ---

 

You.

Yeah, you.

I'm speaking to the real you.

 

The you that only you see

When you're hiding from His mercy.

The you that you cover up

When ashamed of that other love.

I'm talking to you.

Y. O. U.

Do I know you?

I don't think that I do.

I know a facade.

I see a mask.

I know there's something more.

I know there's something past

The happy face that you wear,

That pretty lace in your hair,

The cozy space that you share,

Your high school days - like you cared.

There's someone inside of you

   You'd rather not meet - 

      Mysterious and hidden - 

         You don't know what you'd see.

You've been hiding so long

You don't remember yourself - 

Your real self, the true you - 

Not the pictures on the shelf.

Are you a monster or a prince?

The question makes you wince.

Are you the drop-out or the dancer?

You don't know how to answer.

But I'm talking to you.

Y. O. U.

Do any know you?

My God knows you through.

 

"You have scoped me

And You have known me.

You know when I'm down,

And when I'm in town;

You discern my thoughts for days

And are well-acquainted with my ways.

Before I speak a word,

You might as well have heard." (adapted from Psalm 139:1-4)

 

But the story won't stop here.

You don't need to live in fear.

He knows you every night

Because He made you very right.

"Your craftsmanship is awesome.

You made me with wonder.

I know I'm tailor-made.

I am never going under." (adapted from Psalm 139:13-14)

 

I'm calling out to you.

Your heaven-made self - 

Come out of that shellf;

Get off of that shelf.

 

Come alive and meet Him - 

The One who knows you - 

Stop hiding from your past;

Find a love that is true.

 

Stop faking you.

You're not too far.

He'll take you in

Just as you are.

 

He's calling to you.

Y. O. U.

Don't fear to be true.

He loves the real you.