Filed under: Faith, Friends, God, Leadership, Learning my trade, Legacy Fellowship, Ministry, Religion, Teenagers, Youth Ministry, church | Tags: Children's Ministry, Spiritual Gifts, The Holy Spirit
Last night we had a little bit of a different meeting at Filter Youth Ministries. I felt like God really wanted me to let the youth in on my vision for the ministry and to have a somewhat interactive discussion about it. I spent some time going over what God has put in my heart in regard to youth ministry and I talked a little about some things we could do as individuals and as a group to infect and affect our schools, workplaces, communities and the world. It was pretty good.
Our (Legacy Fellowship’s) Children’s Pastor, Chad, decided to sit in on the service with his son. My, what a difference perspective can make. When we talked about the service afterward he used the word “phenomenal”. I think he over embellished a little bit but the point is he thought I did a fairly good job. He is my friend so he could have flat out lied too. You never know.
But what a difference perspective makes. He told me he would have a hard time preaching to youth, especially a small group like we have at Legacy. He said he would be too distracted by actually seeing who was talking/text messaging/sleeping in his class. I told him I thought they were really good last night. You see, from time to time the entire aforementioned behaviors/activities can and do happen but apparently kindergarteners up to 6th graders must just sit attentively in their chairs hanging on every word. Wait, huh? I teach them from time to time too. When I am done I usually am so frazzled I can’t see straight.
In 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Paul tells we each have different gifts:
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
The reason I even mention this is because there have been times that I think I am not cut out for what I am doing. There are times that I think I am the absolute worst youth minister on the planet. I needed Chad to sit in that class last night. I needed him to tell me he couldn’t do what I do. I needed the Holy Spirit to remind me that we all have different gifts. And I needed to be reminded that I can’t do what I do without the Holy Spirit and the gifting He brings.
Yesterday someone asked me what I do for fun. I told him, “I’m a Youth Pastor”.
