Confession: God smacked me right in the head today with some truth about ministry that I had either forgotten or taken for granted.
For the last several weeks our Student Ministry has been doing flag football with the guys. For the most part we have had great turnout every week. Today, however, 3 guys showed up. Why? I don't know. More than likely many others just had a busy week and weekend and needed the rest today. Others maybe didn't want to be there. Regardless 3 showed up. At first it was just 2 and a 3rd showed up 30 minutes past our start time. I was ready to "close up shop" for the activity, but decided I would run the track for a mile and let the guys throw the ball around. Why run? I needed to clear my head and talk to God. In the time it took me to run I watched these three simply have fun. They didn't care that we didn't have a huge game. I did and I was not happy. Again, God gave clarity in just moments. I was witnessing an older youth take time to teach and play football with 2 younger ones. I was missing the picture that 3 youth and I were connecting, building relationship that is more important than any flag football game. The four of us eventually sat down and just talked about life. Simple and complex things. Life was shared.
Here me out any youth minister who might read this, especially those serving in small towns.
Ministry has right moments, not just events
Ecclesiastes 3 speaks of a time for everything. Essentially, the writer says that all things serve a specific purpose in the right time. For today, it was the right time to get to know these 3 youth better. It was a chance to invest quality time that may not always present itself. Jesus invested into 12 men who did incredible things for the kingdom. What if these 3 are to be like the "12" for me? What if I had simply just let the moment pass and not invested? What opportunities would I have missed? When things to do not go as planned, the numbers we look for as ministers is smaller than anticipated, or what we have accomplished seems like failure; perhaps we are missing the "right moments" that God has planned. We must moved passed ourselves and see His work instead.
Our response can reveal our value or lack thereof of each student
I'm sure there is a better way to word this point, but to clarify let me ask a question. If I had canceled my plans of the game at 3:30 and missed the opportunity, what do I say about the significance of the boys that showed up? They aren't worth my time because more guys didn't show? Yet, Christ tells us to seek out all people to share the gospel with, to share life and joy with. My original thoughts were anti-Christ's teaching when examined deep enough. Graciously God spoke and helped me realize this truth and instead I hope these guys saw that I cared for them despite my plans not coming to fruition. Who knows how that will impact them or how that investment might come back into the ministry.
So, check yourself and your thoughts when you are in the position I was. Remember, that we are called to bring Christ to all people and all size of groups. Your response can possibly make or break a student in how they understand your view of them. I think we are all guilty of this at some point. Let's help students remember that they all matter.
It's okay to "remove" yourself from the situation for clarity
As ministers I wonder if we sometimes feel like we are supposed to be Superman to our students? When we get frustrated, tired, sad, etc. we shouldn't reveal those emotions because they aren't strong. However, it shows we are human and sometimes need a break. Even more, those emotions come to us when we are most self-centered. This was especially true in my case. I needed to "de-center," and be re-centered upon Christ and His mission. I believe that is a more important lesson to be caught by our students than we give credit for. So, in the middle of activity or events, if necessary, pull yourself away to be re-centered when plans do not go our way. Even if it is for a couple of minutes, the clarity the Spirit can bring could the the catalyst for something incredible.
So, for many of you this may be a "duh!" blog post. For some it may be a time to reflect. I believe that all of us need these reminders from time to time. It doesn't matter how much of a veteran or rookie of a ministry you are. For me this day has been a little of both. I know what I have written about, but reflection was needed to be a better minister down the road.
