Well, here it is again… The end of summer is right around the corner and it will be back to the class room for our students before you know it. As a youth minister I spend a lot of my time in the months outside of summer getting ready for summer. I have trips to plan and events to coordinate. But for what? So many student ministries pack their calendars during the months of June, July and August with camps and retreats and mission trips. Youth pastors spend countless hours planning and mapping to insure a smooth and “successful” trip. But for what?
It has been a long time since I posted on this blog, mostly because I have been busy with summer, but today I want to make sure that I come back with a bang! Here is what my summer as a youth pastor was all about and what I want all students (and parents) to hear. My summer was about my God and serving him with my life.
This summer was a great year for the student ministry at Creekside Church here in Midlothian, Tx. We had a great church camp, climbed a mountain and even did some hot sweaty work in New Orleans. Teens worked in VBS leading young kids through a backyard adventure and we had a lot of fun just swimming or hanging out at Six Flags. The summer was fun, but what was it for?
I cannot speak for all of my teens or their families, but this summer was created for something, and I don’t mean what I created. God created this summer for something special and I was blessed to be a part of it. I could fill this time talking about where our kids met God over the past couple of months and how he changed lives, and while that was amazing that is not the point of this post.
You see, we can talk about the amazing summer but the truth is that was the past. We can look back and see what God did in our lives or we can do something else, I prefer the something else. The God that we encountered this summer did not just show up for the summer. I heard many teens throughout different events talk about how they just love the opportunity to get away and be with God and it bothered me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I loved that they were in a place that they could feel God’s presence in their lives, but I did not like the fact that they felt the only time they can feel that is when they are on some youth group trip.
TEENS HEAR THIS! The God that you felt at youth camp, or mission trip or on some mountain in the wilderness is still near, you just have to take time to be near him. The reason that we feel God more on “church events” is because we are thinking about him and people are talking about him. It was amazing to see students come to tears as they thought about how amazing their God is. The words of peace and hope and love that would flow from their mouths were like music. The unity that was experienced was moving and unbreakable… until we left and came home.
We do a really good job of having “experiences” with God. Those little moments that we actually set aside time and listen. But I believe God desires more than just the occasional “experience.” We are called to live our life immersed in His grace and allow it to change our life! Experiences are for theme parks and concerts, a life with God is so much more than a brief experience. So many ministry leaders are guilty of leading through experience. We invest so much time in creating the perfect worship set list, establishing the perfect lighting and motion back grounds. We write and rewrite our words to draw every ounce of emotion from our audience in hopes that it takes them to a place with their God. Student leaders work to build programs and events that are exciting and intriguing. We construct an opportunity to lead students into an experience with God that we hope will be life changing. We are really good at leading through experience. In fact we are so good at the experience that many of us spend our time between experiences waiting for the next experience and in doing so we miss God.
In preparing for the next experience we miss His voice. We disregard His hand. We turn away from His face because we are busy getting ready for what is next.
This school year don’t waste it looking forward to next summer’s “experience.” Remember to slow down and listen. Get together with that group that was so close together and build each other up. The God that you experienced is wanting more than just a few weeks, He wants your life. He wants to shower you in his grace, lift you from the pits that this world is so good at dragging us into. Take time to sing praises for no other reason than God is Holy. This summer I hope was an amazing one for you and your family. But I ask you, what was it for? Was this another great summer with some really good experiences with God? Or was this a summer that you brought you and God together forever? This summer reminded me how to live.
Blessings,
Steven