Opening Day: Youth Pastor Challenge Week
This week on CurryStew.org I'll be posting some of challenging questions and thoughts that I ask myself on a regular basis that help me stay centered as I allow God to use my life to advance His kingdom.
Every day there will be at least one post dedicated to this challenge week.
What could you do with it?
- Take the thought and chew on it
- Comment to leave your thoughts feedback or disagreements,
- Comment and offer insights or other questions
- Comment and leave a leadership question you ask yourself as a leader that might be helpful to all the readers!
If you're in...buckle up, get ready to leave comments, and enjoy this first challenge question.
Why are you REALLY doing student ministry?
I find that there are lots of reasons people do student ministry...some valid...some absolute horrible...but for me, asking myself this questions helps me get down to the core of why I'm doing what I'm doing and it's a great question for someone wired up like me to keep coming back to.
Try not to give the "church" answer like all of our students do sometimes..."isn't the answer always Jesus?" haha Think about it your motives, where you heart is when you show up to work every day. How do you respond when "extra" or "more" is required? Do you really care what happens to your students when they go to college?
Again, why are you REALLY doing student ministry? If your motives aren't in the right place, what steps should you take?
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Right now I'm doing a student ministry internship. From that I have realized that I am passionate about sharing life with Jr. Highers! They are so underestimated, misunderstood, vulnerable. They are fantastic. They are the forgottens of the church (much like the college age/post-college/pre-family — like myself!). I relate to them on so many different levels. They are in that in between stage of not being children or teens, much like single young adults who are post-high school and pre-family.
Jr. high is a time of trying new things. Kids are realizing they can make choices. They are forming friendships that effect their lives. I love hearing their questions, blunt honesty, and hilarious conversations.
I am pursuing jr. high ministry because so many people out there don't like jr. high kids. But God loves them and so do I (no, that was not meant to be a "churchy answer! haha…). I believe in jr. high kids. I listen to them. They mean the world to me!
Ministry is tough and not without its hardships. But to me, it's worth it (1 Cor. 15.58).
That's awesome!! You hit the nail on the head about Middle Schoolers! Your insights will serve you well as you help them take steps towards Jesus!!!