Youth Ministry Highlights

So throughout high school and college, I was convinced that God wanted me to be a youth pastor. Once I graduated high school, I spent every summer working with youth so that I could one day become the youth pastor I knew I was meant to be. That's what I thought until I finally became a youth pastor all on my own. I thought I was ready. I thought it was what God wanted.

I was wrong.

My first and only full-time youth pastor job was at a great church, but I couldn't handle the work. The kids were awesome, but I was overwhelmed. I had always worked with other youth pastors when I did youth work. There was always someone to help me, lead me, and guide me. Here, I was alone.

I walked away.

I went into teaching for a couple of years, and then Josh and I were called to the UK. That's another set of blogs for another day...

After the UK, I was done with ministry for awhile. I had nothing left to give. I worked at a preschool and then began teaching again. Even though I knew teaching would entail youth ministry, it was nice to work with kids again, but not be their main spiritual authority. That's a lot of pressure for me. I thought my youth ministry days were behind me.

Until last night.

Last night, Josh and I were able to catch up with Rodney and Jen. I interned with Rodney in New Port Richey, Florida one summer in his youth group. I had a blast with his group of kids and learned a lot about life and ministry. I made some great friends and thought I would never see or talk with them again.

One of the things about youth ministry that can be both good and bad is the fact that most kids don't remember you after you exit their lives. You were fun while you were in it but never made any lasting impact on them. I thought that's how it was in New Port Richey.

I guess I was wrong.

Rodney and Jen were catching me up on all the kids I worked with while I was there. Most of them are married and not kids anymore. First of all, it made me feel old. But then Jen started texting Chris, a guy who could easily be my brother, and he not only remembered me, but said he missed me as much as I've missed him. It was the best feeling I've had in a long while.

It's crazy to me how much people can mean to you even if you didn't get to know them as much as you'd like to have or be with them very long. It reminds me that true community can span both time and distance. True relational connections may be stretched, but some are never broken.

I guess I'll have to make a trip back down to NPR. I can't wait :)