You know sometimes you pray for stuff and you don’t know exactly what you are praying for, but then God lets you know, haha. So over the past month or so I’ve had a lot more at work going on than I should. It’s not just me, our student ministry staff has all taken on a lot more stuff. We’ve been trying to figure out some solutions as a staff on what to do. Ultimately I don’t really know a solution. I’ve realized, thanks to a new staff member, that I’ve missed on a lot of things especially really pouring into leaders helping them grow and really wanting to get better at what they do.
During that time as well, I’ve asked God not only to show me where and who and what to pour my time and energy into, but also that I would do some “real” ministry. Some of you might have been there, others not. I love my job, but even when there is numerical growth and there seems to be some spiritual growth in your students and leaders it’s not “enough”. So I asked God, “Can you give me some tough stuff to deal with?” Talk about ignorant
So over the past month here’s what’s happened:
DSS call, kid lost a fingernail in our service, kid gets staples in head as a result of horseplay in our services, asked to talk to an 11 year old kid with one of the most terrible stories of family broken by drug abuse you could ever hear, a kid wrestling with a faith decision (but really wants Jesus to fix his bullying problems and then move on…but that’s where it starts), I’ve got a baby due in a little over two months, asked to teach a breakout for Orange, and having a student staff member leave to start their own business.
Needless to say I will think more carefully about my prayers. But I will tell you this, I am more convinced than ever that what I do matters. What you do in Preteen Ministry matters. According to a study in 2004 by George Barna:
nearly half of all Americans who accept Jesus Christ as their savior do so before reaching the age of 13 (43%), and that two out of three born again Christians (64%) made that commitment to Christ before their 18th birthday.
Not only do I believe that number is growing, but I believe that our kids could make a difference in growing that number.
Ultimately my question of God was a notion of my own selfishness, rather than being renewed in the grace of God. But I’m thankful to God that he encouraged me and let me know that I’m doing meaningful work in the kingdom of God. That is what I want my life to be about…. I have a long time to persevere.
What about you, does your work have meaning? Are you just going through the motions?
