Hey guys, something that means a lot to me, is happening tonight...well, really, over this whole weekend really....and you may have the same thing happening in your world as well.
Tonight, some college kids are on a retreat, seeking to deepen their walk with Christ as they sharpen one another, laugh with one another, disagree with one another and build relationships that will last a lifetime! These college students, about 8-10 in size have a very interesting story.
Most of them come out of the youth program that I served in my last church in Smyrna, Georgia. And some of the college students that are attending are youth from my current church I serve at in Alpharetta, Ga. They didn't really know each other that well 6 weeks ago and what has happened over that time is just beautiful to behold.
We started a college ministry this summer at my church, to give the students who come back home for the summer break, a place to connect, discuss and hang out. Churches that are not located in major college towns struggle in the college ministry area and so do we. We still will after this summer is over, but this was a start. It is hard to sustain a group when they go away for 9-10 months out of the year and come back sporadically, even during the summer. But what I have found in my 17 years of doing youth ministry is this (and it has been reiterated to me more so now with this group than ever), they want leadership, discipleship...they desire connection, involvement and mentoring. They also long for a place back home that feels like home.
I have one former student in particular that I have continued to spend time with and invest in over these years. He has volunteered for my current church for many events and has made some huge connections with our guys and girls in the youth program. He started coming to this college thing at our church and invited students from my last church. It was awesome to see all of the students coming back for the summer and then as an added bonus, I got to see college kids I hadn't seen since they graduated 3-4 years ago from my last church.
I thought the dynamic would be strange at first, but then I realized, they are used to this kinda environment at college anyway. They are, mostly comfortable, meeting new people and branching themselves out. It has been a real pleasure watching students that allowed me to pour in to them over these last 4-7 years, from different churches, different backgrounds, connect like they have been doing. So, much to my joy, I found out yesterday that the students from my old church had planned a small college retreat to get some stuff going in their church and they had invited some of the college students from my current church to tag along, and they did!
In that room this weekend, is somewhat a result of the last 7 years of faithfulness to this God calling, in my life, for youth. There is no way, 7 years ago, when I knew these Smyrna kids as high school students, if you asked me would this weekend happen in 2013, would I have imagined it as possible. There are many different reasons why, but this just doesn't usually happen. I personally struggle, more than I would like to admit, with the thought, "am I really making a difference." Come on, if you volunteer with youth or work with youth in any capacity, you have asked yourself the same question, on multiple occasions. We don't work with youth because we expect results...most of us never get to see the fruits of the time spent raking, weeding and pouring water until many years later. But on this occasion, God revealed to me, "see, it is important. You are making a difference." It's moments like this I just throw my hands up in complete celebration and say, "Thank You, God....for allowing me to see this."
They are assembled on Lake Sinclair, at a lake house, going after God! These kids are passionate about "following," not just "believing." Now, you can kick the meaning of those words around, given the place an individual is at in their walk with Christ, but this weekend is about pursuit, pursing God by setting aside their busy schedules, because to them...what could be more important than this?
Somewhere, in your world, a bunch of college kids might be on a mission trip, on a retreat, hanging out at Waffle House or chilling in someones basement, praying for one another, seeking the face of God and not being content with this idea of cultural Christianity. You may know these kids personally and a prayer you have been praying for years might be answered tonight or this weekend, as they meet and discuss life, injustice, morality, marriage, career and finances.
I'm not sure who exactly went this weekend, but you have, collected in that lake house, the future leaders of the church...well, not even just future, that's a weak statement...you have current young leaders, of the church, ready to make their mark in this world for Christ. They are on deck, timing the pitcher, just perfectly, taking those practice swings, studying the situation....so when their turn at-bat comes up, they are prepared and ready. And they all come from different walks of life...they aren't career ministers and clergy (at least not yet)....they are aspiring coaches, financial advisers, medical professionals, teachers and educators, journalists, reporters, and so on....all with their different gifts and talents, preparing and living out 1 Corinthians 12, being the body of Christ, made up of many parts, working cohesively and with unity and purpose, glorifying the One who binds them and strengthens them together.
This weekend, may I ask you to please pray for Coleman, Justin, Chad, Amy, Alyse, Christin, Thomas, Chelsea and all of the others there (Sorry, Coleman mentioned to me briefly who all was going but it was well after my ADD meds had worn off and I can't remember everyone's name).
For all of the inner turmoil we create as Youth Pastors, within ourselves....are we doing a good job, is any of it connecting and sinking, is it really making a difference....Yes, I will still struggle with that question many more times to come, but on this night, it is my prayer that God has already and will continue to move in a such a mighty way in each life this weekend, that they can all look back at this moment, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years from now and say, "Ah, do you remember that one time at Lake Sinclair...." That's where it got started!
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