I had a disturbing conversation with a friend today. Not a great friend, but someone I respect and trust. She said that she and her family were looking for a new church because her daughter, a high school freshman, hasn't been able to get connected and get interested in the youth ministry at our church. As someone who has led or co-led the youth ministry at our church for about 5 years now, this was interesting, frustrating, and discouraging to me all at the same time.
On one hand, her comment was that we don't "offer enough" for the high school students. We typically meet Wednesday nights, and we have either a bible study, fun night, or some combination of the two. I can see this point...I am a volunteer with a job and a family (two young kids) and I don't always have time to do everything our students would like to do. I know that's a shortcoming for me. And, we used to do more. We did monthly events for the high school students (she didn't come to those either, usually, but that's beside the point). She also said that homework often gets in the way of her daughter coming Wednesday night. I get that, too, as my first grader has a hard time finishing her homework sometimes, and I know high school students are often overwhelmed with all they have to do. Finally, she said, "I just wish we had more kids coming." I can see that point, I wish we did too. I took these comments as fair criticism and took them to heart... I really do want to do things with excellence, just like we try to do everything at Genesis.
On the other hand, I cannot invite other students. The only high school students I ever have access to are the ones that come to our church and the friends they bring. If she wants her friends to come, she should invite them. There are three ways to do youth ministry with your friends. Go to one they all attend, invite them to yours, or make friends with the people who are there. Most students will do a combination of these. On the homework front, many of our students have lots of homework, but they're really engaged and make it a priority- not over their schoolwork, but alongside it. Also, I would like to do more things, but many students won't come to the things we do offer, at least not regularly. How can we commit to offer more events just in hopes some of the less engaged students will come?
I don't know where to land on this. I've poured my heart and soul into these students, and I'm thrilled with what God has done in some of their lives, and I love being a part of that. On the other hand, I look back at the setbacks we've had- high school students that have left the faith, many that have had babies before marriage, and I really feel like a failure. Do I give up, and hope that someone else comes along with more zeal and more passion and more... time? Or, do I hang in and hope that my presence is not depriving some eager volunteer of a chance to invest in the lives of these kids?
The tough conversation was offset for me this morning, though, when I got into the auditorium. I saw a former student, a college sophomore, who is doing great, walking in her faith and she gave me a big hug. Then, I saw two sisters who were involved in the ministry and moved to Florida, and they were so excited to be back and see me and, especially, their friends with whom they shared some neat experiences. I feel very blessed to be a part of the lives of these young people, and I feel at times, that God has used me to speak into their lives. I just wish I knew if I still had the drive and desire (and ability) to do it.
So, that's it. Don't read this as a vendetta against this student or her family... I haven't mentioned names because I love them and don't want their discomfort to become the target of my frustration. I'm bummed that this girl is not connected. I'm disappointed that whatever I've done hasn't been enough. I'm frustrated that this family is church shopping to please their daughter, who may not get involved anywhere (CS Lewis, in The Screwtape Letters, suggests that if the enemy can't stop someone from going to church the next best thing is to have them shop for a church that 'suits them.') So, what would you do? I'd love your comments.
Steve
Showing posts with label faithfulness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faithfulness. Show all posts
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
How great your faithfulness!
Lamentations. The very word just makes even the strong in constitution think of greiving and sorrow. So, why is there so much hope in those five short chapters? Not much to write today, I just wanted to share these few verses from the book of Lamentations.
Background: Israel is in ruin. The town of Jerusalem has been destroyed by the Babylonians. Her people are scattered everywhere. Surely God has deserted her. But, out of the sorrow comes this:
He ground my face into the gravel.
He pounded me into the mud.
I gave up on life altogether.
I've forgotten what the good life is like.
I said to myself, "This is it. I'm finished.
God is a lost cause."
It's a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God
I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—
the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there's one other thing I remember,
and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left.
God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It's a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.
It's a good thing when you're young
to stick it out through the hard times.
When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions:
Wait for hope to appear.
Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The "worst" is never the worst.
Why? Because the Master won't ever
walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
in throwing roadblocks in the way:
Stomping down hard
on luckless prisoners,
Refusing justice to victims
in the court of High God,
Tampering with evidence—
the Master does not approve of such things.
-Lamentations 3:16-36 (The Message)
Background: Israel is in ruin. The town of Jerusalem has been destroyed by the Babylonians. Her people are scattered everywhere. Surely God has deserted her. But, out of the sorrow comes this:
He ground my face into the gravel.
He pounded me into the mud.
I gave up on life altogether.
I've forgotten what the good life is like.
I said to myself, "This is it. I'm finished.
God is a lost cause."
It's a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God
I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—
the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there's one other thing I remember,
and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left.
God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It's a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.
It's a good thing when you're young
to stick it out through the hard times.
When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions:
Wait for hope to appear.
Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The "worst" is never the worst.
Why? Because the Master won't ever
walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
in throwing roadblocks in the way:
Stomping down hard
on luckless prisoners,
Refusing justice to victims
in the court of High God,
Tampering with evidence—
the Master does not approve of such things.
-Lamentations 3:16-36 (The Message)
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Preparing for God knows what
"Master," said David, "don't give up hope. I'm ready to go and fight this Philistine."
Saul answered David, "You can't go and fight this Philistine. You're too young and inexperienced—and he's been at this fighting business since before you were born."
David said, "I've been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I'd go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no difference—I killed it. And I'll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. God, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine."
Saul said, "Go. And God help you!" - 1 Samuel 17:32-37
One of the things I love about the story of David was how he waited on the Lord. In this case, up against Goliath, David seemed to have no trouble looking back at all the seemingly mundane things that happened in his life and knowing that they had prepared him for this very moment.
I mean, before this ever happened, we know that God had annointed David to be the next king of Israel. It woul have been easy for him to excuse himself from his shepherding duties in order to push forward toward being king. Instead, David was faithful with the little tasks he needed to do (tending sheep, killing lions and bears), and that faithfulness prepared him for the major task of killing Goliath and saving the nation of Israel. We know, of course, that this task made David famous among all of Israel (and even today), and was a defining moment in his becoming king.
There is a great parallel here to the story of Joseph, I think. In Joseph's case, he had a dream early in his life that he would rule over his brothers and his father. But, rather than push that dream, he was faithful in the little things God gave him to do. When sold into slavery, Joseph became the very best slave he knew how to be, and he was promoted to run the household. When put in prison, he was a model prisoner, and ended up being appointed to be in charge of the other inmates. All of this led to Joseph's life being preserved so that he is eventually made second in command in Egypt and is able to save the nation of Israel.
My tendancy, and maybe yours, is not to wait. My tendancy is to see what I want and run headlong into it, forgetting what little things I might need to do. Why bother doing well at my job, if God has something bigger for me down the road? Why should I help pick up toys? Why bring my wife flowers, since God has already shown me how much she loves me?
Jesus said he who is faithful with little things will be faithful with much. I need to do a much better job of waiting on God and being faithful in the little things.
Saul answered David, "You can't go and fight this Philistine. You're too young and inexperienced—and he's been at this fighting business since before you were born."
David said, "I've been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I'd go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no difference—I killed it. And I'll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. God, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine."
Saul said, "Go. And God help you!" - 1 Samuel 17:32-37
One of the things I love about the story of David was how he waited on the Lord. In this case, up against Goliath, David seemed to have no trouble looking back at all the seemingly mundane things that happened in his life and knowing that they had prepared him for this very moment.
I mean, before this ever happened, we know that God had annointed David to be the next king of Israel. It woul have been easy for him to excuse himself from his shepherding duties in order to push forward toward being king. Instead, David was faithful with the little tasks he needed to do (tending sheep, killing lions and bears), and that faithfulness prepared him for the major task of killing Goliath and saving the nation of Israel. We know, of course, that this task made David famous among all of Israel (and even today), and was a defining moment in his becoming king.
There is a great parallel here to the story of Joseph, I think. In Joseph's case, he had a dream early in his life that he would rule over his brothers and his father. But, rather than push that dream, he was faithful in the little things God gave him to do. When sold into slavery, Joseph became the very best slave he knew how to be, and he was promoted to run the household. When put in prison, he was a model prisoner, and ended up being appointed to be in charge of the other inmates. All of this led to Joseph's life being preserved so that he is eventually made second in command in Egypt and is able to save the nation of Israel.
My tendancy, and maybe yours, is not to wait. My tendancy is to see what I want and run headlong into it, forgetting what little things I might need to do. Why bother doing well at my job, if God has something bigger for me down the road? Why should I help pick up toys? Why bring my wife flowers, since God has already shown me how much she loves me?
Jesus said he who is faithful with little things will be faithful with much. I need to do a much better job of waiting on God and being faithful in the little things.
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