Church Work vs. Church Attendance

So, I have one simple question. Is it possible to work at one church while attending another? How have we seen that work, and how have we seen that not work?

Is that type of system healthy?

Robbie B.

I got to hear Rob Bell speak in person for the first time yesterday as he was participating in the Writer's Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University yesterday. I have always been a Rob Bell fan, as I think he is a great communicator and has successfully targeted my age demographic.

But as my wife and I were driving home from the full day event, we were talking about something that troubled us. People treated Rob Bell like he was God's gift to everything spiritual (pun intended) and he was seen much too much like a celebrity and a lot less like a pastor. Now, don't get me wrong, I think Rob has done some great work and deserves the props that he gets, to a point.

I guess I struggle with Pastors as celebrities. I struggle with turning my favorite pastoral authors and thinkers into celebrities. But I also feel like they should just get to be normal people who are there to give glory to God, and not themselves. It will be interesting to see how these trends continue and who will be the next hot, up and coming celebrity for Jesus. What an ironic statement...

Great Question

My wife just asked me, "Do you ever think about how much of our lives revolve around using screens?"

And I responded:

"I can't imagine what it was like to do youth ministry before the kind of technology we use every day..."


Thanks to those who went before and paved the way.

Rally Week

This week in the community that I serve, there are hundreds of students gathering at lunch to hear the Gospel. It is all student organized and led, and it is pretty amazing. I have had the opportunity to speak at one such gathering already this week, worshiped on a campus today and look forward to another time to be used to bring the word again tomorrow. I am in awe of how this has all gone. Today, it was reported that over 50 students at one of the local high schools came forward because they wanted to turn over their life. That is a staggering numbers for those of us who are not Greg Laurie, Luis Palau or Billy Graham. Over 70 this week, throughout the school community, have said that they wanted to turn their life to Christ. What a great God we serve indeed.

I am excited and energized by news like this. I can only imagine what the conversations, relationships and other opportunities that the students who are organizing these rallies will have in the coming weeks with their peers. And it is movements like this that remind me that I love my job and my calling. But most of all, it reminds me that I am a vessel, a tool to be used and I can only hope and pray that I will continue to be blessed in order to keep being a blessing.

Little Ol' Ladies Prayer Circle

One of my ministry mentors, Brian Aaby, is always hammering home the point with me that Youth Ministry is a three pronged approach. Students, Leaders, Parents. Even though I have seen glimpses of this in my first year and a half of full time ministry, I didn't fully grasp the full idea until about Thanksgiving of 2010. It was also hammered home last week when Kara Powell was presenting her information about the intergenerational "sticky" church. It was in these conversations and presentations that I realized that they were speaking from experience and research, and so instead of being bull headed and trying to do it my own way, it would probably just make sense to follow their advice.

And so, I have been trying harder to do just that. And today was a break through moment for me. Every Wednesday afternoon, some members of our church gather religiously to pray for the hurts, needs, and desires of our church. It is usually older members of our congregation and I very rarely doesn't revolve in the those participating. This means that for an hour every Wednesday, the same small group of people are praying. Every Week. Without missing a beat. Only two weeks of for the Christmas break. And I had never attended....I just walked back to my office and close my door to get work done. I would sometimes pop my head in and ask for a request here or a praise there, but I never spent the time to sit and pray with them. Until today.

I decided it was time to get more three pronged, get over myself and enter the unknown of the Little Ol' Ladies Prayer Circle. And it was one of the most refreshing spiritual experiences of my week. Earnest and consistent prayers, asking for healing on behalf of others, Scripture as prayer and praises for the Creator of the Universe. All I can say is that it was awesome. It also opened up there door for them to pray for me, which was unexpected. All of this to say, I think I am headed back to the Prayer Circle next week.

On Point

Do you ever have one of those days where feel like you are exactly where you need to be? Well not only did I have one of those days, but I had one of those weeks. During the Communities of Hope Summit with the NNYM this week, I had this feeling of "this is what you were created to do, go and be the best Youth Worker you can be." When Kara Powell was presenting, she made me feel like I was at least in the right ballpark when it came to may thoughts and premonitions about Youth Ministry. And then Sunday School happened today...

I would say that most of my students don't really know what the job of a Youth Pastor actually looks like. The day to day "office work" idea doesn't seem to click. Most of them seem to think that I sit in my office twittling my thumbs and cruisn' Facebook. Although some of that is true, I tried to express that my job is so much more than that. We talked about the trips to campus, staff meetings, the events that have to be planned, the two lessons a week that they experience and so on. But then I came to the bottom line: a combination of emotion and Proverbs 22:6. "I love you guys and I care about your souls, I am here ultimately to be some one to help guide you on your own path of faith." The light bulbs went off for many of the students. From there we were tracking...and we had a great time of discussing this years plans and calendar, exploring Matthew 22:34-40 as our theme and loving on each other.

It is after Big House sessions like the one today that reminds me that I am exactly where God wants me and needs me and that I absolutely love my job, even with the downsides. I love my students at WPC and they are growing on me more and more.

The Future of Michigan Football

Some of you may know that I am rather large college football fan. I chose at an early age to be a Michigan Wolverine fan, rather it pretty much chose me. The early years were the good years for the Wolverines. There were Heisman Trophy Winners, plenty of beat downs on the Buckeyes and of course a National Championship.

Well, fast forward to the previous three years of Michigan football...I almost don't want to talk about it. It isn't all coach Rich Rod's fault, but the Wolverines have been terrible. But now we are at a crossroads. Rich Rod is out and we are waiting to hear who is in. Needless to say, I am nervously anticipating the announcement and hope for The Rise of The Wolverine. Back to Big 10 domination PLEASE!

All of this to say...my life isn't all about Youth Ministry. I love my sports too. I love my wife a lot as well...