Greetings Awesome Person,
I didn't get the youth group I wanted, I got the youth group I needed.
Can I tell your a secret? This season has been very difficult for me and has been for the past 7 years. Depressed, angry (at myself and God) and without purpose, I pretty much thought my ministry time was over. I wanted it to be over, until I got a call.
A Pastor, I kind of new, called me to find out if I would be interested in serving as their youth pastor. I was driving a truck at the time for an air conditioning supply company, which was really outside my wheelhouse.
After praying, I decided to take this part time youth pastor job. This is small rural church, was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I was used to medium sized churches with budgets and with 15-20 kids and at least a shot at growing. This church had 5-6 students and was in decline.
I'd like to say that we had exponential growth, reached dozens and dozens of kids for Christ, as I did in other churches, but no, it hasn't been like that all.
Every outreach we tried, failed. Every step we took, we took 3 steps back. This isn't the youth group I wanted and have asked God 100 time a day, like Jonah, "Get me out of here!". No answer, which, in my case, usually means staying the course and being patient.
This is the youth group I needed. Leading this youth ministry for the past 3 1/2 years has revealed things in me I didn't even know I was dealing with and God's faithfulness has become even more real in the past few months.
All this to say, if you find yourself in place you don't want to be, instead of asking, "Why can't I make this thing work?" it's better to ask, "God, what are you making of me?" and let God expose and peel away all that doesn't belong.
Have a great week!
Paul
FREE GIFT
Are you looking to rebuild, revamp or refresh your youth room? Then this guide I just finished may be the answer to your prayers.
Download it here The Youth Pastors Guide To Room Design.zip
Here's where the NEW comes in.
For the past five years I've held to the same format of newsletter and although it has contained some helpful things, it still sends you on a scavenger hunt for answers to your most immediate problems.
I want to put my 35 years of experience to work for you by answering questions you are asking on a weekly bases that I may have already solved or I'm solving in new ways.
If you find this new format helpful, reply to this e-mail with a question you have and I will include it in the next issue. If you like the old format better, let me know, this is all experimental
Onward.
Youth Meeting Advice
Instead of closing in a general prayer, pray a blessing over your students,
"Lord, I pray for these students tonight, that they will encounter your love, protection, grace and faithfulness at every turn while they're at school tomorrow and that the love they have for you will spill out over everyone they encounter. In Jesus name, amen."
In practicing this for the past few weeks, I think students feel more encouraged.
For more youth meeting tips check out My Youth Meeting Playbook
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Video
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For more youth ministry resources check out the newly revamped The Disciple Project Store