Youth Leaders are ___________.

Last week I wrote about the importance of long term youth ministry- from the perspective of the youth pastor. Even as I wrote that blog I knew that this one would be coming- some of it is out of a place of sincere gratitude and some is out of a place of seeing what works best.


In any ministry- but especially youth and children's ministry leadership is VITAL to the sustaining, flourishing, and overall strength of the ministry. I don't mean leadership from the youth pastor- I mean leadership from within the church congregation. Having people who will plug into, connect with, and focus on children and youth throughout their lives is so much more important than a pastor. I grew up in a church without a youth pastor and if it wasn't for the congregation inviting me into their lives- taking me on fishing trips, having me over for supper, taking me camping, even asking me to join them in cleaning the chicken coop- then I wouldn't be the disciple that I am today. A pastor preaches and teaches, plans events, organizes drives, dreams of the next crazy event to entertain the youth but the volunteer leaders- they are key. I've listed some reasons below:



Deeper Relationships- 
One person (youth pastor) cannot possibly maintain deep connections with every single youth they encounter. Volunteer youth leaders are NECESSARY to carry out these deeper relationships, mentoring, and care- yes there are time that the youth needs to talk with a pastor (every Christian does). With strong, solid youth workers coming alongside a teenager and helping them to 'do life' it provides two key areas in God's Kingdom:
      A.  Community- We were not created to be separate from each other- God created us to be in community together and often times youth feel alone and segregated. Having leaders who are willing to join them in their life journey builds that community around them.
      B.  Use of Gifts- Not only is it good for the youth to have adults giving deeper relationships but it is important that ALL of God's people use the gifts that He has given them. Allowing leaders to develop relationships and serve God in youth ministry allows them to use their gifts - fulfilling the calling that God has given them.

Community Connections-  
This is different than the community listed above- above it referred more to the Christian community- here we are talking about when youth are in the community and they see their youth leader at the grocery store, at their job, walking their dog, coaching a basketball team, going through the Tim's drive thru (because that is the only drive thru in Florenceville). These community connections help youth to see what being a Christian looks like outside of the church walls- how we interact with other people and show love on a daily basis. Pastors- seek out youth leaders who are active and set a GOOD example in the community. Youth Leaders (and Christian's in general)- You are always being watched by someone- show God's love in every situation.

Breadth of Knowledge-
Pastors- if you are like me you might have education more than you know what to do with. You know what TULIP means or the difference between Martin Luther King Jr and Martin Luther, you probably even have a working understanding of the Pre-Frontal Cortex and know why teens make the ridiculous decisions they do.
Youth leaders- you are important because you keep us youth pastors grounded- we often talk about theological things that interest us but have no meaning to a 13 year old boy who just failed his Math class. Youth leaders are needed to guide and teach about what it is going to be like to go to a 'real' university or what working in the 'real' world with no other Christians in the company looks like.

We all have a testimony, we all have different life experiences, ALL of these are needed to help guide, direct, and encourage youth to serve God no matter where they are or where they are heading in life.... which leads me to the next point...

Intergenerational Importance-
(like what I did there.... two words that start with 'I')
What happens when a teenager suddenly graduates? They are no longer part of the Youth Ministry that has sustained them, encouraged them, pushed them through life. Sometimes their youth ministry has been a substitute for 'real church' - they are worshipping, learning, listening to God so what shouldn't it be that substitute?
Then they graduate and realize that their weekly connection with the church and with God is gone... so some make their way to 'real church' ... they walk in and the only person they recognize is the youth pastor (who might not even be there because they are busy running another service, children's ministry, or other event). This isn't the 'church' they have known for the past 6 years. Having youth leaders from the congregation is VITAL to connecting the Sunday Worship to the Mid-week programs and worship experience.
Youth leaders are not only important for the youth here and now but they are important for the youth five years from now or ten years from now- to see that worship alongside those that are in different life stages is vital to their growth.
(There is WAY WAY WAY more reasons for intergenerational ministry to be happening... but this blog post is ALREADY too long)


Conclusion
So- if you volunteer as a youth leader THANK YOU- you are doing more than preventing injury, playing dodgeball, and enforcing rules- you are building relationships that children and youth won't ever forget. You are making disciples of Jesus Christ, you are fulfilling the great commission.

And if you aren't a volunteer youth leader....
1. What kept you reading this post!?
2. Try to give your youth pastor (or head leader) a heart attack and make that offer! I can guarantee they could use all the help they can get! (and if God has given you those gifts you better use them!)



Final Question: What word(s) would you use to finish this blog title?
Youth Workers are _________.

Up, Down, Over, Out....

The Saint John River Outside my house. In the winter if freezes but water continues to move under the ice, pushing the ice up on top of itself and causing ice dams in the river (and eventually flooding upriver). 

In my last post I talked about the similarities that exist between Florenceville (Rural) and Halifax (City). I am the type of person who can adapt and survive (and sometimes even thrive) nearly anywhere so seeing the similarities is pretty normal for me. As one who can adapt anywhere I try my best to quickly pick up on local cultural norms and adapt to them as well as I can (A good ministry trick that I learned through Dr. Peed and my Cultural Anthropology class).


Where do you live?

One of the first things one must do to 'fit in' is adjust dialect and so I set out to learn and the biggest adjustment (that didn't take all that long to adapt to) was directions. Nobody cares (or knows) what your house number is. What matters is how many telephone poles after the sharp turn or how many driveways before the bridge you are. What will work even better is if you know who lived in your house before you, people will immediately know where you live then (and it's even better if you were the only one to build a house on  your road in the past 10 years... like me).



You are somebody's child.... 

I grew up in the country and something I did NOT miss was introducing myself and having the question come back as "And whose son are  you now?"
Well... I am back in the country and I have heard that question multiple times, but not directed at me (Since people know I'm not from here). But when I am talking about someone (A new kid at youth group, a funny thing someone said, etc.) the first question I will get is "Now, whose child is that"

I DON'T KNOW! I didn't ask for a complete family history, physical, and report card the first time I met them. But, if I am talking to the right person it won't matter if I don't know the answer- they will fill me in (even through they are just spewing names of people I have never met or never will meet).




Directions... 

Finally, the easiest dialect change to make is geographical because it is all based on where you are and where you are heading in relation to the river.

Heading north? You're going "Up River"
South? "Down River"
Pretty much anything East is "Out Back"* 
Heading to Fredericton? Nope... you are "Goin' to the city"
Thinking about going to Maine to do some shopping? You are "Goin' over 'cross"

*"Out Back" is also used to refer to any place that is obscure and not well known. Example: "Coldstream is out back 'a Hartland"  or  "Ashland is out back 'a Coldstream"


I love it. Reminds me of home, reminds me of dad. I feel comfortable and I am sure that as we continue to work in the community we will discover more local dialect that makes this community and area so unique. (I am sure we will learn lots as Valerie works closely with farmers and tractor salesmen.... yes, tractor salesmen are a thing).

Vanilla Coke....

This past week I have REALLY missed Vanilla Coke. Growing up I drank the stuff like there was no tomorrow, and then one day there wasn't. One day Vanilla Coke suffered the ill fate that so many others have suffered, it was pulled off the shelf. Gone.

As time went on I grew older and had moved on from the delicious nectar, found other loves (coffee soon became my new addiction). Then, when I was out to celebrate my dear friends birthday last month I decided I would treat myself to a sugary drink (usually I order water). To my surprise the particular restaurant we were dining at had Vanilla Coke! At long last, we had been re-united.

Sadly the drink at said restaurant is $4.00 for a glass. Over the last month and I have thought "going and ordering just a glass of pop wouldn't be that bad, would it?" I never did return, but when my wife brought home cans of coke today I had to give it a try and I added vanilla extract to my glass of Coke. It tastes quite wonderful, a sweetness overload, but I think I put in too much vanilla.
An hour and a half later my glass still sits half full, or half empty.

 ...I guess it's true what they say, Too Much Of A Good Thing....

Top.

I have been thinking about my past year lately.
Most people probably have been and are right about now.
December usually brings with it many endings and closing doors but January means new beginnings and new lifestyles. It is a time to reflect on the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful of the past year. A time to really grow and move past those mistakes that were made and vow to make the next year better.

This time of year also brings out a host of 'top lists'
Some I have seen lately: Top Music, Top Weddings, Top Movies, Top Actor/Actress, we even go as far as to announce the sexiest person of that year (how do they choose from 7 billion people? And why is it always a famous person? A 'nobody' should win that award some year)


ANYWAY. I decided that I would make my own 'top moments' list of 2011 and although it was hard I narrowed it down.

1. Tidal Impact Prayer/Communion Night
2. Graduation
3. DYING Of laughter on the drive home from SpringForth
4. Sitting in the comfy corner with the Summer Students 'debreifing'
5. Cottage Weekend with the Host Family
6. Beach Party with Harvest House (jumping the waves and walking in the mud)
7. Moving into my first apartment
8. November 18. The whole day rocked. New Passport. Long Conversations. Starbucks. Shiloh University Church.
9. Christmas Banquet and the after party with new, close friends.
10. Watching the Fire with Hock, and hearing the log pile fall :)
11. Walking around Fredericton in the rain with Dan and Ben
12. First night in Saint John (There were ribs, it was very memorable)
13. A day at the cottage with friends in Baxters Harbour
14. Cape Breton Trip with the Hills
15. Witnessing two friends become Husband and Wife (X3)
16. Cross Country Skiing
17. Saint John City Market (Yes, the place becomes an event it is THAT good)
18. Taking the Digby-Saint John ferry (it was on my bucket list)
19. Visiting Christy in Maine! :)
20. Eggnog milkshake breaks and getting to know the McD's staff
21. Lazertag!


I think I even put them in order, for the most part! Look at me go! They may move around some, but there is my list of 2011... it was a great year, and 2012 will be even better! :)