4 posts tagged “youth leaders”
Last night we kicked off Gr8ness, our summer youth group, and it was awesome! Here are some quick thoughts about the night:
- Our youth and student leaders are awesome! I can't imagine trying to do ministry alone. "God, thank you for allowing me to do ministry with such incredible servants!"
- Special Shoutout to Quinn: Thanks for the video and for helping all day yesterday. You blessed me more than you realize.
- Video Recap: We set-up our summer skits and videos with a hilarious video about the great cereal mascots of the world being taken out by "The King." Now, "Tommy the Tiger" is on a great quest to save cereal. (Very vague description...I know. However, we might try to get it posted online at some point. If you're a youth, you don't want to miss any of these skits and videos all summer!
- David and Chase were hilarious.
- I didn't realize watching four kids attempt to move straws in their mouths from one side of the straw to the other without using their hands would be so entertaining.
- I love "True/False." Who knew that mosquitos had 47 teeth?
- The band did an incredible job! Thanks guys! I really think we have one of the best youth bands anywhere. I'm blessed to work with them, and I appreciate their humble attitudes. The last song they played was "Everything" by Lifehouse. It's so powerful and brings me to a worshipful spirit every time I hear it.
- I really felt like God moved during the message tonight! Every person was very focused and alert. Never forget: The names of God tell us who He is and what He wants to do in our lives! "God, reveal more and more to us by understanding your great name. May we never put our confidence in anything other than your name alone."
- Pizza moms: Thank you so much for all your service! You may not think you have a huge job, but your service is needed and does not go unnoticed! Thanks again!
- Finally, after the response we've had, the "Michael and Drew Rap Crew" may have to make another appearance before the end of the summer. If you read this and saw the performance last night, please comment on a possible new name for the loosely named "Michael and Drew Rap Crew" that I just made up. If you're wondering what all of this is about, here's a quick recap: Quinn, our tech guy who is awesome, accidentally kicked the power strip as I got up to welcome everyone at the beginning of the night, and the entire computer system was knocked out for a few minutes. Drew and I had to fill in the dead air with randomness, and Drew decided to say, "Let's do some karaoke without music." (Everything I want to say right now is completely sarcastic, and I'm trying to work on being edifying rather than sarcastic all the time, so I can't write anything about Drew's request for karaoke.) Anyway, I just started beatboxing the most simple beat I know, "Ice Ice Baby." What followed was nothing short of...AMAZING or sad! Drew continued the beat as I rapped a couple verses of the old school rap song. Everyone was quite "surprised" by our performance to say the least!
The last five days were incredible! I just got back last night from our annual youth leadership beach retreat in Fort Morgan, Alabama. Each year we like to say "Thank You" to each of our youth leaders who have served over the past semester or who will be serving over the upcoming summer by taking a few days to the beach. It was so much fun and a much needed break for me. Here are some final thoughts about this year's trip:
- The "Beach Castle" was awesome! The view from the house each night with the moon lighting up the entire ocean was breathtaking. Psalm 19 was so evident.
- Erin: Your administrative ability is incredible!
- Matty: The hole was awesome, but the old lady wasn't.
- Cade: "You may want to try some aloe. It works well."
- Chase: aka "Bacon King of the World"
- Jess: I hope your new cell phone comes in handy.
- Abby: You are such an awesome mom! Seriously, everyday I watch you interact with Samantha I'm amazed!
- Jonathan: When you think your muscles are bigger than all of ours, never forget who won the "Small Football Throwing Championships."
- Amy: You're going to be a great mom one day. I constantly saw you putting yourself second to help Abby with Samantha!
- Samantha: She captures the attention of a college guy faster than any other girl alive.
- Erika: Dont' forget that sunscreen will work on your legs too.
- Palmer: There is no way any quarterback in the NFL has your accuracy.
- Kelli: Funfetti balls = awesomeness!
- Emily: Thanks for your putt-putt patience! You were a trooper!
- Jared: I seriously thought you were going to take on the battleship by yourself at Ft. Morgan.
- Kyle: Sweetest sunburn ever!
- Andrea: The phrase "You throw like a girl" does not apply to you.
- David: I knew you were a Clemson fan deep down inside.
Hello World (or two people that read this blog not including my family)! I thought I was going to make it two months between blog posts, but I actually found time to sit at my computer and write. I'm not going to say that this has been the busiest time of my life, but it has been a crazy few months. Needless to say, blogging took a major backseat. Here are the highlights and lowlights of my life since...Thanksgiving:
- Thanksgiving in South Carolina was awesome! I love my family. I love my friends. I miss Charleston. I'm really glad Erica got to join me.
- I had been to the doctor once in my four years in Louisiana, but I've been four times since Thanksgiving.
- I had my first wreck and received my first ticket. I hit a car in the back going at least 2 mph and no more than 10 mph, and the girl called the cops and claimed that she hurt her neck. It was a stupid driving mistake, and I hate that she got hurt. I have a court date for February 29. I'm kind of bummed that it's a leap year now. If it would have been a normal year, I wouldn't have to be in court. (Some of you may get that by the end of the blog.)
- I finished another semester of seminary work!
- I had another wreck. It wasn't my fault this time, and no damage was done to either car. I'm still baffled how someone can attempt to turn into a parking lot from a middle lane of traffic without thinking a car just might be in the right lane that is meant for turning vehicles. For the record, that's two wrecks in two weeks.
- I had another wreck THAT DAY! Yep, you read correctly. That's THREE wrecks in two weeks, AND TWO IN THE SAME DAY! My driving record was squeaky (yes, that is a highly intentional use of that word) clean two weeks prior. Quick summary of wreck number 3: I'm stopped on the interstate, and a car hits the car behind me who hits me and knocks me into the car in front of me. My car looks fairly sad right now, but it's still drivable. It goes into the shop next Monday. Thankfully I didn't get hurt in any of the three wrecks. PRAISE GOD! As I'm writing this, I feel like there has to be some correlation between the number 3 and driving cars. Any rednecks with me?
- Christmas in South Carolina was awesome! I love my family. I love my friends. I miss Williamston. I'm glad Erica got to spend time with her family after sacrificing the previous holiday with them for me.
- New Years was great with the exception of the Clemson loss on Christmas Eve. I got to spend a few days with Erica's family in the Shreveport/Bossier area. They're great! I really enjoy spending time with them.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph. 3:14-21)
Many of you know that this has been my prayer for the youth ministry the entire semester. As I look back at the past month, I’m blown away at how faithful God has been to answer this prayer and so many more that have been lifted up by each of you. God has blessed us tremendously! Nevertheless, we must always remember why God chooses to bless us: God has a desire to bless us, so His glory, passion, and Word will be known among the nations. The central focus of the youth ministry is God’s glory. Every decision that is made, every word that is taught, and every relationship that is established is done with the glory of God in mind. Our motivation for ministry comes from a pursuit of God’s glory. The ways our programs are run reflect God’s glory. And the results of these programs celebrate God’s glory.
The advancement of the kingdom of God and His glory is taking place in the youth ministry right now. As a result, the enemy is working harder than ever to destroy what God is doing. Satan’s first scheme is to destroy the unity among the youth leadership. He wants us to question each other, fight each other, gossip, be frustrated, and be angry. When we begin doing these things, Satan has successfully taken our minds off of God’s glory and replaced that glory with an unhealthy desire to glorify ourselves. A battle is raging in the youth ministry right now, but it’s not the battle many of you think it is. Paul writes, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). The battle is not among us. It’s a war that goes well beyond anything we can see. Satan wants nothing more than to steal the glory of God.
So how do we fight this battle as youth leaders? Thankfully, Paul not only tells us about the enemy but gives us the battle plan too:
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with her readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints (Eph. 6:13-18).
For some of you, this may be your first experience with spiritual warfare. It’s real. Satan is real. God is real, and more importantly, God has already won the battle! I’ll leave you with a thought from David Crowder. In the song “We Win,” Crowder encourages believers and hits Satan in the mouth with the following words:
Because we’ve already
won
And You don’t have a chance
Yeah we’ve already won
No you don’t have a chance
It’s already done
And you don’t have a chance
Because we’ve already won!
We have already won!
Youth leaders, Satan has already lost! God has already won! Strap on your armor, remain unified as a team and fight for the glory of our King!
