February 11th: What I want ministry to look like in five years (Original Link)
We are in the midst of our semester, and I'm quite busy. Not too busy for ministry not to be fun, mind you. However, I am busy enough to get caught up in the mechanics of ministry and to not give enough thought and prayer to some important questions. One question that I've been avoiding lately has been "What do I want this youth ministry to look like in five years?" This isn't a simply question of numbers, programs, or teaching. It's a question of how I want ministry to work. I like the somewhat arbitrary number of five years, because 1) it's far enough away to feel like anything's possible, and 2) it's close enough that if I am really serious about this, I can begin taking steps in that direction today. Plans are great, but only insofar as I realize that God is in control and that I should seek to make plans according to his will and not mine (James 4:13-16). So, what do I want ministry to look like in five years?
- I want to have jumped in with both feet. I've noticed lately that in some ways, I'm holding back from what God is urging me to do. Why? I don't know. Probably my sinfulness and a lack of trust in God. I don't want to look back and regret the past five years.
- I want students to be ministering in ways that I can say, "Wow! They are doing a much better job than I ever could!" I want to be amazed at what God is doing through the students I love so dearly.
- I want parents to be actively involved in the faith lives of their kids. I want parent ministry to mean something more than one or two seminars a year. And, I want to be modeling this in my relationship with my family.
- I want our ministry to constantly be introducing people to Jesus. Isn't this at heart of what we're supposed to be doing (Matthew 28:16-20)? And I want students to be passionate about it. Really passionate about it.
- I want to be so passionate about Jesus that it's contagious. Life's been tough for our family in the last year. It's been great in many ways, such as coming to a church we love and getting to take our daughter home from the hospital--twice! Once when she was born, given to us by God; the other when she was healed, given to us again by God. It's been a good time of growth for us, but I have been convicted that I have not been passionately following Jesus through it all. (Note: I do not equate passion for happiness. One need not be in happy circumstances to passionately follow Jesus.)
- I want a good part of my time to be spent training and teaching others to minister to youth. I would love to have a great internship program going that really helps people develop their gifts and discern their call for ministry. I'm a much better coach than I ever was an athlete, and I feel the same way about ministry.
- I want students to be actively involved in telling people about Jesus in their schools, athletic teams, skate parks, and circles of friends.
- I want students to serve in a variety of ways in the name of Jesus, within our church, within our community, and on the mission field.
- I want our ministry to have a thriving small group ministry where students learn to rely on one another in their walks with Jesus.
- I want to have a picture of my brother and me at Coors Field celebrating the Colorado Rockies' recent World Series win. (I just wanted to see if you were paying attention).
I'm sure there will be more, but for now, this is my wish list.
