A memory popped up on Instagram today reminding me that ten years ago I took a risk and jumped into student ministry. The journey that led me there is one only the Lord could have written.
Standing in the foyer of the church, near the wooden mailboxes and in front of the double doors leading down the hallway, I can still picture the moment clearly. The warm cream walls. The familiar sound of people bustling around after service. ‘I hate teenagers, I could never work with them. I’m grateful for people like Brian and Diana (student leaders) who serve in that ministry because I could never.’ Those are the words that came out of my mouth in that moment.
Yikes! The statement makes me cringe a bit nowadays to think of talking about fellow believers that way, regardless of their age, but alas, that’s where I was several years ago.
Little did I know I was in for quite the journey. The Lord has a funny sense of humor when I use the word never. As such I’m very cautious nowadays – you won’t catch me saying I will never go camping, just that my preference would be a hotel room or Airbnb if you catch my drift.
I’ve shared before I was actively involved in church ministry. I was teaching 4’s and 5’s on Sunday mornings and an AWANA leader on Wednesday evenings. At the time AWANA felt like a stretch as the students were older elementary age and that was a far cry from the Kindergartners I was used to!
As the Lord would have it though, I wasn’t done growing, stretching, and pushing myself outside of comfortable places in ministry.
I can still remember over the course of my last year in AWANA the Lord slowly softening my heart to student ministry. There are a few nights I can think back on where the Lord was replacing thoughts of frustration and dislike towards students with compassion and dare I say respect. I recall praying about the slow change of heart I was feeling, resistant to the change I sensed the Lord bringing.
I remember reminding the Lord several times that I had said I would never serve in student ministry and I meant it. Surely, this softening of heart was just sanctification, a growing respect for members in the body of Christ. To be fair, saying I hated teenagers was a bit extreme and incredibly hurtful towards some of the people I love the most now.
We joke that patience is a virtue that many of us lack, while God is endlessly patient. I experienced this patience in a new way. Perhaps it was because I was aware of the change that was ongoing and could see and feel the change taking place in real time while also lamenting to the Lord about said change. Much to my dismay the Lord not only grew my respect for teenagers and student ministry, He nurtured a desire to serve them. His patience was demonstrated in the year of work that I was aware of, and likely several years of work prior.
The Spirit had been prompting me to talk with Brian about ministry opportunities for a while, but I was actively choosing to push back and argue my case, just in case the Lord was mistaken.
It was closing ceremony night for AWANA, everyone was gathered in the fellowship hall to enjoy a meal together. I knew the Spirit was asking me to talk to Brian about joining student ministry as a leader but I was also holding firm to my never. As I walked down the hall towards the open doors, chatter filling the air, all I could do was think about this feeling inside, I had to talk with Brian. The moment I saw him at a table I sat down and blurted out ‘I think I want to serve in student ministry’. The words surprised me as much as they surprised him. It was a wild sensation. I couldn’t not say it, the Spirit said enough, now’s the time. I literally just blurted it out. No context. No intro into how the Lord had been working. Likely not even a proper hello.
I think I breathed a sigh of relief and panic all at the same time. I was obedient to the Lord’s calling, but what I had just done?! I knew nothing about teenagers. I am not cool, trendy, or up to speed on current culture. I struggle to make small talk – think classic what’s your favorite color and food – those are my go to questions. How would I do this?
If I recall correctly we took summers off from youth group. I would have first talked with Brian about student ministry in April, but wouldn’t join my first youth group outing until July. It was a warm evening and to end summer break we were heading to a local ice cream shop.
Loading up into the van I was so nervous.
Thankfully I had met some of the girls over the summer. One of my closest friends at the time, her sister was in youth group. While house sitting we hosted a girls night with a fire and s’mores.
This night felt different though, it was official, I was a leader in student ministry. After that night, relationships formed, trust was built, and before I knew it student ministry had become one of the most meaningful parts of my life.
When I think about the last decade, a handful of moments immediately come to mind:
A leadership hike that included only three pieces of toilet paper.
There was a road trip with a few of the girls to see a Kari Jobe concert and visit missionaries from our church! We may have stopped at the largest truck stop in America as well, although that was likely pre Buc-ee’s era.
We did The James Study for several years – I hosted young ladies from 7th grade to young adults once a month. I have the sweetest memories from that season of ministry. My home full of fellowship, laughter, the Word, and prayer. With a few hilarious moments tossed in – ask me about the time I found the girls laying in the road, literally in the road, taking pictures!
Several student conferences or trips. It’s so cool to see the Lord at work in these settings. There is something different about experiences like this that allows students to step away from the distractions of everyday life and experience the Lord in a special way. Having front row seats to that, a true gift.
Several more serious moments like talking through habitual sin, mental health, family dynamics, assurance of salvation, and so on.
Opportunities to grow, learn, and adapt through change.
In some ways it feels like I’ve always served in this ministry and in other ways I can’t believe it’s already been ten years.
The Lord continues to astound me in the life that He has for me. Sure, student ministry is a part, not the whole of that, but I’m still astounded. If you had told me fifteen years ago that this is what my life would look like and this is the ministry I’d be involved in I think I would have laughed and been devastated all at once. This is not the life I envisioned for myself fresh out of college. Praise the Lord that He is in control and not me. He has literally blown me away with the life He has given me. I never would have picked this, but I can’t imagine anything better.
I hope this can serve as an encouragement to you. If you feel the Lord drawing you to something that is uncomfortable or perhaps something you never planned for, just remember if it is truly from the Lord it will be far better than you can imagine.
Happy ten years to the ministry I never wanted, the calling I never expected, and the life I never imagined I would love.