I have been reflecting about this for a while. I wonder about why some youth groups work and some don't. I've read quite a few books on ministry and have followed some writers on the topic but it remains to be seen, this elusive solution on why the youth group I am in seems to fluctuate in its progress of taking flight.
I have witnessed only one revival. It has never quite happened again and here are just some of my observations on what made that revival work.
It worked because there were at least two people who shared the same heart and mind and longed so much to see growth happen. It worked because at least two people sought for wisdom that they knew cannot be found where they were. It worked because at least two people sought counsel. It worked because at least two people worked on themselves, their spirit, their outlook, their beliefs and got it straightened out so that an authentic pursuit of a faith life of a youth minister can begin.
My fascination in observing the dynamics of these ministries and the how God moves within these lives has never waned. I don't know why I'm fascinated with it. I haven't fully figured out what my place is whenever I find myself in these situations but I suppose I can simply say that I am called to witness. To witness God do His work. To witness God transform something that can be messed-up, chaotic, disorganized, downtrodden, and most difficult to change into something only His glory can attest to have unleashed.
Witnessing to such a miracle can drive anybody to seek more of it. I sure have been driven to find another unfolding of these miracles in my midst. Yet as I seek more of these miracles, I begin to realize that sometimes the miracle is not in the circumstance, the miracle happens in my perspective. What I had witnessed then may be light years different from what I am waiting to witness now primarily because the people are different. I have realized this morning that my vocation as youth minister does not get any easier and that's just the truth of it. I need to be able to see God's steadfast love regardless of who I am dealing with. I need to see Him in them. Regardless of who they are.
So the need to always be "constantly renewing my mind" (Romans 12) needs to happen even if I am surrounded by young people who are quite intent on sticking to their frame of reference. But, Jesus, He took on our form and gave up himself. His divine self. The self that could have made things easier for Him. He gave it up to show that I'm worth dying for. I am worth loving.
How far can you give up yourself for love?
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