LOVE, GROW, SERVE

Posts Tagged ‘youth service’

A huge thanks to every single student & parent who participated in the youth service, whether you were up front doing something, displayed artwork in the back, or just came to be a part of the service and support the youth group.

I got a brief chance (only a brief one) to brag on the youth group a little bit at the beginning. And I will continue here: I am SO PROUD of our students and the different ways they serve God through their lives. Some kids are musically talented or dramatically inclined (……I mean like in plays and musicals–duh!). Others are super artistic or talented at sports. Still others are beautiful dancers, great at learning/academics, or naturally compassionate, loving people. Any way you look at it, God has created each and every one of us in a unique and special way.

Being the youth pastor of this youth group for the last 5+ years has been such a privilege. Watching many of you grow, change, and love God & others more is overwhelmingly the biggest blessing I get to experience as a youth pastor. Seeing all of that come to fruition in something like a youth-led worship service is humbling.

So, in short: I LOVE YOU GUYS!!

Getting ready for our youth service this weekend! Since we have a missionary speaker (Dr. Floyd Cunningham) and no regular youth group, this means I can focus ALL my energy on making this service happen…rather than working on a youth group message for this week.

Why do a youth service at all?
I’ve thought about this a lot recently. After reading the book “Simple Church” by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger, and the sequel “Simple Student Ministry”, I am always asking WHY we should do something. We have to constantly ask ourselves if we’re doing something that serves a purpose (i.e., making disciples of students), or if we’re just doing something because we’re supposed to, because it’s fun, because it’s what we have always done, or a host of other reasons.

So, we do this to serve.  We do this to offer our students the opportunity to lead the adults in the congregation in worship, many of whom don’t always have regular contact with teenagers.  We do this to build students’ confidence, helping them to know that yes, you ARE capable of leading in music, drama, readings, and more!

We may make mistakes.  We may really impress everyone with our awesome talent.  But most of all, we do it to serve God & our church!

So make sure you mark your calendar for this Sunday night, November 1, at 6:30pm!  I will be sure to post pictures right here after the service!