April, Rest, Youth and Young Adults

Good Afternoon Friends, Family and Internet Wanderers,

April has been a good month of ministry as I have been able to do some new things, and do well with some not so new things.I received my grades for this semester (B+&A+), and was able to slow down just a bit and focus less on school for a month before my class starts in May.

Thankfulness
In January I was asked to give my testimony at a gather of several house churches as they send their students to my youth group. This year and last they gave my church money to help them fund me and so they wanted to know a bit more about who they were supporting. That testimony took a few different turns and transformed into the myself and the students running the afternoon service. Well that service was a few days ago and it went exceedingly well. This was the first time I had ever done a youth led service, and it was with a group of people I did not know. Yet despite some last minute changes the whole program went smoothly and not just in that their were no big mistakes. As best we could I worked with the students to make sure they remembered that even though we would have elements of fun and silliness we are still sharing the gospel of Jesus to everyone. It felt oddly self service to have students introduce me, but I wanted to make sure they all had a chance to speak in some way. So I experienced a profound blessing when the student who is furthest from faith spoke to 50 people about how he has personally grown and felt supported by me. I often wonder how big an impact I am making, and words like his are the most profound encouragement I can receive.

This year our young adults program has been all over the place as we have had many transitions and schedule changes among participants. Yet lately I have seen more young adults invited to church than I have since I started attending. I have even had the opportunity this month to go for lunch with some, and to invite others over after church. This past young adult gathering, it seemed like no one would come, and then 5 people arrived late and we spoke for a good hour later than usual about our topic and the struggle a few people have in our community. It was an amazing time of growth in our group and community. I still do not have a clue what God is doing with our young adults, or how much of a value I am bringing to the group, but lately things have been happening and we are growing.

This month I also attended an orientation for a 9 month class next year called Supervised Ministry Experience. It was originally outlined to me as a class in which I have to do school work and start a new ministry as well. I was thankfully incorrect as this will be a class where I spend time intentionally reflecting and looking on the ministry that I am already doing to see how I am doing and how I can improve. So instead of a class that looks to add significantly more work, it is a class that looks at the work I am doing and helps me to do it better.

Prayer Request.

This month my lead pastor noticed that he had not assigned me as many sermons this year as last, and so in summer I am now preaching 4 times instead of 2. This on its own is not too bad but the final youth event, my final paper for a summer course and the first sermon of the extra two are all a few days apart near the end of June. Please pray that I will manage my time well and give each assignment the attention it deserves.

I mentioned this last month, but it bears repeating. Two of my youth workers are moving away and I find myself in need of replacements, especially a female leader as we now only have one. Our youth group is starting to grow (one parent asked if her kid could bring 6-10 extra kids to an event, has not happened yet)  but to meet this growth I need leaders, adults who are willing to invest and take interest in the lives of kids. Please pray that God will bring a strong female leader to support and walk alongside our female youth.

Thanks so much for your partnership in prayer, and for all of the different ways you support me and the ministry I am doing at my church!