A perfect example is this guy in the video below. He is Shinji Saito, the 2011 YOYO World Champion. What really captivated me about his performance was the amount of fun he was having. You can tell this is his passion.
Check out the video, it’s worth your time..
I recently took my dog, Reese, to a pet store here in town. It was one of those stores where you could take your pet inside, so i swallowed hard, and grabbed Reese. You see, he is not an ordinary dog. Ordinary dogs are calm, collected, and bring unlimited joy to thier owner. My dog is a storm of energy, ready to be released onto the unsuspecting public.
The entire time in the store, Reese’s legs never stopped moving. Luckily, the floor was slick cement, which meant that he could not catch any traction. I held on to his leash for dear life (and for the life of others). I’m pretty sure that while we were in there he ran enough to constitute atleast three full walks. It was actually quite impressive.
Spiritually, I feel like Reese sometimes (no, not short and furry). I am so anxious to run after what God has for me, but I remained tied down to old habits and unconfessed sins. The sad thing is, much like my dog, we get so use to the “leashes” in our lives holding us back, we forget they are there and wonder why we can’t move forward. In Christian culture we ofter call this hitting the ceiling or a spritiual wall. God really wants more for us than that. Thats why he says in 2 Corinthians 3:17:
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
So, what’s holding you back? What habits are you holding onto? Are you living on a leash?
Saw this video yesterday and it blew be away. Check it out!
G.O.S.P.E.L. from Humble Beast Records on Vimeo.
What are your thoughts? Sound off below..
Several weeks ago, a student came to me and asked if he could give his testimony at our student service. I pull him aside and he gave me a brief summary of his life. All I can say is, this guy has been through some “stuff!”
So last night, he stood before a large group of his peers and told his story. He told of his history in gang violence, his use of drugs and alchohol, and how he had even been shot at. Talk about a story! As he came to the end, he made the statement, “I know that God is real, because if not I’d probably be dead, but I’m still not sure if I would go to heaven if I died today.”
You could have heard a pin drop in that room. After service, two student ministry volunteers took him into a separate room and explained the Gospel to him. He was completely broken. He cried and accepted Christ.
Most people accept Jesus and then give their testimony. This time, it was his testimony that lead him to Christ.
Two things that I love about this story:
1. This guy was completely honest about his life. He didn’t pretend to be something he wasn’t. He didn’t try to impress anyone. He just knew that God had His hand on his life
2. Jesus meets us where we are. For some, it may be in the car, at the mall, or in your home, but for this guy, is was pouring his heart out to his peers.
Pray that God uses this student to impact the world for Christ!
Rural America is typically the last place to look for growing churches, much less thriving student ministries. But I believe that students in smaller cities across this country are starving for “Fresh Bread.” They are no longer satisfied with the religion of their parents; thus, we as student pastors and leaders must heed this call and do everything possible to reach them.
In my years of being a student pastor in a small town, I have identified four important aspects of building and sustaining a successful ministry.
Real Relationships – People in smaller cities are suspicious of outsiders. I have seen many youth pastors come into a church expecting it to be just like their last one. To build a student ministry in a small town, it must be built with trust. This trust only comes from building “real” relationships with the people there. They need to know that you are there for them, and not just to build your resume.
Get to know the people, their customs, their lingo, and build their trust. Once you have that, they will follow your leadership.
Redefined Faith – One of the greatest hindrances to a God-led student ministry in a small town is religion. It is typical to see several generations of a family at a single church, regardless if the church is dead or not. This stagnation has caused many students to regard church as antiquated and useless. It is our job to redefine faith in Jesus as a life-giving relationship, and not as a life-hindering system of rules. In order to do this, we must ourselves be full of God’s Spirit and guided by His direction. It’s hard to give something to others that you do not have yourself.
There is a huge difference between having religion and having a relationship with Jesus.
Realized Potential – Student pastors in small cities typically cite two major problems to their growth: no budget and no space. There is nothing worse than having a great vision with no support or any practical way to get there. Still, the potential is there. Student ministries in smaller cities can have a huge impact on the surrounding area. Pour your vision into those around you and let it catch fire. If God has given you the dream, then it is His responsibility to see it come to pass; all you must do is persevere.
Just because you are small doesn’t mean you have to act like it.
Regained Confidence – The typical length a student pastor stays at a church is about 18 months. This is much more prevalent in small cities. Because of this quick turn around in leadership, most student ministries never really make any forward progress. This is sad due to the potential that a dynamic ministry can have on a small city. I strongly believe that if God places you at a church, even for a short time, it is your responsibility to build a ministry that will last beyond your tenure. The mark of a quality leader is equipping others to lead once you are gone.
Leave things better than when you came.
What are your thoughts on student ministry in small cities? Have anything else to add, sound off below!
Here are some quick thoughts on the story of Jesus calling the first disciples in Luke 5:1-11.
Sometimes what seems like our biggest wins can just be our beginnings.
Jesus told the disciples to put out their nets one last time. They did, even though it didn’t make much since. As they began pulling their nets into the boats, there were so many fish that it began make both the boats sink.
That is a lesson in itself, but the thing I found most interesting here is that despite getting what was probably the largest catch of their lives as professional fishermen, Jesus did not focus on the catch. He simply told them that one they would be fishers of men and to follow Him.
Two things we can learn from this:
When God move on your behalf, fall at his feet in worship, but get back up knowing that there are even greater things in store! The best is yet to come!!
