“Love “…“Growth”…“Nurturing”: These are such positive words, but when put into practice they are imperfect, messy, and require perseverance.
Our youth group at my church has gone through a lot of transitions in the past year and one of those areas of transition has been moving from leader led ministry to creating student led, student run ministry groups with coaches. The students are taking ownership of connecting with one another, planning events, running all the technology and leading the youth group in worship.
In fact, when you walked into the junior high room at our church, you will be carried into worship by an all junior high worship band.
I remember seeing each of my children at birth…just speechless at the beauty of new life…I remember rejoicing in each developmental milestone they experienced as well as cherishing seeing their personalities develop as their gifts and passions slowly emerged.
The experience of guiding them and holding them with open hands to God has been the hardest and most rewarding thing I have experienced in my life. Watching their individual temperaments, gifts and passions develop is pretty incredible. It is a privilege to see the transformation process in my children from helpless babies, to caring, giving, vibrant young people who are actively seeking God’s revealing and refining of the gifts he has entrusted to each of them.
For the past few Wednesdays and Sundays I have watched the junior high students in our youth group step up and serve God boldly with their gifts. I am in awe of God’s wonderful love and shaping of those who hold their hearts and minds open in obedience to His call on their lives.
I am thinking tonight about the value of giving students a safe and caring place to explore the gifts God has graciously give each of them. I am thinking about how important it is for the students to have those gifts identified and nurtured by their parents, caring leaders and encouraged by other students. Being in an environment where students are owning their faith and growing their gifts is a pretty awesome place to be!
So my blog tonight is for the students in the youth ministry.
I want to encourage you to continue to use your gifts, to take risks and to know it is okay if you don’t do it perfectly…no one does…God cares about your heart response to him. He will never stop growing you if you stay open to his teaching and his grace.
And I want to thank you. You inspire me to continue to seek ways God wants me to serve and risk and grow…to remain surrendered and to keep my heart attentive and soft to his call.
Don't let your heart be hardened - don't let your love grow cold
May it always stay so childlike - may it never grow too old
Don't let your heart be hardened - may you always know the cure
Keep it broken before Jesus; keep it thankful, meek, and pure
-Don Hartman (Petra)