Hurdles in Discipleship

It's a full season for this youth group. And I am in the process of convincing myself that every moment of it is worth it.

First, Camp was last week. Definitely a fantastic experience. Five of my students were going, so I went as a counselor and I think I had more fun then the campers! It was a relief to still be doing ministry while not in charge of making decisions. I was able to connect with several campers and counselors while I was there, and my own students got to see me in a different environment. I know that camp made a difference in my students because there is a seriousness about the gospel now that wasn't there three weeks ago.

So Monday started off Missions Week. This has been the strangest combination of excitement and discouragement. I have been planing this week-long event since the middle of last semester, have been talking about it all year and really pressing sign-up for the past month and a half. The grand total of attendence?...3. Some have legitimate reasons why they can't be here this week, others have just decided that they're not interested, and some I can call and call and just never get a hold of. What is most discouraging is when you see service and talking about Jesus as a treasure, but some just don't care. I never claim to be the most fun person to hang around but I know that people are missing out.

Organizing the details of this week has also been a challenge. Last night I waded through an hour or two of phone calls in an attempt to sort out the details for tomorrow, which completely changed on me last minute. Some other phone calls tonight should add some more closure but I'm learning that there are some questions I just have to wait patiently for. I feel scatter-brained as I haphazardly pull things together and totally elated when, beyond belief, they actually work!

Every time I question, I am always reassured that the work here is worth it! So far we have talked about the Greatest Commandments and the Great Commission; tomorrow we'll try to articulate our testimonies and thursday we'll be talking about "the least of these." Some may say that these themes are too advanced for middle school kids but I have seen them repeatedly rise to the occassion and eagerly participate in the discussion. These boys actually want to learn about God, the dynamic here is perfect for close discipleship. Even though it's not nearly what I wanted it to look like, perhaps its good that it's just the three of them. My God is in control.

So far, we ripped out a carpet in a small church in a neighboring town, prayer-walked through our town as we passed out invites to a free car wash we had today. (We were able to use the car wash as a springboard into the gospel: getting something for free or doing something without payment.) Tomorrow we will do some yard work for a gentleman in our neighborhood and paint our own youth room. Thursday is an outreach project; we will be hosting a block party in a neighborhood just for the sake of building connections and relationships there.

Perhaps some good will come of our projects and people will be interested in joining our church. Perhaps the only good I'm doing here is planting seeds. I pray that one day these boys will become young men of passion and godliness. Perhaps my small influence can point them in that directions. All are aching for love and for answers. So what if there's only three? They are three precious sons yearning to know the Father, and I am blessed to be a small part of it all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAJ0gzqzg_c