Over the past 15 months, I have spent 6 months working and 9 months unemployed. I have been a student pastor for nearly 20 years and I can honestly say I have learned as much in the 9 months of unemployment about effective student ministry than I did in the 19 years of being hired to be a pastor. Hebrews 5:8 says, “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things that He suffered.” I am not claiming to have suffered anything like Jesus did, but I do understand the Truth I believe God is showing in that verse at a deeper level. During these months of not knowing what is next, how the next step will affect my wife and kids, I have learned obedience to God and His plan for my life. I have learned Truths about how to love, reach, and treat every volunteer, student, and parent that enters the ministry that I lead. I have learned the heart of God for me, for my kids, for this generation. I have learned humility and patience. I have learned to trust God with finances, my kid’s futures, and my value.
I have lived these past 15 months on the other side of professional ministry. I have walked into numerous churches as a worshipper – hurting, expectant, and hopeful (and sometimes hopeless). I have sent my kids to student ministries begging Jesus for an adult who would reach out to them and for students that would engage and welcome them. Our experience has not been a great representation of the heart of Jesus. We are not critical or judgmental of the churches we have visited or experienced but our experience does highlight the need for me to lead from a different perspective in the next place God calls us to. I want to be a learner and a better leader from living life on the other side.
Things I have learned:
- Always be intentional with every person.
- Welcome and follow up with every new person.
- Make myself available.
- Reach out to parents – early and often.
- Invest in adults so that they are informed, enthused, and clear about their role
- Train adults to be aware of new students and parents.
- Unleash students to be owners of the ministry and to be the visible and active front door to the ministry.
- Actively love people
- There are many more lessons I have learned from the other side. As we walk through this season we are asking the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal to us what He wants us to learn.
UPDATE on VGS
We are all doing ok. Zach is loving playing basketball in a league and playing online with friends. Hailey is in an active role in a 5th/6th ministry and loves being a part of her small group. She is hoping to launch her drama career this spring. Hannah is a stage manager at her high school’s performance of the Adams Family. She is a leader at her school and is getting excited about getting her license and graduating. Kris is working full time at a job she enjoys at a local hospital. I have talked to numerous churches and praying through next steps with a couple of opportunities.
We are all enjoying the great winter here in Arizona and looking forward to a senior spring break trip for Hannah at the end of February. We are anxiously waiting for the next place that God wants us to be. We would love for that to be in the Phoenix area, but are sensing that He may again be moving us this summer. God has been incredibly faithful in so many things. We are blown away that He is giving us the opportunity to grow in Him through obedience and opportunity.
We would love prayers for continued emotional and spiritual healing from the last 15 months so that we are completely ready for the next ministry opportunity, for clear direction on the next ministry we will be a part of, for a great senior year for Hannah, for great family time over the next month, and for us not to get too sunburned here in AZ.