YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN

You know what I'm growing to dislike?

The similarity in my Youth Ministry to all others. Good night have I no mind of my own? Am I that addicted to success that I've patterned our ministry after apparent success stories?

For example. I started by ripping off “The Well” from Lance Burch. I then proceeded to re-invent Student Life’s mission statement for our own. I then trained my people according to Doug Fields and his pattern for world domination. My programs look not like the bible but rather like what I have seen practiced and implemented in the past. When I want to look for new ideas I don’t seek the Father, I seek the Internet and all the other youth ministries out there. “What are they doing, and do I need to implement that or not”, "Oh that looks cool, let's do that." And so on!

Holy Cow, I’m just adding to the noise of unbiblical Youth Ministry! Father save me.

I have a Sunday morning service with no name because I could not find one “cool” enough to fit it. My Sunday night bible study time, title, and layout was stolen from Tulsa and the success of it reflects the amount of planning put into its naming (i.e. none).

I’m not talking to all you other Youth guys out there… I’m talking to myself.

I’ve been in Youth Ministry for a long time however I have only been in full-time Youth Ministry for 1.5 years. It was not until now that I realized that I do not depend upon the Father for leadership, guidance, and vision… I rely on the normal, the been-done-before, the known, and the familiar.

What I have on my hands now (after all that cool planning) is a Sunday morning crowd that would not know my Wednesday crowd if they ran into each other. That may be “normal” according to Doug Fields but I don’t think it looks like the “church” at all. I have a Wednesday night crew that still doesn’t understand what it means to worship God, love others, greet visitors, and live for something other than themselves.

So now what?

I’m quitting! (Just kidding) I'm more excited about my job than ever! I’m not mad at the church either ok (so calm down all you dogmatic 20-27 year olds, You can’t be pro Jesus and Anti-Church! So quit knocking His body and blaming it on bad religion). If anything I am more “church” than ever before. I believe God has given me a vision of what our Youth Ministry should look like. Problem is, it is 180 degrees different than where we are at. Gonna take some time to get there but we’re gonna try.

So hold on… Robert’s fixing to blaze his own trail. Cause the truth is, I have not seen done before what is rolling around in my head.

Pray for me please.