The Truth About Being A Youth Minister
Last week we had a big experience in our youth group. One of our kids - Zach P. - joined Eddie James Ministries. His permanent residence is now in Florida instead of Illinois. He is now traveling the country with a group of people that are encouraging him and helping him to walk in freedom. This was really a divine and sovereign act of God. I mean in less than 24 hours he made this life-changing decision and started touring the country. I could not be more proud of him for taking this step.
Here’s where it gets tricky: I cried for basically the whole 2 days that we had where he made that decision and was getting ready to leave. And not just tearing up - I mean full on, eyes puffy, nose running, shoulders shaking crying. Here’s where it gets even more tricky: the crying wasn’t tears of sadness. It wasn’t tears of regret. I was not wishing that he could stay or that I would have done a better job as his youth leader.
What I found myself feeling was this overwhelmingly motherly emotion that I can only describe with those words. It was the feeling of I am going to miss him - just who he is as a person - and all the time me and Joey got to spend with him. It was funny because him and his sister stay the night with us every weekend and Zach would always get up before everyone on Sunday morning and make coffee and take the trash out. And I found myself thinking about little things like that and how different they would be without him. I understand that I am not his mother or even relation biologically. But the emotions I went through on those 2 days, I can only imagine that they were something like what a mother would feel.
You see, sometimes people have this idea about youth ministry that its a lot of games and pizza parties. It’s shaving cream in your hair, video game tournaments and basically keeping some teenagers entertained and reliving youth at the same time.
But the truth about youth ministry is that you aren’t just letting kids in to your home -
You are letting them into your heart.
You aren’t just having fun with them -
You are doing life with them.
You are investing in them.
You really are parenting them in some ways.
The truth about youth ministry is that part of my heart will be with Zach wherever he goes. There are about 15 other kids who will take parts of my heart with them everywhere they go. And that fact makes me realize that I must be doing something right. And the truth about youth ministry is that sometimes having your heart be divided up and taken with a bunch of teenagers hurts. And sometimes it makes your heart soar. Regardless it’s worth every moment.
Kristen, Me, Joey, and Zach
at the Eddie James event in Norris City
the night Zach joined EJM
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