Sunday Nights

Sunday Night has quickly become a time I greatly look forward to. In the world I live and the role I play, I'm not really a Youth Pastor. I'm more of a Youth Ministry coordinator. The majority of my time is spent on preperation (lessons, trips, and weekly programs) and trainging and empowering other s and student leaders to do the ministries.
Outside of the trips I go on, I don't get a ton of time with students. And my time tends to be spent with a limitted number of students. This can create a little tension among students and parents... the "why don't you spend time with my student" world is a tough one for a youth pastor to navigate.

At times, I wrestle with this. No, wrestle is too tame. There are moments I hate and despise the role I play. I question if I'm where I want to be, or more importantly where I'm supposed to be. I didn't initially sense a call from God to be a Youth Ministry coordinator. I sensed a call from God to dive into the lives of students. I wanted him to use me to impact a generation for Christ. I saw this happening through tons of basketball games, late nights at Stake and Shake, and tee- the Senior Pastors house. I thought I would be spending all my time with kids.

I don't do that now.

But there are people who are here doing it. Our Small Group Leaders are the true Youth Pastors to these students. My goal is to set them up to win. My call to impact a generation for Christ is still there. In fact, the potential for impact is expanded in the role I play. I just don't get to have direct contact with every student in this ministry. The times I hate and despise the role I play are more often overshadowed by the reality that I'm a part of something significant, and I get to help others take part in that. I love what the Small Group and the Small Group Leader can mean to the body of Christ. I truly believe in it.

I believe in it so much that I decided last year it was time for me to find a way to have a Small Group. I meet almost every Sunday Night with 5 Junior guys and one other Small Group Leader. Last night, we met at my house for some Jack's pizza and pop. We then went over to Terry's house and got in his hot tub.

One guy forgot his suit. He lives almost 20 minutes away, so he ran to his friends house and borrowed on of his suits. It was a speedo. Allow the levels of disgusting to settle in on you...

The real joy is spending two hours with 5 guys talking about life. Wrestling through faith. Asking questions like...
"How are you being prepared to live your faith out when you graduate?"
"What do you think you are supposed to do with your life?"
"From Summer till now, are you where you were hoping you would be in your walk with Christ?"
"Do you know God's heart better today than you did this Summer?"
"How do you know God's voice?"

I love Sunday Nights.