The last couple of weeks have been a time where many of our graduated students make it back into the area. It's allowed Janelle and I some great opportunities to catch up with students.
Over a Hacienda lunch, Dave, Andrew, and I reminisced over the times I chewed them out in Peru, talked , listened to poor old lu, talked blogging, marriage, and a ton of other stuff. All in all, an awesome time touching base with some fellas from the Class of 2001 who were a major reason I fell in love with Youth Ministry.
Over a 3DYC breakfast, Kyle (class of '03) and I spent some time talking the challenge of athletics and youth group involvement, the blurriness and clarity of a life calling, contentedness in where we are at, and much else.
Later in the day, it was a little catch up with Kyle and Eric (class of '03) talking through the questioning of our faith and the value of the Big Event in ministry.
Lizzie (class of '04) stopped by to catch up with my wife. She and Janelle talked over a ton, but especially encouraging was to hear (through Janelle) about the burden Lizzie has gained for the potential sex trafficking that is happening in her college town, and her vision to do something about it.
A random run in with Ted (Class of '02) at the Main Street Coffee House let me know that the Interim leader of an INTRSCT, an Chicago based inner city ministry.
There was coffee with Emily (class of '05) and Dan (class of '04) in a "premarital counseling session". They are getting married this Summer and I couldn't be more excited for them.
There was the random call at 3DYC to have a talk with Adam (class of '03), who is in his first year as a youth pastor in Mishawaka to see if he would be willing and available to go with us to India later this month. I'm pretty pumped that I will be traveling with a former student who will be sharing with the youth of India alongside me!
These connections are the reminders on why I got into youth minsitry and why it's worth it.
At the same time, I could walk through the many casual encounters with graduated students that ended with the heartbreak or frustration over the reminder that they were choosing to live a life away from a relationship with Christ.
Over a 3DYC breakfast, Kyle (class of '03) and I spent some time talking the challenge of athletics and youth group involvement, the blurriness and clarity of a life calling, contentedness in where we are at, and much else.
Later in the day, it was a little catch up with Kyle and Eric (class of '03) talking through the questioning of our faith and the value of the Big Event in ministry.
Lizzie (class of '04) stopped by to catch up with my wife. She and Janelle talked over a ton, but especially encouraging was to hear (through Janelle) about the burden Lizzie has gained for the potential sex trafficking that is happening in her college town, and her vision to do something about it.
A random run in with Ted (Class of '02) at the Main Street Coffee House let me know that the Interim leader of an INTRSCT, an Chicago based inner city ministry.
There was coffee with Emily (class of '05) and Dan (class of '04) in a "premarital counseling session". They are getting married this Summer and I couldn't be more excited for them.
There was the random call at 3DYC to have a talk with Adam (class of '03), who is in his first year as a youth pastor in Mishawaka to see if he would be willing and available to go with us to India later this month. I'm pretty pumped that I will be traveling with a former student who will be sharing with the youth of India alongside me!
These connections are the reminders on why I got into youth minsitry and why it's worth it.
At the same time, I could walk through the many casual encounters with graduated students that ended with the heartbreak or frustration over the reminder that they were choosing to live a life away from a relationship with Christ.
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