WDW Reflections: An Anthology of Prenkert Trips

Jan 2001
Location: Westgate Town Center
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights:  First visit.  2 days at the parks.  Animal Kingdom, MGM Studios and EPCOT in one day, Magic Kingdom the other.

December 2003
Location: Knights Inn
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights:  3 full days in parks before heading to Fort Lauderdale for 2 weeks.

November 2004
Location:  Westgate Town Center
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights:  2 days at Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure, 1 day at EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and MGM. La Nouba. 

November 2005
Location: Offsite Vacation Rental Home & 1 extra night at Holiday Inn
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights: Thanksgiving Day in the parks, Monday Night Football at ESPN Club (Colts beat Steelers).  Disney Quest

January 2007
Location:  1 Day Visit to Disneyland
Participants:  Derry and Janelle
Highlights:  Matterhorn, Mr. Toad, California Screamin'... basically any ride unique to California.

October 2007
Location: Port Orleans Riverside
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights:  1st time staying On-site, 1st Time on Dining Plan, 3 weeks before adoption of our 1st child.

December 2008
Location: Coronado Springs Resort
Participants:  Derry, Janelle and Katylynn
Highlights:  1st trip with child. Very Merry Christmas Party.

May 2009
Location: Marriot Grande Vista (Universal Studios)
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights: Universal

February 2010
Location Animal Kingdom Lodge
Participants: Derry, Janelle and Katylynn
Highlights:  Dining Plan, Janelle Parasailing, Princess Dinner Akershus

November 2010
Location: Saratoga Springs Resort
Participants: Derry, Janelle and Katylynn
Highlights: DVC point rental.  Katylynn's 3rd B-day Surprise.  Walking to Downtown Disney. 

November 2011
Location: Westgate Town Center & Sheraton Vistana Resort
Participants: Derry, Janelle, Katylynn, and Moses
Highlights:  Moses 1st trip. 7 total Days in Parks.  Found out Janelle was pregnant

February 2013
Location: Sheraton Vistana Resort
Participants:  Derry, Janelle, Katylynn, Moses, Kiki, Dave & Pat Lister.
Highlights:  Trip with the Grandparents.  New Fantasyland Open.  Derry and Janelle go to Universal and Harry Potterland.

November 2013
Location:  Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani & Sheraton Vistana Resort
Participants:  Derry, Janelle, Katylynn, Moses, and Kiki
Highlights:  Kids ride waterslides for the 1st time.  DVC Point Rental. Hit 3 parks in one day. First try at FP+.

March 2014
Location: Youth Pastor Conference; Evening visit to Boardwalk
Participants:  Derry, Colin and Chris.
Highlights:  A day at Universal.  Supper at Cape May.

May 2014
Location:  1 day visit from Daytona
Participants:  Derry and Janelle.
Highlights:  3 parks. Flower and Garden Festival.

October 2014
Location: Art of Animation and Liki Tiki Village
Participants:  Derry, Janelle, Katylynn, Moses, and Kiki
Highlights:  Free trip, dining and tix. 

April 2015
Location: Dolphin
Participants:  Derry, Janelle, Katylynn, Moses, and Kiki.
Highlights:  Surprised the kids.  Blizzard Beach Waterpark.  Crazy Crowds.  Two days at parks till midnight.
______________________________________________________________________

Here's the takeaways from this list:

• We have been to Walt Disney World and the Orlando Area far too many times.
• We have experienced a wide variety when it comes to trip length, lodging, activities, group sizes, and times of the year.
• I have learned  a lot over the years and trips.  It is out of these experiences I will be sharing my reviews, tips and opinions.

WDW Reflections

It's no secret the Prenkert family has a special place in their heart for Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.  Some may call it an obsession, addiction, waste of money, or something else.  Ultimately, I really don't care what others may call it.  The reality is I have come to know A LOT about traveling to and visiting the Parks, Hotels, Shops, Activities, and many other aspects connected to the WDW region.

I often get asked for advice or opinions on all kinds of different aspects connected my Disney travels.  I have decided to let this blog be a landing spot for a series of posts to highlight some of the more common things I've been asked about.  In WDW Reflections, I hope to share stories, ideas, tips, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.  On the blog I previously didn't a stretch of posts called Disney Thursdays where I did a little bit of this, but my experience and knowledge has grown significantly over the years and the general Disney experience has changed significantly.  I hope you, the reader, will benefit from reading whether just casually checking or in the midst of major research and preparation for a trip.

Top 50 - TV Shows

In this ongoing series of posts, I'm ranking out the top 50 of various categories.  Each list is obviously slanted to my personal preference and opinion.


50.  Live: With Regis &Kelly  Regularly watched during my early youth ministry/no-kids, start my work day at 10 a.m. years.
49.  E:60  - I'm a sucker for the story behind the sports story.
48.  The A-Team - Lots of shooting and nobody dead.  I mainly remember Mr. T and the Van.
47.  Criminal Minds - Very dark at times, but very intriguing at times as well.
46.  Knight Rider - 80s nostalgia
45.  Law & Order - Love me some Cop Drama.  A few too many character changes through the years for me to give it a higher ranking.
44.  Pardon the Interruption - I'm a sports junky and during certain times of the year, it's nearly a daily stop for me.
43.  Storage Wars - It's a binge-watching show for me.
42.  Fresh Prince of Bell Air - Theme song alone makes it worthy of a ranking.
41.  Total Request Live - Kind of represents the 90s MTV as a whole for me... back when MTV actually showed music videos.
40.  Different Strokes - Even as a grade schooler, I found the way they ended each episode ridiculous, but I just couldn't stop watching.
39.  Who's the Boss - Alyssa Milano was my first celebrity crush.  At one point I was convinced she would fall in love with me if she just met me.
38.  Law & Order: SVU  - Some episodes have left me speechless.
37.  Full House - "Have Mercy."
36.  Tonight Show w/ Johnny Carson - This would rank higher had Johnny been going while I was a teen.  I vividly remember watching the last week of shows.
35.  Late Night w/ Conan O'Brien - This was Conan at his best.  Weird characters, off-beat bits and awkward humor.
34.  The Colbert Report - Colbert is a great character.  The sarcasm was a crack-up.  Intrigued to see what he does when he takes over for Letterman.
33.  Dukes of Hazard - Yeeee Hawww!
32.  Happy Days - The one show I remember watching with my dad.
31.  Shark Tank - If I could get on one Reality show, it wouldn't be this one... but if I could get on two, this would be one.
30.  Home Improvement - Reminds me of the 90s about as much as any show.
29.  Boy Meets World - Cory and Topanga summed up the fake High School relationships.
28.  The Amazing Race - If I could get on one reality show, it would be this one.
27.  24 - The first 3 seasons were fantastic.  Jack Bauer was a great hero.  From there. ehh.
26.  Once Upon a Time - Might be too high of a rank.  But the Disney nerd in me has been a sucker for this one.
25.  The Office - Might be too low of a rank, but once Michael Scott left it lost its "must-watch" status.
24.  Duck Dynasty - Best Fake Reality TV Show out there.  A few episodes are absolute gems.
23.  Quantum Leap - Loved the premise of the show.  Vividly remember multiple episodes even though I watched as a Middle Schooler.
22.  Star Trek: Next Generation - It could turn a rainy/cold afternoon into perfection during my teen years.
21.  Behind the Music - There was a season where I wouldn't miss an episode... even if I hated the artist highlighted.
20.  The Late Show With David Letterman - This show was the 90s for me.  I stopped watching 2005ish and didn't pick up again until the last three weeks. 
19.  Parks and Recreation - Hated it at the start, but man they won me over by the end.
18.  Tonight Show w/ Jimmy Fallon - Fallon is making a name for himself by unique bits and programming.  Love his creativity and tone.
17.  The Goldbergs - Funny.  Smart. Recapturing a lot of my childhood.
16.  Saved By the Bell - Terrible acting.  Over the top "drama."  Yet, somehow awesome!
15.  Big Bang Theory - Hilarious characters (I'm a sucker for Raj)
14.  The Cosby Show - Brilliant Comedy.  Poignant and significant in what it did culturally for the African American presence on television.
13.  Chuck - Loved the premise.  Great and fun action.  Hilarious moments.
12.  Ducktales - My favorite cartoon.  Came home from school every day to watch it.
11.  Prison Break - First show I truly binge-watched.  Season 1 and 2 in

10.  Sunday Night Football - This pulls up higher on the ranks for me as I'm going to let it represent all NFL programming.  It's the best crew running it.  Football is the best TV-sport there is.
9.  Blue Bloods - I love the approach, acting, plotlines, family, and faith elements interwoven to the show.  Multiple times at the end of an episode, my wife or I will exclaim, "Man, that's a good show!"  I love the tension it creates and the somewhat conservative social commentary.
8.  Freaks and Geeks - Only one season, but man it was good.  It caught so much of the angst of High School life while capturing the grungy/geeky side of the 80s.  Crazy how much this showed launched the careers of multiple male characters (Franco, Rogan, Segel) and the producer (Judd Apatow).
7.  MacGyver - So many memories are attached to this show.  the dude could get out of anything with a toothpick, duct tape and his swiss army knife.  I played MacGyver all the time in my back yard.  The recurring character of Murdoc was great. 
6.  The Simpsons - It's been an amazing run with this show.  The deveopment of Homer as the main character is, I think, the key to this show being able to laugh.  The way they have been able to develop characters thanks to the animation has also been a big help.  The social commentary and satire take it to next level for me.
5.  The Walking Dead - The Zombie genre is a guilty pleasure for me, but what really carries this show are the characters and themes.  The most recent season may have been it's best yet.  Who are the heroes?  Who are the villains? 
4.  The Wonder Years - Just brilliant story-telling and family drama.  Kevin, Paul, Wayne, and Winnie's journey through life completely captured me.  
3.    Breaking Bad - I could only take this show in small doses, but the character development and storyline were some of TVs best storytelling.  Someone encouraged me to ask myself as I watched, "Who are you pulling for?"  Loved Jessie's story arc over all the others in the end
2.    Seinfeld - It's probably the one show where I will gladly re-watch any episode.  It does suprisingly well as transcending time despite it's commentary on society.  Quotes and themes from the show make their way into so many conversations.  The oddities of Kramer.  The pathetic neruosis of George.  The almost but not quite attractive nature of Elaine.  The sarcastic slant of Jerry.  It's really hard to not make this the #1 show, and had I typed this a different day, it may be #1.
1.    LOST - Say what you want about how it all ended.  I can't say I was fully satisfied by the finale, but I can say I was more than satisfied with the show in it's entirety.  The amazing character development of season 1 locked me in.  The twists and turns of Seasons 2-4 had me addicted.  I loved the little hints and deep layers of Easter Eggs and hints.  It was a regular "watch twice" show for me.  I watched each episode the 1st time to just enjoy, and then a 2nd time to study in perpetration for the shows to come.

Memorial Sunday Night Reflections

Some random thoughts running through my head this evening:

- I crashed hard this afternoon after preaching.  I once heard someone say preaching a message is equal in energy to running a marathon.  I think that is a load of hooey, but I will say that preaching three messages in a row brings on a unique level of exhaustion.

- I'm looking forward to grilling some bbq pork tomorrow.  

- With Graduation Open Houses and Summer Camps, this is my final "free weekend" where there is nothing pulling me away from family/home until July 17-19.  This is the final weekend I will basically lounge at home until August 14-16.  Suummers be crazy!

- As I watched the Class of '15 being honored in each service, I experienced an extremely vast amount of thoughts and emotions.  I'd love to say I'm confident in the spiritual state of this class as a whole.  I can't.  There are several individuals I believe are in a great spot and will thrive in the next season of life. As a whole, I find myself praying they will learn through their struggles, doubts and failures in the next phase. 

- Memorial Day is clearly a time dedicated to remembering those who have served and even given their lives for our country.  I am forever grateful for them.  At the same time, I have found myself remembering my Dad this weekend... A LOT.  For his life and investment in me, I am forever grateful.

- Highlights from this weekend included a lot of laughs and time with my son. I am so glad God brought us on a journey to have him part of our lives.

- I am currently watching a movie... and it is a reboot.  Robocop.  Reboots, adaptations and sequals.  Just summed up 90% of hollywood's releases.  This is probaly why I'm really looking forward to watching Tomorrowland.

- Tuesday 5 individuals start working with us for the Summer. 4 are NMC grads.  The 5th is a SOAR alum. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us this Summer.

New DYM Resource: The Senior Superpack

For the last 4 years we have been trying to really step up our focus on the transition time for our from the Senior year through the first year post-graduation.  It's a part of something we've dubbed our Sticky Faith Initiative* We've had some things go really well, some things not go really well, and a lot of things we've built and tweaked over time.

Last year around this time I started taking some of the various games, devotionals, experiences, and other resources I've developed over the years, adapted them to make them less NMC-specific and make them available to other ministries through the super-awesome, ridiculously affordable folks at Download Youth Ministry (downloadyouthministry.com).

As I was working on what we call our "Senior Sundays" this Spring, it dawned on me that there are many of my youth ministry friends who are in the same predicament as I was 4 years ago...

Flashback to 4 years ago...

It was really settling in.  I was preparing to graduate out my 12th Senior Class since going on fulltime at NMC.  12 Classes, average (on the low end) of 50 students each class who call NMC home... that's a lot of kids through our doors, which is truly awesome and humbling to be a part of.
At the same time, there were two burdens eating away at me:

1. The statistics on the amount of active youth groups kids that were choosing to be spiritual dropouts during the college years, and more specifically the actual names and faces of students who I could identify fitting in with those statistics.
2. The seeming impossibility of adequately walking with and ministering to students after graduation.  Just stop and think about it... with every graduating class there is a new class of students stepping into the Student Ministries.  I was living with 14 years of awkward conversations with former students (having trouble remembering names or details of what was going on his/her life), hurt feelings (more than one student contacted me to let me know how hurt they were by the lack of continued care/communication after graduation) and good old-fashioned youth pastor guilt (I'm not doing enough, I'm failing, I have to find a solve).I was also living with 14 years worth of realization that I could only do so much.  Ultimately, I felt it was time to find a way for that "so much" to include a better approach toward the post grad years.

So, in a lunch meeting with some Senior leadership in the church, I bore my soul over these burdens and the wheels started turning.  3 months later with the blessing and resourcing of some amazing church leadership, we had made some adjustements in staffing and focus to move ahead with a significant focus on creating a better bridge from the youth group years to life after.

Back to this Spring...
 So I'm sitting there reflecting on the 4 years worth of experiences and programs we implemented, it dawned on me, "Why not let others benefit from this stuff?"  I contacted my friends at DYM and pitched the idea of putting together a set of resources all centered around working with grads, and they loved it!

After 2 months of late nights and off-hour work to deeply edit and turn the materials from NMC-specific to ministry-neutral and adaptable products, I submitted 9 different resources to be considered.

This past Monday, DYM released all 9 products for individual purchase, but also made them available in one purchase (at about 50% less) called The Senior Superpack.

As I scrolled through the product description late Monday Night, something really settled in with me... this stuff has the potential to be a game changer for youth groups, and ultimately individual students.  So humbling, and so exciting!

If you're a youthmin person, I'd encourage you to go check out the Superpack.  Take the stuff and make it work for you in your context. 


*Inspired by the fantastic book and research by the folks at Fuller Youth Insititute:  check out stickyfaith.org

38 Reflections For 38 Years

On this  the eve of the 38th anniversary of my entrance into the world, here are 38 thoughts, opinions, reflections, or memories from the time tread on this Earth:

1. When coming up to multiple choices of lines, always go left.

2. There are two types of people in this world... Those who love country music and the rest of us.

3. The two most overrated events in my High School career were commencement and prom. 

4. Until I'm content that I'm complete In my relationship with Christ, all other relationships are a hopeless attempt to fill that void.

5. I am a product of some amazing heritage on both sides of my extended family.  If you see something of deep character In me, it likely has something to do with the Prenkerts and Wislers.

6. I thought I had parenting all figured out... then I became one.

7. If you are wanting to go into youth ministry for the long haul, you have to be ready to do more than just spend time with teens.

8.  There is nobody on this earth that has a sweeter jump shot than my oldest brother.

9.  U2 has been and always will be the greatest musical influence on my life. 

10. In the first month after his death, not an hour would go by without me thinking about my dad. For the first year, not a day.  In the years following, it was sometimes a week, but never more.  I thought of him three times today and all three involved my kids.

11.  I am not a big spender, but I'd be willing to go into debt for the sake of a family vacation.

12. I have less faith in politics solving world issues than I do in getting a meal at the Nappanee KFC/TacoBell drivethru in under 10 minutes on a Sunday.

13. I've been in a lot of dark places, but nothing has rocked me to the core to the level of the genocide memorials of Rwanda were I stared at tens of thousands of skulls of victims in a completely senseless "war."

14. I believe Jesus is more than a church answer.

15. Soemtimes, people need to just shut up on social media.... And I am a member of "people."

16. Instead of being offended by sin, I want to be provoked to do something.

17.  My salvation was not merely meant for myself.

18.  Adoption is the most beautiful, most mysterious, most confusing, most faith-building, most frustrating, most rewarding process I have ever walked through.

19.  Every year I want to look back and say, "I wish I would have spent more time at work" over saying,  "I wish I had spent more time with my family."   I can't say I've succeeded, but I can say I'm striving.

20.  Sometimes we have to say no to the good things in order to say yes to the God things.

21. Seinfeld is the one show I could watch episodes over and over again and not be bored.

22.  Christians need to stop expecting nonChristians to act like Christians, but should start holding other Christians accountable to live more like Christ.

23.  I am blessed to call NMC my church.

24. I'm even more blessed to call Janelle my wife.

25. Disneyworld and Ludington, Michigan are two places that immediately make me think of and value my family.

26.  Terry Bley looked at me as a scrawny 7th grader and saw something. Because of this, I'm constantly asking,"Who do I see something in?"

27. I consider the Kids in Need initiative to be the most significant ministry accomplishment I have been a part of. 

28.  Whenever I hear someone talk up a former NMC student or intern, I light up inside like a proud Dad.

29. There's times Moses looks up at me and smiles, and I'm completely blown away by the transforming power of a loving mom and dad.  If you only knew...

30.  Absent, aloof and stoic Dads will set their daughters up to struggle with their identity during their teen years.

31. The Pizza Puff may be the most valuable thing the convenience store has offered the world (or maybe the Slurpee).

32.  The more I think I know, the less I know I know.

33. There is always room for ice cream.

34. If you're having trouble sleeping,  close your eyes and try to name every NFL starting Quarterback... Works every time for me. 

35.  "Busy" may be the most relative concept and lamest excuses in the world. 

36.  If you have the hiccups, try to swallow three times while holding your breath.

37.  Life is a series of events that prepare you for the next event.

38.  Jesus. Simply Jesus.

Tonight at NMC

I shared a message tonight that has been brewing in me for many years.  Here's some of the biggest thoughts from it...

• Have you ever felt used in a relationship? I know I have.   I had my license early in my Sophomore year, and it was amazing how many people became friends with me at that point. We can run a risk of doing this with God. When our main reason for following God is out of a desire to get something from him… heaven, feelings, a supernatural move (miracles, gifts, etc.)… we are missing the point. 
• The reason we follow God because He is God. 
• Tonight, we did not sing "You are here for us".... we sang, "We are here for you."  BUT, which version are we singing in our everyday life?
•  The idea of seeking God over God’s move is laced throughout scripture... 
• In Amos the people were seeking the places of worship over God.  He had some harsh words to say to them in Amos 5:4-6.
• We love the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 (For I know the plans I have for you) but that promise is incomplete without Jeremiah 29:12-13 (You will seek me and find me when you seek ME with all your heart).
• Philippians 4:13 is grossly misquoted.  Check out Philippians 4:11-12 sometime.

•  Some of you may be saying, “Wait a minute? So I shouldn’t want to see God move? I shouldn’t want to get to heaven? Is it bad to want to feel God’s presence?” No, I’m not saying that. What I’m trying to get at is this… 
• Let’s be careful that we are seeking the Creator and not his creation. 
• Let’s worship the Doer and not the things he’s done. 
• Let’s place our trust in the Giver and not in His gifts.

New Resource on DYM: What Happened? What's Next?

As mentioned in a previous post, I have some resources that are going up on Download Youth Ministry, a site dedicated to provided resources to Youth Workers at an affordable price.  My first non-game went up on the site today.  What Happens?  What's Next? is a missions trip debrief packet.  I am incredibly proud of this resource due to the major role it has played in my ministry context.  We place a high value on debriefing the short term missions experience.  On more than one occasion, I have had students come to me and say thank you for walking through our debrief experience.  The reality is that a lot of youth groups do short term missions very poorly and it results in more harm than good on the place visited and the students visiting.  We have learned a lot of key elements to ensuring this does not happen through our IMPACT experiences.
 What Happened? What's Next? has been our key tool in making sure the short term missions experience is more than a moment for the student participating.  Here's the opening statement from the packet:

 It’s likely going to happen within an hour of your return home. Someone who knows you’ve been gone is going to approach you and say, “So, tell me about your trip.” 

What do you say, where do you begin, how do you explain everything that you have seen/heard/experienced, and how do you even know what or how much info the person is looking for? 

Because of these questions, you might be tempted to go with a response like these… 

RESPONSE 1 – “It was good/great/awesome/life-changing (or some other adjective).” 
RESPONSE 2 – “I can’t even explain it. You just had to be there.” 

Response 1 gives no justice to our experience. Response 2 is almost insulting to the person who is inquiring about your trip. So, where do you begin? How could you respond? What if you could find a way to sum up your experience in one simple but descriptive sentence? 

In the following pages, you are going to recount your experiences and eventually narrow them down to one clear, concise sentence that describes your experience. More importantly, in the process you are going to be able to see the major themes, lessons and experiences God has allowed you through this trip. 

To get there, let me ask you to do a few things… 

1. Give this your best focus and effort. This whole packet is going to help you take what God has done on this trip and see how you are going to take it home. 
2. Don’t jump ahead. You may be tempted to just jump to the top 3 and sentence. If you do, you will likely miss out on some lessons God taught you that you didn’t even realize. 
3. Take your time. We have given you plenty of time to work through this. 
4. If you get stuck, talk to a leader. We want you to make this your personal exercise, so allow your other teammates to work through their debrief materials. 

So, here we go. Let’s take time to see “What Happened” and what God has taught us! 

Check out the resource here.  Check out my other resources on the site here.

Sow Seeds. Sow Lots of Seeds.

The Benediction I shared at the close of NMCs August 31 Message out of Luke 8:4-15

NMC, let’s sow seeds.
Let’s sow lots of seeds.
In our homes.
At the dinner table.
In the family room.
In our conversations.
Sow seeds.

In the cubicle.
On the production floor.
In the boardroom.
In the break room.
And in the bathroom.
Sow seeds.

In the classroom.
In the Hallways.
At the Lunch Table.
In the locker room.
On the field.
And yes, fans, in the stands.
 Sow seeds.
Sow lots of seeds.

In the produce aisle.
In the checkout line.
On our phone.
On Facebook.
In our tweets, our TBT’s and texts.
Let’s sow seeds.

To the masses
And to the one.

When everyone is looking
And no one at all.

With our actions
And with our words.

With our families,
With our friends
And even our enemies.



To a world that is LOST.
YOU are the one God is calling to
SOW SEEDS.
SOW LOTS OF SEEDS.

18 Lessons Learned in 18 Years of Student Ministry

This week marks 18 years that I've been a part of the Student Ministries Staff at NMC.  I have now been involved in Student Ministry for as many years as I have not been involved in Student Ministry!

 In the Fall of 1996, I came on as a very part-time (5-10 hrs a week) Junior High Intern.  At that time, I was excited to get my feet wet in Youth Ministry at a healthy and growing church while getting my degree at Bethel College.  I would have never guessed that internship would turn into a full time position after college.  I'm blown away at the fact that God has allowed me to stay at this same place for these past 18 years.  Just think about that... the students who will be graduating High School this year were born the year I started in.

A lot has changed personally and professionally over those years and a lot has stayed the same.  As I was driving in to the church and walking into my office (which is the seventh office space I've had since starting here), I found myself reflecting on some of the more significant things I've learned over these past 18 years.  With it being year 18, here's 18 lessons I've learned:

1. Students have blown me away.  They are naive and willing enough to take the Bible at it's word and step out in faith.
2. Students have broken my heart.  I've watched destructive decisions as well as just downright hurtful things said or done to me.  If anyone goes in this hoping to see everything go perfectly and everyone like you, be prepared for disappointment.  There are a lot of painful pit stops along this 18 year road.  
3. I can't fix people.  If I were to be honest, I think I initially stepped into ministry with this being the motivation.  I was going to fix the world's problems due to the calling God had placed on my life.  I can't fix people.  That's God's job, and sometimes, he doesn't even want to fix the things I think He should fix. 
   
4. Fruit can't be judged on my feelings. I've had moments I've walked off a stage and whispered "Nailed It!" under my breath only to realize students weren't tracking at all.  I've had other moments I felt like everything was a mess and even wondered if I committed heresy only to have a student (or even multiple students) share how much they were challenged or how God used my words.
5. Ministry is full of seasons... I have to embrace the season I'm in. 
   I started  as an older friend then moved to big brother.  Now I play a bit of a Dad role. 
   I was hands on with students, then hands on with volunteers. Now I'm hands on with Staff. 
   I was Junior High, then High School.  Now I'm a little College and a little Middle and still a decent amount of High School.   
   I could go on and on.  Each season had it's major bonuses as well as it's shortfalls and trials.  The biggest shortfalls were when I found myself longing for a different season instead of leaning in to the season I was in.
6. Teenagers can lead the charge for the entire church. I've personally seen student movments in worship, evangelism and justice set a tone that the entire church body has joined in on.
7. There is always more I can do. There's always one more call, one more project and one more student slipping through the cracks.  Sabbath is key.  You have to say no.
8. Youth Ministers will be misunderstood... Deal with it. You will get labeled disorganized, lazy and/or immature. Student Ministry does not fully fit inside a nice tidy box.  You can only plan ahead so much with teenagers.  Organization has to be thrown out the door at times.  It takes a little bit of crazy to stick with Middle and High School students.  Some people won't "get it" when it comes to what you're doing.  Keep moving forward.
9. The role of the pastor's spouse is under-appreciated, overlooked and invaluable.  I'm dead meat without her.  She always has my back.  She has more to do with what's going on than anyone realizes.
10. There is no such thing as balance in the immediate.  Ministry is no doubt a marathon, but it is not one that is run at one even pace.  It's sprint, rest, sprint, jog, walk, sprint, rest big time, sprint, sprint some more, walk, sprint again, rest...
11. The Senior Leadership/Youth Pastor relationship is the key to longevity.  I am very blessed to be under the leadership structure I am under.  I'm loved, encouraged, resourced and empowered by a Senior Pastoral team (namely Dave, Joe and Terry) and an amazing Church Board.  I've seen far too many youth ministry casualties in my SM friends along the way due to unhealthy relationships between the Senior Pastor, Church Elder, Direct Supervisor, etc. and the Youth Pastor.
12. Overnighters are from hell. Enough said.
13. Occupational Ministry is one of the loneliest professions out there. I am so blessed to be a part of a church where there is multiple staff.  Still, the fences have to be high at times on who you "let in."  Satan also loves to beat the crud out of you and convince you that you are alone in the journey.
14. The longer I do this, the more I realize how little I know. 
15. There is no profession tougher than parenting.  I used to get so ticked at how I saw parents handling situations with their kids... then I became the parent of 3. 
16. I am broken.  I have so little to offer left to myself.  He (the one who is in me) has more to offer than anyone could ask or imagine.  This is the reason my ministry cry is the same as John the Baptist, "Less of me, God.  More of You."
17. Methodology is way overrated.  I'm all about excellence in programming and relevance. The message must be packaged in a way that it can truly take root (read the parable of the Sower).  However, we spend far to much time in the church world debating large v small, attractional v missional, progressive v traditional.  Kind of makes me want to puke writing it.  Jesus.  Simply Jesus.
    
18. The Holy Spirit is way underrated.That moment when the Spirit of God breaks through.  When light overtakes darkness.  When chains are broken.  When life overtakes death.  When hope is restored.  When a Middle School student "gets it" for the first time.  When a High School girl leads her best friend to Christ.  When a student returns 10 years later and shares what God is unfolding in his life.  When you see what's happening and you all you can say is, "No way... only God could do that!"  That's what I long for.  That's what keeps me going.

I'm praising God for the privilege and responsibility he's allowed me over these past 18 years.  I'm looking forward to my August 2054 post, "58 Lessons Learned in 58 Years of Student Ministry."