This is the first of Ben’s questions:

1.) What has been the hardest thing about your ministry in the first year?

My first year of ministry was a whirlwind and though I have many fond memories, much of it was really difficult. Therefore, it’s not easy to pick one thing. So, here are a couple:

Unsure Priorities. One of the hardest things was figuring out what was most important.  I had just graduated from Moody and I was constantly hearing the do’s and don’ts my professors had taught during the previous four years (volunteers, parents, discipleship, worship, missions, community service, well produced programs, relevant promotional materials, calendaring, biblical preaching, maintaining solid character, student leadership, etc. etc. etc) I wanted to do it all at once.  Everyday seemed to fly by, but I never knew if I was focusing on the right things. Which played into a major weakness–time management.
I’m still young and am still unsure if I’m always focusing on the right things. However, I’m learning to listen to the wise counsel around me, make sure I have a close walk with Jesus and a growing heart for my students and volunteers, continue learning time-management skills, read good books, rely on God’s Spirit to guide and change our ministry, and take care of myself as well as my closest relationships.  This may not be a comprehensive list, but these are some of the things that I have been trying to implement over the course of my second year.

Team. Working on a team and building a team brought a lot of joy but posed several difficulties in my first year.  For some reason, I assumed that everyone on Church teams just got along.  Believe it or not, even though we work at a church, we are still imperfect people that get angry, have bad days, and have incredibly different personalities.  I have worked on several teams before I came here and I thought I was pretty good at pleasing everyone, working hard, and meeting expectations.  So, I came into this job thinking that’s all I had to do.  But I ended up realizing I couldn’t please everyone, I couldn’t work hard ENOUGH, and I would never meet everyone’s expectations, (including my own).  Some of the difficulty simply came from a leadership transition that lasted most of my first year.  The new student ministries director has been really amazing at bringing the team together, clarifying expectations, and trying to protect us from any sort of burn out.  I really  have loved working with this team and am incredibly grateful for them. Furthermore, I am learning more about each ofthem and what it means to trust, clarify expectations, have difficult conversation, and communicate clearly and honestly with them
On top of this was my inability to build or rely on volunteer teams.  Our campus’ student ministry was growing, but it was all about me. I had a handful of faithful volunteers, but I was poor at equipping and empowering them while also recruiting more volunteers to make up for the influx of students. I was running four weekly programs (two middle school and two high school) along with trying to maintain other expectations of connecting with student on school campuses and event-planning for the ministry as a whole.  It was foolish.
Much has changed since then. Our campus has three amazing teams of volunteers and a group of Middle School Moms who encourage each other and support our ministry (that group is led by a wonderful volunteer as well!)  We have also created a great system to train and follow up with all of the volunteers at each campus. It’s a beautiful thing.

How about you? What was or has been the hardest thing during the first year of your job (ministry or non-ministry)?

I just heard of this amazing holiday. I missed it this year, but I’ll be counting down the days to February 5th, 2010.

Purchase Brothers.

Three REALLY well-done promotional videos.

Check these out.

So, in an effort to make myself sit and think through these questions, I am going to start an eleven post series on the questions Ben asked.  Though they are specific to youth ministry, I feel as if these questions could be adapted to any profession.  Also, these questions are not just meant for young readers.  Despite your age or tenure, those of us who are young greatly value your insight.  I hope to hear voices of those who are far wiser due to their wide array of experiences. Hopefully, all of this will spark some conversation, reflection, and input while also giving me a good reason to blog on a more regular basis.

DISCLAIMER: Keep in mind a few things before we begin:
I am not an expert. The more time I spend in ministry, the more I realize how much I don’t know.
I am not a seasoned writer.
I value input. Positive criticism, encouragement, or you’re own findings are encouraged as we embark on this series.
Some of these things will entail answers to our specific ministry or my personal life.  Though I will try to be as vulnerable and open as possible, there will be some places that I will need to be vague.

I debated posting all of the questions now and though I like the element of surprise, I have decided to display them below so that you would begin processing them:

 

1.) What has been the hardest thing about your ministry in the first year?

2.) What are you glad that you did during your first year?

3.) What do you wish you hadn’t done?

4.) What do you wish that you had done?

5.) What things did you change when you came on staff?

6.) What are some things you plan on changing?

7.) How did you begin to look for and traing leaders?

8.) How did you work with the leaders you inherrited?

9.) What is the number one peice of advice you would give me for my first year in youth ministry?

10.) What is the number one most important thing to know about dealing with parents?

11.) What is the number one most important thing to know about dealing with the person or people you report to (i.e: team leader, boss, executive team, etc).

What do you think? Should we add to or alter any of these before we get started?

We find a sense of worth, excitement, and comfort when we are a part of the best.

Psalm 91-93 describes how great God is. How He is the safest shelter, the greatest builder, the most wise and the most loving. He is the best thinker, the best artist, the best teacher, the best father, etc…and He will always be the best.

I know it’s not right to always find an identity in having the best stuff. In fact, as a follower of Jesus, I’m learning more and more that we are called to settle for less. However, the reason we can settle for less is because we ALREADY HAVE THE BEST in God.
And having the BEST God gives me an incredible amount of worth and comfort, while inspiring and exciting me to live life the best possible way.

Today, may you know that there is one true God who is the best.  He loves you better than anyone.  He’s created you physically in the best way and with just the right talents and abilities.  In your most fearful moments, He’s the best refuge. In the moments you shine the brightest, He’s your biggest fan. And in your weakest moment, He’s the best to lean on.

I pray that within our relationships with God, we would have eyes to see His great work throughout our days and that we would be mirrors of His work to those who have yet to know Him.

Ps  92:4- For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; 
     I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

Thanks.

V

…oh i just thought that i would tell you that i am becoming a pastor largely because of the influence from you and jameson. you guys have had a huge impact on my life like you guys would never believe. i dont know if you are feeling down or anything but i just feel really led to tell you that you are greatly valued and you are doing something awesome. 
remember that the more resistance you meet (i think) the more that it is imperative that you finish the race.  Satan is the one who is tryign to mess everything up but God still shines through. 
love ya like a brother!

Funny how God works.

Who do you need to encourage today?

Campus America.

(Photography by Kevin VonQualen) 

It’s really fun learning about the stories of the people in our community at the Blackberry Creek Campus.  I just learned a little bit more about Carter Solgos, a 2 year old son of Casey and Erika Solgos (two amazing people) and sister of Evelea. I’m not sure of the exact medical complications that Carter has been through, but I believe he was born with Noonan Syndrome.  What I do know is that it has entailed some pretty substantial surgeries and a lot of resillience on Carter’s part as well as his family.

It’s been really cool to see the people in our church and the people surrounding Carter show love in a variety of ways. And the letter below not only says much of Carter’s dad, but also reminds me of the type of community I want to create and be a part of. 

A letter to the local newspaper from Carter’s dad.

The ‘Creative Director’ portion of my job has a pretty wide description. One of the things it entails is creating and/or finding videos and artwork that fit our upcoming series for student ministry.  I don’t know if we’ll use this one, but I thought it was well done and thought provoking.  Check it out.