A Youth Pastor's Dream

Last night we kicked off the new year at Ignition by sharing our "State of Ignition Address". We had the youth room all decked out to look special. I have never preached from a podium in our Wednesday night experience, but last night I shared from one that made my talk resemble something, "Presidential". I shared about the amazing things that God had done in our our student ministry in 2011, we unveiled the new theme for this new year, and we talked about some of the "God goals" and direction that our ministry is headed for 2012. I think it's an understatement to simply say that God is doing something special in our student ministry. Things are really rocking.

I have always dreamed about what a youth ministry would look like under these circumstances; and now that we are here it's amazing how "right" it feels. It's almost like meeting a sports star or someone famous. There is always that "Star-struck" feeling at first, but after you spend more time with a person of promience you understand that they are touchable just like everyone else. I feel that way about our student ministry. I have always dreamed about what we have, but it doesn't feel glamorous at all. I pray that it never does. Now we have in no way at all arrived, but the direction we are heading is extremely exciting. AND daily, God continues to drop bigger and greater dreams into my heart for our student ministry.

Probably the most exciting thing for me last night was seeing a specific student that I have been chasing now for nearly 5 years walk through the door of our student ministry. Kate and I are about to celebrate our 5th anniversary here in March at Central Assembly and for the entire duration of our ministry here, we have been trying to connect with this one young man and his family. He just beams of leadership and influence and last night after one more text message, he came and he connected. It was a youth pastors dream come true. If you are a youth pastor and you are reading this, let me encourage you to never give up on going after a student, no matter how many times you have been rejected. Continue to build that relationship, and one day it will happen. Don't give up!

I can honestly say that I'm living my dream here as the leader of Ignition Student Ministries. AND I can't wait as 2012 unfolds to see all that God is going to do. I'm ready to move out of the way and go along for the ride.