As I look back at the time I have been at East Booneville as well as look forward to the future that is currently unknown, I feel excitement and peace. Souls saved and lives change is what i’ve learned it is all about. The only thing that means anything at the end of the day is the relationships we build that lasts a lifetime. I have enjoyed and still enjoy my time at East Booneville, and I look forward to whatever ministry future the Lord has for me and my family. Anywhere, anytime, anyplace. That is our goal attitude to serve God in whatever capacity He sees fit until we go home.

Since the onset of the Coronavirus, we have moved all of our services online. This comes with adjustments on all ends, but none more than speaking into a camera for a pre-recorded message. Speaking into a camera is a tricky balance of keeping the message short and being on topic. This is especially hard since you are speaking to a camera. Making the outline is the toughest part and ultimately is the key to your success. Trail and error is what I have found is the best formula to knock this online message out and reach the students on social media with the gospel.

Oftentimes in ministry you have to have those awkward moments and conversations with people that are broken inside, and need your help, advice, or just someone to talk to. With teens especially, this is a touchy subject that is absolutely real life to them. Students have problems and drama that is, no matter how elementary it may seem, important to them and can cause great stress in their lives. One of my favorite parts of my job is to build relationships with students and earn their trust so that when they struggle they are comfortable enough o come talk to me when life puts them in a sticky situation. I love to give them encouragement by pointing them to God, it definitely makes my job worth while.

Growth is a tricky subject in the world of ministry. There’s the growth of numbers and then there’s true spiritual growth. Each one alone doesn’t tell the full story, and oftentimes don’t go hand in hand. As a new minister, I was too hung up on numbers. Too high up on my priority list was getting more students to our services. I had become more worried about size growth than true heart growth.

Fast forward to now, its quality over quantity. I had much rather students grow closer to Jesus and have less bodies in the room; than have more bodies in the room and they all are full of indifference. Numbers reflect the result of what you are doing, but the true story is told in the response of hearts.

During this corona virus outbreak, we have not been able to meet at church whatsoever and have had to figure out alternate sources of meeting. We discovered the ZOOM app for computers, ipads, and mobile smart phones. I prepared my lesson as normal, and presented a slideshow on the app for the viewers to see and follow along with. We played a game where they had to be the first to text me the answer to win. We then talked a few minutes to converse and I spoke on Job and how we can trust God even though we don’t know what is going on in the world around us. Next week we will continue to do this online meeting and try new things to see what works best. This is all new for myself and students alike, but a small online meeting is better than no meeting at all. This uncharted territory has raised so many eyebrows for people all around and we should all look for new methods to adapt to this crisis until it passes.

The most challenging part of summer youth camps, to me, is getting students signed up and paid for on time; with an emphasis on the “on time”. Camps themselves are challenging because it is a week long and usually very hot. The schedule is all day everyday with a strict schedule. There is rarely a day that goes by that’s drama free. They are definitely worth it; since lives are changed and students serve out of their normal routine.

For one reason or another, it is easy to get discouraged when trying to make an eternal impact of the lives of students. Sometimes I don’t get the proper preparation time going into a teaching time that I feel as if I need to have a good presentation. Sometimes I fail to carve out time to spend in prayer over the service. Sometimes the presentation is fine but I just don’t feel like the message sticks with the students. These are all factors that I have some degree of control over; however the main reasons for discouragement in my job I have no control over. Distractions is the youth ministers biggest enemy. Cell phones, laughing, talking, and empty water bottles are among the lead causes of my discouragement. Kids are kids and don’t think that making noise is a big deal, I get it. Nevertheless, I feel all to often students distract their friends from hearing the message and could have a negative eternal impact in some cases. Finally, the inconsistent numbers are frustrating. This is not about an egotistical mindset, but rather the undeniable fact that each number represents a soul that is either lost or saved. The saved need encouragement and the lost need saving; simple as that. Altogether it is a very rewarding job, but like anything else it has its stresses.

Our Wednesday night service, for the youth, is called TheMix. It is an hour and a half long church service for teens; 6-7:30. We have snack food, games, a bible study, small groups, worship, and an invitation. The most essential part of this service is the teaching time, and this is how I prepare. It starts Monday morning, I know the series we are on and each week piggybacks on the previous week’s material throughout each month. I will read the new lesson and the verses that go with it then create my outline which usually consists of 3-5 main points; each with supporting scripture, sub points, and real life applications. I always keep in mind that the most important part of teaching or preaching to students is not teaching them a ton of biblical truth, although that it important, but applying it to them and things they can relate through as well as motivating them to see the importance of having an authentic relationship with Jesus. Tuesday I work on my PowerPoint presentation. I’ll do the graphics, import pictures, and make slides for all of my points wrapping up with a challenge. Wednesdays are my study days that I go over all I have prepared for and spend time praying over the lesson as well as the students that will hear it. Wednesday night services are my favorite part about my job; it gives us a chance to connect with the students while teaching them about the only thing in life that truly matters.

Lesson planning is much simpler than it used to be for me. We have two studies going on at once right now. One is called the 7 Arrows method; the other is called Grow Curriculum. Sunday morning I teach the 7 Arrows and it is pretty simple with minimal preparation. We are currently in the book of John and we will go through a chapter a week really breaking it down with the hope of getting into depth with conversation and questions. 7 Arrows make up 7 questions: What does this passage say? What does this passage mean to its original audience? What does this passage tell us about God? What does this passage tell us about man? What does this passage demand of me? How does this passage change the way I relate to people? How does this passage prompt me to pray? The idea is each student will read the chapter and ask these questions to themselves in preparation. I try to lead an open discussion class on Sunday mornings and attempt to dig a little deeper after hearing the student’s responses to the 7 Arrows questions while applying to daily life. Next week we will talk about the detailed preparation that goes into a Wednesday night lesson.

Each week looks similar for me in ministry. The church year is very predictable for the most part. Every Sunday I have the same routine. Get to church to unlock at 7:00, band practice at 7:30, meet and great people 8-8:30, then the first service starts at 8:30. After that we have our youth meeting/ breakfast then connection group at 10:00. We have an hour then second service starts at 11 and is over by 12. I usually leave around 12:30. Mondays I typically get to church around 9am to pick up the sanctuary and youth room as well as make the necessary phone calls and text messages to the guests we had the day before. At 10 we have staff meeting where we all get together and make plans where everyone is on the same page. I end the day by studying for Wednesday night youth group, “TheMix”. Tuesdays is normally the planning day for Wednesday night classes. I do music prep, powerpoints, snacks, games, small group leaders/ questions…just really tying up all loose ends and making sure I have the necessary help for the service. Wednesdays, in the office, are short days; I spend time praying over the service later on that night, and prepare a short devotion for my basketball game following church. Then my favorite part of the church week, Wednesday nights 6-7:30 we launch TheMix with normally 40 plus students. Thursdays are my last workday of the week and I come in whenever is convenient for me to pick up everything for Sunday and study for connection group. Friday and Saturday i’m off from being at the office, but the wheel is still turning in my mind. In short, this is what a part time youth minister does on a normal weekly basis. Next week, we will begin to break down some specifics talked about today and how I approach my preparation for the teaching times on both Sunday and Wednesday.