'Twas The Night Before Youth Ministry

I wrote this last year and thought to share again Here:




'Twas the Night Before Youth Ministry

'Twas the Nite Before Youth Ministry,
When all through the church
Not a church was stirring, not even a pastor.
The budget minutes were done for the year with care.
In hopes that funds for the ministry next year would be there.
The church-goers had gone. All full of themselves.
With visions of only thinking of Thyself.
The Leadership wanted the last say on everything.
And the Senior Pastor had to be right on every theological thing.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter.
Several of us had sprung out of the church to see what was the matter.
As we entered the church parking lot What did we see?
But Angry parents and students wanting youth ministry for FREE!

More rapid than insults, the crowd made demands.
They had expectations of what they thought youth ministry looked like and added their demands.

They started to name the youth orgainzations by name:

Now "Youth For Christ, Young Life, FCA, and such, Campus Life, CEF, First Priority too let's put all these youth pastors to shame"

"You need to be like Bo Boshers, Doug Fields or some other mega church name ...maybe its 180 and putting all others to shame."

"To the top of the denomination, to the top of the glee of the crowd, we'd rather have glorified babysitting and we want it now."

So as the demands of the parents, full of themselves ....
Several others had cried as the silly demands had abound.

Youth Ministry is not a thing dressed up and made good.
It sometimes speaks of sex, drinking and peer pressure as one should.

It isn't about looking cool.
Or even having a Dodge Viper or Hummer or 2.

Youth Ministry is sometimes about stuff you don't have a clue.

It's about Jesus, church, loving God and others too.
And not another marketing tool.

All of the gimmicks make me want to laugh.
"Teach like Jesus" or get this item for half price and have your church grow without having the Spirit in it at all!

O the marketing - be the next Mega Thing rather than
Be Who God created you to be and not something else.

When will we learn?
When will we turn from this youth ministry as glorified babysitting thing?

Then I knew I had nothing to dread.
Jesus loved me, instead of these angry parents instead.

Jesus spoke such kindness and did such a good work.
He gave of Himself, and never was a jerk.
He was born as God's Son.
Human became.
Loved, died, rose, and is Coming Again!

As I think of Jesus, Youth Ministry and all ....
Its about being the church
And not this programming call.
So the next time someone gives you a complain.
Turn to them and proudly proclaim:

"I serve my Christ offering Him to all;
Love God and others is my Call."

Thus Youth Ministry is a calling and not sort of thing.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.


Parody by Gerrard R. Fess.

Copyright 2004. Permission granted to share everywhere just note the author

Purging the Office

So I’m going through my books and stuff. Throwing some stuff away. Going through old files, and basically File Thirteen them. I, even, went to Mike’s Used Book Store (Made some $$$) and got rid of my Left Behind Series. (Now who in their right mind who want those?) And I came across the following quotes today:

“Better to eat Twinkies with friends; than to eat Broccoli alone.”



“Gerrard will never be famous, and people don’t give him much slack, but he will do much for the kingdom through youth ministry. Amen” In a letter to me from a friend, Brian Bilodeau – who writes that Steve Hill paid that compliment and said hello. (Steve Hill was one of my mentors, and instructors in college on Youth Ministry and this was after I graduated)

And a new and interesting site (I had an Advertisement for it) The Logan Show

Accountability

After much prayer, and effort. I finally have an accountable friend and co-partner in ministry. We meet on Thursday for lunch at Damon’s. We decided to be more fruitful for monthly and updates daily as well. Good first meeting. Some questions we’re considering asking each other. (Hoping others can use these questions as well)

1. Did you accomplish your spiritual goals for this month? Did you pray for others? Did you have a quiet time with Jesus?

2. What did you do this month to enhance your relationship with your spouse?

3. In what ways has God blessed you this month? And/or what disappointment consumed your thoughts this month?

4. Did you look at other women in a lustful manner this month?

5. Have you shared your faith? In what ways? How can you improve? Have you an opportunity with a Non-Christian?

6. Where are you financially right now? Are things under control? Are things under anxiety? Is there any great debt?

7. What do you see as your number one need for the month? What are the other person’s in the group number one need?

Have you lied about any answers above?

Skeletons in the Closet?

Ever consider running for office?

How about being in a leadership positions?

We've all got skeletons. Mine is the struggle with sin. I was born out of wedlock. Had a dysfunctional family. Didn't grow up in the church. Survived on my own since a teen, went to college (Did some interesting things I'm probably be branded a joker but also GREW up there), was in ministry, had some accountability, went to go to Seminary, was at my learning Church (This is one of my skeletons). Let me pause at this one. I basically was asked to resign (Nicely but otherwords, fired and it was a mutual because I knew it wasn't just me but the leadership there) I had undergone counselling and almost got out of ministry. In between ministries, I managed a Toy Store. Wife had miscarried, we struggled financially (And still do). Ended up in a ministry in Virginia. A growing process. God had planted us now in NC. (A wild journey for this Canadian).

Which brings me to the point of this post. What do we do with our skeletons? I tend to hide mine. I am scared of it. I've been accused of lots of things: Including (Though not limited to) lying, murder, and so forth. Sometimes I wonder how others forgive me, when I have trouble forgiving myself? Things haunt me.

A good thing is I'm getting more and more accountability and trust in my life and appreciate my loving family and church for the faith they have in me.

God's Grace Abounds ...?

So what do you do when a Katrina victim and evacuee walks into your Church building during one of your services?

Not much? Well, this happened to our church recently and it is amazing how our people are trying and bending backwards to help this young man displaced by the Hurricane. Grace abounds, point taken.



What about a former youth minister - who is under investigation for child porn, let go from his Church in this area?

I even had lunch with this fella. (Prior to all this stuff coming up) (I know of too many guys fired for this issue and want to protect myself - but that's another post) Well, turns out one of our church members have given this guy a job in construction. Trying to get this fella back on his feet to redemption, forgiveness, and consequences to his broken family. Grace abounds again. There is still issues with laws, and etc to go to court.

And then it is amazing God has me in the place where I am. Amazing wife, 3 kids ages 3,2, and soon to be 1. WOW.

God's Grace surely is amazing.