I stand
nine months out of seminary and seven months into my new vocation of a Youth
Pastor. Using my education and limited experience of ministry I have shaped (in
my opinion) a fairly well-balanced ministry that includes scriptural study,
theology, fun, games, and community. I have also made it a point to be as
transparent about the important dogmatic formals and doctrines that form
Christianity and its history. I am attempting to develop a clear connection
with Israel and Christianity’s unmistakable connection with its Jewish
ancestors. Most importantly my focus has been centered on Jesus Christ and the
impact of his life, death, resurrection and accession and the promise of His
return. In doing all of these things, I still am attempting to connect it to
everyday life and modern U.S. culture and touch upon the relevance and superior
importance for the gospel message to Christians and ultimately the entire
world.
Nevertheless, I feel I have I missed what is arguably the most important
subsidy of a ministry. What exactly, you might ask? Prayer! That’s right I am
confessing that somehow me, the converted heathen, who is a well-studied
Religion/Philosophy major, Master of Arts in theology graduate has forgotten to
pray over his ministry. This is not to say that prayer is completely absent in
the Youth ministry as a whole (we begin and end our scripture study with prayer
and pray before the meal we share every week). However, this is to say that I
have not prayed without ceasing for the soul’s and transformation of the
students who God has blessed me with.
The apostle Paul can say to the Church of the
Thessalonians, “We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you
in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work
produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by
hope in our Lord Christ. 1 Thess 1:2-3
Unfortunately, I cannot repeat the same words to my youth group. In my
lack of prayer, I feel that a major section of the ministry that God is calling
me to is missing. I also feel as if the Holy Spirit is revealing to me how I
can better work with God to ensure that the Kingdom of Heaven is recognized in
the here and now.
It is also
evident from the text that the Apostle Paul was not the only one praying for
the Church. The first person plural pronoun communicates that the surrounding
community of Christ followers also were in prayer for the Church. The meaning I
gather from this is that I must encourage those adults who volunteer their time
and the entirety of the Church to constantly remember the students in prayer.
It is also of great comfort to remember that Jesus Christ himself intercedes on
our behalf to the Father in heaven making our request know so we are completely
confident that our prayers are received.
I have
felt this way for quite some time, but I have yet to act upon the call of God
to deeper prayer. The reason I write this post is to proclaim what it is I am
called to, and to have this post act as my bond to accountability, if not from
the reader, from my subconscious recognition of what it is I am called to as a
Youth Pastor. So here is to moving forward in prayer with my Youth Group. By
the way, if you think about it, send a prayer my group’s way I would really
appreciate it.
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