We moved to Oregon from Michigan in August of 2006 (almost 15 years to the day I am writing this) and began serving at our current church--my husband as a senior pastor and I hoped to be involved in volunteer youth ministry in some capacity. I had been a youth director for four years in Michigan and I was eager to get back into youth ministry again--this time as a volunteer. We settled in fairly easily. What was there not to love about Oregon? The picturesque mountains, miles of hiking trails, no humidity, marionberries to name a few.
A few weeks after we moved here we were invited to a picnic for Sunday school teachers and youth volunteers at a church member's house. As they discussed the plans for the fall, a well respected elder made this comment:
"I think we should take out the bulletin announcement about a need for a middle school youth leader. It is discouraging to people to see it appear week after week with no one interested," said a well respected elder in our new church.
Our high school youth group had four committed leaders, regular attendees, and a well decorated youth room. I wanted to be a part of that team. The middle school youth group did not have leaders nor were there volunteers willing to lead the group. They had no designated space and I honestly was not sure who the middle schoolers were. Rob felt we should lead the middle school group because this is where the greatest need was. I could not argue with that, but I was apprehensive leading a group that had little momentum.
Rob and I started with a very small group. We had middle schoolers meet in our family room once a month. It was typically two to three kids at a time. We engaged in conversation, had snacks, and did a short Bible Study. It lacked the silly games and crazy activities I was accustomed to with middle school ministry, but we knew we had to start simply.
I would love to say the next several years were times of growth and the program thrived, but it continued to struggle. We tried combining with high school, meeting on different nights, weekend events, more games, better food. We had several leaders lead or co-lead the group and determine it was not where they were called.
I had to take time off when I had our second and third child. When I was ready to return, I could not find a co-leader who was willing or available to help restart the group. I prayed fervently something would change with this ministry and we could have a consistent middle school youth group. The group had some potential, but I felt like we were "treading water." Something had to change or I was going to burn out and walk away again.
God blessed me with a co-leader who served with me the next nine years, some active parents willing to help. He provided me with seasoned adult who allowed me to contact her anytime I felt discouraged. She always knew the right things to say. Although our numbers fluctuated year to year, we had a consistent number of kids we built strong relationships with. We had space to call our own. We studied the Bible together, went to camp, had our own camping trips, did team building activities, played silly games, had a lock-in, did fundraisers, and served our community.
Even though there were challenging times the past nine years and some groups required more maintenance than others, I never dreamed I would be doing middle school youth ministry in my mid 40's with my own kids in my youth group. I am certainly not trendy or hip enough, but Rob always reminded me I don't need to act like a teenager. I noticed kids seemed to gravitate to Rob when we were in our 20's even though he told them his hobbies were reading, model airplanes, and talk radio. He never had to try hard and the kids thanked him for it.
I remember when I was in college, a missionary was sharing about their long term ministry in the jungles of Indonesia to an unreached people group. He started out by saying, "The first two years we did not really do anything." I remember thinking, "What do you mean? Wasn't there so much TO DO?"
Now I know exactly what he means. It takes time, patience, empathy, listening to the Lord and others, trial and error, not taking everything so stinking personally, and oh so much prayer. Sometimes it moves very, very slow. Sometimes you do not see any result for a long time if you do at all. I am fortunate by the grace of God to be a part of a middle school youth ministry that is stronger than it was nine years ago. It is humbling to know God used me with all my shortcomings and baggage to reach out to many kids.
During these challenging times we're facing when ministry has proven to be harder and sometimes utterly exhausting, it can be refreshing to hang out with young people. I have found some of them have better attitudes, are more hopeful, and appreciate the little things. Sometimes God can use them to encourage us adults.
If God is calling you to continue and not give up in ministry, then humbly proceed with faith in your Lord Jesus Christ. You might be surprised and blessed where this journey takes you.
