Do you like to go to movies or plays? I do. I love to watch as performers unfold into a character or a performance of dance or song. I get swept up in the moment and I am taken away and inspired. I would say that the only thing that beats watching true talent that has been rehearsed over and over, is watching life unfold into God moments that go beyond what you knew to expect. That happened this weekend.
No great evangelist came to town, or 1000's saved... yet. It all happened over a little Homecoming Weekend in San Marcos, Texas. For all you non- U.S. readers, Homecoming is THE weekend of all weekends for High School Football and the town. Once a year, during the Fall, our football team hosts another team to play during Homecoming week. There are pep rallies, cheerleaders, music from the band, a bonfire, the dance team dances, coaches give big speeches, everyone wears their team's colors, and the list goes on and on. It is a busy week all leading up to the football game on Friday night!
Sometimes being the pastor's wife is super fun. Especially when you get to see other ministries that you are not involved in "do their thing." That is what I got to do this weekend with the youth group. Sure, I add my two teens and any friends they bring to the mix, but this weekend seemed different. Maybe it was all that school spirit. However, I saw another spirit moving ... and it was of the Holy kind.:)
Football games have 4 quarters, so our youth ministry hosted a 5th quarter. They had about 75 kids attend! That was great for our church. That alone was encouraging, but what happened next was also wonderful.
We have our youth group on Sunday Nights. We usually have a really nice attendance. This past Sunday we had 43 folks at youth group! It was really encouraging. There seems to be a spiritual movement afoot within the young people of our community. Teens are facebooking that Christ is changing their lives, they are inviting their friends to church, and teens are stepping out into leadership rolls. One parent told me that the coach on her son's football team asked him why he was different this year. The kid replied, "I've changed coach. Christ is in charge of my life." Wow!
One last thought about this past week. It did not happen in a weekend. Our youth minister and his wife could have been very tempted to quit 6 months into their ministry. Take the worst kids you know, triple their attitude and then make 2 more of them. Those were the ring leaders of the group at the time. It was a hard road that first year... that was about 5 years ago. This weekend was built out of time and relationships. When I saw this weekend and reflected on their ministry it reminded me of a verse.
Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is in at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Don't give up. Run the race and you will see God moving in ways that are immeasurable. Immeasurable can be in an instant, but more than not it is for those who hunger to succeed over the long haul.
I want to say thanks to our youth leaders. I also want to give the glory to God for this weekend and thank God for all He did and is doing in the lives of our youth in San Marcos. Please say a quick prayer for our youth. Revival has been a long time coming and would change this town in a mighty way... no surprise that God would use the youngest of the town to do something this mighty.
After reading the book "it" by Craig Groeschel(sp?), I find myself looking to find out what makes a particular ministry successful. I really believe at our church, God blesses the dedication of the youth pastor and his wife! They are really excellent at relationship building. They encourage relationships between themselves and the youth, between themselves and the parents, amongst the youth, and between the kids and their parents. When you see what they do, it is hard not to want to give back to them in return! :)
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