Things I've Learned About Being a Young Life leader... Pt. 1
(What I would like to think is) My long-awaited return to blogging has arrived!
I am back to talk about more life lessons and to pass them along. Here is the first 5 things I've learned about being a Young Life Leader:
1. Never assume you're getting pied with whipped cream.
This is something I've seen a leader fall prey to many a time; they go about life assuming "pies" are whipped cream, then the moment comes when they finally get pied. Excited, they lick their face, or even worse: the pan. Only to instantly discover, that what they have in their mouth (and all over their face) is in fact shaving cream. If you've yet to figure this out you're probably thinking to yourself, "why use shaving cream? That sounds AWFUL!" Well, I'll let you in on some insight, when making pies whipped cream falls flat and melts pretty quickly - for a lasting fluffy pie, shaving cream is a must. The second reason is whipped cream leaves a residue on your skin, even when you wipe it off really good - not to mention your hair, which makes you smell for... a while. Thus, shaving cream is ideal in either situation.
2. God is bigger than a bad speaker.
In my time, I have been to a lot of Young Life camps and heard a lot of speakers. I've had speakers that have revolutionized my life as a leader and I've had speakers that I need to take notes during clubs to be able to explain where they are going in my cabin times because they just aren't making sense. What I've learned to be consistent in both of these situations: God uses their efforts and changes lives! He is so much bigger than a couple messages that aren't thoroughly explained, or metaphors that don't make any sense. Kids come to Christ because of relationships with leaders and Him moving in their lives, not just a great presentation. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" - Romans 8:28.
3. God is able.
There are times that I think things are totally out of reach, that my attempts are lost, weak, and unproductive. Then, I spend some time praying about it, I find out what is God's will in a situation, and He makes it happen. In the most unlikely of ways, usually. I think after two years of prayer seeing girls commit to coming to camp this summer and having the best week of their lives with my best friend, Sydney, really taught me that He is so much bigger than we can even comprehend. He is able to do anything we could ever imagine and more. Even things that seem impossible, "with man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God" - Mark 10:27. Amen!
4. Don't save an invitation to follow Christ until camp.
The intent of Young Life camping is to get a kid out of their potentially awful circumstances, away from any distractions and unhealthy relationships, and to a beautiful place where they will be loved, served, and presented the message of the Gospel. Which is awesome, but if you're doing Young Life the way it is intended, you're presenting the Gospel during club, coffee dates, campaigners, etc. I will make you a promise right now: there is going to come a time before camp that a kid is ready to "say yes" to Jesus. Do not, I repeat, do not make them wait until camp. I would argue that the sign of a healthy Young Life ministry is that kids are meeting Christ throughout the year, not just during camp. The sad reality is, you have no idea what could happen to a kid in the time between you meeting them and summer camp. Don't wait! Don't put it off for one more minute after a kid is ready! "...I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." - 2 Corinthians 6:2.
5. Don't Carry Around Your Kids' Baggage.
If you're doing ministry of any kind, you know you will inevitably have things told to you that are hard to hear. You're dedicating your life to loving other people by following Christ, as we are called to do. Having that heart sometimes means you can tend to be extraordinarily empathetic, which can lead to you attempting to carry the kids' baggage around. Which SUCKS, and I love any and everyone's heart that hurts with the kids they are discipling, but that can become really unhealthy for you. You are not designed to fix the things wrong with the world, but simply to point to the One who can. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. .... For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" - Matthew 11:28 & 30.
I am back to talk about more life lessons and to pass them along. Here is the first 5 things I've learned about being a Young Life Leader:
1. Never assume you're getting pied with whipped cream.
This is something I've seen a leader fall prey to many a time; they go about life assuming "pies" are whipped cream, then the moment comes when they finally get pied. Excited, they lick their face, or even worse: the pan. Only to instantly discover, that what they have in their mouth (and all over their face) is in fact shaving cream. If you've yet to figure this out you're probably thinking to yourself, "why use shaving cream? That sounds AWFUL!" Well, I'll let you in on some insight, when making pies whipped cream falls flat and melts pretty quickly - for a lasting fluffy pie, shaving cream is a must. The second reason is whipped cream leaves a residue on your skin, even when you wipe it off really good - not to mention your hair, which makes you smell for... a while. Thus, shaving cream is ideal in either situation.
2. God is bigger than a bad speaker.
In my time, I have been to a lot of Young Life camps and heard a lot of speakers. I've had speakers that have revolutionized my life as a leader and I've had speakers that I need to take notes during clubs to be able to explain where they are going in my cabin times because they just aren't making sense. What I've learned to be consistent in both of these situations: God uses their efforts and changes lives! He is so much bigger than a couple messages that aren't thoroughly explained, or metaphors that don't make any sense. Kids come to Christ because of relationships with leaders and Him moving in their lives, not just a great presentation. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" - Romans 8:28.
3. God is able.
There are times that I think things are totally out of reach, that my attempts are lost, weak, and unproductive. Then, I spend some time praying about it, I find out what is God's will in a situation, and He makes it happen. In the most unlikely of ways, usually. I think after two years of prayer seeing girls commit to coming to camp this summer and having the best week of their lives with my best friend, Sydney, really taught me that He is so much bigger than we can even comprehend. He is able to do anything we could ever imagine and more. Even things that seem impossible, "with man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God" - Mark 10:27. Amen!
4. Don't save an invitation to follow Christ until camp.
The intent of Young Life camping is to get a kid out of their potentially awful circumstances, away from any distractions and unhealthy relationships, and to a beautiful place where they will be loved, served, and presented the message of the Gospel. Which is awesome, but if you're doing Young Life the way it is intended, you're presenting the Gospel during club, coffee dates, campaigners, etc. I will make you a promise right now: there is going to come a time before camp that a kid is ready to "say yes" to Jesus. Do not, I repeat, do not make them wait until camp. I would argue that the sign of a healthy Young Life ministry is that kids are meeting Christ throughout the year, not just during camp. The sad reality is, you have no idea what could happen to a kid in the time between you meeting them and summer camp. Don't wait! Don't put it off for one more minute after a kid is ready! "...I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." - 2 Corinthians 6:2.
5. Don't Carry Around Your Kids' Baggage.
If you're doing ministry of any kind, you know you will inevitably have things told to you that are hard to hear. You're dedicating your life to loving other people by following Christ, as we are called to do. Having that heart sometimes means you can tend to be extraordinarily empathetic, which can lead to you attempting to carry the kids' baggage around. Which SUCKS, and I love any and everyone's heart that hurts with the kids they are discipling, but that can become really unhealthy for you. You are not designed to fix the things wrong with the world, but simply to point to the One who can. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. .... For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" - Matthew 11:28 & 30.
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