This winter has been so exciting for me. I haven't seen snow in almost 10 years, and boy are we getting plenty of it!
But it's not the snow in particular that I'm childishly happy about... it's just being in the place that God called us to that's way more exciting and thoroughly satisfying than even the most perfect snow angel.
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| (winter fashion courtesy of my pastor's family and my jacket is literally from when I was in middle school) |
It's hard to believe that I'm coming up on my one year anniversary of being at Woodstown Presbyterian Church. I know it sounds cliche, but it really feels like we rolled into Woodstown just last week! The church has been so helpful and welcoming to my family and I. It's not always easy moving to a new area with a "small town" ring to it. God has been reassuring me that this is my mission field- as is the whole world to all believers!
And what can I say about the youth ministry here? It's been incredible. In word, this year has been immersion. Immersion into the teen culture of south Jersey, immersion into God's calling us deeper into his presence, immersion into living life that's rich in mission, immersion into the reality of eternity, immersion into a close-knit community of young people.
The young people in my youth ministry (Ignite is the name of our group) are unlike any other teens I've ministered to. These teens have such expectant hearts, and by that I mean they aren't willing to settle for status-quo Christianity. They want to see, feel, touch, taste, and smell God. Yes, God has a smell. Just ask my best friend who did a whole sermon on that once!!
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My students want to be motivated to action, and time after time I've watched them rise to the challenge- whether it was painting curbs in the heart of Camden, raking leaves for families in the area, or taking up the call to go on mission in the Dominican Republic. And, this summer we are excited to be planning a week-long mission in the heart of Philly partnering with a church who excels in homeless ministry. They are thrilled at the idea of sleeping on the floor in a hot church, traveling by public transportation every day to the various worksites around the city, and living alongside the "least of these" that Jesus loves and wants us to love. They are THRILLED!
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I absolutely love their enthusiasm and honesty. This year has been immersion into relationships, and that's the way I love doing ministry. That's the way Jesus did it, right? Isn't that the phrase we use to describe a more than mediocre Christian life? We want a relationship with Jesus!
My team of youth leaders are in word: incredible. I love every one of them, and I love doing what I do because it frees them up to solidifying heart connections with their small group students. The generosity they show to the ministry is inspiring- their time, thoughtfulness, resources, prayer--- it's the best a youth director could ever ask for!! I'm praising God for them because they make this ministry what it is. They are the peanut butter to my jelly.
I just had a funny closing thought. My personality tends to see the glass half-empty (as some would say), and so really one of the few times I get this excited and positive is when I'm thinking about my youth ministry. That's how you know this is my calling--- it energizes me! That's just a little insight into what Jeff would say is my tendency toward being a pessimist, but I argue back that I'm just a realist. Hah!
The reality of WPC and Ignite is that God is on the move among our church body. Hearts are being healed, lives are being filled with God's beauty and truth, and I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of that. Snow and all, I love my church.
