This is the second part of a post from our friend Scott Glisson. If you haven’t read part 1, check it out and then come on back.
Students don’t always need some super smart theologian to tell them why they need to believe in Jesus, they want someone they can relate too and have a conversation with. Someone who will listen to them when they are hurting, and by hurting I don’t even mean something we as adults would consider major (death in the family, divorce, etc). To a student that major issue could be not making a team, failing a test, or even breaking up with that boyfriend or girlfriend they had for a week.
As youth workers, we can be the “heroes” in student’s lives. They might not remember our names in 20 years, but hopefully if we’ve done our job, they will remember the things we helped them through. They will remember that it was because of that someone at church who went to their baseball game or their choir concert that they now have a relationship with Jesus.
That’s one thing I’m learning in the short time I’ve been in ministry. It’s not about me. It’s not about being the “cool” leader. It’s not about having the most kids want to sit by you during service. The real work / reward comes from the students who you are able to connect with and have a relationship with that’s deeper than the “hey buddy” on a Sunday morning.
We are nothing extra-ordinary without the grace and mercy from Jesus that He has already shown us in our lives. That’s the ONLY reason we are remotely qualified to share with these students. Without Him, we are not worthy to be a symbol of anything let alone a symbol of Christ.
Bruce Wayne knew Batman could be a symbol of hope and a beacon of light to a dark, dying city, just like we can by that in the lives of our students.
Scott Glisson is an intern with Wildside–junior high ministry at Saddleback Church. He hails from the great state of Ohio and LOVES junior high students. Keep an eye out for more guest posts from Scott in the near future!
