If i did not believe that God has me where I need to be ministry wise....I would go back to being a youth pastor. Understanding the spiritual development and generationally unique chalenges facing teenagers is both crucial and tauting. This weekend we interview a potential pastor of next generation ministries. We did not want a guy who would play games with the kids and then tag on a devotion. Nor did we want a post modern/emergent guru who wants to introduce our kids to all kinds of untested and weird practices that they call spiritual formation. I just want to find a pastor who loves KIDS that is first and foremost. Understands their unigue challenges and then gets them into the Bible to find the answers for the questions (they are not even sure they know the questions?) they are struggling with.
When I was a youth guy....I had four objectives with students, realizing that I had them for 4-6 years then they were gone and what i did could set a course for their lifetime...
1. Love Christ
2. Love their Parents
3. Love the church
4. Love the Bible
Now is that so hard.....