Great, you can draw a crowd. Your events are legendary, your technology keeps them glued, soaking in all they see and hear. Each time you announce a new one, you know there will be a throng of attendees; familiar faces you can count on. You’re a master at presenting a challenge to grip the heart only the most hardened soul will ignore. So powerful the crafting of the call, some respond who have done so several times before. Your group continues to grow in size and reputation. You assure yourself your numbers for service projects are a good percentage, given the nature of student’s schedules. With hundreds attending the events, the ten or so who show up for discipleship and prayer represent a “solid core”. You’re sought after to speak to others about your ministry and how they might craft such a successful effort for their churches. Lead Pastors talk of your accolades in hushed reverence, secretly scheming how they might entice you to their church; at the very least coveting the idea.
It’s one o’clock in the morning. The emergency room is busy but you hardly notice; the relentless gaze of her parents will not let you. They have voiced the question. You have not answered. It hangs in the air. You would like to assure with conviction; you can’t. “We don’t understand. Why would she do this? She was so involved in your ministry. She brought all her friends. Her relationship with God was real wasn’t it? There it is yes she was at all your events, sang your praises loudly, a real fan, but God? Your mind races for something but you simply cannot manufacture this answer. The destination of her soul was in God’s hands. As faithful as she was to your youth ministry, she’d shown little difference in her life from her friends and they had absolutely no relationship with God at any level.
In the quest for impact, is there transformation taking place or are you merely a master programmer? Is your ministry as deep as ii is broad? Here are some questions that might help you answer honestly:
How much time do your students spend in personal devotion to God; reading His word, praying?
Do they talk as easily about His work in their lives as they do the latest school activity or movie?
Do they regularly confront sin in their lives frustrated by its presence?
Would they be as content to talk about Jesus or to Him even if it meant no media blitz to lead it?
Do they know God as much as they know about Him? (In this age this is a loaded question for many know little about Him!)
You owe it to your students to take them deeper. You can’t take them where you haven’t gone. Let us help.
