Mission Trip Collision!
You would think the title of this post would freak out any youth pastor taking a group of students on a mission trip. It’s July and for most of us we are fixing to head out into the wild blue yonder! (or getting back from) I’m leaving this weekend, headed to Dominican Republic and I’m really excited about it. I LOVE taking students out of the country! Why? Because, I have seen my share of collisions! Collisions of faith!
When a students steps foot on the soil of a foreign country… everything changes! All bets are off! It’s an instant collision. Their perspectives change and their small bubble of reality explodes. Their hearts become so moldable! When faced with the reality that God works outside their bubble of Church and in a world filled with people who have never heard the gospel, or even the name of “Jesus,” everything changes!
The conversations I have with students sitting outside a mud-filled hut in the middle of a tropical rain storm is so FUN!! The wheels are turning and their hearts are bending with humility. God is at work wrecking their reality. What a beautiful collision.
Several years ago, we were prayer walking a remote village in the middle of Dominican Republic. We came upon a house with an elderly couple. Through a translator we learn that the husband was blind. As we sat and talked with them on their front porch (3ftx 8ft porch), we discovered that he was an amazing domino player! Yeah, WHAT?! Dominos! So, one of my students spontaneously challenged him to a game of dominos. His wife set the table, and I’m not kidding, within the first 8 moves, he won! He would use his hands to count the dots on each piece on the board, then count the dots on his dominos and place them on the board. After the first three dominos, he started smiling knowing he was going to win! After an hour long visit with them, they allowed us to pray for them and sharing a very simple encouragement. “God is with you.” It was an amazing moment… an amazing collision of faith for the students walking with us that day! They will remember that moment for the rest of their lives!
Some of the greatest questions to ask students on a mission trip to help them process this “collision” of faith…
- Out of all the things you’ve experienced on this trip, what was your favorite? Why?
- What is the point of coming here? Why would God bring you to this remote place?
- Why is it so shocking to you to be here and to experience a new culture?
- Whats the difference between this culture and your school?
- What do you think God is teaching you while on this trip?
- What is going to be the first thing out of your mouth when your friends back home ask you about this trip? (“awesome” doesn’t count!)
I love the conversations, the looks on faces and some times, the tears. There is a separation that happens in the heart of a student… their reality of life, and what they are experiencing. When I journey with students on trips like these, I try my best to listen more than talk. Many times I get “busy” managing the safety of the students on the trip (although that is very important), and forget to have intentional moments with students asking some of these questions. I believe every high school students needs to spend at least one-week on the soil of another country (not the bahamas laying on a beach).
I’m really looking forward to spending the next 7 days in a tropical rain forest with no cell phone coverage, cold showers, and exotic meals with 43 students & adults! Let the collisions begin.
Don’t be a Pharisee!
This morning I was reading in John 8 about the woman the Pharisee’s brought to Jesus. They were trying to catch Jesus in breaking one of the religious rules. Have you ever wondered what Jesus was writing in the sand at the feet of the woman? I have too!!! Here’s my opinion. I believe He was writing her sin. “Adultery.” As Jesus rose to His feet, He pronounced to the Pharisee’s and to this woman her sins forgiven. He wiped the “sand written” sin away.
Pharisee’s were known for their judgmental and condescending attitudes. They were always on the prowl looking for someone to mess up. As a youth pastor, is this you? When a student messes up are you quick to point out and judge their sin. Oh, you probably wouldn’t do it to their face, but you would in your heart and with others. Teenage girls get pregnant out of wed lock. Your “rock solid” student confesses to drug use. The one girl you felt like had it all together, confesses to suicide attempts. These are moments when a youth pastor can stand in judgment.
So, what is a good first response in handling these collisions faith & real life? React at Jesus would. Bow your heart, wipe away the condemnation in your heart, and stand with grace-filled eyes and forgive. Guide these students with grace. Seek to come alongside them with love. Yes, they messed up. I did. You did. Don’t be a Pharisee in these moments. You have been called to these moments, and commit to the journey of restoration. After all, the woman caught in adultery became a follower for the rest of her life because Jesus showed grace. Pretty sure her life was never the same.
One of the greatest joy’s in ministry is when we see a life restored through the grace-filled ministry of Jesus.
Stability in the midst of instability
Teenagers struggle through hard times. They seemingly wander through it hoping they are making the right decisions. For them, every heartache is the end of the world. Every disappointment is a disturbance in the force. So, how can the youth pastor be a pillar of stability that stands the test of time and storms?
1. Their crisis is not your crisis. I’ve heard this said all throughout my ministry from wise people, but never really understood what it meant. I have this tendency to leave my cell phone on 24 hours a day (yeah, it yours tendency too? wow.) There is always a crisis at 2am. Really? For many teenagers a good night sleep can cure a lot of hurt. But, the fact that a friend is mistreating them is not really a crisis at 2am. Have healthy boundaries with your cell phone… I have found the “do not disturb” setting so freeing! It’s not that we don’t care about what’s happening in their lives, we need to be wise in how effective we are in ministering in the middle of the crisis.
2. When in crisis be around. Now when a teenager is struggling through a long hospital stay… be there. One of my students had both his lung collapse and he nearly died. He was in the hospital for 8 weeks… yep, I was there 3-4 times a week. Every time I met with him, I looked him in the eye and told him I would see him later. Stability can be found in your faithfulness.
3. Make your programing consistent. Now, I believe in changing things up every now and then, but when we run a ministry built on faithfulness and consistency students begin to know you (your ministry) can be trusted. Students long for consistency in their lives and our ministries ought to be structured to be a sense of stability. Do your students know that every time you gather, someone is there ready to minister, pray and encourage them?
4. Be faithful. You have probably heard this question from one of your students…”Can you come to my band concert?” As you answer this question, be ready to follow up. If you say yes, be there (unless absolute emergency). If no, tell them why. But, our faithfulness and attendance builds stability and more importantly… trust.
Students need stability. Are you and your ministry set and ready to provide what they need? If you know me, I’m a very structured person and I’ve found in ministry students appreciate that about me. Parents of my students love it too! It’s stability.
Now, I’m off to an Eagle Scout Ceremony. I made a commitment to a student that I intend to keep.
BOOM!!
So excited to be able to begin this new journey! I’m not much of a writer but the Lord has been pressing me for far too long… so here it goes! Completely walking in faith and obedience. My hope with this blog is to share 20 years of youth ministry wisdom. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of mistakes, heartaches and plenty of smiles along the way!
Why “Collision of Faith?” That sounds tragic. I firmly believe youth ministry is a series of collisions. Where events of life and faith come together. Teenagers are trying to figure out where faith and real life come together. They’re asking questions through every life experience they encounter. “Where is God?” “I don’t understand why God would allow ______________.” I know the Lord has called me to serve students right in the middle of these COLLISIONS! As they journey through life, how does faith fit in? I want to be there to help guide them, cry with them, and share the love of Christ as they are working out their faith. Helping them discover a loving, caring God who desires to be in the middle of their lives. It’s a collision… and I want to be there at the point of impact to lead them to a deeper understanding of their faith and a loving God.
So, this blogging journey begins. Let’s share life together. Let’s wrestle with youth ministry, and discover together how we can glorify the Lord with every moment.
Husband, Dad, Youth Pastor, Writer
Fresh Calling: Ministry Coaching and Consulting 
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