Legacy Has Left The Building - January 2019

Despite a number of our students being sick and not as many being able to participate, last night we closed our doors for the night and sent our students to other student ministries...

Yes - you heard me! Yes - we told students last week we'd be sending them elsewhere this week and we did. We had options for them and had them sign up. What? Why? Do we pay our own student pastor to send our students out? YES! And yes, the questions have come in: What if they teach something students don't believe? What if they like another ministry better? What if we lose students?

Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah....
We did this last year too &  our students loved it! So why have a night like this? Let me give you several reasons:

- Students need to see the greater body of Christ in action! It's easy to get caught up in our own "student ministry world" and lose sight that there are other ministries that are not only advancing the Gospel but, like iron sharpens iron, we can learn from and collaborate with. I've worked hard since arriving in Castle Rock to network with other ministries to help make Jesus known, encourage each other and work together. Many of these ministries care deeply for students and are sharing the hope of Jesus!

- Students can forget what it is like to be the "visitor." It's easy to get comfortable week after week with the same friends - even ones you bring. But whenever you enter into a new place, a new environment, a different structure, it can be awkward and a bit scary. But, since we believe awkward is awesome, I want to put my students (& adults)  in "awkward" situations!  I want students to know how it feels to be the visitor because it can make them more sensitive to students who visit our ministry. We even had our students inviting their friends to go with them last night and be visitors together - now that's cool God stuff!

- It can help students take ownership. Want students more involved in your student ministry? Send 'em elsewhere and have them come back with ideas to make yours better. Then give them the encouragement &  resources to accomplish it. They can, they will, they do and it works! We had students meet at Chick-fil-a afterwards last night to debrief and share experiences & ideas - they were non-stop talking!!! 

- It will help students verbalize their faith. The greatest way to grow in your faith is to share your faith. And yes, this  happens best with students among their peers. As they attended other student ministries last night, numerous students had conversations about what they believe about Jesus with other students - during lesson discussion as well as while just hanging. Gospel conversations - students with students - Awesome!

- It creates faith-building, discipling opportunities. But what if students attend another ministry where they heard false teaching? Great! I'm not sending them elsewhere every week. The weeks they are in our ministry I guarantee they get solid, Biblical truth and that will help them discern truth from error. And even if this happens, you do what every parent does when their son or daughter asks a question. You discuss it together and it provides a teachable, discipling moment. Doing this helps students take ownership of their own faith which is a must, in my mind, at least before they leave high school. Side-note: The ministries I sent them to last night - I would trust those guys with my life!

- Students usually come back with a greater appreciation of their own student ministry. I heard this from a lot of our students after last night. Don't get me wrong - our students know I have no desire for our ministry to become any type of "club." But we do work hard to create a place in the body of Christ where they feel challenged as well as, loved & accepted with a sense of belonging & mission - because, sadly, for some, student ministry may be the only place where they find that.

So to wrap up, I don't feel threatened a bit by sending my students to visit some of the other great ministries in our city - besides, aren't we all on the same team?!~ As a called minister of God, I want to give my students the best and I work hard to do so. And if our ministries aren't the best (and you have to define best) - then shame on us, let's get them there! But if for whatever reason, a student (and/or their family) finds a better fit where they can worship, love, serve & share Jesus elsewhere - I am totally cool with that too! I don't get paid commission!
Ok, I said a lot. And for now, I still have a job :)

Hizkid, mrbill

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