Fear and Hope

I promised the second part of my campference update... so here it is!

I have only been in paid ministry since 2008 (seems like a long time... and yet only a brief moment at other times) and it was so good to hear someone address fears. Tic Long has 30+ years of experience in ministry. I have heard about him through his work at YS, but it was truly a pleasure hearing his heart.

Fear of the world as it is today (culture)
Kids are looking for authentic adults who truly care about them.

Fear of failing
All of us who appear to have it together have a trail of disasters behind us. We just don't talk about it.

Fear that you are not good enough.
If I were God, I wouldn't use me. No freaking way.
Peter -- patron saint of youth workers. haha...
It's a lie from Satan if you feel like you're disqualified because of your past. Your past pain will be a bridge to another student's healing.
Youth ministry is more about serving than skills; listening than talking; caring instead of charisma; being there instead of being cool.
God has shaped your heart for middle school kids.

Fear that God is disappointed in you
He's not.
Tic told a story about going to visit Henri Nouwen at L'Arche. He learned that Even if you couldn't DO anything for God, God loves you.
Everything we do in ministry has no effect on God's love for us. As ministers, it is easy to go from thinking of yourself as God's child to employee.

As you can probably tell, the fear of not being good enough connected with me the most.

Marko talked about HOPE, a topic I have wanted to do a word study on for a couple of years now.

Hope is a gift that comes to us in our struggling.
Healthy Discontentment is a prerequisite for hope.
Hope patterns: exile --> dissatisfaction --> honesty --> FEAR (what if God doesn't show up?) --> Longing & Hope

Don't worry, be happy is seriously crappy theology.
Our hope is found in Jesus.

We ended the time by singing On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand. That song got me through the toughest summer of my life and is a good reminder of who to put our HOPE in.

One of the best blessings from this weekend was meeting Melissa. She is a middle school minister and was a constant source of encouragement. Truly loved getting to know her... already looking forward to next year! October 11-13, 2013... MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDARS NOW!