A Reality Call in Time Managment
On Tuesday my Bible study/accountability group S.K.I.N. met with a majority of the members missing. But, in this instance that was a great thing, the members who were missing were in New Orleans leading groups of high school students on a missions trip. After S.K.I.N., I had a meeting with Kent, one of the pastors of my church; he wanted to talk with me about a desire I have to start a Bible study for young adults in the 18-25 year range. I feel it is an age group that for the most part our church and many churches miss. Mostly because it is one of the hardest age groups to reach, but also because many churches assume most of their college aged students are gone during the school year. I know of a number of young men and women who go right into the job force after high school, or go to local community colleges or commute to schools that still live at home or around the church.
What Kent had to say to me was very encouraging but challenging. He agreed that we don’t have anything at the church targeted at the 18-15 year old segment, except during the summer when Collin is leading an awesome group. He also said he thought that I would thrive under the challenge of leading a group and that I could connect and mentor the young adults who would be a part of a group like that. He also said that he wanted me to really think and pray about how much I am trying to do at the church and If I can/would be able to give 100% to each weeks study. What Kent knows, is that I am currently in S.K.I.N., I try to attend and help lead a student Bible study Tuesday nights, I help lead a chat room Sunday nights at our Senior High program, Blitz, and I have recently volunteered for two tech teams at the church, one in the Café area and the other in the main sanctuary. He also made it clear that if I was to start a group he would be there to support me, and to hold me accountable for my teaching and the lessons I would be preparing. He would expect me to make time for any guys who would join the group and to be up to date and involved in their lives.
My discussion with Kent reminded me of a book by Doug Fields I read called “What Matters Most when NO is better than YES“. This book talks about the fact that when you work at or volunteer at a church you will be asked to do many things, far too many to be able to say yes to them all, and the more you say yes to the less time you have for each item. Often while we would love to help someone or some ministry out, we need to prayerfully consider our response. Do we say yes and serve because of a servant’s heart, or do we say no to focus on the ministries that we have a God given passion for and give 100% or more of ourselves in these ministries.
I am currently reading “Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God” by Mark Batterson. The book is amazing so far, and in it I find many sentences and paragraphs that hit me like a stone flung from David’s sling, right between the eyes. One such passage that still has my head reeling with its implications comes after Batterson is talking about his introduction to ministry and his now almost laughable first few positions as a minister in retirement homes, homeless shelters, and in a church with only 7 pews. Batterson follows his remarks about these situations with this:
I know I’m making light of these opportunities now, but back in the day I took them as seriously as sin. I prepared for each message as if it were to be the most important one I’d ever preach. And I did it because I believed that if I was faithful in the little things, God would give me bigger things to do. If I made the most of the mustard seed opportunities, God would expand my sphere of influence.
What are my mustard seed opportunities? Am I willing to persue a passion regardless the cost? My meeting with Kent has encouraged me to pray through this, and the difficult thing to admit is that if I want to start a new group, one that is for young adults Iwill need to cut back my commitments to make time for it. If I have been given a passion for this age group by God, can I do anything other than find a way to make it happen? If I am going to make this happen, what other ministry/ministries do I need to remove myself from? I have a lot to prayerfully consider, and I am asking for wisdom and strength as I pray through this. Any ministry I would withdraw from would be affecting a friend. Each ministry I volunteer in is lead by a friend, and I hate to disappoint friends, but I feel that I might have to disappoint at least one, maybe more soon. Please keep me in your prayers as I am praying through this.
New Post Coming
I just spent the past week camping and attending the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. After this event I have some Ideas and I am working on a new post. However my mom also has a lot of work for me to do around the house, but I will post ASAP.
Tedward's Ramblings 