I believe that many adults that fill the church today are very confused about how we are to approach student ministry. God has blessed me in giving me opportunities to serve as an Interim Student Minister at two different churches over the last 5 years. I have also had the unique opportunity to serve as a Voluntary leader for a ministry called Young Life. However, it has been the last three months in which I believe God has truly began to stretch me in my role to student ministry. I am now a serving member at Highview Baptist Church. I am encouraged and challenged by the pastors that surround me. I have been serving with the media team by running camera and also running the scopes for the cameras. About 4 months back I still felt an emptiness and knew it was my longing to serve in student ministry. As I talked with the head Student Pastor I found myself in a unique situation that I wasn't expecting. In my pursuit to serve with High School Ministry, I was actually asked to serve Middle School. I have had much more experience in the aspect of High School Ministry, so this concept was a little new and quite frankly a little scary.
You see, if you have never served in Student Ministry within the confines of the church, then you haven't realized the difference in what separates these two different sets of ministries. The difference is, I can sit down with High School guys and talk about life and they are content to do so but if I sat down with a Middle School guy that is a whole different perspective of conversation. You see Middle School guys aren't so quick to just sit down and have a one on one conversation about how life is going. They would rather talk about the latest high score they got on the Tony Hawk playstation game or someone who had gas in Science class the other day. Okay, I know that is a little rude to place within a blog but in all honesty it is the truth. Middle School is what I call the awkward stage ministry! I mean honestly if you think back to when you were in Middle School wasn't it the same for you!
Well this brings me to what this blog really entails. It is easy for people to view a common middle schooler as well, unintelligent and therefore we should be as simplistic as we can when we find ourselves teaching them. Even though this principle is true in a certain sense, I am still worried about this particular view of this particular place of ministry in the church. I have had the blessing and wonderful opportunity to teach the 8th grade guys at Highview in Sunday School three times now and even though I see a need to make the language of the Bible more simplistic for them, I do not hold the view that applying the principles of the Bible should be tame! What I have come to learn and find myself passionate about presenting with my 8th grade guys is that I expect them play their part! I will be the first of many to say that Middle School guys do have that awkward stage of life when you find yourself in the middle of the ministry but we are called to present truth to the one's that God has placed under our leadership. The Word of God is described as a double-edged sword! Even though these are students with a less maturity status when compared to the High School level we are still called to teach God's Word as it is. I do realize that some things that I teach these 8th grade guys can be hard pressed and tough to take and apply, but they are essential to bring them to a stage of humbleness which will lead to a more reliance on the Savior that loves them and knows what they need! Now I am not saying that every leader in the church that plays a part of Middle School ministry leadership are included in this burdensome challenge that I place before you and even I, but we must keep in mind that unless we challenge their walk, they will never realize their essential need for Christ as the reigning Head over their life! And don't get me wrong we do apply Love! Yes! We apply Love! It is essential. I apply Love so much to these 8th grade guys because they need to hear how much God loves them but they also must understand God's demanding of our lives and our obedience! I pray that we would be bold and courages in the task that God has placed before us as we play the part of leadership in the ministries that He has called us to!
Changed In HIM,
Twiga
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