Favorite YM Memory #1

I’ve said it piles of times before and I am quite certain I will continue to say it; “I absolutely love doing ministry together with the people I love.”

Youth ministry is hard. It can be thankless, the hours are all over the place, teenagers have emotions like yo-yo’s, some parents have expectations that are maybe too high, events can bomb, leaders can let you down, and there always seems to be someone who has a brighter, flashier, and funnier youth ministry down the road.

On the other hand…

Youth ministry is very rewarding. It is appreciated by many people, the hours you work are the ones you choose, teenagers emotions hold a great capacity for discovering Jesus, some parents will be so grateful that you have come along side of them, events can be amazing, leaders will rise to the challenge, and there will still be a brighter, flashier, funnier youth ministry down the road.

Balancing the good, the bad, and the ugly can be a tiresome task while taking a great toll on a person emotionally, physically, intellectually, and spiritually. In fact, two years into this I wrote a resignation letter that outlined how I felt and why I had to leave…I still thank Jesus that I never went through with that.

Why?

Because I have an amazing ministry partner – my wife. Honestly, it would have been the longest five years of my life if Candace wasn’t so passionate about youth ministry; she is the brains, the prayer, and the passion behind this whole operation! Together, our life is ministry. It has been a lot of fun figuring out how we minister together and what works for us and what doesn’t; we have built memories and friendships and have been used by God in ways that we would never have ever imagined. Candace, I know that you’ll read this, I love you.

Thank-you Jesus for five amazing years of youth ministry; we will follow you into the years ahead.
-Jer
tags: youth ministry