This week, Josh and I are each going to share a few things we’re thinking about this summer. We purposely aren’t looking at each other’s thoughts, so there could be an overlap or two. If that’s the case, then maybe we’re thinking about worthwhile stuff!
I’m thinking about pros and cons of risk-taking. This past weekend, we took a massive risk (at least in our context) by cancelling youth services and asking all the JH and HS students to attend church with their families. We’re going to do this once a month, and it feels dangerous. There are ALWAYS pros and cons to every risk you decide to take in ministry. The danger is to let the potential downside of a new venture paralyze your willingness to take a swing. I’m determined never to let that happen…unless the downside is a really big downside!
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20 Outrageous Games and Contest for Summer Fun!
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I’m thinking about Jesus. Very spiritual, I know. But as we prepare for the fall, our junior high ministry is rewriting ALL of our small group curriculum to be 100% Jesus-focused. Two years of Jesus sounds like a whole lot of Jesus, but in our context (because we take summer off) it only adds up to about 70 lessons. That’s still a whole lot of Jesus…but there’s a lot of him to go around, and I’m excited to see how everything shakes out.
I’m thinking about my future. I’ve never made a 5-year life plan, or set long-term personal goals, and I have no intention of starting now. But every few years Rachel and I sit down and ask ourselves questions about our future, if we are still called to youth ministry, if Saddleback is still the church we feel led to fulfill our calling, etc. I don’t expect any crazy answers this time around, but as I write this article, it is time for another such discussion.
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20 Outrageous Games and Contest for Summer Fun!
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I’m thinking about our recent high school graduates. Are we helping them as they transition to college? Is our college ministry focusing on their new crop of freshmen? Is our church truly taking steps to engage the new crop of young adults? I like to think I care about this stuff every year, but the reality is I probably care a little bit more about it this year since my daughter, Kayla, is now in the aforementioned demographic.