Discouragment

I think one thing that we all face at one time or another is a certain amount of discouragement. A time when you are putting your best foot forward and things just don't go the way you want them to. Well I was facing one of those days this week.

It's way to easy to get caught up with numbers when you're working in youth ministry. It seems that we adopt this false view that success is based on size, and to a certain degree it is, if a youth group is healthy than it is going to increase, but size is not the standard by which success is measured. Let's just get that out of the way, I know this and understand that. However there is something in the genetic make - up of youth pastors, at least the ones that I know including myself that can be seduced by the numbers game. We also put those pastors with "large" youth groups in leadership positions formally or informally because of the size of their pack.

After reading through two thirds of Mark Oestreicher's book Youth Ministry 3.0
I've come to understand that youth culture has splintered in such a way that it is going to be difficult to reach Large groups of students and that this one to one relational connection with an adult is what is going to make the spiritual impact. That has always been true but it is going to become even more important in the future.

I've been reading a lot of reviews of Marko's book on his blog ysmarko.com and this book has put into words what I've been struggling with for awhile and has kept me from burning myself out trying to create another program that will solve the problems that we are facing with our youth ministry. The truth is, there isn't a program out there that will solve the problem. This sets you free to start exploring new things without second guessing yourself. I appreciated this book a lot and would reccomend it highly!

Fireproof and the Jacksonville White Out

This weekend was really great. Our friends Geoff and Heidi Leblanc came up from Moncton this weekend and we had a chance to catch up. It was great.

Natalie and I also got to see a showing of the movie Fireproof. It wasn't that bad. I really enjoyed it. The acting was a little lame but it had a great story. Natalie really enjoyed it, plus it really helped us to discuss our marriage and helped us identify things that we need to work on. I recommend it.

Sunday night was our High School youth group night and it was snowing a little before we left for bowling in a neighboring community but when we started driving on the highway it was like we were in the middle of a full blown snow storm. I couldn't see a thing! I was really worried about the other car of students as well. I told the student who was in my car to pray that we all get there safely and he did, and we managed to slowly make our way through it all safely. By the time we finished bowling the snow had stopped and there were just a few spots of blowing snow that made you slow down, I was very thankful to get home that night!

This week is teacher appreciation week, soI got up early this morning with a few students and we were able to get some Tim Horton's coffee and donuts as well as some flowers to put in the teacher's lounges, as a way to say thanks. Needless to say I'm a little dozy and could use a large double double about now.

This week looks like it's going to be a busy one. I've got an important meeting tonight about our youth facility and it's future. I've also got Middle School youth group Tuesday night which is going to involve sliding and I'm so jacked for that one, it's going to be sooo much fun. It should be a good week.

Welcoming the new guy

Over the past month our church family has been without a Senior Pastor and this week marked the first week for our intentional interim pastor.

My father was a pastor and so I'm use to the many changes that come when a pastor leaves a congregation. What I'm finding interesting about this experience is that I'm not the one who has left and I'm experiencing for the first time what it's like for a church to go through this type of transition. The shoe is on the other foot so to speak. So I'm finding this whole transition phase a little bit new.

To make the situation even worse there are always people who come up to you who are almost expecting you to resign because the senior pastor resigned. Before long you start asking yourself if maybe you're suppose to resign. One thing though through this whole process has been is a renewed sense of call to Hartland. My wife Natalie and I have both felt that this is the place that God has put us for now. It's been a real blessing to have that confirmation and to minister with that assurance.

So here's to a new chapter in the life of Hartland Baptist Church and we're praying that God will guide us in all that we say and do.

First Blog

Well I thought it was about time for me to throw my two cents worth into the blogasphere and see what happens.

I'm not exactly sure what you're suppose to write in a blog. Most of the blogs I read are about people who have interesting careers or live action packed lives, not about youth pastors in rural New Brunswick...Canada, not New Jersey.

I can tell you about my Saturn. A week ago Sunday I was going through the line at Tim Horton's, (the finest establishment in all of Hartland) when all of sudden my car just stopped. It's like it went into sleep mode and ceased to function. I found out that my motor had seized up, a death sentence for any motor. With this death announcement came the new search for alternatives. Would we get a new motor or have to get a new car. It was one of the first times that I have ever had to rely on God to provide, because we were not in a spot to purchase either.

This week I'm driving my Saturn, and I have not spent a dime on it. God had provided the means and the way for my car to get fixed. It was really humbling to see people come along side and offer help in whatever way they could. Really cool experience for me.