My venture into youth ministry was far from glamorous. I received a call in desperation from Adrienne Boada asking if I’d be willing to sit in as an adult chaperone one week for youth group. No long-term commitment, no lesson to plan, just sit and listen. I agreed to it.

 

But as I sat watching those three awkward middle schoolers, I realized that I could do this. These kids needed a place to meet and an adult to supervise, and they only needed it once a week. I knew I could do that much, so I volunteered. Those kids quickly became “mine” and I’ve held on ever since.

 

The tricky thing, though, is that in some ways I needed them as much (or more) than they needed me. I was a new mom and I was floundering. They forget to tell new moms that, as cute as your baby is and as much work as he is, your life will quickly feel meaningless. Your previous life in which you accomplished much suddenly comes down to one objective: keep the baby alive. And though it’s practically a miracle that your baby is alive at day’s end considering how sleep deprived you are, it feels very less-than-miraculous. It feels like failure though it really, really isn’t. But I digress a bit. I felt useless and having something to do outside the home made me feel alive again in some ways.

 

Youth group was uncomfortable, especially as we first tried to get to know each other. But as time went on, we found a rhythm and relationships grew. As I’m coming to the end of my fifth year of youth ministry, I can look back at how God has grown the youth and myself. It’s satisfying.

 

I always knew my time in youth ministry would be temporary. Some may not think that five years is temporary, but I knew and still know this isn’t my calling. I am there to keep things going until the Lord brings along someone who is called to it.

 

Kim is called, but she can’t do it alone, and as I know that my time with the youth is slowly drawing to a close, I know Kim needs another person called to youth ministry to walk beside her. The Lord has released me – at least He will release me at the end of the 2020 school year. I’ll “graduate” with the last of my first youth groupers.

 

In hearing that I’d be released, I also heard the Lord quite clearly tell me I have to train a replacement. I was dropped into youth ministry the hard way – I felt thrown in the deep end, not knowing if I’d sink or swim. There’s no need for anyone else to feel that. Two years to transition from novice to leader is a good amount of preparation. This, too, is part of ministry – preparing for the day you won’t be in the ministry anymore.

 

Youth ministry helped save my sanity as a young mother. It has given me leadership skills I never thought I’d need or have. I’ve had to rely on the Lord for so much and my heart has grown two sizes as I’ve learned to love on these kids. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. It’s been full of discomfort, struggle, and duty, but it’s been joyful and life-giving, too.

 

I don’t know where you are in your search for ministry. Maybe like me you’re filling in a place you know isn’t really yours, or maybe you aren’t even looking. No matter where you are, trust the Lord. He knows His Kingdom and where He needs you. He also knows what you need. “And he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matthew 6:33 (NLT 1996).

 

 

Nikki Smith