What I Got When I Least Expected It

I recently went to the National Youth Workers Convention in Pittsburg, PA. The purpose of going was to allowing some of the youth staff to receive some youth ministry insight from leaders, authors and developers in youth ministry. This was NYWC number twelve for me and I enjoy attending with youth staff and friends so I can build on relationships with those who share the same call and passion for students, and during this trip I was encouraged to see the energy and involvement of those who attended with me, but for some reason I was not feeling the joy or excitement of being there that I had in the past. Recently God has been “moving” in my life and there is something going on inside of me that I can’t put my figure on. At the convention I began to see what a gift I have been given in where I serve and how God is using and blessing the ministry I am a small part of. Through conversations and sharing I saw many hurting youth workers who would give anything to be a part of what I daily take for granted. During one of the scheduled seminar times I decided to meet with a person who listens and prays for God’s direction and Will in the life and ministry of youth pastors. The time allotted was an hour, an entire hour. I hesitated to sign my name as this was something that I had never done and, did I mention it was an HOUR? I meet the person and was instantly comfortable with casual conversation but thinking this could never take an hour, twenty minutes max. As I began to share, I really felt the Holy Spirit begin to direct my words and I started to share from the part of me that I usually lock-down. I finally paused long enough for my prayer mentor to say, “We only have about five minutes left, so I would like to pray for you.” I was startled to think I had shared for more than fifty minutes of what and how God has been working in my life and the desire I have to love, serve and continually grow closer to Him. I recently went to the National Youth Workers Convention in Pittsburg, PA. The purpose of going was to allow some of the youth staff to receive some youth ministry insight from leaders, authors and developers in youth ministry… what I left with was a renewed sense of His call, but more importantly, a renewed sense of His unconditional, passionate, uncompromised, mind-blowing love for me.