I wanted to take a moment today and share an article that was in my inbox this morning. This is from the Simple Youth Ministry out of Saddleback Church that Rick Warren leads. These guys that run the student ministry there are brilliant and their articles often really hit home for me. Todays article did just that - so much so - I had to share. As I read it over for the 2nd and 3rd time this morning, I cant help to think about those couple students who I took extra energy into pouring into. They were and still are special students, special young adults with amazing qualities, gifts and talents that God has given them. I reflect back on the student last year at WinterJam and they made the announcement during the concert for all youth pastors, leaders and key volunteers to go and meet in this huge back room where some of the band members that were playing on stage that day would have a word of encouragement for us, pray over us and thank us for investing into the young people today. As I grabbed one of my students, we walked to the back room, got to meet a few of the band members from Third Day and NewBoys - all she had on her face was a huge smile. Something special was taking place. I often hear the words from her about being a youth pastor someday. This is a special and cheering her on in life is often all they need to realize that things are so more important and bigger than the drama struggle of right now. Her mom called me to thank me for doing this as she was told in great details about the experience. I also remember one of our key students leaders last year setting great examples to the other students. Always willing to lead, help out in anyway possible - It was an honor to write a letter of recomendation for college. Its an honor to be called for a job reference. Then there is also the honor to answer the question about honoring God while in a dating relationship while spotting a bench press lift. Little moments leading to giant moments. As my church, Elevation Church, is getting ready to launch its new worship album, For the Honor, I cant help but to think about all the young people I have had to honor to lead, to share special moments like these with and guide them in these tough awkward years being a teenager. It really is an honor
Informing, Inspiring, Connecting, Equipping. These are just a few words that come to mind which in time, I hope to share my heart with each of them.
Enjoy the article today :)
Lonnie~

I will never forget the day, it was a few years ago and I was meeting my former Sunday School teacher for lunch. The cool thing was that after almost 15 years from being in his class we were still friends and we still get together for lunch from time to time. He was one of my favorite teachers that came along in my tween years when things were awkward and weird, and he contributed greatly to my life.

This particular day I was beaten down and upset. I had 3 kids, worked a full time job, and still served as a youth pastor, and I was frustrated trying to balance all these things. During the lunch I remember telling him that I wish my church could hire me full time, or I wish that I could be normal and happy working a regular job. In typical mentor style he bought my lunch, gave me a cd of new music I hadn't heard yet, and told about a few podcasts that may help me out.I don't remember him really doing anything or even addressing my problem, but it was exactly what I needed. I left that fine Chinese restaurant a little encouraged and stoked that along with my new music I found that he had added a few tracks from the new Muse album.

These articles were all about mentors, and none of us would have been the same without them. Just think if Luke Skywalker never met Obi Wan Kenobi, he would have been a whiney dead man instead of a Jedi Knight. If Frodo didn't have Gandalf in his life than he would have would have been unprepared and perished in Saurons attempt to dominant the world.I am anxious to finish this review because as soon as I finish I have the daunting task of writing a recommendation letter so a teenager in my youth group can score a college scholarship. This brings me to the second article I read that talked about Look Forward, Look Around, and Look Back. I felt pretty good about this article, I mean I know who is leading me, I know who Im leading with, and I know who I am leading. I was really intrigued by the idea of pouring a little extra into a few special students. One of my special students is the very teenager who asked my to write him the letter of recommendation. This kid is a natural leader, responsible, and he is the key cog in my youth group audience. I remember one time we were at a summer service conference and during a leaders meeting they told us that if our teens liked the could come early and sit in on the "prayer team" meeting, and then be allowed to help pray for people at the end of service.
Right before the prayer team meeting was about to start I saw this particular teen walking down the hall way I grabbed his shoulder and said, "Hey come here I want you to go to this meeting." He simply agreed and went to the meeting with no questions, no fight, no inhibitions. As much as I would like to attribute his actions to my leadership skills, I cant. He is just a special kid. I have to remember that God provides him with the skills, and I am to provide him with direction. Everyone needs to be led especially while they lead. These articles reminded me that while I have systems in place and people to guide me, I have to remember to take special interest, special time, and guide a few special kids.I struggle with remembering the importance of mentors, and when Josh referenced mentors from pop culture, it really struck a chord with me. Let me challenge you to stop reading this review and open your Bible to Titus 2. This chapter is all about how mentoring should work within the church. It's a biblical concept that I tend to forget about until I read articles like these. Do like the article says and take some time today to Look Forward, Look Around, and Look Back.