First one

Ive been a youth pastor for just over 2 years now, serving in a tiny country town in NSW Australia called Blayney, with a population of about 3000. We have 50-60 kids each week at this stage, and I'm praying for 100. I know numbers don't mean much to God but for me its a sign of growth which is a sign of health. But my main aim as a youth pastor is to have an effective pastorship, not just a growing one.

I keep wanting someone to talk about ideas, to see if my version of youth pastoring is a normal one (normal... I know) or some days just to celebrate the good moments and have someone mourn with me over the bad moments.
 Hence this blog.

So read and be encouraged, inspired, or just come to laugh at me, I don't mind. I'm assuming youth pastors are used to exchanging their dignity to make someone laugh, and are very willing to do so!

I started out in this role as a helper in the local youth group at my church, when my daughters were going. The previous leaders left to have a baby (how dare they!), and another young man took it on with gusto and skill, and my husband and I were asked to be the sensible adult supervisors (insert giggle right here, because I'm not often called sensible). But as is often the way the young leader left for other things, and we were left holding a very squirmy, difficult, loud and uncomfortable bag, In other words, we had suddenly become youth pastors.

So we have had no formal training, no Bible college, no youth experience to speak of. I was a primary school teacher in a former season of my life and my man is a paramedic, and yes that has helped, but we are not the traditional kind of youth pastors. All we had was a passion for God and his plans. We have made lots of mistakes, come across financial hiccups and met expectations face to face that we didn't even know existed. We carry heavy burdens that no-one told us we would have, but we LOVE the kids so much that like Jesus said, the burden is light.

What I have discovered, is when God calls you to something, even if you don't want to, but you step out in obedience, (and I really didn't want to, tears were involved) the passion and desire catches up. We did it first because we loved God and our kids, but now we do it because we love to. So much.

So here is my journey and learning curve all blogged up. I promise to be honest and share my celebrations and mistakes with you if you promise to laugh and point. No I mean it, I like the laughing!