Tough Love

I used to be a Kindergarten teacher. Really. I managed to take 25 four and five year olds, many of whom had never had any structured school experience, and turn them into students. They learnt taking turns, speaking respectfully, listening and general associated behaviours that are acceptable in the classroom environment.

Now I am a youth pastor, and I have older children, who have been in structured environments for years and know what is expected of them. So being very new to this game this is what I insisted on from the start, polite, respectful behaviour, in all circumstances.

A Youth Ministry Gem

Another gem I gathered from this year’s Youth Pastor Retreat is the art of regular reporting to the Church Senior Pastor. A guy who had been a youth pastor for many years said he wrote a weekly overview of what had gone on in their ministry for the last week, describing it in detail, pros, cons, people, ideas, growth, mistakes and all reflections possible. I write my reports to PastorG every Tuesday, (well… most Tuesdays) the same day each week, and sent it via email, as well as keeping a copy for myself.

Responding to Criticism

Im getting better at dealing with criticism. There was a time in my life when a constructive word, however gently put, would depress me significantly. As I press closer to God he reveals to me that only HIS opinion is important, then the words of others affect my heart alot less. As it should be.

There is still a momentary desire to act impulsively and make it go away in whatever means possible. I'm a fixer, and a talker. I like to talk things through. But when criticism is offered, passed on, or delivered in whatever manner is chosen (polite or not!) i prefer now to wait until my flesh has gotten over the initial pain, then wait for God's voice.

Take for example last week.