Any time you invest in people and disciple them it gets messy.  It's not easy investing in people's lives.  It's not easy confronting issues and dealing with the junk in there.  It's not easy being tough on someone in their areas of weakness.  It gets messy and ugly at times.

We are approaching the end of the FYM program for this year.  We have less than a month to go before the participants leave their respective countries and head on to whatever God has next for them.  And it has had it's share of messiness.  In each of our 7 locations we have had major issues we've had to deal with.  Just yesterday I had over a 2 hour conference call trying to help an individual.  We have dealt with issues such as rebellion, submission to authority, students wanting to go home, relationships developing, tensions within the team, personality clashes, and so one.  Many of these were heart issues that people were dealing with and working through.  Many of the outcomes were positive, but some were not.

As I've worked with teenagers and young adults over the past 23 years, it didn't take me long to realize that ministry is messy.  However, the rewards are phenominal.  I'll take the mess to get to the good.  I'll walk through the junk if it might result in a life being turned around.  That's how I've made it through the youth ministry years.  It's not easy and not at all fun, but it's worth the effort.

The conversation I had yesterday did not bring about the result I was hoping and praying for.  I can't control that and it gets discouraging.  In the end individuals make their own decisions and are responsible for their own actions.  I can only point them in the right direction.  It's the Holy Spirit who does the work.

In the midst of all the mess in each of the teams this year, there has been a tremendous amount of growth.  God is working in and using these FYM participants.  They are growing, they are ministering, people are being discipled and nurtured, lives have been changed.  Is the mess worth it?  Absolutely!