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!
Yes! It is worth the mess, as a parent we see the mess too. And we see the results years later when that discipleship reaches to their hearts. We NEED people like you and the people who SUPPORT you to continue walking beside these students and assisting them through the messy and somtimes discouraging times of their lifes. And we your SUPPORTERS both finanically and prayerfully HOLD you both up to the Lord and ask that HE give you the strenght to continue in what HE has called you both to. THANK YOU for serving.
I totally agree. But it is definitely worth it in the end. 🙂
I pray God continues to bless you with seeing glimpses of the ‘big picture.’
I was part of a missions group and the “mess” taught me something and changed my life. I’m just thankful that we had Godly leaders, ones like you, that were able to help us along the way. Thank you!
If it weren’t for people like you, people like us FYMers would be in a bigger mess then we can get in sometimes…
Be encouraged that we’re confident that you are following God’s calling and doing as He says. I respect you for what you’ve had to do and what you’ve gone through. You’re both amazing!
A moving admission, Dave. You hit the nail on the head regarding the essence of ministry and you knew this because you have experienced it first hand through your servanthood approach to ministry. Bible colleges often do not advertise the ministry and discipleship training that comes with it as something that will get messy. Thank you for standing firm in the rough waters, and for taking your place standing in the gap.