Showing Up

Our Powderpuff Cheerleading Squad During the Game

There are a lot of Young Life phrases out there. We 'meet kids where they are at', we 'love them where they're at', we 'go after the farthest out kid' all while having 'club' and 'campaigners'.  For those out of the Young Life circles those phrases can get confusing. When explained though, they capture the essence of Young Life. In starting a new area one of the biggest challenges comes in communicating just exactly what Young Life is; to parents, faculty and especially to kids. While I've had many trials and errors explaining certain intricacies of Young Life one is always very simple; the concept of showing up. (There are also a lot of 'Christian girl phrases' out there; hilarious)

When you look at Jesus' ministry he was always showing up in people's lives. There were many instances people came to him, or that he would be in a public place preaching, but his ministry was also characterized by going to where people were. For instance, when we look at His calling of the disciples they weren't in a church service, but rather at their jobs in many cases. There are countless other examples, the woman at the well, the man by the pool and even our dear friend Zacchaeus. Jesus just happened to be walking down Zacchaeus street when he calls him down from the tree and goes to his house to eat with him. In following Jesus example we cannot afford to miss his missionary tendencies of meeting people where they were at.

Obama 'Showing Up' at the Volleyball Game

While we often think of being a missionary in terms of going to a foreign place for God, we can't lost the fact that we are all called to be missionaries. When I read the New Testament it seems like being a disciple and being a missionary were one in the same.  For me my 'mission field' is FCHS. So to follow Jesus' example there I have to show up in kids lives. My heart is to become ingrained in the very fabric of the school and there is no better way to do that than to invest time there. That is why you'll see YL leaders at football games, volleyball games, powderpuff games, plays, band practices, lunches, after school, before school, tutoring, coaching, mentoring, the list goes on forever. It can take years to become a part of the school where kids truly know you and start to recognize you. It's a matter of continuing to persist even when it is uncomfortable or awkward. Do you think it's easy for the African missionary to become acclimated to their new surrounding? Do you think they immediately become acquired into the social fabric of the people they go to? If not, then why should I expect anything different.

I 'Showed Up' to Hang with the Band at Halftime
. . . Then Stole Their Drums.

The reason this is big for me this week is that I had two very different experiences at the school this past month. A couple week ago I went to a home volleyball game as was my custom. You can read about it in the last blog, but suffice it to say it was one of my first big introductions into the awkwardness that comes with the territory of going after people. So after making small talk with a few kids and feeling like it wasn't of much use I headed home.

About a week later, Ben Brodin and I  headed to the next home game (if you haven't read about Ben yet read the post with him in antlers; priceless). This was by far the most fruitful and exciting time with kids yet. Kids recognized me, remembered my name, and asked me about fall weekend. I met ten new kids that I hadn't known before, a lot of them from different areas of the school. It was awesome. It was a moment that made me realize how at the slightest inconvenience I'm ready to jump ship when in reality I'm working towards something bigger. It was a good night. After talking with the Video Production kids, president Obama (pictured about) and a few football players we left the game amped about what the Lord was doing.



A Local Church I Got the Chance to Speak At on Sunday.

One last story. A few weeks ago I was invited by Derek Layman to come and speak at his church, Cool Springs Christian Church, here in Franklin County. It was a great opportunity and one that really made me look at the biblical principals of going to where kids are at. I read John 5 in preparation and really dug into the story of Jesus and the man at the pool, a story Steve Schmitt has used many of times in explaining Young Life and one that I attempted to use as well. The thing that stuck out to me was the Jesus strikes up a conversation with this guy who has no idea who he is. The guy has no idea that Jesus can not only heal him, but give him life and life to the full. He is conversing with the person with the answers to every question he could ever have. That is insane. As I've come to understand it, Christ has sent us, the Church, in His stead. I am where I am to be Jesus with clothes on. He entrusted His message and His purpose to a group of disciples who have passed in down the line all the way to us. So when I walk into the school, or to that game, or whatever it may be I have to realize the gravity of the situation.

It is monumental. It is fantastic. It is the highest calling one could possibly imagine. So in the midst of my insecurity, laziness, pride and questioning I will continue to show up in kid's lives in the hope and promise that they will be able to hear the Gospel that has forever changed my life. I'll continue to show up in churches to spread the vision that the Lord has given me in doing Young Life. I'll continue to show up to meet parents, and faculty and school boards because that is what Jesus did and who Jesus was. My hope is that I can stop worrying about feeling insecure or incapable of doing what He's asked me to and just be obedient. It's not my doing anyway. Alright, I'm going to hop off my soap box now, but I hope you understand the vastness and importance of what you are being asked to do, regardless of where your mission field is. Let us not take this lightly or feel overwhelmed. I'm honored to be in the fight with you.