Proverbs 20:18
Make plans by seeking advice;
if you wage war, obtain guidance.


When I think about youth ministry, sometimes war is an adequate analogy. Trenches are dug, bomb shells are dropped, and sometimes it feels like the enemy is coming from all sides.

This last week at Southern Seminary was a wonderful experience. I got to sit down with some really awesome guys and just talk youth ministry. We got to plan, to dream, and talk about waging war. We got some good news from others fighting in the trenches too. As it turns out not every youth who ever attended church is dropping as soon as they graduate. In reality, someone who did some really great research found that in the SBC, if a church has a tenured youth minister, conservative beliefs, and a great, age-graded youth program, a youth who is involved in middle and high school will stay involved. That's good news for those of us planning the battles.

Not a chance to celebrate a sound victory yet, however. That means we who minister to youth need to commit to a church, really plan out what we're doing, and constantly check on the youth who are not showing up.

I'm feeling challenged after that class. I feel refreshed. I also feel very fortunate to have such great volunteers and a great church to serve at. Out of the planning room then, and back to the trenches!