A Response

I recognize this post is really late (sorry Derry) but it's finally here. Derry asked me to comment on the following...

NMC Student Ministries as a student and now as a leader...what's the same and what's changed.

What's the same:
1. The Mission - Student Ministries has always been about moving students from religion to relationship to spiritually reproducing. Whether you're a student or leader, the goal is to build a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and then pass that on to others (kind of a Pay It Forward thing).

2. Small Groups - The best way to get connected is through small groups. There's incredible value in being able to meet with your peers & just do life together. Now as a leader, it's no different. There is value in pulling together as a team, a small group, and just doing ministry and doing life together. As a student or leader, small groups is a place to play together, encourage one another, and pray together.

3. "This is just as much for me as it is for them." - As a student, being involved in Student Ministries was a place for me to grow, hear from the Word, & worship with other believers. As a leader, being involved in Student Ministries is a place for me to grow, hear from the Word, and worship with other believers.


What's Changed:
1. Perspective - This is probably more on a personal level. But as a student, I remember being very focused on me & what I could get out of it. As a leader of students, your focus shifts to, "How can I help them grasp this? How can I keep them from making the same mistakes I made? How can I come along side them in this?"


Yep...it's an unbalanced list...so sorry for all you C Personalities. Deal with it...I'm making you stronger!

There are more things that have changed since the time I was a student to now as a leader...but that's a little different question than what Derry had originally asked. But just for fun, here are some of those changes...

1. Location - Back in my student days, we met in the YMC. At the time, it was just ONE level & it sat about where the Fieldhouse sits now. Instead of a diner, there were four small classrooms in the back that were used for small groups.

2. Song Styles - Believe it or not, it used to be cool in Senior High to rock out to songs with motions. That's right...motions! Every song had 'em. And if it didn't, we made up our own! Niel Diener taught us how to "get our praise on" with songs like Lord I Lift Your Name On High, Every Move I Make, Ain't No Rock, and I don't remember the title of this one but it said, "Gonna eat right. Grow strong. Face to the sun, put my feet on the Rock. Got a clean heart, pure mind, standing on the promises!"

3. Culture - It's a different world. You've probably heard that said a lot, but it's true. It's unbelievable the kinds of things students are exposed to that were almost unheard of when I was a student...which wasn't really all that long ago!!! Just look at the things on TV, the number of people who have a cell phone, MySpace & Facebook, etc. So much has changed & because of those changes, it impacts how we do ministry.


Okay, I'm thinking this post is long enough!