Owning the Ministry

As a youth ministry one of our values is that students would serve, that students wouldn’t just come to Thrive, but would own their faith and be Thrive. That they wouldn’t just be consumers, but take responsibility to lead worship, give announcements, lead games, share their testimony and so on. It has been really encouraging this ministry season to see our leaders modeling, coaching, and giving away responsibilities and the students stepping up. One of the struggles over the years has been the commitment level of our seniors; often they would turn into one of our smallest participating classes, but this year with them owning Thrive, using their gifts, and the underclassmen looking up to them, it is our largest, especially our senior boys. It’s been exciting to see our students not just take responsibility for the program side of the ministry but for each other.

Two years ago this January, Liv, who was invited by one of our students and had been attending our midweek meeting for a few months signed up for our Dare2Share retreat and gave her life to the Lord. She was so excited by her new relationship she couldn’t help but share it. She kept inviting her friend Jedidiah to come to church but he refused. Finally though, through her persistence he agreed to come on a Tuesday night. That night, as he says it, the message seemed to be right at him. Over the next few months with the encouragement of Liv, God continued to soften his heart. After a few months when summer came around Liv and Jedidiah signed up for H2O, our summer camp. That week through the messages, Liv’s prayers, and God’s grace, Jedidiah gave his life to the Lord. Liv and our team were praising Jesus. A year goes by and both Liv and Jedidiah are growing in their faith and their involvement in the ministry until this fall. Liv just stopped coming; through some choices she made, she didn’t feel comfortable. Leaders reached out but nothing seemed to matter. So Jedidiah went to work praying and inviting. His friend who helped lead him to Christ was falling away, so the once pursued became the pursuer. Two weeks ago Jedidiah shows up excited to youth group, for Liv said she would come. That night Liv was back, and at the end of the night said it was for good.

This story is just one example of how we have seen students step up to share and live out their faith. In Thrive we call them “Bringers” from our mission statement, “Bringing others into a life changing relationship with God and each other.” It’s where they see the house of God as their house; that being a member of God’s household is a privilege and a wonderful responsibility. It’s where, because we have experienced the inside we get to go outside; not just something we attend but something we are. How do you see the church? As a youth Pastor at SFB these last eleven years it has been a blast ministering to our youth, it has been even more fun giving the ministry away. Thanks for all your prayers and support as we pursue kids for Christ and equip them to join us in the pursuit.
-Brian Woolard, Student Ministries