I am going on Young Life staff. That will be my job, and, LORD willing, it will be for years to come. The thing I did not really think about much before now about actually having YL be my full-time job is that I have to raise my own paycheck... every paycheck.
Asking someone to give you money is hard. Honestly, I would rather not do it.
I knew that God had called me into youth ministry, and I always assumed it would be my full-time job at some point... but I thought it would include a "secure" paycheck. Don't get me wrong, I never thought we would have loads of money, or even very much of it, but I thought we would be able to sit back and collect a paycheck from a church or organization and not have to worry about raising that money ourselves.
This had always been the catch with working for Young Life. Working with kids, showing them that Jesus loves them is challenging enough, but then having to raise your salary on top of that... no thanks.
But here we are, after walking away from Young Life 6 years ago, and things have changed.
First, I don't really think I am asking people to give me money so that I can slack off, maybe hang out with a few kids, and live a plush easy life. Asking for money is tough, its not a cake job having to raise your own support... and youth ministry, while incredibly rewarding, can be really stinking rough at times. I love kids, and I completely enjoy getting to walk through life with them, showing them Jesus' love, but there are times when I would just rather be getting paid somewhere I could clock in and out of.
Second, and this may seem like manipulation (frick, honestly, this whole post may seem like manipulation on some level), I am not just asking people to pay my salary, I'm asking people to invest in the Kingdom. I'm asking you to invest in the work God is doing through me, through Young Life, and through the partnerships we will make. Kids will come to know Jesus through this, and you have an opportunity to be a part of that, without ever having to play a messy game, or try to get a bunch of middle schoolers to listen to you give a talk.
Third, I am convinced that this is where God is leading me, and even if people say "no," over and over, I know God will provide. I am not the one that is going to raise the money, God will, and he already has it set aside. If this is God's plan, what is money to stand in the way. As long as I am diligent in doing my part (asking people for money) he will provide.
Fourth, this will be such a learning, stretching, growing, and humbling experience that I might be thankful for this part of it in the end. Fundraising like this is going to bring some of my weaknesses right up to the surface, and then those weaknesses will hang out and have a party with some of my fears and insecurities... and I will have a chance to walk with God right into the middle of all that, then watch as he takes them all away. The only way to really defeat fear is to walk right into it.
Fifth, and this is the last one, I am looking forward to the relationships that will come from this. I'm not the best at staying in touch with people. Its a GIANT character flaw, and I really wish I was better at it. I'm really hoping that this process will rekindle some old friendships that I miss dearly, ignite some new ones, and introduce me to some fellow followers of Jesus I may not know yet.
So yeah, I'm not looking forward to raising money, to asking people to give me their cash... but I am excited to see what it brings, and excited to get to invite people into what God is doing.
So if you would like to be a part of what God is doing in kids lives through me and my family, then please click here. Your gift will not just benefit me and my family, but may be directly responsible for bringing a kid in touch with the love of Christ.
Peace.
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