Here is the question!
“What Spirit nudges did you sense this week?”
- What did you see, hear, or sense that caused you to be concerned for another?
- How did you celebrate another? Or affirm? For whom did you say, “Yay!” for? How
- So what? Now what?
- How do you respond, or want to respond to the needs you saw?
- What might God be calling you to do? Options? Ideas? Responses?
- What and how can we pray?
To Our Youth!
Did I tell you that you are our front line vital ministers?
I would love to think that, as your pastor and church staff, we have effectively touched the lives of a boatload of kids. I think we have, but I have no idea how big that boat is. Here is what I do know: you, our youth, touch the lives of more people than we will ever have the chance to meet. More youth ministry is done through you than through any of us who are paid! You are our front lines of ministry. Your ministry boat is much bigger than ours.
I believe you are already doing ministry, but we may have forgotten to tell you. Your relationships – the people you care for, welcome and affirm every day, everywhere and in every relationship – are about God. Ministry is about loving because Christ first loved us. Ministry is about “doing likewise.”
You have friends. You know their great joys. You also know their great sorrows. You are the first to know when life needs to be celebrated or when there is pain that needs comforting. You hear, see and sense things in others people you don’t even personally know. Your heart tells you when something doesn’t quite feel right. We call these Spirit nudges.
In our groups, we often ask about the highs and the lows of your week. We are also going to start asking …
“What Spirit nudges did you sense this week?”
You can share the concerns you felt for others. You may have been able to act on them by listening, welcoming or affirming someone. You may have just seen or heard about a situation and wished something better for this person.
We can pray about these Spirit nudges, and we can also help each other with ideas and support for being present when others need us. We will celebrate our ministry together when you do get to care.
This will be one of the ways we can support the ministry you live every day. It is one of the ways our church can be your ministry partner.
Be attentive to those around you. You are God’s hands and feet. Let’s help each other to help others.