In my last blog, I talked about vision.  Before I get into a few details, I’d like to share a story I came by Lee J. Colan, Ph.D called Vision is Greater than Sight

About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness.

In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway?

Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision. With a clear vision of what we can become in Christ, no ocean of difficulty is too great. Without it, we rarely move beyond our current boundaries.

 My prayer for youth ministers and leaders is that you continue moving forward in all that God has for you!  Don’t be content!  Keep the vision alive and active! Below are three clear ways to keep your vision in front of your ministry.

1)      Be deliberate. Our time with young people is short; we must be deliberate about what we pour into them.  Whatever your vision is for them, find ways to break it down. That way they don’t just hear it, but they become a part of it.  You may have a vision that you choose to break down into six steps.  This could be something you impart over the next six weeks, months, or years so that you can really produce something in them.  Your vision is a seed. For a seed to grow, it must get deliberate attention. Put the vision on the web site and flyers. When young people walk into the door, they should see it.  Remember, a vision is on life support if your kids don’t know it. Always find ways to merge the vision into your messages. A recent study found that 61% of young adults who were once involved in church are now spiritually disengaged. This is why our vision must be deliberate. Ecclesiastes 9:10

2)      Continually Demonstrate. As a youth minister, keep in mind how much of an example you are.  Youth will not become what you teach; they will become what you are!  Are you the vision you’re trying to impart? If it is service, do you serve?  If it is leadership, how are you leading?  If it is discipleship, who are you mentoring?  If it is evangelism, do your kids see you evangelizing? Yes, I know we should do all of these, but I also know that you have a gift to do one of these more exceptionally than the others! For a vision to catch, it must first be demonstrated.  Young people are looking for examples, not preachers! Anyone can preach a good word or pull off a good event, but not everyone can be an example. Remember, you mean more to your kids than you will ever know. Demonstrate to them your vision to walk in integrity, authority, mercy, understanding, purpose, and love! 1 Peter 4:9-11

3)      Always discuss. Effective vision casters speak the vision! Jesus was always speaking the vision.  Every time He got the opportunity to speak, He made known the importance of doing the will of his father! Regardless of the size of the crowd, Jesus was speaking vision! Where is your ministry headed?  Who knows it?  Talk about it one-on-one, in messages, in blogs, on Facebook, and on twitter.  Keep sharing the vision that God has given you to accomplish! Spend time finding new and innovative ways to communicate the vision. Get your leadership team on the same page. Your assignment is very important, and it must be shared!  Habakkuk 2:2

Thanks for reading. I would love to hear some feedback! Until next time!

I think believers could use a little more crazy! And stop playing it so safe.  I’m not talking about insane crazy, but more like moving into some unbelievable “Crazy Faith.”  Where our faith gets results that makes non-believers go… “Did you see that?…It was crazy.” The type of crazy I’m talking about is NOAH, MOSES, EASTER crazy.  Where you decided to take the word of God and really believe it! Jesus many times marveled at the “Crazy Faith” of some of the people who made the choice to believe Him.  Have you made that choice?  Do you have normal, well-informed faith or is it a “crazy faith” that believes God over what people say and what your eyes see?  Over the next few weeks I want to give you some “crazy faith” tips as together we grow our faith. I know God has great plans for you.  Don’t settle for safe but step out with some crazy faith and believe BIG because God wants to use you!

Many times this happens in our walk with Christ.  We just don’t think about it.  However, if you’ve made the profession of faith it’s your responsibility to grow.   You need to “add the water” of the word to grow your spiritual seed.  Cultivating your relationship with the Lord should be the most important event, task, and desire you have, only then will you have something worth giving.  All of God’s gifts, characteristics, and attributes are to insure a life of victory.  This victory is for you to share with others.   In Matt 19, Jesus gives us a huge assignment to teach and train others to follow Him!  In other words: cultivate, add the water and watch it grow!    This culture is thirsty for something real and it’s time for the Holy Ghosts filled believers to produce!

Focus point:  Where do I need to “add the water” and help cultivate something great for God?

The same is true with our spiritual life.  There’s no way we can live up to our potential without God as our source. It doesn’t matter how bright and shiny you look, or how great your talents are, you’ll never measure up without HIM.  God is the Activator!  Everything comes alive when you really know God.   He wants to ACTIVATE your spirit to: long for him, grow in him, and believe Him.   Why? Because there are so many crazy truths God is waiting to share with you.

Focus Point: Activate motionless Christianity by making God your source.