The Ebenezer Moments

March 19, 2009

For me, my career in youth ministry is marked by moments.

What I mean by that is while I truly believe the day-to-day, life-on-life stuff matters deeply in youth ministry, the key cornerstone moments where you see God move are the ones that you remember and keep you in the game. Last night was one of those special moments.

This week, a young man from a local school ended his own life. Some of the students in our youth group knew him and his younger siblings. There was a part of me that wanted to talk about it and minister directly about it. But I am also one that is very cautious about not wanting to prey on people’s emotions just to get a reaction. (Too many times of summer camp where success = crying middle school girls.)

In the end, I decided to talk about directly with kids, to affirm that whatever they were feeling was okay and that if they ever needed someone to talk to, the adults on the youth ministry team would always be there to support them. Some of the other adults chimed in and expressed the same. Then, we watched the Nooma video entitled “Matthew.” If you have seen it, it is pretty powerful under normal circumstances. Under the current situation, it was particularly poignant and moving. I wrestled with using it or not because I knew that it could produce some powerful emotionally driven time. But in the end, the message of it was too powerful to not use it. The video definitely was used by God and some hearts were deeply touched as they wrestled with the emotions that they had over this situation and others where there was grief people had been carrying.

We closed with a time of sitting together in silence and later worship with the Matt Redman song “Blessed Be Your Name.” It was as powerful a point of worship and ministry as we have had since starting my time at this church. I was so thankful that God took over and made Himself known and the way the adults of our group are truly trying to be God’s arms of love to kids. It was deeply moving.

In closing, my prayer has been “Not one more, God.” May God so move the hearts of his people so that all kids are loved, cared for and have a place to turn when the darkness of depression begins to overwhelm them. My heart breaks for this family and the hurt that they will carry with them. May no one else ever have to feel it again. May it be so, Lord, may it be so.

Posted in General Stuff