Ok, I’m going to reveal to you one of my most stupid moments in youth work. (Sharp intake of breath.)
Several years ago, I was working as the youth worker in a church just northeast of Los Angeles. It was the year people in Los Angeles said our four seasons were earthquakes, riots, floods and fires. We had ‘em all. And the fires (brush fires, in the mountains) were very, very close to my church. Schools were closed, houses were burning, ash was falling from the sky like snow. It was all very Armageddon-like.
Our young teen group (youth group) met on the evening of the worst day. Something was happening in our normal meeting space; so we met in a room on the top floor of the church that had huge windows facing the directions of the fires. One of the girls who attended that night had lost her home to fire that day, and everything in it. She was in shock, and didn’t have anywhere else to go, so her parents brought her to church. Several others present had been evacuated from their homes, and were waiting to hear if their homes had burned
As we met, we could see palm trees burst into flames (they go up like fireworks!), and the occasional home burning.
And Mark Oestreicher, idiot youth worker, stuck to his lesson plan.
I know. I said I was an idiot. Stop repeating it.
I offer this rather extreme example to reveal an often more subtle misconception many youth workers live with: my teaching plans, my program, my plans of any kind, once prepared and ready to go, will remain the best course.
Here’s a truth I’ve come to embrace: my very best spiritual discussions with teenagers are very rarely connected to whatever I have planned. My best spiritual discussions – really my best ministry times of any sort – occur naturally in the thin-places of life. When I hold my plans loosely, waiting on God’s spirit and the realities of my teenager’s lives… well… that’s when the good stuff shows up.
Are you looking for a nationally recognized youth expert to minister at your next event? Mark Oestreicher (Marko) has worked in youth ministry 28 years, both in paid and volunteer positions, most recently as the president of Youth Specialties. Marko has written dozens of books for students and youth workers and speaks to thousands around the world each year. Give us a call at 615 283 0039 or email to find out how your staff and Marko can work together to make your event a success.
