September marks 16 years that I have been at Jamul Community Church. It has been quite the journey. When I started I was about to get married (September 30), finishing college, church was at a school and the staff was just the senior pastor and me. Now, Nikki and I have been married for 16 years, we have 3 kids, our church has two properties and 10 people on staff. Through the years I have grown, been stretched and have learned A LOT!
Here are three of the main things that I have learned…
1. I need to always be learning and growing.
You would think that after 16 years I wouldn’t be learning as much as I am about youth ministry. Things change. Students change. Our world changes. I need to continue to learn and grow. I want to continue to be challenged and look for new ways to do ministry and grow as a pastor.
One of the best things I have done to help me grow was The Youth Cartel’s, Youth Ministry Coaching Program. I wrote about my experience and what it meant for me and my ministry before. I did the YMCP at a time in my life when I needed it more than I realized.
2. Longevity is the key to relational ministry
I stress to my leaders all the time that ministry is relationships. For relational ministry to be effective we have to put in the time. It won’t and can’t happen if we are only at a place for a couple years. This has been modeled to me by my youth pastor (now senior pastor) Gary Musser, he’s been at our church for 24 years.
The juniors in our ministry were born the year I started at JCC. For students whose families have attended our church for years I have known them since they were born. I have watched them grow. It just adds to the ministry I have with them.
The other great part is that a lot of my leaders were students in our ministry. This is awesome because I get to continue my relationship with them and continue to watch them grow closer to God.
3. I need to rely on God even more today.
It would be easy to just do what we have always done and not seek God in my life or ministry. I now that if I want God to use me I need to rely on Him daily. I need Him in my life. I want Him in my life. I want to see God do things in and through my life that can’t be explained or reasoned through our own understanding.
Words can’t express al that the past 16 years have meant in my life. I am thankful that God has kept me at JCC for them. Has everyday been perfect and great? No, there have been tough days. Days that I questioned my call to ministry and to JCC. In the end God has always made it clear that this is exactly where He wants me. I plan to stay right where I am until God makes it clear that it is time for a change. For now all I can say is that the journey has been amazing and I hope that there are many more years.
Thank you Jamul Community Church for your love and support of me, my family and my ministry.
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