Authentic In Ministry!

jasonallen — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:22:06 +0000

For several years now I have thought about reconnecting with those in youth ministry that had a huge influence on my life when I was a teenager. I would think about it and put it off for one reason or another. Last week I started thinking about this again and decided to do some research. I was looking for the youth pastor who put on the church camp I attended in the summer of 95 when I was saved. It took me some time and a few wrong calls to churches. I found James Amos. He was not the Guy who led me to Christ but he was a major influence on my life in that time. James gave me Bill Carson’s name he was the evangelist who lead me to meet Jesus. I was disappointed to hear Bill was no longer in the ministry. This opens the door to a great conversation with James a 24-year veteran in youth ministry. I asked James a few questions while we were on the phone he was more than willing to talk. The conversation was rich with wisdom and humility. He kept going back to a few simple truths. Ministry should be Relational. He said he learned a lot about God and his work when he “let moments happen”. He said sometimes “just being present” is enough. One word that he used several times was Authenticity. It just like Jesus did it relational and real nothing fake or superficial. That is a true challenge to my Rookie heart in this crazy youth ministry world I live in. Lord May I be authentic and have a true relationship with students that Shows them who you really are. May you allow me to show Jesus to students?

Out of the mouth of Babes.

jasonallen — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:38:11 +0000

I was walking out of my office the other day and some of the kids in the daycare (3-4 year olds) were walking to lunch. As I walk past them I said, “What’s up guys”. As soon I said this every single one of them repeated exactly what I said what’s up guys. As I thought about this my daughter Isabella who is 2 does the same thing. No matter what you say she says it back. So yes you must be careful with your speech around her. I thought is this not how we should be in honoring our father in heaven. The things He tells us should we not be repeating them to everyone we see and come into contact with. As He lays something on our hearts shouldn’t we go and tell every one of His amazing undying love for us? So often God shares something and we enjoy it for ourselves but we never share it with others. Maybe we are afraid of what others may think. I think this is where we should look at the little kids in the daycare they just said exactly what they heard. “What’s up guys”? What is God telling you and who do you need to share it with today?

East to West

jasonallen — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:42:32 +0000

Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

I read this verse earlier in the week and I realized that as you look at a globe if you go north you will eventually go south. And if you go south you will eventually go north. But if you go east you will never go west and if you go west you will never go east. As far as the east is from the west is how far God has removed all our mess out of our lives. This is a hard concept for us as believers to understand. Casting Crows has put this into words.

Twitter?

jasonallen — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:41:34 +0000

So why do I twitter and what the heck is it? This is the best way i have found to explain it.

Stephen

jasonallen — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:02:47 +0000

Acts 6:8

How attractive is the father or mother of a newborn, glowing with joy over God’s good gift. Just as attractive is Stephen, a man full of the Holy Spirit. We are drawn to him.
What does a person “full of the Spirit” look like? By God’s grace, can I be such a person? Effective Witness in Deed and in Word (6:8-10)
Stephen is what my talk was about last night being so full of the spirit that you spill Jesus everywhere you are. What would our worlds look like if we could be “full of the Spirit” as Stephen was. Not ashamed to be Jesus in a Dark world.