Nashville & LifeWaySeptember 16, 2009 We finished up the National Youth Workers Convention here in Nashville this morning. Great to be around so many men and women that have given their whole selves to teaching and investing in middle/high school students. I was a youth pastor for a few years in Sugar Land, Texas. It was a really great time in my life, and I learned a ton about ministry and serving while I was there. Serendipity video A Sense of Freedom divx I remember way too many late night lock-ins and visits to cheap fast food restaurants. I also remember being extremely frustrated with lack of visible results of ministry. But, it’s been pretty surreal to look back and see some fruit of all that time and work. Makes me feel slightly old to see some of those former students serving as pastors and youth pastors now. Obviously it wasn’t because of anything I personally did, but it is a good reminder that even though we can’t always visible see results, God is working. Corpses Sudden Impact download
So, here at the Youth Workers Conference, I hope participants were encouraged to keep giving, sacrificing, and serving even in a place where there’s hardly ever applause or immediate results. I appreciate LifeWay putting on a such a great event for these youth workers, and it was a real privilege to be able to lead this week.
Grand Canyon movie It’s rainy in Nashville today. And I absolutely love the vibe. I REALLLY miss my wife & kids, but it’s been good to meet new friends and hang with old ones. Speaking of… my buddy Evan Weatherford just got to Fido… so goodbye computer. Leave a Reply
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The new full-length album centers around God’s faithfulness and beauty, and the church's response to injustice, poverty, and orphans. The 10 song album reflects a heart for the Kingdom of God here and now, between the beauty and the chaos.
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September 17th, 2009 @ 12:29 pm
I know that I am one of several of those students who have continued on to a career in ministry, and I would not want you to underestimate the impact that you made on a younger version of myself. Your passion to worship and your love for the Lord were great for me to be able to witness, and they have made an impact onto my ministry. In any event, I have nothing but good things to say about your stint in youth ministry, and I believe that God used you during that season in your life in more ways than you could imagine. At the very least, he used you to impact me and my now wife. Blessings.
September 17th, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
man, thanks for saying that Matt!
September 18th, 2009 @ 9:42 am
Thanks for a great post Ivey, I know the frustration you felt and then to see God move in the lives of those around you at that time at a later point.
I really wanted to make that conference but it didn’t happen. I’m hoping to hit up Youth Specialties in Atlanta if I get lucky.
September 22nd, 2009 @ 9:59 am
I was one of the kids in your ministry in Sugar Land. Now that my husband and I have both served in full-time ministry I can only imagine how hard things were for you and Kyle behind the scenes, but all I saw as a student was wonderful friendships and wonderful ministry. I can still distinctly remember certain worship times we had together that seemed to go on forever. Even with all the camps, worship services, and fun events we had planned what I remember most is the way you guys really spent time with us and invested your lives into students. I remember clearly the night you proposed to Jamie and how special we felt that you would share that night with us! I know that it deeply impacted my life in middle and high school, and I still look back on those times with a grateful heart today.
Thanks for serving the Lord so faithfully as a college student! I can only hope that the students Chris and I are working with everyday will grow to do the same.
With love and grace,