A few weeks ago I had a kid come to Rush Hour with a friend which I have seen him around Glynn Middle school when I eat lunches with them, but he was merely an acquaintance. He absolutely loved Rush Hour. He had a great time and wanted to come back again.

That week I saw him at Glynn Middle lunch again, and had some time to get to know him some more. He said how he wanted to come back, but lived in Brunswick and needed a ride to come back. I quickly got his number to give him a ride. I explained to him I had to be at church early and set up before everybody else came. After explaining to him, he said he would be up and ready to go. I just needed to remember to call him.

I hate to say I did not call him. I totally forgot (I know, bad youth pastor)!!! The amazing thing is he showed up to Rush Hour that Sunday morning. I asked him how he got here. Believe it and I mean believe it!! He walked from Brunswick to the North end of the Island to stay at a friends house and brought him to Rush Hour!!! How awesome is that!! There is something special about this kid. I am telling you. I see it in him.

The story does not end there. He did it all over again yesterday. He planned everything out so he could come to Rush Hour. It is awesome!! He is Hungry.

How far would you walk for church? It was convicting to me. I take my church for granted and the Word for granted. Here is this kid that would walk miles, just so he could attend church. I don’t know many kids, let alone adults who would walk to be at church. He is an encouragement to me. God is moving and he is willing to do what is takes to be a part where he is loved and will be challenged to grow?

Would you walk?

Fellowship is such a Christian term. If you aren’t a Christian, you probably have no idea what it is. But it is more than just hanging out and being around people. We all know how to hang out and have a good time, but do we really know about going deeper with each other?

I have been studying and speaking to my youth about fellowship and the importance of it. In the Greek fellowship is koinwniða. It is intimacy, communion. It means to really know each other on an intimate level. Just not the surface stuff we are all pretty well accustomed too.

Do you have friends you can be real with? Friends that you can get down and dirty with? Friends that you share your feelings and say whatever you want and they still know your heart? Do you have friends where you can receive from them, because you know their heart and they love you?

Now that is fellowship!! Going deeper with one another.

It takes humbleness. It takes vulnerability. It takes an attitude that says I want more than fake relationships.  It takes someone wanted to be set free from what everyone wants or thinks?

Do you want it?  I do.  I am blessed to have a couple close people like that in my life.  It wasn’t easy and didn’t come over night.  I have a fellowship with them like I have with none other.  It is a beautiful thing, but it always takes work.  It is worth it.

Justin

It’s tough!!

I want to write so much more, but just keep finding it so very hard.  I am not just taking the time to write.  I must say the reason I write is not so much for the few people who read, but just have a way to blah what goes on in my head.

I thought keeping my blog going would be effortless.  I mean, for those of you that know me, I definitely always have something to say and something going on in my head.  I have found I am either 1. way too busy, 2. bad boundaries, 3.  my blog must not be a priority.  I think its a little bit of all 3. ahhhhh ahhhhh.

Anyhow, I guess thats my blog for today and maybe I can get some of this stuff figured out.

ha ha….and maybe not…..who knows…lol

Justin

The past few days I have been down in Orlando, FL at the Regional for the American Association of Christian Counselors.   I feel like I have drank from a fire hydrant all weekend long.  There is only so much my brain can take and it was stretched.

It was an amazing time though.  I learned about stress, anxiety, depression, sexual identity, the brain, etc … in the lives of teens and how they are affected.  I just have to say I am blessed to be part of a church that allows me to experience and grow in this kind of material to understand youth and young adults more.

I mean this place is a place for people with doctorates, masters and licenses.  People go to this for their continuing education classes.  And here I am, just some Joe Schmo  learning and growing with these great minds all around me.

The best part about all this though is I am right in there with the lives of kids daily.  I get to see things and hopefully help and identify areas in kids lives before its too late or they have gone too far.  I am overwhelmed at the information I am learning and what youth are facing these days.  We need to be more equipped as leaders of youth on how to love kids and handle issues. Heck….even to help me handle my own issues too.

My ears are more attentive, and my eyes have been opened wide.

Jesus Help Me

Wow, Its hard to believe I have not been blogging for what seems forever.  Sorry for the hiatus to all my loyal and faithful reader out there..lol.

Well I have been working hard and growing as a leader.  Rush Hour(Middle School), has been going great and God has been moving in these kids lives.  We have even had kids who have never been to church before coming.  How great is that?!?!?!

We have had a great series about fellowship.  During this 3 week series called Let’s Get Together we had our first Communion time ever in Rush Hour.  It was such a sweet time.  God is so very good.  I am thankful for all he has done and the way he is chipping away at me in my life.

Thats such a small short time in all that is happened, but I am here to say: I AM BACK.

Blessings,

Justin

It all started Saturday when I went to Walmart to buy mechanic shirts and supplies for Rush Hour on Sunday morning. I was walking around the store trying to find some different supplies when a guy out of nowhere asks me if I knew where he could find a job. I was busy and wanted to get home to my lovely wife. She hasn’t seen much of me and I was tired. I was ready to be done.

I told him I didn’t know of any jobs and started on my way. I felt something in my spirit drop and say turn around and keep talking(but I didn’t want to). I started to see what kind of a job he wanted and what he was skilled at doing. He listed tons of things. The man just wanted, he would do anything.

As we talked I found out he had been in jail the last 27 months. First time 13 months, then back for 14 months. I am not sure what he did, but he said he needed to make some changes. He is now living in a halfway house and needs to do right. He is a pretty big guy, probably in his late 30s early 40s. You can tell this man has lived life and lived it hard at times.

I asked him if I could pray with him right there in Walmart. I swear I have a ministry in Walmart. I have prayed with more people in Walmart than people would believe. After praying for the man I asked him to come to church. He said he heard about the new church and would be there if it was God’s will. I thought to myself, “yeah right”. At least I was able to hopefully plant a seed, but who knew if I would see this man again.

I blogged about how amazing Sunday morning was for our first Sunday in the new building called Unstinkinbelievable. That morning at the end of the first service, David said the alter was open for anyone who needed prayer. We now have the room for people to come up, and an alter ministry if people want prayed for. As I was sitting kind of far back I saw who I thought was the guy I prayed with at Walmart. At once I told Sarah(my wife) I had to get go up and see this guy and pray for him.

As soon as I get up there another guy was laying hands on him and praying. I couldn’t wait to pray for this man. I was so excited about him being there and seeing God working on his Heart. I started to pray for him and prayed some of the same things I prayed the night before in Walmart. I felt and saw his head fall to the kneelers as I was praying. When I was done praying he turned and looked up to me. He gave me a hug and couldn’t believe it was me! He was in awe! “I need to change. I need to get my life right”. I saw the water in his eyes. It blew my mind. I am in awe.

I met this guy by divine appointment as I look back. I didn’t even want to bother with this guy last night. I was tired, but God had another idea. This guys heart was melted and God allowed me to be a part. Praise Jesus with me. Hopefully I will someday have a follow up story and a testimony of his to go along with it.

Justin

I was excited for our first service, but I was not excited about the sermon I was going to give. Because of all the busyness getting ready I was not been able to devote the time needed to prepare to share the Word of God with these kids in Rush Hour(middle school youth group). I never want to be that busy. For me, my soul just hurts to not have had my time with Jesus and study what God would have me share. I could get up there on Sunday morning and “just give a talk”, but there would be no anointing. There would be no power. I don’t want to short change anyone!!!!!

I was at the point I decided to show a Rob Bell video. I wouldn’t show just any video, but one that would be pertinent to the opening weekend and tying it all together. I had it all set up to go Sunday morning. I sat in the sanctuary as David was speaking about never being the same again and defining moments in his life. As I sat there my mind drifted about Rush Hour and being prepared with all the students and leaders. I wanted these kids to encounter Jesus!! I wanted the best for them. I felt I heard God say that the video I was going to show was not his best for me this Sunday, He wanted more.

I sat there contemplating if it was my flesh or God? How was I going to come up with a sermon when I didn’t study. “God, You couldn’t be asking this of me? Are you?” As I sat there I knew what he was asking. He wanted me to be obedient, to trust Him. It is so hard when I can be a control freak. This is one of those special times when I let go and trusted.

After first service in the new building, I ran around in the madness of all the people getting all I could ready. Trying to make sure leaders were in their right positions, band had time to practice, and trying to get stage lights to work correctly(like I even know what I am doing). I think I might have had 5 minutes to put together what I wanted to say.

I spoke on Ephesians 3:14-21. What was amazing is God showed up and spoke through me. I give him the Glory.  I had illustrations that came from nowhere.  It just fitted altogether and the spirit of the Lord fell upon me.  It all flowed like honey from my lips.  It was like I was watching myself talk and thinking where was it all coming from..ha..ha.  It seemed to happen just in the nick of time.  I needed Jesus to show up, or it would have been a flop.  And I mean a flop.  Go Jesus.  I love it when he shows off!!!

Justin

Unstinkinbelievable!!!

I serve a mighty and awesome God!!! We had our first service at our new building March 2.   I am in shock and awe of my God.  I knew it was something special.  You could just feel it.  Have you ever just had those moments when you knew something great was going to happen? weather it was God or just life?   Well I just knew God was going to move.  There was so much energy!!!  All this work we have put in with staff and volunteers was coming to the climatic moment of Sunday when we opened the doors for our first service.

Praise Jesus!! He has been showing off in our midst.  We have been praying for God to show off.  I couldn’t believe the mass of people that came and the lines to go to Tiny Town, Fam Jam, and Rush Hour.  Lives  were changed and moved forever.  People came and will never be the same again.

We do have a nice building.  It’s gorgeous. I mean it is such a blessing, but it only a building.  It too shall fade away.  It will not always be there.  It will get old and crumble someday.  It’s a tool to reach the community, but it is still a building.  What happened though, is GOD showed up and touched souls and lives.  Some will say,(doesn’t he always), but it was a tangible experience and you could see the fruit before your eyes.  I am in awe!!!!

I have walked away from yesterday also never to be the same again.  I am still trying to process all that I have seen and heard.  I am thankful.  There is a ton a thankfulness in my heart for God especially, but also the staff and body that make up this church.  I have to almost pinch myself and see if this is really happening to ME. I love my fellow staff more than they will ever know.  They are some of the hardest working and Jesus  loving bunch of people I know.

Now to get ready for next week and do it again.   I just want Jesus to show off!

Justin

Well, we had our final youth group for the highschool in the Wherehouse this past Wednesday night. It’s hard to believe we are leaving what has been our home to youth ministry the past six years. I have been in the Wherehouse, even when “big church” used to meet there. God has ever been present there!! I have seen and heard smiles, kids laugh out loud, tears shed, intense times of worship, kids meet Jesus face to face, and I have prayed for salvations with kids.  It has been a special place to me and for me.

This past Wednesday we met as usual.  Tonight we decided to have a chance to share and remember.  We ordered Grandy’s for dinner.  We had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, yeast rolls, and sweet tea for everyone. I think God would have shown up, even  if He wasn’t invited for this meal.  It was good stuff.  We all ate, laughed, and told stories.  We then had a time to share what we remembered about youth group and about the Wherehouse since we have been there.  It is great to hear what people remember, the times we shared, and the laughter that followed.  I am ashamed to say, I was most remembered for the gas I passed (yes, I said pass gas. It’s my blog).  I will save that story for another day…lol.

Next, we worshiped to some old/new favorites.  It was a stripped down version with acoustics, and a single drum(jimbey?).  It was very worshipful and a sweet time.  We also had old youth group photos that cycled throughout the years.  I couldn’t believe how much kids have matured, and gotten older.  It was really hitting me that we were moving on to a new chapter in life.  As I looked around the room I saw kids remembering, and also crying.  It was hitting them.  All the years we have spent together, laughed together, cried together, and been there for each other. It was only appropriate we finished finished with our theme song, Inside Out, by Hillsong United.

The best part of the night came next.  We all came to the alter and knelt in dedication to God, about 60 or so.  We all prayed out loud together thanking God, remembering this time together, and wanting Him to continue to move in and through this youth group. It was awesome and powerful.  The spirit was thick as you heard all the voices crying out to God.  It would send chills down your spine.  I could have sat in that all night long!!

We finished the night out with a group photo and a matte for everybody to sign to put in the Roof Top(new youth room).  How cool and AWESOME is our God.  I am thankful beyond words to express.

Go Jesus!!!!!

Justin

I will have been a youth pastor at SSCC for 2 years in May. It has been amazing to be given an opportunity to work full time in ministry at a church and pour into students lives. It’s exactly where I want to be right now, and where God has me. It is also a constant learning experience to be a leader and lead others, also very challenging at times, especially volunteers older than myself.

I have been given an awesome mentor in Youth Ministry, Jon Blankenship, who is the Senior Youth Pastor at SSCC and my best friend. He totally believes in discipleship and even more responsible if someone comes to him wanting to be mentored in youth ministry. He loves Jesus and teaching students. He has given much of what he knows and poured out into my life. I owe Him for teaching me of what it means to be a youth pastor and a leader. I feel very blessed to have had someone show me the ropes and take me deeper. He constantly strives for more and doesn’t settle. I have seen him grow as he continually leads me and spurs me on. I would not be where I am without him.

Something Jon has taught me and I have learned is I need to be a leader more than a students friend. If you don’t learn this, you will not have their respect. You must learn confrontation, even though it isn’t much fun. This past weekend on the Alive Retreat, I found myself more the bad guy than ever before. It seemed as if I was “Mr. Confrontation”. Every time I was turning around, I found myself stating boundaries. “You can go here”,”You can’t go there”, “Did you tell your leader where you were going?”, “Get your hands off of her”(woo,woo). I had to resolve conflicts as people pushed each others buttons and find out lies they told to me or others, and love them through it all at the same time. It is amazing to me how tiring it can all get. I was worn out.

I know my kids love me and respect me more for being their leader, than their best friend. I would have cringed at this thought a few years ago. I could be such a PP(people pleaser) and want everyone to like me. God has done wonders in teaching me as I continue to be a leader of leaders and kids.

Can anybody else identify with me? Would love to here some feedback!!!