“It is amazing what gets accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.  We have to lay down the ego’s and the logo’s and go get it done for Jesus.”  ~Dino Rizzo

This killed me!  I’ll tell you why.  I’m a big fan of church marketing.  As in, I want our ministry to have a cool, relevant, sweet looking logo.  I want to have a sweet website and an awesome student center, and a hooked up snack shop.  I’m a big fan.  I want our student ministry to drip with excellence.  I want more than anything for our ministry to be known as a place where you can come and be known by students, and be loved on, a place where you can meet God, hear from God, and have a great time doing it.  I want our ministry at FBC to wreak havoc in the sin life of students.  I want this for US.  I want this for OUR church.  I want this for OUR students.  

Here’s what killed me.  Do I care more about who gets the credit in all the good stuff that happens than I care that students are meeting and growing closer to God?  I PRAY NOT!  Sometimes we allow the “stuff” to get in the way of what God wants to do in and through us!  The logo’s, the buildings, the instruments, the furniture, and the lights can distract us from our mission.  Do I want all of those great things for my friend who is the Youth Pastor at the nearby church?  Do I rejoice when his ministry grows?  Do we work together to accomplish more than we could dream possible by ourselves?  What keeps us from doing that?  What keeps us from reaching out to our friends, helping where help is needed?  

So, I realize that you do not all have the joy/privilege of being youth pastors.  I realize that maybe not all of you are even people who would consider themselves inside the Christian faith.  But here is what I am thinking: What is getting in the way of you accomplishing something significant for God?  What is getting in the way of you coming to know who God is in a new, fresh, life changing way?

God is stretching me.  I know that…  I’m just thinking…  You?

~Peter