2am Ramblings of a Fed Up Youth Pastor

I have a confession to make…

I am really tired of youth ministry. Ok, so maybe I am not tired OF youth ministry. Maybe I am just tired of how youth ministry is being done. I’m not gonna get on top my soap box and judge youth ministries across the nation, but I will take a macroscopic look at the ministry that I have been at the captain of.

I am tired of it. I am tired of the same churched up kids. I am tired of apathetic Christianity. I want to make a difference. I want our students to make a difference. I have always envisioned schools turned upside down with the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

WHY ISN’T THIS HAPPENING?!?!?!?

The words of the old song go “if you can use anything Lord, you can use me.” Well… I throw down the gauntlet. I take this challenge to God. Isaiah 6:8. USE ME.

I don’t know where I am going much of the time. 11 years into youth ministry and many times I still feel like a baby taking their first step. I’ve been told I can speak well. But that doesn’t offset the MANY other things I DON’T do well. But THANK GOD this whole thing isn’t supposed to be about me anyway! But I digress…

I am TIRED of youth ministry. I am FED UP with youth groups. I want to reinvent what youth ministry looks like. I want to do something that has never been done in Denver, CO. I want to see teens getting saved EVERY WEEK.

I am sick of maintaining. I am sick of just “doing church.” I am weary from maintaining the “fish tank.” Lord!!!!! You have called me to be a Fisher of Men. So……. HOW DO WE DO A BETTER JOB CATCHING THEM????

I don’t know how youth ministry needs to be changed, but I am willing to see it through. It’s risky. It’s the unknown. But I’ve always been more comfortable there anyway

With God, I want to reinvent the way youth ministry is being done at my church. I don’t know how to even start. God knows how this will roll. I just need to trust Him.

This I know… Red (theredexperience.com) has always stood for an unknown factor. The desire to brand something fresh and new and never-before-seen in this culture. I believe a piece of what Red will be known for is innovating youth ministry.

The message NEVER changes, but the methods must evolve. The only constant in life is change. We must embrace that as a youth ministry. Either evolve or become extinct.

This unanswered question rings in my head: “If we closed our doors tomorrow, would our community even know we were here?”

MuteMath: Creativity at its Finest

I guess I could describe myself  as a seeker or connoisseur of excellence and creativity. I LOVE new, unique, out-of-the-box, never-before-considered elements of creativity. Whether in the arts, music, messages, ministries, events, promotions, advertising, or programming, I am drawn to people or organizations that exhibit a “product” that pulls you in, stunning you and capturing your attention. For that reason, this video has been and continues to be my favorite music video of all times. Not just because these guys are incredibly talented and have tuned their craft to a superior level of musical excellence, but because EVERY TIME I watch this video, it blows my mind  at how they even came up with the IDEA… much less planned and executed to film and capture it. I am amazed.

ENJOY.

I have showed this video to people who when finish watching it and go, “ok, cool.” But think about it… realize the VIDEO is playing in reverse, while the lead singer’s WORDS and the band’s timing, chords, and MUSIC are going forward. If you are not amazed yet, know that they  had to MEMORIZE the entire song both on guitars and drums as well as vocally IN REVERSE (it took them over 3 weeks to do!) to make this music video happen. This is one reason why Mutemath continues to be one of my all time favorite bands ever. I AM IN AWE.