Presentation Recording

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to present my ministry in Namibia to my home church, Christ's Church of Amherst. If you'd like to listen in and hear a good summary of the ministry challenges in Namibia and what I'll be doing with Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary (NETS) you can find the recording online here:
http://ccnh.podbean.com/2013/09/16/called-to-namibia/.

There's a greater reward than money

For as long as I've worked in the youth development field, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say, "Yeah, I actually feel like I'm getting paid what I'm worth." More often it's comments like, "They don't pay me enough for this," or, "We're sure not in this for the money." The natural mindset that's built into us by our culture is that your monetary compensation should be equivalent to the value of your work. Or in an agricultural metaphor, you reap what you sow. But what happens when the world doesn't place a very high value on your work? What if they don't realize how important it is for youth to have mentors, positive role models and influential adults in their lives? Then you end up getting paid more like a babysitter than a youth development professional. As a result you get less and less qualified people influencing your children because the qualified people have to go make their living doing something else.

Now this may sound like a complaint or a rant, but it's quite the opposite. Because the truly qualified people are those who understand that the compensation for being a positive, influential role model in the lives of young people can never be measured monetarily. We truly don't do it for the money. Not because they don't pay us enough, but because the true compensation is in the character of the lives we influence. It may take years for youth workers to see the results of their efforts, and in some cases, they may never see the results. But we do the job because we know those results will come someday, whether we see them or not. One person sows the seed, another waters it, another weeds the garden, and eventually, one day there will be a harvest. Youth workers may not reap an immediate monetary reward for their work, but they reap a harvest nonetheless. So whether you work as a youth pastor, a coach, at a Boys & Girls Club, or somewhere else in the youth development field, "Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. . . . Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal 6:7, 9).

The God Who Provides

During my time in NH before leaving for Namibia, I knew I would need a short-term, part-time job to help pay the bills. Now that’s not an easy pitch at a job interview. “I’ll only be here until January, but could you hire me anyway?” So way back in the spring I had asked my life group guys to pray that I would be able to find work even with my tough situation and in a tough economy. Now fast-forward a couple months and I had largely forgotten those prayers by the time I made it back home and started my job search. I used to coach high school volleyball which is only a two month season in the fall, so it seemed like a good fit, however I got back only a week before the season would start. I decided to call the high school where I used to coach just to see if they had any openings. The athletic director was so excited to hear that I was back and he immediately offered me the one opening they had left, coach for the JV girls team! I’ve also been able to pick up some temp work with my brother who’s a building contractor. God doesn’t forget about our needs or our prayers. Some choose to chalk up events like this to coincidence, but I see the watchful eye of Providence.

Another pressing task as soon as I returned was getting my car inspected. I knew it would need some repairs which would cost about $560. That Sunday, I came in early to church and my pastor mentioned that there were some envelopes on the office desk with my name on them. Some anonymous person had given a donation of $600 specifically for those repairs or whatever I need most! I hadn’t even asked God to provide for that need, but He provided anyway. He knows our needs even when we don’t ask for help. How many times have I actually asked for things and then doubted whether or not God would come through?! Seeing God provide even when I don’t ask challenges me to have faith and not doubt when I do ask.