A New Deeper Passion

So it has been a few weeks since we got back from Fuge at Carson Newman, and all I can say that I have a new deeper passion for my middle schoolers now. It is funny how sometimes something in life just becomes common and normal but then you realize that it is what you love the most (well at least that has happened for me), well that for me is middle school ministry. I have known for almost 2 years now that I am called to serve middle schoolers, a time in life that is very hard and I really want to forget sometimes (more on that later), but now I know it is time to go all in and make the changes in life that will allow me live this as my passion. I can't really say for sure that has cause for this passion is, but I think it is a mix of a few things. The first thing is getting to spend a week with 70 great kids and 13 great youth leaders at camp, and the theme of that camp being Move (stepping out on faith). The second would be my job with Lifeway, being around people who have like interest and working for company that supports missions. There is just something about a job where people around you understand your passions, that makes your passions deeper. But whatever the reasons are behind this I am glad to be at the place where I am ready to step out and move along on my journey and really start to be come focused on my real passion in life.

So has I have been thinking about this new deeper passion to being around students in the craziest years of life and ones that I wish I could forget; this thought keeps coming back to me, these kids would have never liked the middle school me. I was "that kid" in middle school, you know the one... that stays to them self and never did anything with anyone (including church camp, thats a funny thought now that I have been 3052 miles as a youth leader! yes I keep count). The kid that always got picked on and always kind of left out. Thats one reason why I love the photo in this post, because I would have never had friends like those kids in when I was that age. So what do I mean by these random worlds, that there is hope for "those kids" if you just stick to who yo are and not change, because God will use that to do great things and people will one day see how great you are (if you don't believe me I will be more than happy to show you my senior yearbook).

Well I guess it is time to end this thing, before I do I want t say this that I am very thankful to God of each and every student I get to be around and they are all a great blessing in my life. Until next time God Bless and thanks for reading (if anyone is).