Aug. 14, 2011
Today, Michelle and I had our first day teaching the sophomores of our youth group in Sunday School. For the last year, we worked with the juniors, which included my stepson Robbie, and that was fun. Brother Tim Spell, a great Christian man who I admire greatly, was the teacher and we were kind of crowd control, so to speak.
I think we both learned a lot from Tim. I know I did and, hopefully, we can use that as we work with the sophomores this year. It really seems like we have a great group of youth, who will be a core part of our youth group for three more years. I can't wait to get to know them better, share whatever knowledge I can with them and learn from them as well.
Today, Michelle and I told them a Cliffs Notes version of our life stories (Do they have Cliffs Notes anymore?) ... where we were before we met, how we met and became a family and where our passion for Jesus Christ came from. It brought back a rush of memories from my youth group and, especially, the adults who gave up their time to work with us. That's you Mom and Dad, Mr. and Mrs. Heath, Mr. and Mrs. Yarbrough, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford, Mr. and Mrs. Magley and really a cast of thousands. Our youth minister at Jubilee, Joe Stringer, puts it well when he says it is our job to pass along the Gospel to the next generation, just as the generation before did for us. That's what all those adults did for me back in the day while working alongside my great youth ministers and great friends, David Carroll and Durwood Foshee.
A lot of memories I have from that time have to do, not just with my friends who were in our tight-nit group, but also of the times we had with the parents who worked to make us better people. Mr. Magley diving headfirst in a competitive game of Kick the Can, Mrs. Bradford telling us to sing one more verse of "Pass it On," Trivial Pursuit with Rev. Dean and Mrs. Head and the continued guidance from two of the best people I've ever known, Ted and Marcilla Heath.
There is so much more. Times that are locked in my heart, cherished in my memory forever. We had fun times, great times. We went to Epworth by the Sea (where I gave my life to Christ), we went to Six Flags (too many times to count), saw a lot of Braves losses, had a lot of Krystal Challenges, etc.
But, you know what I remember the very most, and this is what I told our kids today: the passion I had for my church then, the fact that I wanted to be at every UMYF meeting, every Sunday service. I looked forward to going to church all week, just as I do now as an adult. That's a great feeling. That's what I hope our youth group of today feels, and I can see it happening before my eyes. I'm proud to serve with my beautiful wife, alongside an unbelievable Christian in Joe Stringer and many other adults. I'm proud to work with these kids.
Mr. and Mrs. Heath once told me, "Believe us, we learned more from you kids than you ever did for us."
I don't know if that is 100 percent true because we sure learned a lot from them. But I see it now. I know what he was talking about. These wise kids, full of energy, teach us something everyday we are blessed to be with them. Their energy and passion for Christ is something to behold. It gives me sometimes needed energy.
My goal for Michelle and I is to do as good a job passing on the Gospel and our love for Jesus to this generation as the adults and youth ministers of Clarkston Methodist did for me and my group. I want to make Joe Stringer proud that he afforded us the responsibility of leading these kids.
Most of all, I want to follow our Lord's lead and I pray everyday I succeed.
And I pray for energy, a lot of energy. Afteall, only 15 more years and our November arrival will be a sophomore. :)
Until next time, God Bless .....
