To my students
Today, I gave the final for Youth Ministries. At the end of the final, I gave my farewell for the summer and to many who graduate, perhaps my final earthly farewell. I wrote:
To my students:
Ministry offers one of the greatest journeys anyone can choose. Ministry’s adventure brings joy and thrills as well as discouragement and heartbreaks, and though the requirements are burdensome, the rewards are far greater than the burdens. In ministry you will make friends, and you will discover enemies. Furthermore, in your ministry, a battle will rage on with a dreadful villain. The villain will prowl around your family and your people: he will seek to devour you and those you love. Therefore, you must learn to rely on the Hero of your ministry, for He is a match too strong for the villain. Even in the seemingly small tasks, you must learn to trust in the Hero, else the villain becomes the victor in your ministry.
I pray that throughout the rest of your ministry, you will maintain an unquenchable passion for God, for He alone gives strength to minister. I pray that you continue to know the true “joy in serving Jesus.” May your joyful service be Christ-centered, God-focused, and people-loving.
