Could use a little prayer

[holysoldier5000]

I could use a little prayer right now. I have been sick with a cold that doesn’t seem to want to go away. A lot of people around here seem to have it and it is one of those sicknesses that is taking people several weeks to get over. That and things are not going to well in my church. I guess I am a little bummed about it right now. The problem is with the youth ministry which I am the head of. When I started working as a volunteer youth leader I knew that God had put me here for a purpose. What purpose that is I still fail to see. But now it seems the purpose is gone and God is calling me away from this youth ministry; where to I don't know. But He is calling me to go... somewhere other then here. I know God puts us in certain places at certain times for reasons far beyond our own understanding. His ultimate plan is good although be it a little vague. I just can't help feeling like a failure right now. I'm not leaving a thriving youth ministry behind, no; I am leaving a failed attempt. When I started I took in one year a non-existent youth group from nothing to 20 people. But within a half a year afterwards I watched it fall apart. So many times I ask, “What did I do wrong?â€

[Syreth]

I have been praying for you. I'm really sorry to hear about what happened, but you know that God will bring you through it. How you feel is definately understandable. I would just say that you should be absolutely sure that God is calling you to go before you make a decision.

There was a guy that visited by Bible College once that had a story about a Bible study he led at his house. The Lord really blessed it and there were people coming and getting saved until a good amount of people were meeting at his house every week, but out of the blue a schism happened. There was division and everyone abandoned the Bible study except for one of his friends. It was just him, his wife and his friend for about a year or so, but after that, the Lord did a restoration and brought the Bible study back to where it had left off. Although things might seem bleak, you never know what the Lord might still want to do with you as far as the youth ministry goes. The Lord is in control.

Jeremiah 32:27
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

I'll pray you would heal from your cold soon as well.

[meboeck]

I will be praying for you. That youth group did not fail because of you. Remember, I told you before that at least one of the "problem kids" will become a spiritual leader. But right now they just aren't ready. The awesome thing is that you didn't give up on them. That would have been failure. But instead you put your heart into that ministry even though it didn't seem to be going anywhere. I am sure you have affected lives more than you realize. I myself am learning that what appears to be failure is often a learning experience or something that is just incomplete right now. You did your part, and eventually that youth group will be complete. And I guarantee that without the time and effort you put into those kids, that ministry would not be able to become complete. In God's plan, no one is expendable. you were there for a reason, and you know that.

In terms of the future, if you need to move on, don't be afraid to. Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean God doesn't know. And just because He doesn't tell you doesn't mean there's a problem. Abram had no idea where he was going when he left his home. At yet he ended up exactly where he was supposed to be.I will pray that you are able to see God's direction in your life.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Woah, that sucks. Sorry to hear it Ben. Don't beat yourself up over it though mate. I'm sure God knows what he's doing. Its probably more a matter of him stretching you to see if you remain faithful to him. He did that to me and it was an incredibly tough time, but I think I'm a little stronger in my faith because of it. Just hang in there. Keep on praying and trusting in God.
I also hope you get over your cold soon.

At the moment I'm a youth leader for years 8-10 and we have had 2 teenagers per event (two so far this year). These are disappointing numbers and I do get frustrated that many make excuses to not come (horse-riding, family barbeque etc) but I have to remember God's got it under control and more will come in due time. I think its a similar situation. And it really shouldn't be about the number of youth that come but how much of an impact God is having in their lives because of it.
Just have to remain faithful.

I'll be praying for you mate. God Bless!

[Ryupower]

I'll pray G-d'll really give you a serious anaswer and talk to you about it.
I also pray for your cold.

[Anna Mae]

Indeed, God's ways are mysterious. I echo what some others here have said. You may have had more of an impact on those people's lives than you realize. You may plant the seed that others will water and raise. I know that sometimes it is hard when we don't know what God's will is, but hang in there, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."

I will be praying.

[FadedOne]

I'm not leaving a thriving youth ministry behind, no; I am leaving a failed attempt. When I started I took in one year a non-existent youth group from nothing to 20 people. But within a half a year afterwards I watched it fall apart.

Don't be discouraged by what you call a 'failed attempt'....I highly doubt that if you put your heart into it that ANY results could be failure.

Actually this sounds very much like several stories a youth pastor friend told. He had at least 3 bad experiences, where for reasons beyond his control, his attempts to keep a thriving youth ministry 'failed'. Sometimes it happens and it doesn't mean you did something wrong....it's just time to close one door and walk through another open one, as you've mentioned you plan to do.

But yea, definitely dont feel like this is your fault. As I said, when you put your heart into something..it can't fail. It may not produce the expected results, but every single teen you came into contact with and left an impression on....THAT is your ministry. regardless of numbers, programs, or church attendance. and it always will be.

I wish you God's blessing in whatever you put your hand to next. Remember Joseph...he was falsely accused by Potipher's wife and jailed....maybe he felt like he'd failed. But God brought him out of that cirumstance into one MUCH better! All because he kept hope and kept a servant's heart and trusted God. I encourage you to do the same. keep at it! You ARE making an impact.....it's just that sometimes the fruits of your labor are most visible in hindsight.

good luck!

[freerock1]

If I could I'd like to quickly share a story with you of something that encouraged me at a down time of ministry. I was reading in Joshua at the time, and came across the story of Achan. It's in Chapter 7, but the short of the story is that in the big victory at Jericho, the victory in which they weren't supposed to take any of the plunder for themselves but destroy it all, Achan had taken some of it for himself. Israel lost its next battle (at the town of Ai), and it was discovered that Achan's sin was the reason for the loss. The sin was dealt with, and Achan died.

The chapter basically ended there, and normally in my study I would have stopped reading, but I believed the Lord was leading me to keep reading into the first part of Chapter 8:

Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."

The Lord was giving them another crack at Ai, and said that they would be allowed to carry off the plunder this time. I believe that what the Lord wanted me to see was that if Achan had been obedient and not become impatient, he would have been able to partake in the victory at Ai as well. I felt like the Lord was speaking to me to be encouraged and keep going with that ministry. It wasn't long thereafter that things began to pick up for it.

I write all that to say, be encouraged in your ministry work for the Lord. I'm not trying to say that the Lord wants to keep you in that particular ministry (eventually the one I was in stagnated and I ended up moving on to another ministry). But I am saying that wherever the Lord is leading you, He has a work and a plan for you there as well. Galatians 6:9 tells us to not grow weary in doing good, because in due season we will reap if we do not lose heart.

Anyway, hopefully this is of some encouragement. I'm lifting you up, bro; please be lifting me and the ministry work I'm involved in as well.

[holysoldier5000]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. It really means a lot to me. Now to update you all on what has happened over the weekend: The Lord has really answered my prayer in an interesting way. I prayed, “God, if you want me to go then show me a sign.â€

[FadedOne]

But I am depressed because I feel as if I failed to reach these youth. I am angry because of the pain these youth have brought to other youth in the church. But I am mostly saddened for I see several youth walking down the road of hypocrisy. I know the anger and depression are wrong and I am fighting to keep them out of my heart.

hey...this is somewhat off topic, but i felt the need to reply again.

anyways....God totally convicted my own life of hurt, judgmentalism, and anger this eve through some verses and a couple situations. But yea...I just wanted to share Romans 12 with you 'cause I think it speaks alot to the heart that's confused and kind of....guards against hardening. which is a VERY good thing. so i dont know if it'll mean anything to you but yeah...totally read Romans 12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012;&version=31;)
...particularly v 9-21. All about love and humility and letting God take control of situations.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

and yea....more applicable to your situation, i very much hope that things look up for you. good luck. glad to see you at least have some finality in things. just keep your heart soft and ready for answers/healing....He wont disappoint you.

[Syreth]

It's natural to put the blame on yourself, but don't. It's God's youth group and those are His kids. He will discipline them if they are truly His children and will take care of them. I'm sorry to hear things didn't mend, but you did your part. You did what was possible to live peaceably with them and now it's up to them to do their part. God will take care of you too. Still praying for you.

[freerock1]

Thank you for sharing. I know you really had a heart for this ministry, and in that way I feel sad for you. But it sounds like some of these kids still have a lot of growing up to do. (I've got some kids like that in my own youth group.) As for you, though, you have plenty of reason to hold your head high. You were faithful to do what it sounds like God was leading you to do for a season, and as Syreth said, as much as lay in you to live peaceably with them. And like you said, where God shuts one door He opens another. I'll continue to pray for you, bro, and please keep us posted on the new doors that open.

[Anna Mae]

But I am depressed because I feel as if I failed to reach these youth. I am angry because of the pain these youth have brought to other youth in the church. But I am mostly saddened for I see several youth walking down the road of hypocrisy. I know the anger and depression are wrong and I am fighting to keep them out of my heart.

There is nothing inherently wrong about your emotions. It is what you do with them that is important. Don't try to just squelch the emotions. It's ok to feel them. God will help you work through them.

I feel your pain. I will be lifting you and those kids up in prayer.