I don’t talk much here about The Man’s job because it’s his job and well, you know. That also means I don’t talk much about our church here because church is The Man’s job. But today, I’m talking about both.
Our church values students. I love that there are over 200 of them going on a 10 day service trip in June along with 50 volunteer staff. There was a line of adults who wanted to go on this trip because of how much they love these teenagers. I love that these students serve on Sunday mornings by volunteering in the nursery, making the coffee in between services or running video cameras in big church.
Youth ministry is our job. But I can’t imagine doing anything else, even if it wasn’t.
Want to know something I do not love? I do not love that every year, we have to say goodbye to a whole bunch of them. See those students there on that stage? They are some (yes, only some) of our seniors who will be graduating in the next few weeks. Leaving, moving on, growing up. Not only do I not love saying goodbye to them, I think I might hate it.
As our kids get a little older, it’s becoming easier for me to slowly ease back into the lives of these students. This class in particular. I can’t really think about them leaving without tearing up.
So I don’t really think much about them leaving. Not yet. But that is the thing about youth ministry. They always grow up and move on. And then we get a new freshman class to keep for four more years.That’s the only good part.
What a blessing it is to know them. I can’t imagine being the parent of one of these graduates. I’m having a hard enough time sending the twins to kindergarten.
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I know this is entirely unrelated to this post, but scroll down to enter the I Heart Faces photo contest this week. The theme is “your best face photo ever” and you should all enter because it’s so fun!
Oh, I so relate to this! Except it is our college students who are graduating. We are blessed to take “your” high school grads under our wing and love on them and help them transition to loving God and others well in college, but it is also a sad day when they leave us behind! We finished up our school year two weeks ago. Several of the girls that have been in my bible study all year are graduating and moving out into the “real world.” I will definitely miss them!
I work with military teens in a parachurch context (www.mcym.org) and a good friend called this the ‘dandelion ministry’ – you invest in them, love them, point them to Christ, and then they spread out and God continues planting seeds as a result of your pouring out his love. I don’t think I explained that very well, but I definitely know the sadness of saying goodbye, and hope that you’ll get to keep hearing from them!
Goodbyes are always sad. There will be new faces to love.
At least you get to keep us until the end of the summer!
So true! I am a Youth Sunday School teacher and we have some graduating this year too. They become your kids as well and you care and love them the same… it is hard! I can only pray we have taught them how to love and believe enough to keep them going in the church! Same as my own kids! Have a great week!
Oh, Emily. I’m a high school Sunday school teacher, and I have the worst time saying goodbye to my seniors. I used to teach public school English, as well, and my heart ached every time I attended a graduation. God expands our hearts to accommodate each and every one of them, and we can’t help but feel a little empty each time we say goodbye. God bless you and The Man for what you do for each and every one of these precious kids. You definitely have a mother’s heart.
Um, I feel your pain and all, but I am still laughing at the title of this post and recalling a certain Mike Meyers movie with a similar name.
I’ve heard it said that God designed teenagers and parents to have friction during these years so that the teens will want to leave the nest and find lives of their own. Well, as a step parent to four, I can say with all honesty that the empty nest feeling can be a wonderful thing, and they almost always come back. As I bet your students will also.
And since Emily is ever too humble to talk about her man, and his job…let me. HE is AMAZING! I am a blessed momma to think that my kids are going to sit under his tutelage for next gazillion years (literally), and have LIFE poured into them by not just a Godly man, but by his wonderful wife who stands by his side supporting and encouraging along the way. What a testimony to these teens on marriage, partnership etc. etc. I could steal the comments and write my own post, but I won’t…that might embarrass her, but a little post – I’m doing it.
xoxo
We are a blessed church to have them – yes, we are.
Jen! Way to make me cry AGAIN this morning. Sappy much? Yes. Yes I am.
Thank you for you kind words.
I watched Mom and Dad go through this very same thing year in and year out. What amazing couple God brought to take up where they left off. And I am so glad that I’ve had a chance to get to know you a bit. I have been so encouraged by your heart for the students – especially the young women – and you have no idea how that passion has impacted me! The church is blessed to have you both.
WOW! When you said you were speaking at church the other day, I pictured this teeny little church with 10 pews and stained-glass windows, like the one where I was secretary. No wonder you were nervous!
I know, I know! That’s always been our least favorite part of youth ministry, saying goodbye to amazing kids. You pour out your heart and prayes and time and then they go-but what a blessing to have such a great group of kids. Pray that they all do well!
I have been pondering the exact same thing!! My husband is also a Youth Pastor and it was graduation weekend for us (though on a much smaller scale than you). I have been thinking about what I want to post about this annually bittersweet weekend…but don’t know if I’ll have time (I woke up with a migraine & I’m hosting Bunko tonight – maybe that should be my post title, ha ha). I love your blog, just found it through your sister’s. I’m just getting started myself. Thanks for the post – it is so true!
Our church presented and prayed for the graduating seniors on Sunday, and it made me sad. But I don’t even know them!! I just know what a scary, exciting, crazy time of life it is – and it’s just a big darned deal!
Plus, it was a little weird to look at them and remember so clearly what it was like when I was in their shoes, yet also know that someday not so far away, I’ll be in their parents’ shoes. Weird.
Emily, you are the kind of youth pastor and family that every church needs! Our church has struggled through so many youth pastors, and it’s so nice to hear someone who truly has a heart for their ministry,
and like you said, ” it’s his job! “. I’m sure the kids love you, too. Blessings on all that you do. The impact you have on these lives
will bring great rewards.
I was just thinking the other day how bittersweet it must be for the leaders of our youth at our church. We have a very close-knit youth group/youth leadership group, too. It made me sad, and I don’t even have a kid in youth yet!
As a former youth pastor’s wife (we are still together, HA, but the job has changed to pastor now), I know what you mean! Bittersweet! You know those youth STILL come back after 25+ years and thank him for how much he invested in their life? Amazing! Youth pastors are the best, even when you send those young kids off into the world, they will NEVER forget what you poured into their life.
blessings!
efree! way to make me cry. we arent there yet. we still have a couple of months. we can cry then!
Emily
I had no idea that you were a pastors wife! So glad I read this post. My husband was a youth pastor for over 13 years and just transitioned at the beginning of this year to a different role in the church. But I’m still working with the high school girls in my life group and I know exactly what you mean. It is so hard to see them go! But the BEST part is watching them come back as mature believers and that is when you reap the benefits of investing in their lives!
Side note: Thanks for your advice about the Target curtains in your dining room. I found them on Ebay for a steal…$12 each!! WooHoo! Hoping to get them “tacked up” soon!
Emily,
It’s so good to hear about another youth pastor’s wife! It can be a lonely job, especially when the air around us is damp with junior high boys’ BO. But somehow, it’s all got to smell like incense to God when souls are saved. I’m thankful for you!
My brother was a youth minister for years…he loved his students just the way you describe loving yours.
After losing his seniors, he always looked forward to his “fresh meat” (as he called them) that he would have for the next four years. It’s a hard, yet very rewarding job.
Blessings,
Jill
Oh. MY. WORD. I may have just fallen in love with you. In a really platonic, holy way.
Seriously.
I stumbled upon your blog from inspire, and must say, I will be back. I have been on the PROWL for a lady to discuss this ‘situation’. You see we also serve a big youth group…and I am new to this parenting deal, and pulling away from MY (youth) KIDS as been super painful. I miss them, and I MISS serving alongside my husband. AND I cry every grad and think I can’t possibly love next year as much as I love this years kids, and how will our youth group ever survive? And then we do, and grow, and get even sweeter. Anyways…
All this to say..I am PUMPED to have found you…
Seriously…I just came back to peek again and here is what I found out:
1) We shoot with the identical camera and lens.
2) Our husbands have the exact same hair.
Neat.
If only I knew your thoughts about an ice cold pint of beer. THEN I would know for sure if we are soul mates;-)