One of the things that didn't show up until later in my life was what I would like to call my "attention to detail." Others would refer to it as some sort of OCD. I blame it on years as a volunteer and intern at a church in Jackson, MS where it was my life mission to straighten 250 chairs every wednesday night that students wouldn't quite respect when they entered into the room anyway. Somehow I'm able to seperate the fact the students moving the chairs after everything starts from the actual setting them up meticulously. Today (as the picture shows) I think that it may be something that I'm passing on. Jonathan spent several minutes (a lifetime for him) lining up his cars in a straight line. I'm thinking, "maybe I've gone to far with my obsession for staightening" ... I was relieved when minutes later he took another car and wrecked them everywhere.

I have spent a great deal of time developing mission statements for other ministries or endeavors that I have been a part of. By mission statement I mean that thing that drives the organization. That of our church is "Doing whatever it takes to develop fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ." That Mission statement is inspiring and also has a spirit to make you want to get involved. Our middle school ministry (being a ministry of the church) has the mission "to do whatever it takes to develop MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS as fully devoted followers of Christ." Notice that we get the opportunity to focus in on our target audience. Anyway... the main purpose with a mission statement is to keep the main purpose in front of the people of the organization.

I was challenged when I was in college in a lot of different areas of my life and faith. I had a professor talk to us one day about personally developing a mission statement... being in a well oiled student ministry and church I knew what a mission statement was and never had related it to something I needed to do for myself. Long story short, I started to pray and seek God to put words on why I exist and His answer to me was middle school ministry. My mission statement is "to lead middle school students to experience and serve God beyond their own and others expectations." Granted this has been many years of whittling here and cutting there to get it this concise (I even wrestled with God for a long time of "why Middle School?"). This is my passion this is where God has brought me and this is why I exist.

I remember when I started working in my first church, I went to sunday school on the my first day and hadn't yet met all the leaders. As I was introducing myself to leadership and students I noticed a very old lady slip into the back of the room with a thing of brownies and thought to myself "one of the senior adults has come to welcome me and bring me brownies, how sweet." To my surprise after I dismissed the students to their classes I walked up to her (as she was gathering her things) and introduced myself, looking intently at the brownies. After she told me her name she offered me one brownie and said the rest were for her girls... girls? I was talking with one of my leaders, not just any senior adult. She then introduced herself. Mrs. Dora at the time was 84 years old and looked me in the eyes and said, " Steven, I know I don't look like a Middle school sunday school teacher and I've been trying to get out of it for a long time, but God keeps bringing me back to love these girls." She was arguably the best girls sunday school teacher I've met, and her close attachment to God and the mission that He had given her was inspiration for all that she came in contact with. After she so poignantly shared with me her mission I said, "I've been trying to get out of it too, and God keeps doing the same thing to me."

Two things 1) Get close with God. 2) Find out who He created you to be.

I don't know about you but I hate clutter and junk... so much that I can't even work in a place where there is so much of it lying around. That is kinda the thought of our ministry... we need to keep the clutter out of our ministry mindset. There is a lot that we hold on to because of perseption and "the way that we've always done it."

There are two things that I have really wanted to focus on since getting to McGregor, but have only had the chance over the past to weeks to even take steps forward on. 1) What is the best way to reach Middle School Students for Jesus. (really inspire them to know and grow in Christ) 2) How do we get students "beyond expectations" to serving and leading the way for their piers and even in their families and even in the church?

I really feel like we have found this and it will be one of the many topics that we will talk about at the upcoming meeting on the 29th.

Here is something to respond to... What is the greatest need of a middle school student? I know that their is a lot of ways to go with this one (and want to hear them) what would the greatest one be? (in your opinion)

Communication is integral to any organization working properly. We have been having lots of conversations about this topic lately. I wanted to ask a question, just click comment to respond: What are some ways that we can better communicate in the middle school ministry? as leaders? to students? to parents? Give me your thoughts on this one.

Today at supper I had a reminder of one of my many pet peeves, underestimating... and it was me that was doing it. While we were sitting at the table, I remembered (two pizzas too late) that we hadn't said the prayer. Jonathan has been leading that for us when we all sit down and eat, but seeing the need to be hasty (I know, I am a minister) I said, "let daddy say a quick prayer." I didn't think that Jonathan would want to stop and his prayer for us. [never underestimate] He got quite upset with me and proceed very loudly and angrily with his prayer. I'll have to address the issue of the right tone to talk to God when we are thankful later.

This reminded me, that we shouldn't underestimate our students or children willingness to be involved, spiritually, as leaders, etc... We are here to guide, equip and inspire them to reach their full potential in Christ.

I really think that middle school students can and will change the world.

We all make resolutions to do something new at the beginning of the year. I'm going to do something new through the summer. Along with separating Middle School from High School within an event packed church, building a team to accomplish this and just plain having fun with middle school students... I'm going to be blogging. Let's see where this takes me, us...and whoever else.