"WHY" before the "WHAT"

Remember your first time serving as a Student Leader and stepping into the world of TEENAGERS?! If you were anything like me, you probably CRAPPED YOUR PANTS and caught yourself thinking "WHAT did I get myself into?" LOL! When I first stepped into Student Ministry, I was a year removed from high school and felt like I had no business doing what I was doing. I felt like a teenager MYSELF! Who am I kidding, I WAS A TEENAGER! Even to this day almost 5 years later, as a YOUTH PASTOR, a blessed HUSBAND, and expecting DAD, I still often think to myself "WHAT on earth am I doing?!"

One of the biggest problems I think we have as Student Leaders, including myself, is we spend way too much time asking the question "WHAT" instead of "WHY!" As a Student Leader, the "WHY" should always comes before the "WHAT!" Check out what I mean...

WHAT AM I DOING IN STUDENT MINISTRY?
-I'm a Student Leader who was asked to HANG OUT with teens!
-I'm a Student Leader who puts together a FUN GAME every week!
-I'm a Student Leader who puts together a MESSAGE that hopefully the teens will listen to!
-I'm a Student Leader who gets to go on AWESOME ACTIVITIES!
-I'm a Student Leader who gets to go to CAMP every summer for a MINI VACATION!
-I'm a Student Leader who gets to DO FUN STUFF and call it MINISTRY!
-I'm a Student Leader who has so many PRANKS, STORIES, and EXPERIENCES that I HOPE parents don't find out about!

LOL, now if you've been in Student Ministry for any length of time you know that all of this is TRUE!!! Now it's time for the BIG QUESTION!

WHY AM I DOING STUDENT MINISTRY?
-I'm a Student Leader because Jesus Christ gave up his life for me to be an EXAMPLE!
-I'm a Student Leader because teenagers everyday are faced with PEER PRESSURE, ABUSE, GUILT, SHAME, FEAR, WORRY, DOUBT, NEGLECT, and MORE!
-I'm a Student Leader because I was called to be the LIGHT in a DARK world!
-I'm a Student Leader because every day there are teenagers who don't have a RELATIONSHIP w/ Jesus!
-I'm a Student Leader because there are teenagers everyday who are searching for the TRUTH!
-I'm a Student Leader because there are teenagers who have NOBODY in their life but ME!
-I'm a Student Leader because Jesus CALLED ME TO BE! 

In the CRAZY and BUSY world we live in, whether you work in full time ministry or have to work many different jobs, DON'T ever forget the WHY BEFORE THE WHAT! Did you get that?! As a Student Leader you have been CALLED, you have been CHALLENGED, you have been COMMISSIONED, and you have been COMMANDED by Jesus for so much more than just the WHAT! It's always about the WHY! 

STUDENTS MATTER! It's not just about your game, your message, or your activities! It's about GROWING in your RELATIONSHIP with TEENAGERS and making sure they are LOVED, CARED FOR, and REACHED the way JESUS desires! ARE YOU READY?!

-WHAT STUDENT DO YOU NEED TO CALL?!
-WHAT STUDENT DO YOU NEED TO HANG OUT WITH?!
-WHAT STUDENT DO YOU KNOW IS ON THE BRINK OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?
-WHAT STUDENT NEEDS A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU?
-WHAT STUDENT DESERVES YOUR TIME?

Always remember the "WHY" before the "WHAT!"