to the volunteer (you're my hero)

To the volunteer, 

This is for any of you who serve as a volunteer specifically in middle school or high school ministry. You're my heroes. 

Before I began working in full time, vocational ministry with high school students at my church, I served for three awesome years with Highlife, our middle school ministry, as a discipleship leader for some awesome girls. I'm thankful for the time I had as a volunteer, because it has given me a perspective that causes me to be MASSIVELY thankful for the countless number of you who serve so faithfully without ever getting paid, or have done so in years past.  

YOU, my friends, are my heroes. People I massively admire. You're not "just" volunteers. You're disciplers. You're shepherds. You're life-coaches. You're relationship experts. You're counselors. You're spiritual mothers and fathers. I think about our own volunteer staff in our high school ministry over the years. There are those of you in college full time, working your tails off to try to pay your bills, while still spending so much of your precious time AND money to live life with students, cramming them into your apartment for a game night or movie night or Bible study. There are those of you who work full time, are married, and yet still want to spend your weekends taking students on trips or inviting them over for sleepovers, letting them see your marriage up close and giving them a glimpse of what a godly relationship looks like. I think of all the awesome moms and dads who have served with us who, while raising their own children to love Jesus, have taken it on to raise "spiritual children" and graft them into the heartbeat and rhythm of your own family, all while still making sure your own family knows they are still your first priority. I think of all the late night texts and phone calls you answer, not because you HAVE to, but because you love that kid so much. Losing sleep in order to gain what is most precious - investment in the life of a student and eternal impact for the Kingdom of Jesus. 

I think of all the vacation time sacrificed so that you can come with us on a Spring Break Mission trip or summer camp. Weekends given up so you can drive a bus for us even when we didn't plan ahead and had to ask you at the last minute. I think of all the times you've "slept" (aka tossed and turned all night) while spending 24/7 with high school or middle school students for a week of camp because it was WORTH it to you, because you didn't want to miss out on being there for what God might do in their life. I think of the countless encouragement notes written, tears cried together, sports events and concerts and plays attended (whether your student was the "star" or not). I think of all the rides given -- oh goodness it's fantastic when students get to the point where they can drive themselves, can I get an amen?! I think of ALL the money you've sacrificed and spent on Starbucks, Dutch Bros, Little Caesars (the mascot of any good youth group), Jamba Juice, movie tickets, Redbox, and Taco Bell. Even when you didn't have a lot to give, you gave. And gave more. 

I think about the hardship and grief you've walked through with students. The divorces. The pregnancies. Suicide attempts. Long seasons of depression and anxiety where all the student could ask was "Why?" and , though you may not have had an answer, you were there. Cancer and other illnesses. Rejection. Broken friendships and relationships. Homosexuality. Abuse. Loneliness. Cutting. Deep conversations about hard theological questions that you may not even understand, but you go there with students; you grapple with the tough stuff rather than glossing over over it. When they trust you enough to ask the hard questions, you make them feel heard, you make them feel safe rather than stupid for having doubts or fears, and you always point them back to the God of TRUTH, even if you can't give them a cookie-cutter, easy "church" answer. 

Any of these things might make any human being want to run for their lives, but not you. Not Jesus. You have stuck with these students when lots of other people may have wanted to (or did) abandon them. Oh I have tears in my eyes just thinking about the role you've played in their life, whether or not they are even currently walking with the Lord. You've pursued them and called them and thought about them and cared about them relentlessly, even when they act like they don't care or don't want you in their life. They've needed you, even when they're hurting too much to communicate that. They will be able to look back and understand THAT MUCH MORE about the person of Jesus Christ because you modeled Him for them. You lived it. You're the real deal. 

I can't do my job without you. My husband can't do his job without you. We would be a helpless hot mess of a youth ministry without those of you who volunteer. I know any other youth pastor/ director would agree. You are champions of the faith. You are heroes of mine because I KNOW what you're giving, even though I don't even see ALL that you do. But Jesus does. And I wish I could have a front row seat or be a fly on the wall or something when we all get to Heaven and Jesus looks you in the eye and says, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." I want to stand up and cheer.


"Let us not become weary doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9