The Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche called to see if I was interested in their public address announcer position.

“Yes,” I said, before darting around like a popped balloon. Soon I was trying out for the job and left with the incredible realization that I had likely won.

Bummer I’d have to quit my church job working with middle schoolers.

But on that happy day, something felt wrong. I sensed God saying, “I have you with those kids. Stay.”

Are you kidding, God?!?

My phone rang again. “Congratulations,” the voice said. “You are the new announcer for the Nuggets and Avalanche…”

“Wait,” I interrupted, shocking myself. “I work with middle school kids, and I won’t quit.”

Silence…

Now I was in a position I’d never dreamed possible. A professional sports franchise was trying to convince me to quit my church job — and I was refusing. Then the representative said something I’ll never forget. “Jim, don’t you know this is the big time?”

The Big Time. The Good Life. Yes, there was another voice vying for my attention, but this one sounded so good. I countered, my voice quivering.

“I can only do one team. If I have to do both, I won’t do either.”

They accepted that, and we agreed I would announce full time for the Nuggets and substitute for the Avalanche, but not on Wednesday nights so I could attend our middle school program.

Then over the next few years, something surprising happened. I learned that I loved youth work more than broadcasting.  When my first son, Joshua, was born, the juggling act

overwhelmed me. I couldn’t continue doing everything I wanted to. My wife and I prayed and felt that we should keep ministering to kids. I would quit announcing.

I dialed the Pepsi Center. It was time to tell them I had to quit. Then I stopped. The SEND button on my phone glared back, taunting me. For three weeks I tried to call every night, but for some reason I couldn’t. Finally, I involved God. Why can’t I quit, God? “You love broadcasting, because people admire you for it,” came the response.

He was right. I was in a vicious tug-ofwar over my identity. On one side, God was calling me to keep following Him in youth work; on the other, my friends, church and family constantly told me how great I was because I announced professional sports. The affirmation made me feel more important than being “just” a youth worker. I would never have admitted it, but deep inside I thought, “I’m capable of more than working with kids at a church. I could be important.”

Shame on me, yes. But what about you? Most youth workers I know are gifted people, capable of achieving power, influence and money. Had you not chosen youth work, you would be living in a bigger house, taking nicer vacations and living a “successful” life. So when our high school friends start buying homes twice as expensive as ours, we secretly scream out inside, “I could have done that, too.”

Eventually, I quit broadcasting and gained a critical insight. I realized that the call to my dream job came long before the Nuggets and Avs. The call came when I started working with kids. I didn’t realize it, though.

Do you?

Youth workers live the dream job. We are called by God to love and care for society’s most vulnerable and impressionable people. Wow. Do we believe that youth work is the real “Big Time?” Forget convincing kids to embrace God’s version of “the good life.” Start by convincing yourself.

____________________

Jim Candy is in his tenth year as the director of middle school ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Colo. He announced seven seasons for the Denver Nuggets

and Colorado Avalanche.