I joined the staff of Young Life in 1984 and soon started planting new clubs in the junior-high schools. We called them, appropriately, Wild Life (since changed to Wyld Life). To get started, I wanted to introduce myself to each administration. The first encounter was the most nerve-wracking: I had been told by a sympathetic high-school principal that this particular principal was like the warden at San Quentin prison.

After three months of prayer with my leaders to soften the soil of this junior-high principal’s heart, I made the appointment. I was 23 years old and very nervous. After my stumbling presentation about why I believed these clubs were needed in the junior highs, he paused for what seemed like an eternity, then said, “Well, all I have to say is...I think this is a great idea!”

We were off and running. Our club started; within a month the school invited us to run afternoon rallies! Once in awhile, God allows us to experience the truly miraculous. Enjoy it when it comes and do not take it for granted. For the first (and only) time in my career, I literally met every student in the school! Even better, this occurred in two more schools within 18 months. Miraculous indeed!

I approached the fourth school with confidence. After all, we were well known on three campuses, meeting hundreds of students, and fostering goodwill in the community. My co-leader for this new club joined me for the appointment with the principal. We threw up a quick prayer beforehand, gave our “spiel,” shared about our success at three other schools and our current work in the local high schools, then smiled and waited for the same results we had seen elsewhere.

The principal thanked us for our clear and enthusiastic presentation and told us she would contact us within the week. We gave each other a high-five as she closed the door and told our new leaders to get ready to dive into campus work.

We did not know that as she closed the door she picked up the phone and called every other secondary-school principal in the district--eight in all--and scolded each one for allowing us campus access in violation of district policy.

While her interpretation of campus access policy was debatable, all the principals retreated immediately, deciding that our presence on campus was not worth arguing about. In one hour, I single-handedly lost our campus access for three new junior-high clubs and our five longstanding high-school Young Life clubs!

Needless to say, it was a profound lesson in humility. I had started believing my own approach and charisma was the key to campus access. Eventually, I thanked God for this huge lesson. From it, I gained a deep respect for establishing a prayer covering over campus access. I began to make sure we spent extended time praying over each campus; since then, I never have walked onto a campus without praying beforehand. I ask for the Spirit to go before me and guide me toward the divine appointments He has for me that day. I am reminded that my goal is not exposure as much as availability. Occasionally I end up having a long conversation with the secretary or a campus security guard when I sign in, and talk to only a student or two. I have learned to be available for God’s agenda, not my own.