If we’re lucky, we have several adults in our lives who love us and have taken on the job of looking out for us—spiritually, physically, and emotionally. I’m talking about our parents, caregivers, and pastors at church. They usually know us pretty well, and they might have some observations to give us. Plus, they’ve been around awhile and might know one or two useful things about life in general. Who am I kidding? They’re gold mines!
Youth Pastors and Churches
Your church isn’t just the “body of Christ”; they’re part of your family—your spiritual family. And, like your parents, your pastors have something special to contribute to helping you find out what your spiritual gifts are. There is nothing better than the encouragement of a youth pastor. He or she can really help you when it comes to finding out what is in your lunch box, and what it might look like to start to give it to God. This is also the responsibility of the children’s pastor and even the senior pastor of a church.
I have always loved being around youth pastors and children’s pastors. They have such great knowledge of God, and they care about kids like nobody else. When I was nine years old and just figuring out the first few steps toward Hoops of Hope, I really loved having the support of my children’s pastor. I had my family behind me too, but it meant so much to have support from people I looked up to that way.
When I first started, a guy named Chris Hedrick was my children’s pastor. He loved what I was doing and wanted to get everyone involved. Then there was Nathan Maples, a man who poured his time, heart, and energy into my life. I loved and respected him. He did his best to make sure everyone in our youth group was doing Hoops of Hope and everyone was involved in some way, year after year. Nathan also had me share the message in the youth group many times. But he also cared a lot about me and my passion. To this day, Nathan still encourages me in everything I do, showing me that the gifts I think I might have are real, and that they really can be useful. There are many other adults who have helped me make a difference, and they have had a huge impact on my life and the lives of others.
So how can your pastors help you find out what’s in your particular lunch box? Set up a meeting or give them a call. Tell them that you’re interested in finding out what your gifts are, and that you’re ready and willing to use them for God’s glory. Tell them what you’ve been reading about and explore these things together:
1. What you’re passionate about
2. The things that break your heart
3. The ways you want to serve God
4. What you’re praying and dreaming about, and what God has led you toward so far
Then ask for their encouragement and perspective. Ask for ideas, and especially for prayer. It could be the start oan awesome journey together.
The Impact of Adults
I know there are many kids who are amped up and ready to go, and they really want to make a difference.
Sometimes I get e-mails from kids telling me they have discovered something they are passionate about, but they’ve been told there is too much going on in their churches already. In one particular instance, a youth pastor said that they didn’t need “another canned food drive.” What could be wrong with another canned food drive? I wonder. Was there no other way to help this kid bring in food for the hungry? Unfortunately, these dreams weren’t met with a “yes” but rather an “I’m sorry.”
The youth workers and parents of the world play such a huge role in helping kids make a difference. If you have an influence on the youth, this is for you.
Dear parents, youth workers, and everyday heroes,
Every time you say yes to a child or to a child’s dream, you are having an impact. You are having an impact larger than you’ll ever know. You may never know how big a story God is going to write through that child, and it all can start because you say yes. To have an impact, say yes. Be the parent or children’s pastor or youth pastor who says yes to their dreams. Be the one who encourages them like none other. And never have doubts as to whether or not you are having an impact. You are.
A Rock in His Lunchbox
There once was a boy who had one of the greatest impacts in the history of the world. I think he was pretty cool. He faced danger, but he didn’t think armor was necessary. He was up against a mighty power, but he didn’t think army formations were very effective. He didn’t let the shadow of the ten-foot problem bog him down. He didn’t let doubts stand in the way. He let a stone fly. He let his dream fly. He killed a ten-foot giant of a problem with a tiny, insignificant stone.
This is a story I am sure that many of us could recite pretty well. (If you aren’t familiar with it, read
My encouragement to parents and youth pastors alike is that there are Davids around you. You have the chance to encourage them. You have the chance to help them open their lunches and have an impact for God. When you say yes to their dreams, you might be saying yes to God. Remember, the God who lives, breathes, and speaks to adults is the exact same God who lives, breathes, and speaks to children who know and love Him. Plus, imagine if you were the one who first helped David discover he was pretty good with a rock and a slingshot!
My encouragement to those trying to figure out what their spiritual gifts are is to pray and search diligently, but know there is a David inside of you. You can change the world. So pick up your stone and let it fly.
Adapted from Chapter 4 of Live to Give: Letting God Turn Your Talents into Miracles by Austin Gutwein (Thomas Nelson). Copyright Thomas Nelson. Used with permission.
