God Visited Twice This Week

Last Sunday was bad. I was put in a position that I had to notify law enforcement authorities about something that happened with a member of my Youth Group. It was a tough day and truly a test of both faith and human feelings. Nevertheless, I did what I had to do. Interesting results.

Monday and Tuesday were tough. Tuesday night, I got an e-mail from a kid I ministered in Oklahoma. He had e-mailed me a couple of weeks prior to Tuesday night. We had exchanged messages back and forth. Long story short, he asked me, after noticing that I had a different Youth Group after moving to Maryland, if I was still his favorite or had he been replaced. He wrote to me later in the week with this message.

Will noted on his Facebook Page, "It occured to me the other day when I was talking to a friend of mine who moved away, that the people in your life can never really leave you, they may be gone but they will always hold a place in your heart. This friend's name is Steve Seely (Steve-O). He is my old youth pastor and I saw that he had a new youth group, and then I made the comment on his wall and said, "So I see you have replaced us, are they better than us" or something along those lines and he sent something back. The message is at the bottom of the note and I think you should copy it to memory. I did and I think about people all the time that I have not seen in months or years. I had some free time the other day and called a friend when I was in town she did not answer the phone but I left a message and hope we can hang out soon."

Here is the message I had given to him.

"You can not be replaced. You will understand one day that some things stay with you forever. ECOTR (Episcopal Church of the Resurrection) Youth is one of those things. God gave me a gift with the kids at ECOTR and each one has a special place in my heart, my prayers and my memories. By the way, I do not have a new youth group, I just added on to the one I had."

Just when you think that what you are doing and your ministry is perhaps less effective than you strive for it to be; God sneaks in and shows you that you need to keep believing and doing. And sometimes the message comes from the most unexpected place.

Later in the week, I heard from the sheriff regarding the youth that I referred to in the beginning of this post. Turns out that the youth, which was simply crying out for help, was befriended by the deputy and that seem to be turning out pretty well too.

So, here's the moral to this story. You do the right thing, you keep doing the right thing, and, when in doubt, do the right thing. The result is eventually the glory and living examples of the Kingdom of God. Silly humans, sometimes we forget in our own despair, the power, the love and the strength of God.

Blessings and Peace.