Mermaid Tales

To be honest, I didn’t even plan to go into youth ministry. When I was a senior in high school, I started volunteering with the middle school group just because my friends were doing it. I soon found myself hosting sixth grade sleepovers, making comments like, “Consider me as your big sister then!”, and even stepping down from Speech and Debate, one of my favorite activities, because it conflicted with youth group. I was hooked. For the next five years, I did everything I possibly could to prepare myself to be an excellent youth minister. As I step into the next season of my life as the Assistant Youth and Preteen Director at Community of Hope Church (say that ten times fast!), I thought I would share with you all how serving in youth ministry could rock your world like it rocked mine. 1) You’ll eat far more pizza than you ever wanted to .Yes -- cheap, easy, and delicious. This is the manna of youth ministry. But don’t worry, you’ll burn off the calories in a g...

Although I adore children and am basically five at heart, I never really thought I’d go into children’s ministry. I had a laser focus on youth ministry -- it was all I thought about at night and all I ever wanted to do. More than anything else, I knew I was called to youth ministry. But this past year, thanks to the Holy Spirit, Beth Locke, and Jessica Stafford, I took a “detour” from my full-steam- ahead youth ministry track.** Best detour I ever took . I stepped into the world of kids’ ministry, and although I am now transitioning into a more youth-oriented role, I know I will never be able to step out of this rushing river. Kids’ ministry has captured my heart and changed my life. As I’m reflecting on my own experience, I thought I would share with you how stepping into kids’ ministry could change YOUR life (and why you totally need to do it!):   1) You’ll have fun filled memories : Squishing play dough, running around the church on a scavenger hunt,...

I know this may come as a shock to some of you, but I tend to look at the world through rose-colored glasses. Just kidding, I don’t think anyone was shocked by that “revelation”. But recently I have been reflecting on this part of myself. I would not call it a flaw. I believe that looking for the redeeming qualities in people and situations flows from the heart of God. I believe a voice of hope is desperately needed in a world of cynicism and schisms, despair and detestation. Someone has to search for the silver lining, right? Someone has to keep pushing us forward, believing that our lives have meaning, we are not broken beyond repair, and God’s good purposes will ultimately prevail. That said, rose-colored glasses get me in trouble. Especially when those rose-colored glasses are looking at tall, dark, and handsome men (or other adjectives but you get the point) that I might have half a chance at dating. They get me in trouble in two ways: 1) I find hope where there is none, 2) I...

“Whatever you believe about [women in ministry], remember that it is not just doctrine. It affects real people, two of whom are sitting in this room. It affects people who hear the whisper of God saying, ‘do this’ and ‘go there’.” As I told my dad what my seminary professor said on the last day of our Romans class, I couldn’t finish without tears choking my throat. “Wow, that really meant a lot to you,” he noted. Yeah, it did. More than I realized. For those of you outside Christian circles, I should probably fill you in. There is a debate within the Christian church on the whole “women in ministry” issue. Some churches will not allow a woman to speak into a microphone (even to give announcements!), others will let a woman be their main pastor, and then the rest of churches fall between those two extremes. This isn’t the time or place to give a full exegesis of Biblical passages concerned, but suffice it to say that there are some difficult-to-understand passages regarding wom...

Before you jump on me for my dramatic title, I really don’t expect to die in this storm. I am so lucky to live in a place with strong buildings and a church family that loves me and looks out for me. But moments like these make me think. They make me wonder. Because whether I die young and they call it tragic, or whether I die old and they say it was time, I’m going to die. Life is fragile. So how do I feel about that? And how do I want to be remembered? I thought these answers might be worth sharing. As you read my reflections, I urge you to consider your own answers to these questions. How do I feel about dying? It’s okay to be honest, right? Well, I don’t think I’m scared. In fact, I think I’m a little excited. I mean, not like an “I can’t wait to die” excited. I enjoy my life, and still would hope to, you know, get married, have a little girl named Waverly Joy, and go bungee jumping. Oh and write a children’s book, be a pastor, and get my masters degree. You get the point: I’m n...

I’m addicted to stories. In particular, (as you see coming if you know me) love stories. Something fascinates me about how a couple met, what they did on their first date, how he proposed. Perhaps it is because I am still waiting for my own love story, wondering if it will look anything like theirs. Perhaps I like to hear their stories -- hoping that these stories might help me understand my own better. I’m don’t think I’m alone in this. Students will be falling asleep, but then perk up when their teacher starts telling a story. Families will gather around a campfire, then launch into a time of telling stories. Before a little girl goes to sleep, she begs her daddy to tell her a story. We are addicted to stories. And I wonder if this is intentional. I wonder if hearing the stories of others helps us understand ours too. I wonder if humanity is a part of a larger, interconnected story.    Okay, I don’t just wonder this -- I believe it firmly. I’ve devote...

After spending quite some time in my current state of life, I have begun to pick up on what is helpful to hear, and what is… not quite as helpful. Don’t worry, you will definitely get married. This one is the most tempting to say… but unless you are God, you cannot guarantee me anything. I mean thanks for trying, but you don’t know the future, and you have no way of knowing if that statement is true. Empty promises do nothing for me. I found my man, so you will find yours. Um… unless you are planning on introducing me to your husband’s brother, I don’t see how those two things are in any way related. I understand how you feel. Really? You’ve gone 22 years without a boyfriend? I find that highly unlikely.    So at this point, should I give up on you ever getting married and having kids? I don’t think this one even needs explanation. Any boys yet? No! Trust me, the entire universe will know when I find someone!! Okay, maybe not the whole universe. B...