For those of you who don't know, I have been volunteering with Youth for Christ here in Lexington for...geez...almost 8 years now. Seems a lot longer. Anywho, this year is a very unique one in that I am the only adult leader of the group. Admittedly, we've taken some hits over the last few years and are left with very few students, but still, I'm it. The other leaders have either moved or decided not to join us.
Over the summer I had been talking with the remaining youth about our dire situation and was left with the feeling that I might be wrapping this puppy up and putting it to bed. And I was OK with that. So, last week I addressed the situation again only to find that the remaining students were more than happy to keep this going AND help it to grow. I was surprised and amused at their youthful enthusiasm and was interested to see where this was going.
Last night was our first "club" of the year and I was pleasantly surprised that 11 students showed up, almost double what we started with last week. Some of the kids took it upon themselves to invite their friends and pass out flyers that they had produced at home.
It was also a unique club because the house we meet in flooded earlier in the day and we had to meet outside on the back porch around the fire pit. This made for the perfect atmosphere on a picture-perfect fall night in KY. It also helped to enable the pyromaniacs in our group to start and yes, cause some fires. I had to hide the lighter fluid on two separate occasions.
I would love to take credit for all this, but 1). I'm not a great motivator; and 2). I'm horrible at motivating people. It's great to see them take the initiative and assume the leadership that is rightfully theirs. I did tell them that I would need their help, but I honestly wasn't expecting all that they have done.
I don't know if the numbers will hold up next week, but it was great to see the benefits of a student led youth ministry at least for one week. Let's hope this grows through the year.
