Annual Report

Last night I gave my annual report to the church. I have now been in Guymon for 4 years. It is hard to believe that I have been in one place this long in a youth ministry role. It has been rewarding and educational and I am proud to say that I have given this much of my life to one local community of faith.

I always wanted to be one of the youth pastors that stayed longer than 18 months as has been a disturbing trend in professional youth ministry. Unfortunately moves happen, particularly in our church, due to the greener pastures of a larger church or more lucrative salary package. There are things that exist as a part of our polity that make moves necessary sometimes. However I have been witness too often to colleagues of mine who leave a community of faith for all the wrong reasons and end up harming those they have been entrusted to shepherd.

I was pleased to share my 4th report with my church and to thank individuals by name for their role in my family's life. To take time to know and be known by a people requires real vulnerability. Christian community takes time to build. It involves a commitment of time, energy and self. To continually live in this community also requires an intentional pouring out of oneself to the purpose of knowing and being known. This mimics our life in Christ. To grow relationally with God we continually strive to know God and be known by God. Just as God lives in community in His trinitarian nature, we too need Christian community to truly understand what it means to be Christian.

I am blessed to have been a part of Guymon Nazarene for 4 years. May God continue to bless this wonderful community of faith now and after He has led me elsewhere.

Oh, by the way, I am also blessed to have had a couple of responses to one of my entries from the Rev Pat Robertson. What a thrill it is for me to know that the "Christian (far) right" has scanned the net and found my little blog to respond to. Although I am not a fan of yours I am glad to see that you have taken time to reach out to the little guy. Keep it comin Pat. Also learn to spell.