Kicking off the National Youth Worker Convention

I love that Mark Matlock is the one introducing the weekend at the National Youth Worker Convention.? Mark has a great heart for students, youth workers, the local church and the Kingdom of God.? He resonates with a passion and understanding for youth workers in the local church.

Youth Specialties has a history of loving on and really “getting” youth workers, youth ministry and students unlike almost any other group.? Some fear or have feared that with all the changes happening with Youth Specialties that might be lost in the shuffle.? That is not going to happen because YS and their staff still loves youth workers and they, along with the volunteers who are here, serve youth workers in radical ways.? They do it, not just so they buy their gear or supplies but, because they want more and more students to radically fall in love with Jesus and strive to change the world for God’s glory.

This gathering of thousands of youth workers includes all tribes, denominations, races and theologies. It’s a wonderful example of? Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-26:

?²⁰“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. ²⁵“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

What I love most about the NYWC is not the speakers, not the bands, not the worship music, not the skit guys, or any of the commone “draws”.? What I love most about the NYWC is making connections with people.? Hearing stories of how God has worked in their life, how God has sustained them through this wild, crazy and off-center calling that we’ve labled youth ministry!

God is at work in each of the lives who are gathered here this weekend and my prayer is that they will be aware of his presence, his love and his comfort no matter what they? are going through.? Please join me in that prayer because stronger youth workers result in stronger youth ministries in our local churches.