We have a lock-in this weekend. (Vom Factor: 7.8)
I’m not going to lie. Not that I normally lie to you, I really try not to. But I might glamorize youth ministry an ounce here and an ounce there as a type of coping mechanism, dismissing the more grueling parts to proclaim the beauty of this life as a whole.
Serving others. It is beautiful.
It is fun. It is rewarding.
It may also cause sleep deprivation.
I’ve written about how to conquer the youth lock-in, before it conquers you. I plan on using the same tricks this year. Friday nap. Vitamin boosted smoothie dinner. Steering clear of too much pizza or too much junk. Cat nap on the bus right from the church to the amusement park. If this happens. I will survive.
My love-hate relationship with the lock-in surfaced in a cheer that I wrote once. Enjoy at your leisure.
But this post. This post is about why.
Why do we stay up all night with 500 teenagers?
We want them to be exposed to the glorious and ginormous grace of God.
And, we want to unleash them to their own creativity.
This year’s lock-in is focused on one thing.
We want them to be interested in doing something outside of themselves.
We want them to sign up with their friends to participate in the 30 Hour Famine.
We’ve invited Jason Sivewright to speak.
A representative from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries will join us.
World Vision has hooked us up with resources to get everyone connected.
The dream.
That they would release the feast this year.
What we wear shouldn’t matter more than what we share.
I’m a dream developer.
What our students dream this weekend, we will develop.
We’ll listen. Whatever it takes.
We want it.
We want the feast.
