A Computer or a Basketball?

In August I began ministering to the youth group at a local church on Wednesday nights. The idea was that I would teach there for about a month. And if things went well then I could continue teaching for the 2008 year. I came that first night excited to see what God was planning to do. Instead of giving them a lesson I decided to share a few verses of scripture, and my testimony. It was surprising how well they responded to what I said that night.

The next Wednesday I came back with a well thought out lesson from the book of Nehemiah. I had spent a lot of time developing that message through Biblical study. I was also using a well written book on leadership that used truths from Nehemiah as a foundation for my lessons. But surprisingly the lesson did not go as well as I thought it would. So the next week I tried harder to develop a lesson that would speak to their hearts. Only a few teens showed up. And those who did come didn’t show much interest.

It soon became obvious that my lessons on Nehemiah were not impacting their lives. So I asked them what kind of lessons they would like to have on Wednesday nights. Their response was something that they could live out on a daily basis. The subject of peer pressure was also discussed. So the next day I checked all the Christian bookstores in my area for books on peer pressure. And of course there weren’t any. So I began to develop and write my own lessons on peer pressure.

The next week I came in with a well thought out lesson on how to deal with peer pressure. Not only that but I also had a power point presentation to go along with the lesson. Not just any power point presentation mind you, but a professional power point presentation that used templates purchased off of the internet. As I went through the lesson I moved from slide to slide using a wireless mouse. The entire presentation was very professional.

After about five weeks of my professional presentations we had the church service in a different location. The one that is usually used did not have power, so we met at a YMCA building just down the street. I started into my professional lesson as always but soon noticed that none of the teenagers were paying attention to me. Their eyes were on me, but their minds were miles away. In that moment I had to ask myself what kind of ministry I wanted in that church. Did I want a ministry that just gave information? Or did I want a ministry that truly impacted the life of those young people?

On the way home from church that night I completely scrapped my ministry philosophy. And the next week over Doritos, candy, and chips I learned what the teens really wanted on Wednesday nights. A few weeks later I came on a Wednesday evening with the ministry tool that God has used in an incredible way. It was a basketball.

Every Wednesday night I play basketball with a large group of the teens at that church. During that time I am able to learn their names, and truly connect with them. And that is what I have learned is the most important thing. A lesson that teaches scripture clearly is a powerful thing. And a professional power point presentation is nice. But that is not the most important thing to teenagers. What they want is someone who will come down to their level and accept them. I don’t bring my computer to church on Wednesday nights anymore because I don’t teach with power point. But the kids don’t really care, just as long as I bring the basketball.