Another Viewpoint on Vocational Counseling

I used to repeat this credo to student when the were faced with making career choices: "There are headaches and heartaches in ministry, but you know two things--you can do nothing else and what you do pleases God." I wanted to get as many of my students, as possible, interested in becoming youth workers, missionaries, and senior pastors (athough I personally don't understand the last choice).

These days I communicate that God calls a limtied number of people to lead the church, yet I still want all of my students, as believers, to consider vocational ministry as a natural-if not their first-career option. If we don't encourage our students to listen for God's call into ministry, who will?

Yet as much as they need to be aware of the tremendous responsibilities and accountability involved with being in ministry (1 Timothy 3/ James 3:1), we must acknowledge that it's not intrinsically better than other job options. They should still view whatever careers they choose as God's call on their lives.

A majority of students will probably conclude that God is saying do not enter full time vocational ministry. These students should still view their labor and vocational desires as a true calling into that field. Most growing believers strive to glorify God and to have purpose in living.

Our students should know that God can be glorified -- and life purpose can be found -- in many vocations, whether it's through preaching on Sundays, changing bed pans, crunching honest numbers, raising children, or cutting hair. The key is that they see no difference in the value or worth of "the clergy" as opposed to "the laity" (I hate those phrases!)

Paul tells us that whatever we do, we should work at it with all of our heart, and our ultimate supervisor is God not a person (Col. 3:23). Despite looking, I can not find a biblical principle that tells me God is more pleased with someone who is in full time ministry over someone who is not. I do, however, find that principle in many of our church traditions, even among those of us who claim to have few or no church traditions.

Despite my changed view of vocational counseling I must confess that I will still be thrilled when a student pursues full-time ministry. However, I desire to be just as thrilled for a student that believes God wants them to be a school teacher, a lawyer, a singer, a farmer, or a dog trainer. I should treat students vocational choices as equally valid because a more biblical measure of success is not to have a high number of students become Christian workers but to have a high number of students become mature Christians who work!

My new credo would be worded like this: "There are headaches and heartaches in any job, but as a Christian, you still know two things -- you don't have to be in full time ministry and just doing a good job pleases God".

Youthworker - May/June 1998

Journaling the Journey

How do you help your students interact with God's Word, reflect on what God is doing during a mission trip, respond to God's work and remember it years later? A Mission Trip Journal!

READ GOD'S THOUGHTS You are 300-3,000 miles away from your home because you believe the Bible highlights, models & commands missions. Show your students where & why by using themes in the daily verses. Possible themes include "one another" commands, joy in Philippians, verses that relate to poverty, love, or missions.

REFLECT ON GOD'S THOUGHTS Leave space in their journals where they can write the answer to "What does this verse mean?" They can rewrite the verse in their own words as an expression of interpretation. They can also define the "Big Point" of the verses they read.

RESPOND TO GOD'S THOUGHTS They can pray in their journal. These prayers can involve confession, praise, interceding for others, thanksgiving for where they are and what they are doing. They can even question God as they reflect on the needs of others and the pain and suffering in our world. They can also plan how they will apply the truths they learn through God's word and God's world.

REMEMBER THE JOURNEY A few weeks ago, while moving boxes of books to our attic, I found a spiral bound notebook from my first mission trip. I reflected on some great memories. God renewed my desire and calling into youth ministry on that two week trip to Chicago. Your students will forget what happens on their mission trip but with a journal they'll remember more of what God did with them, through them and to them.

Youthworker May/June 2001

Kids Who Should've Stayed Home

Mission trips often spark life changes. Most mission participants will return home with a different perspective on life, ministry, and compassion, but some will have a difficult time dealing with all they experience.

Janet is in India working in one of Mother Theresa's relief houses. The team is sitting at a table resting and she says, "I am so hot. I'm miserable. I can't wait to get home." She says this with lepers eight feet away.

Daren is in Haiti in a missions compound eating an authentic Haitian meal consisting of goat, rice, beans and plantains. He say's "This tastes horrible. I'm not going to eat it." The youth pastor tells him, "Turn your head to the left. See those boys hanging on the fence, 90 feet away? How long has it been since they last ate? You're right, it doesn't taste great. Shut up and eat."

Donna, an adult leader, has been with the mission team in a Mexico City orphanage for mentally and physically handicapped children. After playing with them and loving on them for almost three hours everyone in the bus was quiet as they reflect on what they have just experienced. Upon arriving at the hotel, Donna asks, "Can I get a taxi and take my daughter to a mall?"

Sharon, a textbook student leader, is in Mexico building a home with her group when she snaps in the 105-degree heat. She turns to her youth pastor and screams, 'I hate you! I hate you! I can't believe you brought us here!" and walks away. She admits her mistake two days later.

Anne goes on the inner-city mission trip because the youth pastor needed one more adult to go and she thinks it'll be fun. On the third day of the trip she tells the youth pastor that she has a gun in her purse. He laughs, she doesn't. "We're not in a safe area and you never know what might happen", she says. He talks her into giving him the bullets but she keeps the gun.

How To Prepare Your Team Before the Mission trip: Do your best to prepepare people for the trip. That way those who are not ready to accept what lies ahead can stay home. Use a mission trip application, require a written testimony, require a certain number of local outreach/service events, give them accurate expectations of what the trip involves and pray for the team.

During the Mission Trip: Talk one on one with the individual about the problem as soon as possible. Review the reasons behind the trip and pray with them for perspective.

After the Mission Trip: Meet, reflect, and evaluate with team members individually about the trip. Encourage the people who had a hard time as much as you can, but be honest. There are different types of soil that receive God's word and there are different types of soils that go on mission trips. Deal with them in grace, pray for them and don't return the bullets.

From Youthworker May/June 2001