Our Blog

Student Life - January 2024

I wanted to take the time for this article to explain to you all my heart for ministry. In my last article I explained a bit of my walk and testimony leading up until now but did not dive too much into why I seek to serve in ministry. And with that being said, I would like to direct you to the end of a verse in Nehemiah. In chapter 8 verse 10, it says: "And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength". 

For most of my life, I overlooked this verse and never gave it that much attention. This was the case until I had breakfast with my family pastor from the church I attended in
college. While at a Waffle House in New Albany, I was explaining the joy I get when serving in ministry, especially during my time at Crossings Camp. I told my pastor about the amazing times where I would have long Gospel conversations with students, staffers, church leaders, and many more. These conversations gave so much life to me and I was constantly reminded at times that this is where I needed to be, and I was right where God wanted me to be. To be growing in faithful community and growing more like Christ with each interaction. Additionally, I explained to my family pastor that there were a few times where during worship at camp, just listening to the congregation of a thousand students, leaders, staffers, adults, and faithful band members worshipping our Father gave me an incredible sense of joy, happiness, and peace. It is honestly hard to explain this intense feeling into words. But it was during these worship services and intense feelings that I would jokingly call "little glimpses of Heaven". I use this analogy because, honestly, it truly feels like the gap of space between this worship service and Heaven is paper thin. And that little gaps begin to form in this paper to show us the glory of the Father and of His Kingdom. And, when I'm in these worship services and my spirit is moved this far, I am so content with life and thankful for the Gospel. It's at this time that I truly desire nothing else in life and could not imagine spending my eternity doing anything else. To try and explain this further, if this already overwhelming experience and stirring of the Spirit inside of me is available in this sinful world and limited by the fact that we are not yet able to see our Savior face to face, then could
you IMAGINE what eternity with our Savior would be like? Sign. Me. UP.

After explaining all of this to my family pastor, he just smiled as if he agreed with me and reminded me of Nehemiah 8:10. He explained to me that it’s during these conversations, worship services, or intentional time with the Father that give Him such joy! And when I had heard this, it absolutely clicked. During all of my time as a Christian and also serving in ministry, the one thing that always gave me tremendous life was the joy of the Lord! And let me tell you, now that I have experienced that joy, I'm chasing it. I hope you can hear my heart through the words on the screen here - It is not my intention nor my desire to serve in any ministry to put myself on a pedestal or for any personal gain; I serve in ministry because I believe the Lord has called me to it and because I want to serve Him with everything I have. If He called me tomorrow to become a farmer in the middle of nowhere and would never have human interaction with anyone again, as long as He remains with me as He already has promised, then I would be alright. His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

So, to bring it around full circle as I close, my heart for ministry is the joy of the Lord. The strength and joy I receive from His joy is absolutely life-giving. And it reminds me of how thankful I am for the Gospel and my eternal relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit. And now I seek to share this heart for ministry with the church and with our student ministry. I seek to grow in relationships with our students and lead them well in this ministry, but always desire to point them to Christ and to seek an eternal relationship with Him. 

Family Ministry Moments - December 2023

Recently I was discussing parenting with another father.  We lamented that parenting is difficult with children of any age, especially when it comes to discipline.  Children need discipline.  It must be measured, biblical, and consistent.  What happens when our discipline seems like it is failing? Sometimes it seems like nothing we do gets through to our children.  Some children can be punished in all kinds of ways, and it doesn’t even phase them.  What is a parent to do? 

As I said, we must remain consistent.  One of the worst things a parent can do when raising children is to become erratic or overly emotional in discipline.  Children need to know what is expected, then if they disobey, they must be punished.  I am sure that no parent likes punishing their child.  It is certainly not something I like to do; however, as a parent that seeks to honor the Lord, I must consistently discipline my children.

We must also commit ourselves to prayer.  There is a temptation to make parenting all about behavior modification.  We want our children to act right so we focus on their actions rather than their motives.  What we should be focusing on is their heart.  There are things a parent can do to help direct our child’s heart but ultimately the Lord is the one who changes the heart.  That means we must commit ourselves to pray for our children.  When you are at the end of your rope, when you don’t know what to do, or when discipline doesn’t seem to work - pray!

When all else fails, we must remember to operate in gospel love.  The way God loves us is how we need to love our children.  In the Jesus Storybook Bible God’s love is described as “Never-Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.”  This is a fantastic way to define God’s love for us.  This is the essence of the gospel.  God loves us and refuses to give up on us, that is why He sent Jesus to pay the penalty for sin so that our relationship with Him could be restored.  This is the love of our heavenly father.  This is the love that parents need to emulate.

I remember a particularly challenging season with one of my children.  It seemed like we were always butting heads and discipline didn’t seem to work.  At one point I looked at them and told them, “I love you and I’m not going anywhere”.  I had to remind them that my love is not based on their behavior.  My love for them is unconditional.  From time to time our kids need to be reminded that we love them regardless of their behavior.  We need to tell them, even though our love is imperfect, we want to love them like God loves us– with a never-stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love.

This is what gospel parenting looks like.  We go after the heart of our child in the same way that God goes after our heart.  Children are in as much need of a savior as we are.  They are also in need of discipleship as well.  We must remember to teach them the gospel repeatedly! But we cannot force them to follow Jesus.  We pray that God would call them to salvation, but even as we are waiting for them to believe in Jesus, we must disciple them.  We must teach them to follow Jesus, not just to obey for obedience’s sake. Rather we obey because Jesus loves us, and we love Jesus. 

My encouragement to parents is to be patient.  Parenting is hard at any stage.  I see parents with young children struggle as their babies exhaust them.  I see parents of toddlers struggle as these tiny humans exert their sinful will.  Older children will struggle with more complex emotions, which makes parenting hard.  Teens will struggle as they want to grow up way too fast.  All of it is hard, however all of it is joyous.  Raising our children is worth it, every struggle is worth it.  God doesn’t give up on us and we must not give up on our children.  If you feel lost as a parent, turn to the Lord, He will give you what you need.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1