Scoliosis, lip rings and pastoring

My first "official" blog post.

I'm a pastor. People don't take that seriously because I pastor teenagers. I don't think that there is anything more important than raising the next generation to follow Christ, pursue dreams of a better future, and to squeeze "life" out of every moment that they've graciously been given. Although people don't take my role as seriously as Pastors who pastor in "big church", I wouldn't change a thing. My heart is with youth and I believe it always will be. Although the role may change, my interest in young people will never waver.

Just last night a student shared with me that she asked her parents if she could get a lip ring. She did it as a personal barometer to see how much her parents cared for her. She wanted them to say no. When they said yes, she decided it was because they didn't care for her. The lip ring she wears is simply a "reminder that mom and dad don't care" for her as she wishes they did. She questioned how to know if God is real in the midst of her pain. She hurts and hurts badly.

Another teen went through the painful surgery yesterday of inserting a rod in her spine to cure her scoliosis. On her facebook page she was asking everyone to pray for her. She was scared, but learning anew how to trust in the God that she professes. This was a significant event in her life that is shaping how she views God and life.

I have dozens of conversations like these any given month.
It's an honor to be a pastor to youth.