Wearing sandals, tattered jeans and a hideous tropical shirt Mike Yaconelli, (aka “Yac”) peered over his glasses at a group of youthworkers gathered for an early morning bible study. With mischievous grin and twinkling eyes—an obvious “tell” for those who knew him that he was about to “upset the applecart”, he said:
“We’ve worked hard to make sure that you have an amazing experience. We hope you’ll take advantage the opportunity to acquire new tools, tricks and tips from the best resources and presenters we could find in an effort to help you lead young people to Jesus. That being said remember that your relationship with Jesus is your youth ministry.”
His point was clear. We could amass the latest and greatest resources, skills and strategies but without an abiding, personal relationship with Jesus our ministry would be shallow and minimally effective at best.
This is not only true for youth ministry.
What if…
Your relationship with Jesus is your teaching.
Your relationship with Jesus is your administration.
Your relationship with Jesus is your parenting.
Your relationship with Jesus is your counseling.
Your relationship with Jesus is your coaching.
Your relationship with Jesus is your mentoring.
Your relationship with Jesus is your spiritual direction.
Your relationship with Jesus is your music ministry.
Your relationship with Jesus is your speaking.
Your relationship with Jesus is your consulting.
Your relationship with Jesus is your mission work.
Your relationship with Jesus is your campus ministry.
The marginalized, the lost and the sick do not need more ministers. They need Jesus.
Our “ministries” are not Jesus. They are a means for us to be Christ for others. That only happens when we first allow Jesus to be Christ for us.
Check out this clip below of Yac at his best.
About Roy Petitfils
Awesome post! I love the way you put that. Yes, my relationship with Jesus is the whole ministry! It has to be that way.