Recently, I wrote a post about what to value during the work week in student ministry. Now, I wanted to share with you the values that I believe God led our student ministries team to a few months ago. These values came about as the result of a retreat coupled with prayer, fasting, giant post-it notes, sharpies and some wise counsel. I really believe these values will shape my personal ministry for years to come. Check them out.

Mission: To awaken and inspire students to God’s reality.

Values:

Prayer: It is our desire to walk by the Holy Spirit. This can only happen through prayer.

Obedience: It is an expression of knowing and loving God. An obedient church obeys by loving God and people through acts of service and love. Obedience to God requires caring about the same things He does: justice, mercy, walking humbly and living missionally.

Teaching: The Word of God is living and active and must be the bedrock of all teaching. Jesus was the Master teacher and must be emulated through passion, creativity and truth in order to reach this young generation. It is our desire to study, understand and teach the Scriptures accurately according to the context in which it was written.

Mentoring: It is our passion to intentionally invest in a few students and help to unleash their dreams and visions so that they may help expand the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ model of ministry shows us the power of investing in a few.

Community: If left alone, people often struggle. A commitment to creating a hospitable, welcoming environment to all people is essential to a healthy ministry. Community must be created through intentional relationships between adult leaders and students (small groups and mentoring) as well as in a large group environment (through atmosphere, creativity and intentional contact with students).

Living out these values as a pastor is essential to being effective. “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6

So those values listed are it. As my friend Brad says, “there’s nothing sexy about them.” However, these values encompass so much more than what is described above. We are still in the process of implementing these values and making them truly the life-blood of the ministry. I am hopeful that they will help me to focus on the right things with students and help to truly awaken and inspire them to the reality of God. I would love to hear your thoughts and/or critiques. Leave me a few comments.

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