In 2008, I began a long-term partnership with an organization called Mission Serve. My leadership team and I took our students to Beaufort, SC to serve the community through repairing roofs, building handicap accessible ramps, repainting homes, and sharing the love of Jesus in word and deed. It’s a partnership that has continued to this day. Last week, we took approximately 40 students and adults to Cincinnati, OH to, once again, serve and share in Jesus name. It was an amazing week. It was also a clear reminder of the passing of time and the reality of change.
I am no longer one of the young guns; I am now part of the old guard.
Throughout much of my time in ministry, I have been one of the youngest adult leaders and pastors at events and gatherings. During my first trip with Mission Serve, my group stopped for breakfast at IHOP. When it was time to leave, the waitress brought the check and surveyed the group for who would be most likely to pay. I don’t know why someone didn’t just point her to me, but we made the poor woman guess. She proceeded to take the check to every adult leader, accurately putting them in chronological order, but failed to find the keeper of the credit card. She even took the check to two of my high school students before I reached my hand out for the bill. She looked at me and said, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” It’s a refrain I heard often.
This week, however, I realize that a new era has dawned. As we were preparing to enter King’s Island on our day off, it was revealed to me that I am older than the fathers of two youth director’s at a recent trip. Upon further investigation, I learned that I was the second oldest adult leader representing our group on this year’s trip. Both were heavy blows, but there was more to come. I rode a grand total of three roller coasters during our time in the park. The final coaster almost caused me to black out and made me nauseous for hours afterwards. My favorite part of the day was sleeping on the lounge chairs surrounding the kiddie pool in the water park with the other dads. I am no longer one of the young guns; I am now part of the old guard. And, while it’s hard to comprehend how we got here so quickly, I’m good with it.
While I might not be able to do all of the things I once did, I still have something to offer. I’m still able to serve for the glory of God and the good of others. I’m still able to make meaningful connections with people, both young and old. We never “age out” of serving the Lord; We simply evolve. The key is to not allow ourselves to get hung up on what we are no longer capable of doing and instead adjust our expectations and efforts so that we can offer whatever skills, gifts, and abilities God continues to make available to us.
The key is to not allow ourselves to get hung up on what we are no longer capable of doing and instead adjust our expectations and efforts so that we can offer whatever skills, gifts, and abilities God continues to make available to us.
Mission Serve is currently celebrating the conclusion of its 20th summer of facilitating short-term mission experiences for youth and young adults. By God’s good grace, I have been honored to bring groups to serve with them for 16 of those summers in locations all across the eastern United States. A lot has changed in that time, but the mission continues; service is offered, hope is spread, lives are changed, and the name of Jesus is glorified. All these years later, I have much less hair, or at least it has migrated further down my face. I have much less energy and it takes much more effort to stay on the grind for a whole week. I’m not near as much fun and much more administrative than I once was. But, I will continue to serve in whatever capacity God allows for as long as He allows.
1 Corinthians 12:27 tells us, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it.” Whether you are a young gun or part of the old guard, God has a purpose for your life; You have a part to play in service to His mission in the world. Perhaps you never have and never will join youth on a short-term mission, but you still have something to offer and service in the name of Jesus is expected of all believers. YOU are the body of Christ. YOU have a part to play. And, we are less than we could be without YOU. Join the mission and serve however you can for as long as you can.
