I learned from Terry Dittmer, LCMS Director of Youth Ministry, that in 1980, for the first national youth gathering, our pool of eligible youth was about 220,000 15-19 year olds.  Thirty years later we are looking at a pool of about 100,000 14-19 year olds, fewer than half of what we had in 1980.   We are an aging church.  By the grace of God, members are living longer.  But will our church always include teens?  What is reality?  We need to make youth ministry a priority, and we need to find ways to bring un-churched and marginally churched young people into our churches.  We need children and youth NOW; our children and youth need to be a church priority.  They are the future pastors, teachers, and other leaders for our church.

Today I met with nine wonderful leaders of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO.  Using only their baptized names for this public message, Tom, Sheri, Ryan, Mike, Jeff, Jennifer, Gerrit, Doug, and Dave worked intently to begin development of a pilot program for congregations to use What a Way resources and rebuild a lifestyle and culture fostering active recruitment and energetic retention of church workers.  When will it be available?  These nine have the goal to develop this congregation model by January 2011.  Stay tuned!  God bless these significant leaders!

As I muse at year’s end, I reflect on my life goals.  No set of life goals is complete without targeting some form of joy.  Bringing joy to others is pure and noble.  Unselfish concern for the well-being of others brings joy.  I find that imparting joy to others brings real joy.  Although it costs me thinking time, emotional outlay, and action garbed in physical and monetary clothes, it returns much more in joy.

Suffering is the opposite of joy.  If joy brings a bubbly spirit and a smile, suffering wrinkles the face and makes the spirit cry.  Note, however, suffering is a part of life for without it there is no growth.  Suffering is a great teacher.  Someone said that we can tell if we are on the right path if it is upgrade; as long as we keep moving upgrade we know that suffering is keeping us on track.  Life has plenty of suffering.

That you not get suffering overload, think of Christ who, suffering in your behalf, gives you the joy of His strength in time of suffering.  Feel His presence in the food of His feast and in the fellowship of His flock.  Act on Christ’s grace and joy in you as you give these gifts to others.  Happy New Year!

Today I finished a 20 slide Power Point Presentation with Notes on Christian Vocation.   Junior and Senior high schoolers and college aged persons are the intended target audiences.  If you could use this resource for the church you serve, the youth group, college student ministry, or other event, please contact me.  I will gladly share it with you.

I also have a  Bible Study on Christian Vocation that is available free.

In talking to a fellow pastor about service in the church today, he said something that sticks with me about the main troubles in the field.  He said they are 1. isolationism and 2. spiritual life.  What do you think?

Pastors and parishes will benefit from the shift noted by Rev. Larry Harvala from preparing students to “forming servants” in theological education.  His article is in For the Life of the World, CTS, Fort Wayne, December 2009, “Forming Servant Pastors.”

David Weidner gives us something to think about and perhaps comment on, namely, “Challenges Facing DCE Ministry,” in the Fall 2009 Issues in Christian Education:

1. The matter of educating the congregations about the vital role of DCEs.  What is a DCE and what can he or she do for the congregation?  DCE training programs at the six Concordia Universities that offer the program have done a great deal to advance the ministry.

2. Discussion of the long-term viability of the profession.  Can an individual continue to be effective as a parish DCE as she or he ages?

3. Another phenomenon impacting the question of longevity is the movement of individuals out of congregationally-based DCE ministry.  Of the 1700 plus individuals certified as DCEs, only 630 remain serving as DCEs in a congregation.

4. In this current economic downturn a major challenge facing numerous DCEs is job security.

5. At the level of actual practice there are practical challenges:  impact of technology on families and teens, new congregational governance structures, team ministry and its tapestry of unique gifts and talents.

“The future is bright for DCEs,” David concludes.  Give the article a read!

When current LCMS church workers were asked by What a Way who influenced them most to consider a church work career, workers said pastors, family, and teachers were the MOST influential.

     29% Pastors

     28% Family

     22% Christian Teachers

     “Our heavenly Father simply loves us [so] much [that] He gives us our deepest desires, but He does so in a way that resources our faith, our relationships, and our vocations in just the right way and at just the right time.  No, we won’t get everything we want, but we will get everything we need.

     And that is all we really need to be content, whether in times of economic uncertainty, this season of Thanksgiving, or all the days appointed for our earthly life.”

     (Dr. William Utech, Associate Professor of Practical Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in November 2009 THE LUTHERAN WITNESS, p. 9)

How can one address the ubiquitous problem of burnout?  1.  Listen to what your body, mind, and spirit are telling you.  2. Resist the poison of unrealistic expectations.  3. Find someone to talk to.  4. Practice progressive knowledge.  Stay in the Word – meditate on it, pray it.  This sound advice was written by Dr. John Hirsch, Director of Congregational and Worker Care, LCMS Texas District, “Burnout has no boundaries,” in October 2009 Texas Messenger.