On paper they look doable but a few moments later, no instruction manual, YouTube tutorial or step-by-step process seems to help. I’ve been a Young Life leader for decades on all types of teams and contexts and several times a year I reach the same conclusion. Doing good Young Life is SIMPLE but not EASY!
Now, when I say Young Life is simple, I mean elegantly simple! After 80 years as a mission, we have refined the elements of the Young Life mission down to a fine point. We know three things:
1. We know CHRIST.
2. We know KIDS.
3. We know HOW TO PUT THEM TOGETHER!
And our methods seem reasonable too!
● We PRAY for them.
● We GO where they are.
● We EARN the right to be heard.
● We PROVIDE opportunities to experience Christ.
● We INVITE them to respond.
● We EQUIP them for a life of faith.
● We WORK alongside a mission community.
So what’s the problem? Why does a goal that seems simple not seem easy? I think it is because we are in the business of relationships, faithfulness, transformation, brokenness, forgiveness and PEOPLE! This work of Young Life is not like tying your shoes. It is hard, costly, slow and will change you and anyone you come in contact with. We are talking about the long journey from repentance to belief.
It makes sense to me that the most common phrase from the mouth of Jesus is “follow me.” Simple. In the Gospel of Mark, you can find that phrase 17 times. Up to Mark chapter eight, “follow me” means one thing: “Give me your PRESENCE.” After Mark 8:34, “follow me” means something totally different: “Give me your LIFE.”
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:
‘Whoever wants to be my disciple
must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”
— Mark 8:34, NIV
Now that is not easy! Through the 16 chapters in Mark, I think Jesus might be saying, “I told you it (faith) was simple, but it (discipleship) is going to be hard.”
Basically:
The simplicity of the gospel makes it ATTAINABLE.
The challenge of embracing a faith for a lifetime makes it VALUABLE.
So let's do something hard. Let’s share the gospel with our presence and our whole lives today! I would love to hear your thoughts.
“Following Jesus is simple, but not easy. Love until it hurts and then go love more.”
— Mother Teresa
