The Path of Service

Alive Youth Church Weekly

I hope your week is off to a great start. Just wanted to say how thankful I am for you. Seriously, it’s such a gift to do life and ministry together. I’m already counting down the days until Sunday. Can it hurry up already?! I miss getting to hang out, worship, and see what God does when we’re all together.

Here's what's on my heart and mind this week for AYC:

I’m constantly encouraged by our Youth Ministry. We have the best students, incredibly supportive parents, a rockstar leadership team, and one truly amazing church family. I honestly couldn’t be more thankful. I could brag on them for days.

But even in the middle of all that’s going right, there’s always this question that stirs in my heart: How can we be more like Jesus? That’s really the heart of why we’re here, isn’t it? That question drives everything we do in ministry, in leadership, and in our personal walks with God. When I reflect on it, my mind immediately jumps to the spiritual disciplines: I should pray more. I want to be in constant communication with the Lord. I need to read my Bible more, study it deeply, and be ready for conversations about faith.

If you're anything like me, you probably feel that same pull, to go deeper spiritually and to strengthen the foundation of your faith. But lately, I’ve been thinking not just about the spiritual life of Jesus, but about the practical one. What did Jesus do in the everyday moments of life? How did He treat people? How did He serve?

Would Jesus be the one picking up the chairs when everyone else left?

Would He show up early just to help set the tone?

Would He clean, be the first to act, or do things without being asked?

Would He be the one doing the things nobody else wanted to do?

I believe the answer is yes. Scripture reminds us of Jesus' servant heart:

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." — Mark 10:45

If we want to be more like Jesus, we can’t just pray more or read more; those things do matter deeply. We also need to live more like Him. Humbly, compassionately, and intentionally. In our everyday actions and attitudes, we can reflect the character of Christ.

To the pastors, leaders, parents, and students in our community:
How are we displaying the servant heart of Jesus to those who are watching?
Because they are watching. Whether we realize it or not.

Our actions speak loudly, often louder than our words. In a world that celebrates status, self promotion, and recognition, we’re called to a different path: the path of service.

What if we became the kind of people who were first to serve?
Not just when asked.
Not just when it's visible.
Not just when there’s applause.

But first, because it's our reflex, almost like muscle memory.
Because we’ve trained our hearts and eyes to see every opportunity to serve as a privilege, not a burden.

Let it become our culture. A movement. A wave that sweeps through our church and youth ministry. May we be people who fight to serve, not to be seen, but to be like Jesus. Imagine a whole church that is fighting to serve. Families would notice, schools would notice, friends, strangers, and acquaintances, too. 

Matthew 20:26-28 says:

"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." 

Remember the everyday life of Jesus. How does it change the way you live?

-Isaac Fehlen

Youth paster