It's Not Much, But It's Honest Work

Alive Youth Church Weekly,

What an awesome time to be a part of AYC. Sundays are awesome, but even more so, I love hearing the stories of you all meeting throughout the week, reading your Bibles together, sharing Jesus with your friends at school, how God is moving in your families, and everywhere that you are a light for Him. Keep living for Him, and let me know what AYC can do for YOU!

Some friendly reminders for you all.

- December 14th = Ugly Sweater Christmas Party 

- December 21st and 27th = No Youth ):

- January 4th = AYC is back

I love what's happening at Alive Youth Church. It's so fun to watch and be a part of. 

In our time apart over the holidays. Come to church on Sunday morning. Two weeks is a bit too long to be away. Come sit with us, worship, learn from the messages, and let's do it together. See you Sunday, and for Christmas Eve services!

It's Not Much, But It's Honest Work

This past week, I had two separate instances that have stuck with me. I'll be honest, they were compliments, and compliments usually have a way of sticking with you. I promise I have a reason for sharing these; I am not just fishing for more compliments. The first came from a student in our youth ministry. I saw her while attending a band concert for some of our other students. This happened to be on a Tuesday night, hours after posting last week's blog. While saying what's up, the student looked at me and said, "I loved your blog today, I read it every week." Not only was I surprised, let's be real, the blog, it's not much, but it's honest work (insert meme here). And by that I mean, I know my readers are not a large group of individuals. But this student's comments made me smile and gave me a new motivation for writing the blog, knowing that it's having an impact on someone. 

Later that week, following our Sunday night time together, I had just turned off my mic and stepped away from the stage following my message on the Upsidedown Kingdom. I'll be honest with you, it wasn't my best. I was a bit flustered on stage, I had lost my train of thought once or twice, and the jokes were landing in a silent room, or not landing, I guess. So as I walked away, I was not feeling the best about my work. shortly after, as I went to put my bible and notes away, I was stopped by a student, who told me, "Thank you for your message. I have always been confused about that, and you really cleared it up and explained it well." That one hit, at a time when I needed it. It's amazing how God still moves in every situation. I expect to pastor and show Jesus to the students of Alive Youth Church, it's shocking yet amazing when students minister to me. 

And here’s the whole reason I’m even sharing these stories, again... not looking for more compliments... 

unless... 

Sike, here's the reason:

Sometimes we dream about having an impact on many and forget the value of impacting the one.

My dad has said to me for years, “Do for one what you wish you could do for many.” And that has stuck with me in ministry more times than I can count. Of course, I wish this blog reached tens, hundreds, thousands of people. Of course, I’d love every student to walk away from a sermon with their lives flipped upside down for Jesus. I wish I could meet with every single student, talk through life, answer questions about faith, walk with them through their hardest moments, and be the first call in a crisis. I’d be thrilled.

But the truth is, even if that’s not happening on a massive scale, it will never stop me from showing up for the one student who needs someone. From grabbing coffee with one who has questions. From celebrating one student’s win, or sitting in one student’s hurt. From writing a blog that maybe only a handful ever read, but one of those handfuls really needs it.

Do for one what you wish you could do for many.

Think about the things you could do. Write and release that song, even if you’ve only got four monthly listeners or maybe less. Pour into one friendship, even if you wish you had a whole friend group. Tell one person about Jesus and stick around to walk with them, even if part of you wishes you were making a “bigger” impact. 

Don’t let the big ideas make you lose sight of the steps you need to take to get there, or worse, keep you from trying at all. Big dreams are inspiring, but they can also be overwhelming if you stare at the whole mountain instead of the next foothold. Sometimes we get so caught up in imagining the “finished product” that we forget every great thing starts with one small, ordinary step. You don’t have to have the whole plan figured out to begin. You don’t need the perfect conditions, the right timing, or a massive platform. Just start, right where you are, with what you have. God does some of His best work through simple obedience, one step at a time. And those small, faithful steps taken consistently will carry you farther than the biggest ideas ever will if all they do is stay stuck in your head.

Start small. Start now.
Do for one what you wish you could do for many.
And let God handle the masses.

At the end of the day, He’s the one doing the heavy lifting anyway. We just get the privilege of showing up for the one right in front of us, being faithful with what is already in our lap, and giving it to God to use. 

Keep it up, AYC! I'll see you soon!

-Isaac Fehlen

Youth Pastor