And the students didn't seem to think lunch was over until I sounded like their pastor instead of their guidance counselor. I learned from that. It seems to me that there's a sacred trust given to pastors that lets us into deep places where others are not always easily invited. I began to take that seriously. I think the church undersells teenagers, quite frankly.
Kids really do want to stake their lives on something.
At this camp, none of the kids were helping to minister among their peers in any capacity. I'm not saying these adults didn't mean well, but they lacked the vision to call kids into primary ministry. Instead they viewed them as objects of ministry, not agents of ministry. God's given us. I want young people to understand that they're called to do ministry, not just consume it.