Manic Monday

OVERFLOW

Moses raised another objection to GOD: "Master, please, I don't talk well. I've never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer."

GOD said, "And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn't it I, GOD ? So, get going. I'll be right there with you—with your mouth! I'll be right there to teach you what to say.” - Exodus 4:10-12 (The Message)

Do you ever wonder why God chose you to work with teenagers? Have you questioned whether you have what it takes, whether or not you’re relevant enough to relate to them? By yourself, you’re not. With God, you are.

God wants the grace, love, and truth he poured into your life to overflow into their lives. On your own you are not

enough; with God’s grace you have way more than enough. With God’s help, Moses, who was not very good with words and who got tongue-tied, confronted Pharaoh and led the Israelites out of Egypt. If God can do all that, he can use you to share the great news of God’s love with teenagers.

Life Coaching
What concerns do you have about your ability to relate to teenagers?


How has God shown himself faithful to be more than enough fo your needs and the needs of your students?


Prayer
Lord, you made me and you know me better than I know myself. Fill me up until your love, your power, your grace, your truth, and your presence overflow through my life into the lives of students I work with. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jeff Smyth was a youth pastor from 1996 - 2009 and is now working with Youth Unlimited (Toronto YFC). Jeff is married to Heather and they one of the most energetic boys in the world. Jeff is also a loyal fan cheering on the Blue Jays & Canadiens.
You can connect with Jeff online: Jeff Smyth Blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+

What's Your Vocation?

In the 100 hours between Friday evening at 7pm and Tuesday evening at 11pm, I attended a Matt Maher/Third Day concert (and got a quick tour of their tour bus!), went to a Conference, helped facilitate a First Communion Mass, ran a meeting for youth ministry coordinators, co-led a Confirmation Retreat for grade 7 students, and assisted with Confirmation at my home parish of St. Paul's.

I felt extremely blessed to have these opportunities and it reaffirmed my hope for the young church of both the present and the future.

However, I didn't get to spend a lot of time with my family during the 4 days. Sure, we went out for meals for Mother's Day on both Saturday and Sunday and Gail came with me to the concert on Friday night, but I felt a tad unfulfilled amidst the busyness.

I do my best to limit how much I'm away from home but it's always a challenge given the frenetic world of youth ministry.  I constantly need to remind myself that youth ministry, as much as I love it, is my job.  It's my career (for now).  One could even say it's my calling.  But it's not my vocation.

My primary vocation is husband to Gail and father to Sean, Jacob and Kayla.

My job is youth ministry.

As my good friend and mentor Mike Patin always reminds me:  when it's my turn to give an accounting of my life as I sit face-to-face with Jesus, he's not going to ask me how many teens came to my office's latest youth rally, how many people I spoke to at the last conference, or how many people read my blogs and watch my videos.

He's going to ask me about the 4 people at home that he gave me to love.

He's going to ask me if they knew who he was.

I pray that my answer will be a resounding YES.


Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo

When I grow up I want to be...LIKE DAD! .

When you ask a young child what he wants to be when be when he grows up, the usual response is something rather glamourous: a musician, an athlete, a cop, a firefighter, or movie star. Then, as the child becomes a teen, it's sometimes more about success and money-earning potential as opposed to fame: doctor, dentist, lawyer, accountant, engineer, or teacher.

So I was thrilled, flattered, humbled, and very surprised a few years ago when Sean showed me a piece of school-work where he said that he wanted to be a Youth Worker! His reasoning?

"Because I get to work with grade 7s and I get to set up for Youth Day and I get to play basketball and I get to do lots of fun activities and I get to work past my bedtime."

I was proud that Sean took an active interest in what Daddy did for a living, though I was slightly concerned that he'd noticed my irregular sleep pattern.

It reminds me of a story I tell in speaking on the topic of child-like faith and imitation being the sincerest form of flattery.  I am flattered that he knows what I do and what I am passionate about.

We were getting dressed for an outing recently and Sean came running up to me wearing a golf shirt and shorts. Looking handsome, he said to me, "Look Dad...I'm in youth ministry!" So I quickly replied, "Oh...so you don't make any money either???"


Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo