Yo-Yos And Youth Ministry

By Scott Lenning, Executive Festival Director/Crusade Ministries, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Today is National Yo-yo Day! I’m reminded how ministry has its ups and downs but you just have to remain patient, obedient and faithful to what you are doing.

A few years ago, when I had the opportunity to direct a major Christian Music Festival, we blended volunteers from the past and present into the same team. I gave Yo-yos to all 250 volunteers. I told them it would take some time to get to know each other and each of our responsibilities. I asked them when they had questions about or frustrations with the new procedures to pull out their Yo-yo and remember that the festival would have its ups and downs. I encouraged them to keep working and that together we would see the Lord bless our efforts… and He did!!

Learning new tricks takes someone to teach us and then lots of practice to get it right. In youth ministry we too need to have individuals in our lives who teach us new tricks and then work with us to make it happen. But it’s not for the tricks… it is to impact lives for Christ.  I think the Lord likes it when we work hard and play hard for Him.

Happy National Yo-yo Day!