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| Our true identity lies in the person that God created us to be, according to Dean and Foster. But what is a Godbearing life and what does it have to do with our true identity? Dean and Foster describe being a Godbearer as sneaking Jesus into this world by way of our own lives via the power of the Holy Spirit. Without a true identity from God, and a firm planting in Christ, I can’t see how this can be possible. But Godbearing youth ministry is more than that. It is impossible ministry, but that’s ok. That’s because no other kind of ministry matters to youth. There is nothing that we will ever be able to do that can change a youth, or restore a youth’s image of God. That is impossible ministry. And yet, it happens every day because of grace. It is only by this grace that we take the challenge of “being Christ” to youth. Dean tells a story in the book, relating to how we should act as pastors, and more specifically pastors of youth. An eight-year-old friend of hers went running out the front door one morning to catch the bus, and his cocker spaniel Lucky went right after him. When Justin noticed that his puppy was outside, he started chasing it, trying to catch it, with no luck. It was not until Justin’s grandmother stood on the porch calling Justin back into the house, that the puppy started chasing Justin right into the house. Dean points out that Justin’s grandmother represents the pastor in the story. When we try to catch youth, they tend to turn and run, and some might think it’s all a game, like the puppy. We need to be more like the grandmother, who stood on the steps of the porch, calling the youth back home. I think Dean says it best when she says that the point was not to catch Lucky but to get Lucky home, which first required Justin’s return. Continued... |
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