A Parable 
 An insurance policyholder had sent in a claim regarding an accident he had had on the job, and the insurance company requested more information. Here's his answer:

      I am writing in response to your request concerning clarification of the information I supplied in block number eleven on the insurance form, which asked for the cause of the injury. I answered, "Trying to do the job alone.” I trust the following explanation will be sufficient.
      I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the injury, I was working alone, laying brick around the top of a three-story building. When I finished the job, I had about 500 lbs. of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to put them in a barrel and lower them by a pulley that was fastened to the top of the building. 
      I secured the end of the rope at ground level, went back up to the top of the building, loaded the bricks into another barrel, and pushed it over the side. I then went back down to the ground and untied the rope, holding it securely to insure the slow descent of the barrel. As you will note on block number 6 of the insurance form, I weigh 145 lbs. At the shock of being jerked off the ground so swiftly by the 500 lbs. of bricks in the barrel, I lost my presence of mind...and forgot to let go of the rope.
      Between the 2nd and 3rd floors I met the barrel. This accounts for the bruises and lacerations on my upper body. Fortunately, I retained enough presence of mind to maintain my tight hold on the rope and proceeded rapidly up the side of the building, not stopping until my right hand was jammed in the pulley. This accounts for my broken thumb (see block number 4). Despite the pain, I continued to hold tightly to the rope. Unfortunately, at approximately the same time the barrel hit the ground, the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed about 50 lbs. I again refer you to block number 6, where my weight is listed. I began a rapid descent.
      In the vicinity of the 2nd floor, I met the barrel coming up. This explains the injury to my legs and lower body. Slowed only slightly, I continued my descent, landing on the pile of bricks. Fortunately, my back was only sprained. I am sorry to report, however, that at this point I again lost my presence of mind...and let go of the rope.
        I trust this answers your concern. Please note that I am finished trying to do the job alone!   

  WHY VOLUNTEER WITH TEENS?

       There is both humor and truth in the parable. I am so thankful to say that I do not feel like I "do the job alone" when it comes to our children and youth. I am very proud and grateful for this congregation who takes baptismal vows seriously. It truly does take us all to "train our children in the way they should go..."
     In Paul Fleischman's book entitled, Discipling the Young Person, he writes:  "So, the first thing that I would like to impress upon adults is that working with young people makes you the most needed workers we have. More than the pastor, more than anybody else, you are at the cutting edge. You are the ones who will insure the kind of leadership, the kinds of husbands and wives, the kinds of children that we're going to have in our churches in years to come. So straighten out your shoulders and try not to be too proud, but grasp the significance of the position you are in."

How significant is youth ministry?

 *Youth ministry is significant because youth are the most spiritually responsive segment of society. If we don't teach them, someone else will.
*Youth ministry is strategic because adolescence is the time when the most determinative decisions of life are made. There are the decisions about career, companionship, courtship and convictions…the establishment of life's values.  
*Youth ministry is strategic because young people still have an entire life in which to live and serve Christ. Listen to the words from the 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes:  Remember your Creator in the days of your youth... 
*Youth ministry is strategic because young people are desperately searching for models. Modeling has been called the "greatest form of unconscious learning."
*Youth ministry is strategic because youth ministry represents the greatest reservoir of future Christian leadership. Making an impact on the kids who will outlive you is the only way to guarantee the next generation will stay connected to Christ's church.

     In the movie Rocky, Sylvester Stallone says, "You got gaps, and I got gaps. Let's fill each other's gaps!" Each  summer, our youth and children will be very active. Let’s fill each other’s gaps. We need adult volunteers – for Mo Ranch, for Synod Youth Workshop, for the mission trip, for Vacation Bible School , Wonderful Wednesdays...TOGETHER, the bricks won't land on our heads or beat at our backs.

With great appreciation,
Sherry