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10 YEARS OF YOUTH MINISTRY

REFLECTING OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS

10 YEARS OFYOUTH MINISTRYREFLECTING OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS

Two Thousand Eight - Two Thousand Eighteen.

I started out my pastoral ministry at Chinese Baptist Church August of 2008. Little did I know 10 years later I would be still at this church, still working with youth, and still with a lot more to do. The following post is a reflection of the past, lessons from the trials and the victories, and advice to other youth pastors and leaders.


I am extremely humbled to have reached this milestone in this field and I must take this opportunity to thank my family for all their support, encouragement, and prayers. Especially to Tina as my lifelong partner, coach, cheerleader, and helpmate. To my youth group past and present at CBC for without you, I would not have this position and opportunity to serve. To my youth leaders for being the true backbone of this ministry. Your sacrifice and love for students sustains this ministry. To my youth pastor cohort in Houston and around the world - thank you for running this race so faithfully with me. Thank you CBC for allowing me to shepherd these students and families all these years and providing me the space to do so. Lastly, thank you mom, dad, and janell for always always always supporting and praying for me.

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Year 1 (09.14.08)

A month into signing my contract, Hurricane Ike hits Houston and leaves thousands (including myself) without power. With my parents already moved to Atlanta, the only place I have to go is the church. We stayed at the church for about two weeks cleaning, playing, and turning what was a natural disaster into my first over-night/mission trip.
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Year 1 (02.22.09)

Ordination Date. "We, the undersigned, upon the recommendation and request of Chinese Baptist Church at Houston, Texas which had full and sufficient opportunity for judging the God given fts, Christian experience, call to the ministry and views of, hereby certify that Justin Ho-Yee Wong was solemnly and publicly set apart and ordained in the work for The Gospel Ministry by authority and under Chinese Baptist Church in Houston, Texas on the 22nd day of February 2009."
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Year 2 (10.26.09)

We bring a group of youth leaders to Arlington, Texas for BGCT Conclave and we not only sit under the teaching and preaching of Matt Chandler, but we finally get to chat with and take a picture with him. This is the man that has influenced every fiber of my Christian ministry.
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Year 2 (03.2010)

Family Spring Break trip to San Antonio, Texas. These were some of the most formative times building relationships with the students and the families on the trip. Looking back, i'm grateful for the parents allowing me to tag along and spend time with their students.
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Year 3 (08.20.10)

One of our first leaders retreat. It was a small crowd back then but if you notice, many of these leaders have maintained the course and continues to serve to this day.
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Year 3 (06.13.10)

In the middle of year 3, I had a chance to drive up to Arlington, Texas and see my former youth graduate High School. This was one of my first classes I was able to practice pastoral ministry and biblical teaching. They are now off and changing the world.

TOP 5 THINGS I'VE LEARNED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS

1. The Gospel is the thing that drives you, grounds you, and reminds you. It drives you towards the goal of seeing students go from darkness to light. It grounds you on the days and seasons when you want to give up, want to be selfish, and can't find hope. It reminds you of why you did this in the first place, why you're still doing this, and what it'll be like forever.


2. Biblical community isn't a group of people who look like you, think like you, and act like you. True biblical community is centered upon the gospel and where there is the gospel, there is community. It is multi-generational, spans across socio-economic boundaries, personal testimonies and the baggage it carries, and most of all preferences.


3. Humility comes before growth. No matter how much education, books i've consumed, or experienced gained...without humility it leads towards arrogance. Always ask for help. Always seek to learn. Always seek to be a student, especially a student of students. There are always people who will be "better" than you...instead of striving to be them or beat them, seek to learn from them and be faithful with what you have and be the best version of you.


4. Many people want the benefits of Jesus without really wanting Him. Many people want the benefits of church without the commitment of membership. Many people want to apply christian standards to others without submitting themselves under the same standard. I'm still learning how to be consistent, balanced, gracious, and bold in this area.


5. Youth ministry is the most difficult, yet most needed ministry there is. Ok, I may be a bit bias on this because of where I sit but hear me out. During this time of adolescence, students are going through massive changes - biologically, physiologically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. They are treading through puberty, dating, stress of school, adulting, driving, college apps, peer pressure, sex, and so many other things. Youth ministry adds on so many other things that make it difficult - working with children and college ministries, the perception of youth and youth pastors from the congregations, liabilities with working with students and leaders who work with students, the ever changing culture of social media, entertainment, and social ethics. It is hard. Very hard. If you stay in for awhile your own personal life changes and that demands so much more of you. There were so many times where I wanted to quit and give up. Worries of students not liking me, pressures of time spent between family, work, and friends. And especially a season of feeling unproductive, inefficient, and worthless. And so this is why youth ministry is so important. Because if we can actually speak life and do life with students at this age, if we can equip parents to shepherd their students, if we can dream about what this demographic can do...it would literally change the world.


I've learned that I don't know too much. I've learned that i'm still very young and immature in this field and that there is so much left to learn, to explore, to teach, and to equip. Lord willing, my prayer is that He uses me as someone who disciples those who lead others.

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Year 3 (06.12.11)

We took our youth 20+ hours overseas to serve at Pantai Baptist Church Summer Youth Camp. It was one of the most intense, rewarding experiences of my life being able to lead my first international missions trip while building some amazing relationships with the community there. Memorable moments: Joe going to the ER; Fish feet therapy; Ice in the Juice; and Roti.
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Year 4 (12.30.11)

The Winter Retreat where there was not enough caffeine. Theme was community or was it missions? Either way, we had a cultural dance and a texas dance party. Also...we had Josh Yang, Aaron Chang, Eric Su, and Derek Le as counselors.
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Year 4 (06.08.12)

The summer where we went to NYC to help our friend Larry Mayberry plant Connection Church in Astoria. Highlights include: Stomp, fishing for candy, italian pastries, and Larry.
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Year 5 (10.27.12)

Marriage. The biggest lesson of them all. Picture of the Gospel.
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Year 5 (07.25.13)

Our first sabbatical year. We cancel all the normal activities and we try something different. So instead of Discovery Camp Impact, we took our students and leaders to Student Life Camp in Arlington.
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Year 6 (01.01.14)

The Winter Retreat with Joe-Freakin'-Thorn! And SWCBC! I believe there was a rave somewhere in that retreat too!

TOP 5 MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS

1. Timothy Keller The Meaning of Marriage

2. Crossway ESV Study Bible

3. Nancy Pearcey Total Truth

4. Mark Dever Nine Marks of a Healthy Church

5. When God Shows Up Mark Senter

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Year 6 (06.23.14)

The crazy summer where we took the seniors up to DCCYC for their summer camp on top of everything we had to do.
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Year 7 (11.03.14)

Welcome Ella Claire Wong
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Year 7 (12.29.14)

The winter retreat with the extremely questionable theme party including maracas, Josh Ling and the Band, and beans
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Year 8 (08.30.15)

Welcome 6th graders...here's some frosting on your face! and here's some gummy bears to go with it!
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Year 8 (01.08.16)

Apparently this was the year where we put things on people's face. Here we kickoff spring access with pie-ing one of our college leaders (Jordan Moy) in the face. He seems to like it.
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Year 8 (04.29.16)

Welcome Mia James Wong
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Year 9 (12.2016)

After 6 years of study while getting married, having 2 babies, shepherding youth...I finally finish my DMin. This was a milestone just because it shifted and challenged the way I thought about ministry, education, and the importance of mentorship. It was extremely humbling and Im grateful for my community, family, and mentors that pushed me along the way.
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Year 9 (03.13.17)

Our first trip to LA Ranch and Costa Rica. We meet Luis through a series of fortunate acts of sovereignty. We were able to take a massive team to go preach, paint, and play in this beautiful city.
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Year 10 (12.31.17)

New faces but same ministry. We preached the gospel from day one and now we have new friends and coworkers to continue this journey with us. These are some of my favorite people in the world.

5 THINGS FOR YOUTH PASTORS (OR FUTURE YOUTH PASTORS)

1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength...and love those whom he created in his image. It is not your skill, intellect, or experience that grants you the privilege of leading others, it will be your love and passion for the Lord. And it will be that love that will extend to others - your youth, your leaders, the parents, and the church.


2. Be a student of students. Always be on the ground with the people you're serving and walking with. Seek to understand their way of thinking, feeling, hoping, dreaming, and hurting. Always take the time to listen to their words but more so their hearts. Be a student of their spiritual, emotional, social, psychological, and cognitive developments.


3. Love your leaders and parents well. They are your backbone to the ministry and they will be the ones that really drive the ministry before and after you leave. Take care of them. Be their pastor in growth and resources and be their pastor in correcting and rebuking. Publicly acknowledge your leaders and parents as often as you can. Train them to do what you do, but better.


4. Partner with Gospel-minded pastors who love youth and the ministry. One of the reasons why I made it to year 10 was because of the awesome network of pastors that I met up with, shared with, stole ideas from, and did life with. They were my source of inspiration and joy constantly.


5. You must think in short and long terms. While you need to think through immediate philosophy of ministry and the administrative side of things, also think through the trajectory of your youth group. What is your dream for them - not only when they graduate, but what kind of youth group are you aiming for? What's your "golden unicorn"?