Living Creatively

by Adam Kolosik

As leaders in ministry we must create. We create systems, services, programs, curriculum, moments and many other things. We are all creative in our own unique ways and we have access to the ultimate Creator of the universe. But what is the most important thing we will create? Will it be a large youth ministry? An amazing outreach? The perfect small group curriculum? I challenge that none of these things are anywhere near the importance of the creative act of living the life God is calling us to live. The most important creative act we will ever do is living a life on mission for the cause of Christ. The creative act of it is how we live our life and the story it tells those around us.

Our life and how we live will tell so much more to the students we lead than any sermon or illustration ever will. We can tell a story of authentic and genuine Love for Christ and His mission or we can tell one that says we care enough about it to make a few Facebook posts and tell a good sermon each week. Living a life after Christ is what got us all into this thing called leadership, so let us continue to create a life for ourselves that is falling more and more in love with Christ and inspiring others to do so from our position of leadership.

The Test of our Mission

by Heath Adamson

Focus and intentionality fuel the conversations many leaders are having regarding the topic of mission. Some leaders use mission to describe the ultimate focus as to why we do what we do. Others relate mission to living incarnationally as living epistles in a variety of settings. Both of these, and many more for that matter, are part of what it means to live on mission, think missionally, and steer organizations forward on purpose.

As the summer camps come to a close I cannot help but reflect on how mission is tied into the greater story. Looking into the eyes of campers and leaders alike brought me back to the realization that this entire story is authored by Someone whose purpose is everlasting and will never be defeated. To be on mission is to fundamentally recognize that we have been invited by God to pick up the pen and inscribe greatness on the hearts of children and students.

As we lead together let us always remember that we set goals, implement strategy, and monitor outcomes because His purpose is eternal. However, an even greater test of our mission is not simply our success but our longing to serve the dreams of those children and students who will soon pick up the baton and run where we cannot go. The mission is greater than we can ever fathom. The mission is not a task. It is not an objective. The mission is people for whom Christ died.

As we seek to live out this eternal and spiritual mission we now endeavor to become practical. The more spiritual we are the more practical we will become.