It has inherited problems such as kids
being pulled out for doctor appointments or
some sport etc. The good news is that we
can continue ministry throughout the year.
The second mission is done elsewhere. For
18 years we would go to the Rez in North
Dakota however, we have been released
from that mission focus. So for now, we
have done a separate mission.
Retreats: We do a fall and spring retreat.
There are way too many bonuses for me to
comment on why these continue. We have
stayed at one location for over 20 years for
one retreat and for the other retreat we
have changed venues.
YMS: Were there programs or traditions
that you decided to end? How did you
come to this hard decision and get the
group to move on?
Mario:
Summer Sunday school.
Before, we had it to have it. It was poorly
attended and hard to have consistency
and hard to get teachers. The greatest
benefit is that for the summer my family
has a break. I go to one service and I am
done on Sundays . Everybody seems happy
and no one really misses summer Sunday
school.
YMS:
When you first came to your
church, what was your goal for the
youth ministry?
Mario: My goal has always been to
introduce teens to Christ and to go deeper
as we move in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The deeper parts of God are found as He
reveals His daily plans to us. So I try to
teach them how to hear God. Of course
this means outreach and serving others.
An interesting perspective is that over the
years I’ve seen my teens go through waves
where they really seem to get it and then
when they are not interested. I am not
interested in entertaining teens. I can't
compete with the world.
YMS: After these 20 years, now what is
your goal for the youth ministry? Share
about the ch anges in you and your
church that led to this change?
Mario:
This is a hard question
because the group goes through cycles. I
can't tell you how often we get a teen "hot
for God" and then poof they leave before
we can go really far with them . It is like
our music team. In September they aren't
really that good. However, by the spring
they play really amazing. We only have
them for a month-plus and then a third
of the team moves on. If we are lucky or
blessed we have this team for two years.
The real blessing for me comes when I
see how many of my teens continue into
ministry or continue their walk in a deeper
way. So it is back to the drawing board for
us.
The one thing that God is doing with
me is to really step out in prayer.—“when
Heaven invades earth.”
I want to see
my teens bring more of heaven into their
everyday lives. The cool part is that my
9th grade and younger seem to be hungry
for this. They will be raising the bar higher
than previous generations (my opinion).
What often gets in the way is school. They
get so caught up with school that the
momentum from the summer takes a back
seat. This is my challenge for this year.
Did I mention discipleship? This will be
the difference maker in order to keep the
fire burning. It also helps to have leaders
available to minister to our teens. I can't
do it by myself.
YMS: When did you come to realize that
your role at your church was larger than
just the youth ministry? When did you
feel like you were a core part of your
church’s vision?
Mario:
Our church was really on
target with it's teachings. When I got to All
Saints I had good core values, experiences
and a descent vision; however, I grew
so much in the first two years. These
people were radical and committed. I was
impressed with the amount of men involved
in ministry to youth and children. At first I
thought that I was the mentor; it took me
two years to discover that the roles were
reversed. All along I was integrated as a
key player as well as my wife. My vision
was to live into the vision of the church.
We were to become a "House of Prayer for
all Nations". Prayer was so much more than
I could imagine. My quiet times with God
expanded which also shaped my ministry
to be more than ever before.
Have I mentioned how important
prayer is to my entire life?
If you or if you know someone who has
been active in youth ministry 20 years
or longer, please submit their name and
contact information for a possible future
interview for YM Long. Please send to
[email protected].
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