Twenty-three years ago, I started volunteering in a small youth ministry near Ozark Christian College. A couple of years later, I was hired as a weekend youth minister at Park Street Christian Church, my first “official” youth ministry. And from there, I continued to grow in my ministry effectiveness and skills as a youth minister.

If you had asked me at any point throughout most of my time in youth ministry, I would have told you that youth ministry was all I could ever see myself doing. And for a very long time it was.

However, as I have aged, God has changed my focus gradually. For some time, I’ve been thinking and feeling that my effectiveness as a minister to teens was coming to an end. My passions have been changing from planning events and lessons to writing sermons and articles. My relationships have shifted from hanging out with teens to parents and beyond. God has been shifting my focus into new areas of ministry.

Recently, one of the students from my first youth ministry contacted me, asking me if I knew of anyone interested in a position with the church where he was serving as worship minister in Cabool, Missouri. Since it was a preaching position, I didn’t think twice about it. After all, I’m a student minister, and have been for more than two decades. But after much prayer, and a few more conversations with that former student, my wife and I decided that this might be where God was calling us to go. So, we should check out the possibilities.

Over the course of the next several weeks, we had several conversations with the leadership of this church. Soon, they asked us to come and visit, and asked that I preach while we were there. Soon after, they offered me the position of senior minister at Cabool Christian Church.

I accepted it.

This is a frighteningly exciting time for us as a family. All I’ve known for most of my time in ministry is youth ministry, from an associate minister point of view. Since that has been my perspective, I’m honestly fearful of this change. I know it will be different than what I’m used to doing. I know much of what will be involved, but being in the position, instead of looking on from another role, will carry much more weight than I realize.

In speaking with a very close friend who’s input I find invaluable, I mentioned that I hope I’m up for the job. Her reply was “Jeff, you know you aren’t up for the job on your own.” Those twelve words stopped me in my tracks. The only way I can accomplish anything and be effective is by leaning on Christ and his power. That was a nugget of wisdom that completely dispelled my fears and helped me to see anew that where God leads, he sustains.

And so that brings me to the exciting portion of this change. God is leading my family in a direction completely different than anything we’ve known. New experiences. New responsibilities. New roles. New schedules. New relationships. New ideas. New ways for me to grow and strengthen my dependence upon God. That has my heart racing.

So it is with a bittersweet feeling that we announced to our church that I have resigned my position as student minister. We will miss our friends here in Florida, both in the church and in the community, many of whom have become as close as family. It always saddens me to see an era or phase of my life come to a close. But we are excited to see how God leads and acts, both in our family life and in the life of the church here in Brooksville.

And so, May 19 will be my final Sunday as the student minister at Brooksville Christian Church. May 19 will also be my final Sunday as a student minister in any form. Our journey has taken a turn that will take us through unexpected and unknown territory. But knowing the destination, I am confident that the journey itself will be great!

We would greatly appreciate your prayers as we make this transition and begin this next phase of our life and ministry. Please also pray for the church in Brooksville, as they begin the process of seeking the next person God has in mind for this ministry.

What tremendously big thing is God doing in your life? You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.