Our pastor of the church in Navan who is newly installed just last week as the pastor asked me a couple of questions as we have traveled back and forth to our ministry site. One was why youth ministry? I had to reply that I love it and that I truly believe God has positioned Ann and I as “spiritual parents” to a whole generation of kids who will go into the ministry and be world changers. Not just in America but around the world. We are so fulfilled in discipling and training the next leaders of the church. Hopefully what we have modeled will look a whole lot like what Jesus did with his disciples. Walking slowly through the crowd with them and teaching on the go not just in a classroom.

Then he asked me the question “why Ireland?” You have to realize he is a new pastor of a 4 year old church plant at the age of 21. As he asks that question he has told me his story of getting saved and being influenced by exactly what we are doing this week, boldly proclaiming the love of Jesus through relational contact. He would be aggressive toward anyone who would stop to talk with him, but as we talked with 6 teenagers he positioned himself strategically to hear the whole conversation and as we were driving away he commented on how much those kids were like him and he is now a pastor of the church here. Supernatural thing happen!!

Why Ireland, well over 15 years ago I was scheduled to come to Ireland with Gary Davidson through Lakeside First Assembly of God when I made the move to come Owasso to be the youth pastor and from that the opportunity changed. When I moved to Fort Myers one of the first questions that I was asked was where do you want to go and take kids on missions trips. I replied Ireland just as quick as I was asked the question. Now five years, ten trips, 20 school assemblies and over 150 kids later we are making a difference in the youth culture here one student at a time. God has allowed me to befriend some of the greatest, most passionate first generation ministers to students here and I thrive on all this “first” stuff.

Why Ireland? Because God has directed my steps from as early as my summer spent in London in college ,to not think inside the box but to thing kingdom minded and see where that takes you.

why Ireland? because of simple obedience God has given me the desires of my heart. Ann and Maci and I are making a difference in a country through the vehicle of youth ministry. Somehow God has given us the ability to connect and influence them through love and time spent.

I read a book last night before going to bed by Bill Hybels about when Leadership Principles Collide with Holy Spirit Led Leadership decisions. In it he dealt with mans wisdom gained through experience and the opposite side when Jesus did what was against all those principles to reach and touch people. As I was reading it, I simply renewed my decision to be a disciple of Jesus and not of any other person or book or ministry group. Sometimes the path Jesus takes you on doesn’t make a lick of sense to the world but in His kingdom those simple choices made for Him, changes lives forever around the world.

Why Ireland? Because God burned it into my heart to go, so I went. I’m in love with God and he’s in love with me, this is who I am and this is who I’ll be, that settles it, completely!

Xtremely His

Kevin