The D.Min project continues to be rewarding and stretching in so many ways.

I read Gretchen Schoon Tanis’ book Making Jesus Attractive – The Ministry and Message of Young Life over the past few days.

What a gift to our organization. Schoon Tanis celebrates the many victories of our organization and also challenges us to be thoroughly thinking through the way toward the future.

Pete Ward notes in the forward that “this is an important and timely book…it challenges the organization to take a critical view and to reflect on how it shares the faith. It is timely because the 75th anniversary of the organization should be a time to reflect on the past and reset the compass for the future.”

Towards the end of the text, Schoon Tanis asked the reader this poignant question: “How would you like the chapter of your Young Life work to read?”

So, for you YL-ers out there.  I ask the same question:

“How would you like the chapter of your Young Life work to read?”

Maybe it is coming up with a new way to invigorate your committee.

Or how to structure campaigners or your camp follow up.

Maybe it is a new tool that helps you track and care for your financial supporters better.

Whatever it is, pause to pray, to think about it and to implement it.

In the words of Rayburn, “The best Young Life work is yet to be done.” May we continue to be “cow-tippers” as we learn to continue to ask great questions, to listen well and to allow God to mold our thinking and models as we move effectively toward the future of ministry in Young Life.

There are new frontiers for us to explore, new thoughts to forge, new hearts and lives to shape. Whatever these wild lands are, may we be thoughtful, respectful and creative as we listen to the Lord and others!

Kevin