You Can Take The Girl Out Of Youth Ministry, But You Can't Take Youth Ministry Out Of The Girl

I discipled Marky Mark. Whenever one of those stories that has grown to mythic proportions regarding the student ministry at our church gets told, he was a part of that moment in some way, shape or form.

I discipled Kristy, too, from more of a distance...until I hired her to work for me. Whenever one of those moments regarding the student ministry at our church needed a servant's heart or actions, she delivered, usually with infectious laughter.

They got married yesterday and it was another one of those moments for our church family to celebrate. We're getting downright great at this whole "life together" thing as a church body. So much so that as I worried how cliche this entry was going to sound simply because I've rambled about how much fun we have at events like this one.

How many ways can you say the bride was beautiful? (Even if this one truly was)
How many ways can you say the groom was smitten? (Even though he was)
How many ways can you say that the ceremony was fun to be a small part of? (Even though it was)
How many ways can you say that it's fun to get together with friends you've known for a couple of decades? (Even though it was)
How many ways can you say that our church family really does have fun together? (Even though we do)

And all that is true today...the morning after.

But that isn't really what I wanted to talk about.

What I want to talk about today is the flower girls.

See, Kristy started to happen about her junior year in high school. She was there the first two years, consistent & faithful. But as she matured she became extremely confident in who she was and what she was about. She could change the entire dynamic of a house team struggling in 105 degree heat in Mexico just by making jokes about a "hoe" in such a way that you felt like you might need to squelch it but then again she could always fall back on the reality that she was just referencing the tool in her hand.

She could lead worship with just her voice and a djimbe drum. That's how you know it was really worship and not a performance.

She could star in poorly produced (but hilarious) videos and be the reason we had to "cut" to get our composure back. She has always been one of the most naturally funny people I know, and our staff knew we had video gold if we got her to laugh. When she does it's infectious.

So, I hired her right after she graduated high school.

She stepped down because she discovered that she loved the ministry side of student ministry, but couldn't stand the paperwork side of student ministry. After 3 years working on my staff she stepped down from any and all paperwork duties (had to use that word because anytime that word was said in staff meeting she'd giggle just to get us all to laugh--and you certainly didn't want to mention any type of STOOLS that might need to be moved off stage for some reason) to work for a local magazine. Apparently the business world knows talent when they see it, too.

But she stuck around with the ministry side of student ministry. I paired her up to disciple the senior girls immediately. Wanted her to work with the legendary Mrs. G. who has discipled the senior girls longer than I've been at the church. They make an incredible team that even the freshman girls start counting down until they get into that group.

Anyway, back to the flower girls.

See, Kristy didn't really have family or friends with daughters of "flower girl" age. If you know Kristy, these were opportunities she relished because they gave her a chance to be innovative and creative.

So, her flower girls included the legendary Mrs. G...

...and 5 girls she discipled from the class of 2005.
...and 6 girls she discipled from the class of 2006.
...and 8 girls she discipled from the class of 2007.
...and 4 girls she discipled from the class of 2008.

(give me some fudge factor on the exact numbers & years, okay?)

They were all in polka dotted dresses.
They danced in pairs down the aisle holding hands and each one sat in aisle seats across from one another.
They all stood up when the music changed, letting the congregation know the bride was about to enter.
They all threw rose petals high in the air as the doors opened to let them flutter down landing on the aisle runner to precede the bride.

And I'm standing on a stage with groomsmen to my left that I had a part in discipling.
And I'm standing on a stage with bridesmaids to my right that I had a part in discipling.

And I'm watching 24 flower girls, some of whom rearranged their entirely busy collegiate lives to be there to throw rose petals in the air to let them flutter down landing on the aisle runner to precede the bride. And they were thrilled to be a part of it.

And it hit me: Kristy was brilliant in youth ministry. She built meaningful relationships with her students, loved them, and taught them about the abundant life. You can't teach people how to do that. You just find them and let them have at it. "D" Magazine is lucky to have Kristy write for them.

And I was lucky to have her on my staff.

But 24 girls in polka dotted dresses sitting in aisle seats and throwing rose petals might be one of the best tributes students can give their former youth minister...

...who walked down the aisle on her father's arm with Moby's "Porcelain" playing as her wedding march.

Audience members likely had no idea of the backstory. They just enjoyed the moment like we all enjoy wedding moments.

But that moment was akin to Mr. Keating's students standing on top of their desks in that movie "Dead Poet's Society."

And it takes an old youth minister to truly appreciate it.

So, from one old youth minister to another...

...Godspeed, Kristy.

*raises coffee mug, toasts, and reminds you to start taking your wifely duties seriously.*
*winks*
*spit-takes with laughter*