I twittered about this the other day but I thought it was blog worthy as well.  On Tuesday I decided to head to Chipman Middle School to have lunch with some of my students.  It is so funny to see the response that I get.  I mean, it is basically a  homecoming when I walk in the doors.  The students run up to me, people are wanting to sit with me, and best of all they are giving me their extra food (its cafe food, but I will live).  Anyways, I say that to tell you about my experience in the High School in my area.  When I walk in there it’s like I have the flippin’ plague (ok, so maybe I am overexaggerating).  Only a hand full of students actually embrace the fact that I am there and even fewer seem to want to sit with me.  I have my suspicions on why they act like this.  I believe its mostly because they have never had a youth pastor that cared enough to meet them where they are.  They just opened the doors on Sunday or Wednesday night and said HERE WE ARE…COME AND SEE!!!

BUT…Here’s the cool thing with the Middle Schoolers, if we as leaders in Fuel and Traffic Student Ministries begin to form the culture to where it’s normal for me or other leaders to be at lunch then that will flow right into the High School.  Students will no longer ask “Hey, what are you doing here [with the awkward look on their face]” they will embrace it as normal.  This is something that is going to take time but I am willing to pay my dues.  It is definitely worth it!  I mean really, how many students want to have somebody to come and eat with them?! ALL OF THEM!!!!  Youth pastors and leaders, get out of your office and get out of your comfort zone and get in the schools!  If the schools are open in your area but you have never taken advantage of that you should repent!  You have a HUGE opporunity…don’t take it for granted!