Last night, I stood in the back of The Hub and watched my good friend Ben Redmond stand up and talk about the birth of this new youth center in Jackson, Michigan. As I watched and listened, I experienced an overwhelming sense of appreciation for who Ben is, and I simply have to share it.
1. Ben is doing what I only dreamed about. In my early days of ministry I read every book, attended conferences, listened to audiotapes from the experts (yes, audiotapes!), and I tried every method to grow the youth ministry I was leading. I remember getting everything in place and having a special unveiling party for my youth group (complete with a fog machine that I constructed myself). Ultimately, it all fell short of my dream. It just didn’t work for me like it did in the books or for the conference speakers. When I stood in The Hub last night I felt as though I was seeing Ben do what I could never do. I turned to my wife and said, “The Hub is every youth pastor’s dream, and he’s really doing it!”. I wasn’t jealous, I was proud. And if I’m honest, there was a little tear in my eye.
2. Ben is one of the most creative dreamers I know. I can still remember some of our very first meetings in the office at Westwinds when Ben first came on staff. From the very beginning I was blown away by his incredible insight and creativity. He had ideas and dreams about what Student Journey could become, about what we needed to teach on, about how to program things, and about how to build the team of leaders. That was about six years ago, but there is still rarely a meeting I have with Ben where I am not thinking that what he is saying needs to be in a book.
3. Ben has walked with me through the tough times. Since I’ve know Ben, there have been a few bumps along my road. I remember sitting in his office wondering if I was still cut out for ministry. Ben listened. I remember sitting frustrated in a hotel room at a youth ministry convention. Ben listened. Since leaving my staff position at Westwinds, I have really struggled to figure out what my role should be at Student Journey. Ben has listened and given me space to figure it out. I’m still figuring it out.
4. Ben is a leader worth following. It’s impossible for me to really express what it’s like to be on Ben’s team. I’m fortunate enough to have twice, in my 15 years of youth ministry experience, been on a youth ministry staff that has had a true sense of camaraderie. The first time felt like a once in a lifetime experience. When that team fell apart, I gained a special appreciation for what we had - though I never thought I’d see that again. Experiencing it again at Student Journey in these last six years has been like a double blessing. Ben makes sacrifices for his leadership team. Ben gives us resources to succeed. Ben prays for us. Ben loves us. Ben is a fantastic leader.
5. Ben loves students as if they were his own. That moment standing in the back of The Hub watching Ben stand up and talk also included another funny experience. As Ben talked, I could see his son (not yet old enough to be in the youth program) playing a game on one of the gaming consoles that surround the venue. Then I looked next to him and saw my son (also too young) paying one too. Then I looked across the room and saw my other son (too young) playing one. At that moment, I remembered something that Ben has said to me several times. He’s always talked about the big picture and about laying foundations for the kind of ministry that our own kids will one day experience. From day-one, Ben has been the kind of youth pastor that treats every kid as his own, and planned his ministry that way. For a second, I got a glimpse of what it will be like when our own kids actually are in that room playing those games and participating in Ben’s ministry. That’s exciting!
6. Ben has always known what Youth Ministry is really about: Students being known and heard. As exciting as The Hub is, Ben has always had a much broader understanding of what kids need. He knows it’s not really about this venue. The venue is just a platform for connecting with kids and giving them space to be known and heard. As cool as The Hub is, Ben is humble enough to know it’s not about him, but obedient enough to lead it with indescribable passion. Ben is brave enough to dream, wise enough to lead, patient enough to listen, committed enough to sacrifice, smart enough to surround himself with others, loving enough to change lives, and faithful enough to be the best youth pastor I’ve ever known.
As Ben closed the service last night, he talked about not being able to do this alone. At that time, several of the volunteer youth staff went up and surrounded him. I went up too, and I walked straight for him. I wanted to stand right behind him, not to share the limelight, but to symbolically show my commitment to be behind him one hundred percent. I don’t know what my role will be as things go forward, but one thing became crystal clear last night. Ben Redmond is my youth ministry hero!
1. Ben is doing what I only dreamed about. In my early days of ministry I read every book, attended conferences, listened to audiotapes from the experts (yes, audiotapes!), and I tried every method to grow the youth ministry I was leading. I remember getting everything in place and having a special unveiling party for my youth group (complete with a fog machine that I constructed myself). Ultimately, it all fell short of my dream. It just didn’t work for me like it did in the books or for the conference speakers. When I stood in The Hub last night I felt as though I was seeing Ben do what I could never do. I turned to my wife and said, “The Hub is every youth pastor’s dream, and he’s really doing it!”. I wasn’t jealous, I was proud. And if I’m honest, there was a little tear in my eye.
2. Ben is one of the most creative dreamers I know. I can still remember some of our very first meetings in the office at Westwinds when Ben first came on staff. From the very beginning I was blown away by his incredible insight and creativity. He had ideas and dreams about what Student Journey could become, about what we needed to teach on, about how to program things, and about how to build the team of leaders. That was about six years ago, but there is still rarely a meeting I have with Ben where I am not thinking that what he is saying needs to be in a book.
3. Ben has walked with me through the tough times. Since I’ve know Ben, there have been a few bumps along my road. I remember sitting in his office wondering if I was still cut out for ministry. Ben listened. I remember sitting frustrated in a hotel room at a youth ministry convention. Ben listened. Since leaving my staff position at Westwinds, I have really struggled to figure out what my role should be at Student Journey. Ben has listened and given me space to figure it out. I’m still figuring it out.
4. Ben is a leader worth following. It’s impossible for me to really express what it’s like to be on Ben’s team. I’m fortunate enough to have twice, in my 15 years of youth ministry experience, been on a youth ministry staff that has had a true sense of camaraderie. The first time felt like a once in a lifetime experience. When that team fell apart, I gained a special appreciation for what we had - though I never thought I’d see that again. Experiencing it again at Student Journey in these last six years has been like a double blessing. Ben makes sacrifices for his leadership team. Ben gives us resources to succeed. Ben prays for us. Ben loves us. Ben is a fantastic leader.
5. Ben loves students as if they were his own. That moment standing in the back of The Hub watching Ben stand up and talk also included another funny experience. As Ben talked, I could see his son (not yet old enough to be in the youth program) playing a game on one of the gaming consoles that surround the venue. Then I looked next to him and saw my son (also too young) paying one too. Then I looked across the room and saw my other son (too young) playing one. At that moment, I remembered something that Ben has said to me several times. He’s always talked about the big picture and about laying foundations for the kind of ministry that our own kids will one day experience. From day-one, Ben has been the kind of youth pastor that treats every kid as his own, and planned his ministry that way. For a second, I got a glimpse of what it will be like when our own kids actually are in that room playing those games and participating in Ben’s ministry. That’s exciting!
6. Ben has always known what Youth Ministry is really about: Students being known and heard. As exciting as The Hub is, Ben has always had a much broader understanding of what kids need. He knows it’s not really about this venue. The venue is just a platform for connecting with kids and giving them space to be known and heard. As cool as The Hub is, Ben is humble enough to know it’s not about him, but obedient enough to lead it with indescribable passion. Ben is brave enough to dream, wise enough to lead, patient enough to listen, committed enough to sacrifice, smart enough to surround himself with others, loving enough to change lives, and faithful enough to be the best youth pastor I’ve ever known.
As Ben closed the service last night, he talked about not being able to do this alone. At that time, several of the volunteer youth staff went up and surrounded him. I went up too, and I walked straight for him. I wanted to stand right behind him, not to share the limelight, but to symbolically show my commitment to be behind him one hundred percent. I don’t know what my role will be as things go forward, but one thing became crystal clear last night. Ben Redmond is my youth ministry hero!
I love you, bro!
