ROOTED - Thursday, July 24, 2025

2 Timothy 2:2
2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Reflection: A Better Way

Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro

I served as a youth pastor from 1999 to 2005. I might say something here at the risk of sounding like a braggart, but I was a very good youth pastor! I enjoyed it, I loved the kids, I connected to them, they seemed to love me, and I was able to grow those ministries at the two churches (not that any of those things made me a “very good youth pastor”). I say this all in service of the point that I have strong opinions about youth ministry and philosophies of ministry I think work best. So, when Makayla was leaving and I was tasked with hiring the next youth minister, I knew exactly the kind of person I was looking for… the kind of philosophy of youth ministry I think would work. 

We hired Jon Shepherd, and I could not be more excited about the future of the youth ministry at Timberlake. On the mission trip he did something I would NEVER have done. I knew that we would be having a devotional time every night, but I did not know he would divide the students up into teams and help them develop a teaching time to share with the other students. Now, it would never have occurred to me to give up an opportunity to teach to students (we are, after all, the trained “professionals”). Inside I grimaced and thought, “I’m not sure this is a good idea.” I am happy to report that I was wrong. It was a great idea. The students, each group, did a fantastic job and everyone (including myself) was instructed and taught the Word in a powerful way. Furthermore, the students learned more in the process of having to teach than simply in the process of being taught. Jon empowered the students to lead and to dig in the Word and learn for themselves. He was not caught up in the pride of saying “I can do it better.” He put the students in front of himself. In fact, is that not exactly what Paul instructs Timothy… namely to “entrust others to teach”?! I encourage you to pray for our youth at Timberlake, and those who lead them. Pray for Jon! And be encouraged by this: we have good and godly people leading our youth ministry. For this I am thankful.

Prayer 

Lord, bless our youth. Bless and guide those who lead them. May the next generation of leaders in the church come from our ministry here at Timberlake church!