The Living Crèche (Plus: Youth Ministry Podcast)

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Matt
Welcome to Saint Stephen Voices, the podcast of Saint Stephen United Methodist Church. I'm your host, Matt Comber. This is where we gather around the stories that make our church community who we are. The hands, feet, and heart of Jesus Christ and our neighborhood, our city and in the world. Here we have conversations with members doing remarkable things. Updates on what's happening at Saint Stephen.

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Matt
And opportunities to get involved and serve alongside one another. Whether you're a longtime member new to our community or just curious about what God is doing at Saint Stephen, we're glad you're here. Today we are joined by Shelby Wilkins, our director of youth ministry. How are you today, Shelby?

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Shelby
Hi. I'm doing great. How are you doing?

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Matt
I'm doing awesome. I'm so glad you could join us on the podcast. We have lots of things to talk about today, and I'm excited to learn more about youth ministry, as I'm sure many of our members will be as well. But let's let's start with you. How did you end up in youth ministry? Was was this always the plan or did God have other ideas?

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Shelby
This definitely was not always the plan. When I was in high school, I felt the call to ministry. But it know what specifically I wanted to do. And so I went into college just with that same understanding. And I majored in ministry leadership and Bible and theology to try to get as much information as I could.

00;01;32;13 - 00;01;57;08
Shelby
And part of my college experience is I needed to do an internship to graduate. And my internship really changed everything for me. I ended up at a church in Northeast Ohio for this internship, and I got a plethora of experience at this internship. I got to intern under every single pastor that was at this church, and I fell in love with youth ministry.

00;01;57;09 - 00;02;22;04
Shelby
They gave me a lot of autonomy, to do whatever I wanted with the things that I led during this time. And so I got to lead the high school girls small group. And, that was the first time I remember just being so fulfilled by what I was doing. I think God has a funny way of this kind of showing you instantly when you step into your calling, like, yeah, I've been waiting for you to do this, and now you're doing it.

00;02;22;08 - 00;02;44;15
Shelby
And that was just kind of the moment that I had that summer was, oh, this is what I have found the most joy and is being with the students. And so I came back from that internship having just a new found, just calling to youth ministry. And I ended up working at that church. After I graduated for two years.

00;02;44;18 - 00;03;03;11
Shelby
While I wasn't the youth pastor there, I was the youth ministry admin. And at the end of that two years, I felt the call that God was saying, hey, I want you to do more vocational youth ministry, not just admin work, but more than that. And so started looking and I ended up here and I love it.

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Shelby
It's been amazing.

00;03;05;25 - 00;03;18;16
Matt
That is a very cool story about your background and how God called you to this. Thank you for sharing. And we may hear a little bit more about what work in youth ministry actually looks like here in a couple of minutes.

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Shelby
But yeah.

00;03;19;28 - 00;03;39;27
Matt
First, a fun question. I wanted to throw your way before we get into some of the more serious questions. You. Anybody who comes into the church office knows this. You have a small whiteboard on your office? Yes. And this is where you often ask, like, really fun and simple questions that are still inviting people to think, you know, to thoughtfully respond.

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Matt
So I'm just going to spring one on you now. What is your favorite holiday? Religious or secular, and why is that your favorite?

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Shelby
I love this. I love that little question board. I have my favorite holiday. I have to choose Christmas. I love Christmas, I am a you can decorate for Christmas on November 1st person I love the decorations. I love the music. I love that it's just a happy season for the entire world to participate in. I just think it's so joyful and it's just it's this season of giving, and I don't think there's anything better than that.

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Matt
Yeah, yeah, I agree. Christmas is among my favorite, but Easter too. There's yeah, there's two for sure. For sure. So what what would you say is your favorite part. You know, you talked earlier about God really pulling and drawing you into youth ministry and how how you felt, when you worked in that internship. What's your favorite part about working with young people?

00;04;47;11 - 00;05;16;14
Shelby
I think there's so many amazing parts about working with students. I think if I had to pick one favorite part, I think this answer encompasses a lot of answers, and that is they just keep life so exciting. They keep me on my toes, they keep the other adults. And it's because you are constantly being flooded with new students, with new personalities and new things that they love and new ways that they experience God.

00;05;16;14 - 00;05;43;17
Shelby
So I get to learn from them, while also teaching them, which I think is the best thing ever. And I just love that I am constantly challenged to be better and to do better. It's it's not the same format. Every time it goes the same format has to change as times change and as people change. And so I'm challenged to make new games, to make new ways to teach a specific thing.

00;05;43;20 - 00;05;56;26
Shelby
And I think that it's just the best part is that this ministry is very fluid, but it's also very engaging, and they're just they're the most fun group of people to be around.

00;05;56;29 - 00;06;20;04
Matt
They are fun. I've gone I've come to a few like youth groups and it is fun and but you know, a lot of a lot of our church members don't have the opportunity maybe to come to a youth group or participate in youth activities. Can you paint a picture for the folks who are listening? You know, what does youth ministry look like here at Saint Stephen right now?

00;06;20;04 - 00;06;25;15
Matt
Who are we serving? Kind of. What's a typical event like?

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Shelby
Absolutely. So currently we have a about a group of around 30 to 35 students. If everybody came on the same night. And so that has been growing since I got here. When I got here, it was closer to about 20 to 25 students. And so we're seeing that students are inviting their friends, which is very encouraging. And things that they like to invite their friends to are some of the bigger events that we get to do so about once a semester, we do one bigger event, whether it's a fall retreat, of course, in the fall semester or in the spring semester.

00;06;59;17 - 00;07;30;25
Shelby
I did a walk in last year, which the students really love. That was our highest attended event that I've ever done. We did a coup themed, and so every room was like a different club room, just like the board game. And they're figuring out the fictional mystery that we had for that night. But a regular youth group night is on a Sunday evening is from 4 to 6 p.m., and for that two hours we spend time with friends, we eat snacks, we play Mario Kart, we play board games, we play group games.

00;07;30;25 - 00;07;51;22
Shelby
Whatever ridiculous, whatever that I came up with for the week. But we also have a time of worship where our student led band leads us, worship, which is very, very special. And we usually have the time either in small groups or I have a message prepared for us. And small groups such as we split into smaller groups, of course, just like it sounds like.

00;07;51;22 - 00;08;10;14
Shelby
And we just get to discuss whatever topic we have for the week, which I think is such a special way to do ministry, because you get to hear from your peers and what they think as well. And so it's pretty much the same format every single week, but we have a lot of fun. And it's really just the best.

00;08;10;14 - 00;08;29;09
Shelby
And then, of course, the summers look different and the summers are when we go to our big mission trip for the summer, whether that's ASP or Youth Works. And we also have a summer retreat, which is basically a full retreat. Just kind of on steroids. So it's a little bit bigger. We go a little bit farther away. It's just a lot of fun.

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Matt
It does sound like a lot of fun. I might have to I might have to volunteer, be a chaperon and go on my retreats.

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Shelby
Really? I'll take.

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Matt
It. Maybe. Maybe we will see. What? What have been some recent highlights or wins for you all and youth ministry. Are there any moments that have really stood out?

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Shelby
I think the biggest one of all, of course, is the purpose of this ministry. And any ministry is to fulfill that great commission right? And so I have been having students fill out what I call decision cards at the end of our bigger events. And that's really just they tell me, hey, what was your experience on this retreat?

00;09;07;20 - 00;09;24;24
Shelby
What can I do better? Do you need anything? What can I pray for you about? And there's also a spot to say, hey, like I said yes to Jesus for the first time. Or like, hey, I recommitted my life to Jesus this weekend just as a way that I can celebrate with them and that decision and follow up with them.

00;09;24;27 - 00;09;48;13
Shelby
And on our summer retreat, we had seven students say us to Jesus for the first time at our recent fall retreat, which was like a week ago, we had three students say yes to Jesus for the first time, and those are the biggest ones. You didn't ever have in ministry. And so those are constant on top of the list to celebrate, because those are new members of the kingdom, and that is the entire purpose of all of this.

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Shelby
And we've had countless others experience Jesus in a new way. They hear him say something really specific as he guides them through whatever season they're in. In life. And those are just the moments that I look for. I remember specifically this past summer retreat, I title about a weekend, and we really were just talking about mission and the great Commission, and why it matters why we do that kind of stuff.

00;10;11;22 - 00;10;34;02
Shelby
And I had each small group go and do a mission project, buy it, give them any directions. I just said, hey, I want your group to go pray individually for a little bit and see what God wants your group to do for your mission project. And so it was really challenging them to listen to God, see what he's saying and, just be very spirit led.

00;10;34;04 - 00;10;53;16
Shelby
And it was so fun to see the different projects that they all did. One group went and picked up trash at the college we were at. One group wanted to go to the local, shelter and donate food. One group wanted to go to the animal shelter, and it was just really cool to see, just how God led them in that moment.

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Shelby
And those are just the greatest moments that stick out to me. On top of the fun and funny moments is just these students are experiencing Jesus, and that is so special.

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Matt
Yeah, that does sound special, but it also sounds like it. You know, our youth ministry is really making an impact, especially absolutely like the simple lessons of of learning how to listen for God and the Holy Spirit and, and learning how to say yes to Jesus, which isn't a one time thing. You know, you you have to choose to do that daily, like throughout life.

00;11;30;21 - 00;11;58;21
Matt
Yeah. You know, a lot of people at, at Saint Stephen can remember when the youth group here was was many times larger and we know the youth ministry has changed a lot, not just at Saint Stephen, but, you know, across the country, across the state, what for you, what makes youth ministry essential and important today? Especially for our community here at Saint Stephen?

00;11;58;24 - 00;12;22;04
Shelby
Yeah. One thing I kind of have to remind myself is we can't correlate size and impact, because they're not one in the same. You can have just a significant impact, even if there's not as many people coming to anything. That is. And I think that's what we have to realize about youth group is we might be a little bit smaller right now, but that doesn't mean our impact is any less.

00;12;22;06 - 00;12;45;05
Shelby
I fully believe that we are having as profound of an impact, on these students lives as they get off to college and then having to go after college. And that is the the significance of youth ministry today is this is the next generation. And something I always tell them, I'm like, you're not just the future church like you are the present church.

00;12;45;08 - 00;13;07;23
Shelby
And that is significant. And I think we have a responsibility as the adults to shepherd them along in their walk with Jesus. And I always remind myself, like, what did I need when I was in high school? And what did like, what was something I needed to be told. And that is how I look at these students.

00;13;07;23 - 00;13;27;17
Shelby
I'm like, you are so significant and you have so much impact and you are changing this world. And I truly believe this generation will change this world. And I'm so lucky that I get to be a part of that. And I think that is just the biggest thing I could ever say is we get to be a part of that.

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Shelby
And what a privilege it is to be a part of that.

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Matt
Thank thank you. I mean, I think you you said something really important that that the youth involved in Saint Stephen's youth ministry or any churches ministry, they're not just the future church like they are the church today. They are a part of the church. Right. And so just with that, that in and of itself means that we have to make an investment and we have to be there, for the entire church, for the whole body.

00;13;57;01 - 00;14;15;18
Matt
So thank you for for sharing that. You know, we've had a phenomenal conversation already. I think we've gotten some really good insights into what makes our youth ministry special. You've talked about some of the highlights and some of your your recent wins, things that stand out to you. But what are some of the things that are coming up?

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Matt
What what are you excited about and what should people have.

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Shelby
On their radar? Yeah, our next big thing of course Will. We are planning for a walk in in the spring, which is honestly the biggest event that we do. This is I need the most volunteers for this event. I need the most hands on deck. I need the most resources for this event. It kind of sounds crazy when you look at bigger trips and you're like, that's not as much work.

00;14;41;12 - 00;14;57;00
Shelby
Know the lock. It is more work. But it is so fun and the students love it. And so that's what we're wrapping up for. Of course, immediately we have our Christmas party. And December, which will be a lot of fun, but the walk in is what we're looking towards currently.

00;14;57;02 - 00;15;11;12
Matt
You mentioned that needs a lot of support and volunteers. How do folks reach out to you if they want to give of, you know, maybe their time, talent, treasure, how to folks reach out to you?

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Shelby
Yeah. You can reach out to me on any platform, email me, text me, or our Instagram, ss UMC youth group. Any of that, you're able to reach out. I am always looking for volunteers. I am always looking for adult leaders. I always say, this is the one time in a student's life or really in anybody's life, where they have adults who want to pour into them, not because they are paid to be there, not because they are family, not because they are volun told to be there.

00;15;41;26 - 00;16;05;22
Shelby
Because they have adults that love them and want to pour into them. And that is so significant. This is really the only time that ever happens in some people's lives. And I think it is so important for us to show up and to pour into them, even in fun, stupid events like a locket. And so I always need volunteers and I always say, one of the biggest waves is a lot of our students.

00;16;05;22 - 00;16;21;15
Shelby
They need scholarships to go on these retreats. They don't have the financial capacity to go on them. And so if you're able to give your camp volunteer able to give, we are so grateful for that, because that means the student is able to come on a trip.

00;16;21;17 - 00;16;52;13
Matt
Awesome, awesome. Well, I've really enjoyed having this conversation with you today, Shelby, and I think that anybody who has listened this far is going to walk away with a phenomenal amount of knowledge about what's going on with Saint Stephen youth. Last question for you and then we'll we'll wrap it up. So if we've got somebody listening and they've got a middle schooler or a high schooler who's never been involved, maybe never come to youth group, what's what would you want them to know?

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Matt
What's one thing you would want them to know? And and how can they get connected?

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Shelby
I would just say there is a place for you in our youth ministry, we have ages, or grades 6 to 12. We have everybody in those grades. There is a place for you at the table, and we would just love to have you. I know youth group is sometimes an intimidating social circle to step into, but I promise you, there's, just a really welcoming atmosphere.

00;17;20;17 - 00;17;37;24
Shelby
We would love to get to know you. And I think the easiest way is to come to one of our events. Come to the Christmas party on December 14th. All we do is we play games and we just get to celebrate this season. And it's just a really fun, just easy way to step into that atmosphere. And so please come.

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Shelby
We would love to have you.

00;17;39;05 - 00;17;57;29
Matt
Well, maybe I will come too, because I like I said, this sounds like fun. And so anybody listening, if you've got a middle school or high schooler and they've maybe expressed a little bit of interest, have them reach out to Shelby. Of course, you can find all of her contact information on the church's website. Her email address is there.

00;17;57;29 - 00;18;18;18
Matt
We'll have them in the show notes as well. If you are someone who has the time to volunteer and you want to volunteer on a retreat or the lock in, I'm sure Shelby would love to hear from you. And of course, Evelyn's always important to and so you don't have to feel guilty if you don't have the time or the the interest in working with youth.

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Matt
Your financial support is always a phenomenal way to help shepherd our young people as well. Shelby, thank you so much.

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Shelby
Thank you.

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Matt
Thanks so much for listening to this episode of Saint Stephen Voices. You can learn more about all the events and happenings at Saint Stephen by visiting our website, Facebook or Instagram. All our links are in the show. Notes. You're also invited to join us for worship any Sunday. Our traditional service is at 9 a.m. and our modern service encounter is at 11 a.m..

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Matt
We worship at 6800 Sardis Road in Charlotte, North Carolina.