I was asked on Sunday if I would do the devotional for United Methodist Men this week. I knew how much "busy" work I had to do today. Being that I don't like saying no I decided to share the lesson I shared with the confirmation class this week about how I got into ministry.
One phrase about ministry during that discussion stuck out. We refer to them as Boydisms. It is one of Boyd's best quotes, maybe the ultimate quote of wisdom: "The hours are long, but at least the pay sucks." I knew then ministry was not about the money, and I still know that today. We don't do it for the money, if we did we would be seriously misguided in more ways than one. First, in most cases the "big time" money isn't there and second (and more importantly) that should not be a determining factor on why we do ministry. Every year our youth or our church pay money for our youth to go on a mission trip and work. We actually pay to work. This is because we are in ministry and ministry is not about going on vacation, it is about serving wherever we are. Which makes the price for us well worth it. Yes, a lot of times the hours are long, and yes most of the time the pay "sucks." And you know what, I wouldn't change it for anything.
The experience for me, for us, and for others far outways the cost. Mission trip is always the best part of the year for me at our church. There is always something awesome that happens for me and for our youth on that trip. And every year, I can't wait to go back again.
grace&peace
kevin
PS-and for those youth reading this, I will gladly do 20 pushups for using the word sucks twice...make that 30 pushups.
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