“I’m at Caswell and I just set up two surf rods by myself thanks to the teachings of Allen Murray.” That is a text message I received from Derik a few weeks ago. He asked me if I would write a blog post reflecting back on my time as a member of the youth group. So when he sent me that text, I knew it was how I would begin. Of course I know it probably makes no sense to most people to start off a blog posting about my time in youth group with a text message about fishing a couple years after graduating out of the youth group at Southside. So I’ll explain.
I was always the kid in youth group that decided no matter where we went on a trip, no matter the time of year, if there was water I was going to bring a fishing rod. (If I didn’t have a fishing rod I would even use a clothes pin and a spool of line to catch fish, with success I might add.) I absolutely loved to fish, and when Derik came along he learned this quickly. But Derik wasn’t much of an angler when I met him. I’ll be honest there was one particular time we were surf fishing at Kure Beach I knew for sure that my fishing rod was about to become property of the Atlantic. But over the years Derik invested in a couple of surf rods and I taught him how to fish. So it was really cool to get that text the other day, being able to see Derik use the knowledge I gave him to fish on his own. That brings us to 2 Timothy 2 where Paul writes to Timothy:
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach also.
Paul taught and mentored Timothy to be a minister of the gospel; likewise is the case of my time in the youth group at Southside. Now I’m in college getting an education and preparing to be a church planter and I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it wasn’t for the investment of the leaders of 180 Student Ministries.
So much was learned in the 7 years I spent in the youth group. I received a first-hand taste of what biblical exposition is on those Wednesday nights out in the shed going through Philippians and 1 John with Derik. I can still remember some of the lessons he taught from those nights even though it has been 4 or 5 years ago. We had a lot of real intimacy those nights with just a few bibles, a djembe, and Derik on guitar. It was an example of discipleship that I want to pass on to those I have in my ministry.
I received my first real experience of missions when we went to Augusta, Georgia for World Changers. I was able to see the impact of the gospel change a woman’s life for the better. It set me a flame for sharing the gospel that summer. We made other trips as well, some local, some a bit further, and now I’m excited to see the group going to Jamaica, Brazil, and beyond. So you could say I taught Derik a bit about fishing for fish, and he taught me a bit about fishing for men.
I received a lot of one-on-one discipleship from Derik, John, Neil, and Dan while I was in youth. Derik poured a lot of bible into me and I cannot begin to thank him enough. He challenged me and always enjoyed throwing out a big seminary word in there to mess with my head at times. He put good books and good preachers in front of me. Sometimes we went toe-to-toe debating theology, at times a bit too far. But we never stopped trying to advance the kingdom together. If I had something going on I knew I could give these guys a ring and they would be there for me. They prayed for me. They were there at the hospital if something happened to someone in my family. They cared. If there is one thing I can say about these men who poured their lives into mine, it is that they are way more than just youth leaders. They are my brothers in Christ and my friends, and I pray our friendships are lifelong.
So many memories were made while in youth group. Reflecting on the road trips alone are worthy of a blog post. In these few paragraphs I just wanted to give a bit of reflection in my time with 180. I pray that in years to come many more can make such reflections under that ministry, and that someday I might be able to make the same kind of investment into making disciples of the Lord Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria- to God alone be the glory-
Allen Murray- www.eyeswellrubbed.com
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