When Everyone's NO is Answered by GOD's YES!

"When everyone's No is Answered by God's YES."

I was sitting in a Starbucks with Derek Henson. I was talking about wanting to start a youth ministry. He was staring at the paper with all the philosophies and ideas. You could see it on the tip of his tongue, "But April you don't have any students in our church." I remember telling my Pastor I wanted to start a youth ministry. I remember his answer, "April church plants don't have a youth ministry until they have at least been established 6 months. However, if you really feel like God is telling you to do this, then do it." I remember sitting with my first leadership team talking to them about Element and I heard their concerns, "But April what if no students come." I remember sitting in the school cafeteria for the first time thinking, "Why am I hear. This was a bad idea." I remember the conversations. "Hi..my name is April. I am a youth pastor in town. Um...we haven't had our first service, so we don't have any students yet, but you should come in October. We will have free pizza." I remember the first youth group. The fliers had been sent out, and a few students showed. Element Student Ministries was off and running.

Everyone told me that starting a youth ministry at the same time our church was starting was a bad idea. I will admit I wanted to side with them. I wanted to just take a seat on the back row and wait for the perfect time. However, God had a different plan. He had placed urgency in my heart and the more people said no--the more God said YES! So I did the unthinkable. I began to plan. Having no students in sight, but the middle school and high school within reaching distance. I had an insane vision, a dream with the supportive backing of only God HIMSELF.

There are times in ministry when you may hear everyone saying NO and know that God is saying YES. This may put you in a place between a rock and a hard place. The people that mean the most to you, may tell you that you have lost your mind. Your most endearing friends may walk away from you because they consider you to have gone crazy. However, if it is GOD saying YES...then do it! Why? Because you know if God has said yes, then he is backing you up. And when God is backing you up, I am not saying that ministry will be easy, but I am saying that you will be able to make it. You will watch God do through you what few have every been able to accomplish!