going after God

I have a friend that wants to be a youth pastor like me. Recently he asked me what he needs to do to have a job like me. I told him that he would need training and experience in an existing youth ministry, and some sort of degree from a bible school. however, all of that takes time, and he doesn’t want to wait- he wants to get in the game right now. I told him to call my friends at elm street mission. they serve kids in santa cruz, and they could use some more help. he would get a lot of opportunities there. so he called them.


a few months ago, I went down to elm street mission to talk with ben, their pastor about an upcoming trip. he told me that my friend had called, and I told him the situation. he said something that has stuck with me ever since. he said, “no- we don’t care if you have a degree from a bible college or a seminary, but we do care about is that you’re going after God.” then he gave me some examples. he said, “take mike for example. he’s preaching tonight in the service. I don’t expect to see him at all until he gets up to speak. I never see him on the day he speaks. but I know that he is up in his room with his bible open and his face on the floor. I know that he has been fasting all day, begging God to use him. that’s what we care about. who cares about a bible degree? I want to know if you’re going after God.”


at that point, my master’s degree from western seminary didn’t seem as big or as important as it once was. ever since I’ve been asking myself, “am I going after God?” that has been my measure of success- I still count how many staff and students that show up. I still have the offering counted, but more importantly, I have been searching my heart and evaluating my own level of desperation for God to use me. and of course, some days are better than others, some are worse. what about you? are you in ministry? are you going after God?


recently, I was at elm street mission, and I listened to mike preach. I could tell that he hadn't eaten all day- he was crazy-hyper, which can happen if you don't eat, but still drink coffee. but I could also tell that he had prepared for that message all day, and that he had been in the presence of God.


in the end, that is your credentials- not your degrees, or your past success, but your nearness to God.