In his writing to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul used the metaphor of a seed to describe the way God works in the human heart. As any farmer knows, the planting of a seed is the first step in preparation for a harvest—a maturation that takes place in the future only after one has waited, watered and endured through months of patience and nurture.
Having grown up on a farm, I can attest to the power of seeds, the power of planting. In fact, as Jesus also described, a seed has to die before it can produce its full power—which is the plant itself. Seeds not only grow into crops, but also can become shrubs, trees or magnificent redwoods that can endure through centuries.
Ministry is often a study in endurance, in patience. When it comes to youth ministry, more patience is needed to see the fruit of one’s labor.
It is said that when Doug Fields first interviewed with pastor Rick Lawrence at Saddleback Church, he noted, “It will be at least five years before anyone will see any fruit from this ministry.” Wow, what a statement, and what an act of faith to wait for God’s work to show up in the lives and the promise of the Saddleback teenagers.
Let’s be honest. Most of our work in youth ministry is long-term. Rarely do we see immediate results from a youth meeting, a devotion, a sermon or a well-designed youth event. Rather, most of our work is accomplished in the long-term relationships, in the consistency of our prayers and work among teenagers.
Results often take years—sometimes generations—and there are times when one leader is only able to plant, hoping that down the road another will reap. That’s the power of a seed, but it is also the power of youth ministry.
