I realize the Holy Spirit may be a “different” topic of conversation for this blog…so you may have to bare with me on this one.

The Holy Spirit is a mystery to me. A good mystery but still one.

Even as I try to write…I struggle with where to start or how to start.

But here’s what overwhelms me and moves me to gratitude…the Holy Spirit moves in all who are available. Girl, boy, old, young, outcast, sick, healthy, man, woman, confused, lonely, abandoned, orphan, sinner, saint…pick one, two…The Holy Spirit doesn’t hold back from any who are willing.

This a promise. This is a gift. This is one of the reasons I give my life fully to following Jesus. Because God, the Holy Spirit, uses everyone.

Want proof?

Check out Acts 2-

¹⁷ “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸ Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.

What does that mean for our youth ministry?

1. The Holy Spirit is central to our faith and ministry. We invite God’s Spirit into EVERY element of ministry. Administrative task, counseling, speaking and even playing.

2. We watch the Holy Spirit work in everyone. No one is off limits from the work of God’s Spirit.

3. We work to not set up man made limitations on how the Holy Spirit can move. This may be the hardest one, at times it is easy to decide what is appropriate and what is inappropriate…we try to control things and make them work and fit in our nice clean boxes. The Holy Spirit is a mighty wind…and can’t be contained in a clean box. That makes people like me (I have control issues) uncomfortable…and I am learning to welcome it…most of the time.

4. We build community. What? You might be wondering what community has to do with the Holy Spirit moving. When I examine Acts 2, I see community. The Holy Spirit moves and pours out on a diverse community of believers. Togetherness is essential to our journey and being a part of the work of God’s Spirit. The Spirit moves…lives are changed…and lives are joined together into a unified body. We build Holy Spirit community.

I guess that’s what I am learning. Like I said, not the usual post but hopefully it’s okay as we learn more about who the Holy Spirit is together.
What are you learning?