It’s dark thirty on Sunday night following my first full week as youth pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Florence, SC.  What an amazing seven days this has been.  Here are some of the highlights:

Sunday, May 26 – Our First Sunday.  The highlight of this day was when the students gave me a new Bible to use to teach them the Word.

Monday (Memorial Day) – Five teenage guys volunteered to come up to the office and help me clean, set up, and decorate.  We spent about eight hours together and had a awesome time.

Tuesday – First day in the office with the staff, funeral visits to students who had deaths in their families, and dinner out with a family in the church.

Wednesday – After having breakfast with one of the students who lost his grandfather earlier in the week – I showed up to work (on my birthday) to find two teenage girls in my office yelling “surprise” along with over 260 balloons, and the office totally covered in aluminum foil.  This was by far one of the coolest things ever.  That evening we had youth worship followed by a great dinner out with some of the fellas.

Thursday – Things settled down a little and I was able to begin getting VBS and Summer Camp plans together.  Then I spent the afternoon with the home inspector of our new house.  That evening I went to the funeral visitation of another family in the church who lost a grandfather.

Friday – More awesome meetings and conversations with church members and prep for Sunday and summer camp.

Saturday – West Florence High School Graduation and two graduation parties for three of our students.

Sunday – Today was instillation day where the church commissioned me as the new youth pastor and prayed over our family.  The day ended with a great VBS Kick Off and Youth Summer Camp Meeting.

Was that enough for one week?  I’m tired, but a great tired.  It’s been hard learning everyone’s names, but it’s been a fun ride so far.  One of the best moments of this week was on Wednesday night when I talked to the students about the Tuareg Cross.  It was first passed first from me to Nic Moore back in May of 2006.  From Nic it has been passed hundreds of times over the years.  Wednesday I passed it for the first time at Ebenezer to Drew Wike.  He was so excited to get the opportunity to wear it.  In fact, when I went to see him graduate from WFHS on Saturday he was wearing it under his gown.

I have no idea what the Lord has in store for the coming years, but if this week is any indication of what’s ahead – I can’t wait.  I pray that in everything Christ is first and that He would give me the wisdom to lead these students and families boldly toward His throne.