mark barofsky :: online

six years ago i started working with this crazy group of students. they were just starting the 7th grade – i was a young and naive 20 year old. now six years later, those same students are slowly trickling off to college all around the country. i have been able to grow and expand my perception of what ministry and life look like. it hasnt been a perfect six years, but it sure has been full. and good. and while i am sad to see them go [for sure it will be weird doing youth events without this bunch - ive never done youth without them] – i am also very excited to see what comes for these next six years.

thanks for always reminding me that community is better than not.

thanks for always being willing to try whatever crazy ministry ideas we throw at you.

thanks for teaching me about forgiveness.

thanks for showing me what it means to live a life of compassion and mercy and justice.

thanks for being willing to step up and lead and trust God to be God.

thanks for not forgetting to slow down.

thanks for being faithful to what God has given you and entrusted you with.

thanks for remembering the importance of loving the next generation of ministers.

thanks for wasting your lives on Jesus.

i will for sure miss the chaos and comfortablility that i have been able to enjoy in ministry with these now college freshmen.

i will for sure miss the random visits at my house.

i already miss having them alongside me in ministry.

i know im going to have to find a new bunch to teach me how to pretend-to-play the guitar.

but im also very excited

im excited to see what God does with them and with me over the next six years.

im excited to see how these students continue to be missionaries in this world.

im excited to see the challenges that lie ahead and how they seek Jesus through the hard times.

im excited to see how their college campuses are transformed because of their presence on them.

im excited to see how other students step up to lead this circus of a ministry.

im excited to see how other students step up to challenge me in my faith and way of life.

im excited to see how Jesus pushes me closer to Him in trust and communion. its going to be a sweet six more years. i was reading this morning and i think i will leave with wisdom from Proverbs 4. this is my prayer over these next few weeks for these students. i want them to hold fast to God’s Word that they have heard and experienced and explored the past six years and to hold fast to the Word they will continue to experience. i pray that they would guard their hearts and watch their words and be intentional about where their feet and eyes lead them. thank you Lord. what a sweet six years.

 ²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
   turn your ear to my words.
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
   keep them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
   and health to one’s whole body.
²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
   for everything you do flows from it.
²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity;
   keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead;
   fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Give careful thought to the^[c] paths for your feet
   and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
   keep your foot from evil.