It's biblical, that's for sure...

"Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.  For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.  Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself?  Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him.  Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken."  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Even with the biblical truth entwined in it, though, my working relationship with Kyle Pierpont has been slowly suffering for an extended period of time.  Kyle and I are the Grace Church Youth Guys.  Known by names of The Two-Headed Monster and the Dream Team, we have fully and equally split the responsibilities of running Grace Church's Youth Group.  We've had these responsibilities and these names for approximately 8 months now, but the tension in our office had been building up with every step.

I am not tired of, frustrated with, or angry at Kyle.  I would venture to say he is not tired of, frustrated with, or angry at me.  However, we have both individually felt frustrated with the inefficiency with which we work.  We've got two youth guys, people, we should be rockin' and rollin' when it comes to ministry, and it just seems we get stuck in the mud because we constantly have to check in with others before we make our ideas a reality.  We are two cars driving 80 miles an hour in slightly different directions, so that the resulting post-impact speed is slightly over 40.  We need to straighten out our paths.

Well, we may have needed to do it sooner, but God kinda took it in his own hands midweek this past week.  I had prayed with my accountability partner that I would have boldness and the right heart to speak with Kyle about how we're not getting enough done.  As I sat there in my office while Kyle spoke at chapel, I prayed with a colleague about the possibility of splitting our roles into complete Jr. High and Sr. High responsibilities.  As I sat there, about to drop this "bomb" on Kyle, he turns to me and starts this conversation:

Kyle:  "Hey, I have this idea.  Don't freak out."
Bob:   "Kinda depends on the idea."
Kyle:  "What do you think about the concept of a Jr. High and Sr. High youth pastor?"
Bob:   "Shut up!"
Kyle:  "What?"
Bob:   "Guess God spoke to us both!"

I can't explain this conversation other than by two men trying everything they can do direct their ministry after God.  We're not in it for popularity or esteem, but simply to serve God exactly how He tells us.  So here's the gameplan.

As of right now, it looks like Kyle will be taking reins of the Senior High Group, and I will be taking the reins of our 6th through 8th graders.  There will be no hierarchy for us, and we are still working together, under the same mission statement and vision for the youth group.  We will still both be at most of the other's activities, however, we won't have to worry about setup/organization, so we get to spend some unadulterated time with the kids. 

When it comes to directional ministry, we will be constantly communicating in order to keep on the same path, but as far as little ministry applications go, we finally get to run with our own ideas and grow on all levels.  No longer am I working with parts A, C, and E of the entire ministry while Kyle works on parts B, D, and F.  Now we both get parts A through F, and get to mature in all areas for future personal benefits.

Both Kyle and I are excited about this change and are excited about the implications it will have on the ministry as a whole.  I can't wait to see two men driving 80 miles an hour in the same direction, rather than losing that momentum due to the setup.

Let's do it!

Bob