By David Rimarski
Do you want to know something that blows my mind when I think about it?
It has only been four months!! Yeah, let that sink in. I have been the student minister at Mount Carmel for four months. In that time, I have gotten to know the staff, I have built relations with the students and volunteers, I have learned most of the students’ names (I am terrible with names), and I even confidently shouted “WHO THEY” to the entire congregation as I tried to support my new home team. Just saying, now they are on their way to the Super Bowl, but I digress.

In this short amount of time, I have found out that I love it here! But the question is, NOW WHAT? “What’s the plan, David?” “What is your vision for the student ministry for the year 2022?” Well, I’m glad you asked. I want to build. I want to build relationships with the students AND parents. I want to build bridges that allow the families at Mount Carmel and the student ministry to support each other and grow as we take on the responsibility of discipling the youth. Proverbs 22:4 says,

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (ESV)
I don’t know if you have ever built a bridge before, but it takes time. It is not a fast process, and if it is rushed, the construction and foundation can crumble. I want to take 2022 to focus on building bridges with families to know they are not in this alone. Discipling preteens and teenagers is a task that takes a village. We have the extraordinary task of raising the next generation of Christian leaders, and I want to be available as a resource for parents and students.

I look forward to the relationships and connections we will build together this year and in the years to come!