fbpx
youth ministry, youth worker, VBS

A 45 year old at VBS

By Doug Franklin July 6, 2009

My butt is too big for the chair and my knees hit the desk, but my coloring is awesome! I sit between Sherridan and LaMya, two ten year old girls who live in unbelievable poverty.  I told them my name is Mr. Wonderful and so far they seem to believe me. The truth is they don’t care who I am or what I do, all they care about is if I will be back tomorrow. God has been teaching me a lot about what he meant when he said, “Blessed are the meek,” or blessed are the available.  Because of a shortage of staff, I left my comfortable office and traded my computer for crayons. God’s lessons have come between coloring pictures of Peter catching fish and the whale swallowing Jonah, they have been about humility and being available. God is changing my heart on many things – very fun and very cool.

If my friends and partners in ministry could see me, I think many of them would shake their heads.  But I think when God sees me he smiles…..mostly because he knows Peter never caught purple fish.

About the Author

Doug Franklin

Doug Franklin is the president of LeaderTreks, an innovative leadership development organization focusing on students and youth workers. Doug and his wife, Angie, live in West Chicago, Illinois. They don’t have any kids, but they have 2 dogs that think they are children. Diesel and Penelope are Weimaraners  who never leave their side. Doug grew up in…  Read More