Sometimes you have to see the Middle School Forest for the trees. Ministering to Middle School students is a thrill! I love to see the light bulb come on when they connect their lives to biblical truth or live out life in such a way that shows true discipleship is happening. Today was a glimpse into that crazy forest called Middle School Ministry and I definitely saw some trees poppin’ out in the distance! Okay, enough with the metaphor…but today in our middle school small group, I saw something amazing happen. i flipped the structure of the class to keep things hoppin’, and we did things in reverse. Prayer Requests first, bible study next. Over the next few minutes I saw middle schoolers who normally shy away at praying and even giving requests, give deep, passionate requests for their friends and family. The room was covered with a quiet hush (!) as they shared of their struggles and desires for others. Rather than me praying for them and the “list” of prayer requests, I asked each of them to pray (yes, out loud) for someone else in the room. As we prayed, it was exciting to see students connect with Jesus on their level, praying in whatever way they could, most fearlessly, to a God understood and cared. I”m so proud of these students for stepping up today, and I know God will continue to honor their efforts to seek Him authentically. The next part, the Bible Study, was also just as exciting. They were engaged in reading and pondering how God used Nehemiah under Artaxerxes (get a Middle Schooler to say that with a straight face!) to accomplish his will for the israelite people. I love these students!