Here it is (drum roll, please.) No, I mean it. Do it right there where ur sitting ’cause I’ve certainly shown u what a goof I am. Quid Pro Quo time.

Disclaimer: This was my first uth ministry gig and I volunteered. My hubby and I were 20 years old, breathing and church members in this little church in a sub of Chi-town. Apparently back in…a year with a 9 and an 8 in it, that WAS a yp’s job description. (Ironically, some churches still think that’s all it takes today.)

There were no background checks. There were no conferences. There were no nationally known mags. No CCM bands; Keith Green was barely on the scene. Stryper and Petra wouldn’t be around for like 10 years yet.

Our denom was sponsoring a uth weekend ski event in Lake Geneva, WI. We would sleep at a local college and ski at a place known as The Playboy Club.

Me, hubby, another couple from the church and some kids headed out. I can’t tell u how many teens; not sure I ever counted. No permission or med forms either. And we didn’t need no stinkin’ seat belts!

It gets worse. Lights out came and our kids were all in their dorm rooms. But we adults weren’t sleepy. What to do?

Did I mention my hubby and I were 20 and temporarily in WI? Which back in those days had a certain age limit of only 18 for consuming certain type beverages. The four of us checked on the kids; they looked asleep…so we went into town to shoot some pool and “whatever.”

At least we weren’t gone THAT long; maybe an hour. We shot one game and headed back. Can u believe our kids were not in their rooms?! Imagine that. Neither were several of the conference adult leaders. Is it bad for a group to get sent home because the adults broke the rules?

Epiloge: All our kids were fine and? still got to ski – at least I think they did since i? didn’t know to do any check-ins during the day. We adults? apologized profusely and promised we’d never do anything like it again (which I haven’t). I did get in trouble with the Sr. Pastor… who was also my dad. The guy in the other couple is now a big time county sheriff.

I told u it was bad.

Moral of the story: We know better today. No excuse for dumb stuff like this when so many youth ministry pioneers have blazed the way to teach us better. So with your students, don’t take chances. Do the right thing. Watch them like a hawk. Love them like Jesus.?

Stephanie
PS-in case ur wondering, I’m not proud of these stories. I regret the mistakes. Praise God, the frequency has lessened as the years have passed. Maybe I did learn a little something along the way and I hope u did, too.