DIRT Update

A New Chapter is the DIRT Crew Story
For me there is no better way to start a new year than with a new DIRT Crew. Pastor David Joyner recently asked me to come and help build a God honoring youth ministry at First Baptist Acworth. So I shared with him the vision of the DIRT Crew because I believe this is how you build a great youth ministry. A ministry that will impact the lives of students and the life of the church!

Just Start Where God Puts You
I actually got involved the last Sunday in November teaching the youth Sunday School class because they needed someone to come and help out. Once I showed up, I just kept coming and teaching. Even with only three or four students showing up, I knew God was up to something good. Each week I would tell them to just watch and see what God might do.

It was not long before a young man named Mark visited. Mark is a gifted musician who has a desire to serve. The next Saturday he spent the whole day setting up our sound system. Now Mark has already led the music in two Wednesday night youth meetings. One of the students told me that she was not convinced when I would say, “Just watch, people are going to start coming.” But seeing Mark was the evidence she needed to believe that something good just might be about to happen.

Our First Mystery Mission Project
When working with students I like to do what I call “Mystery Missions”. We meet on a Saturday morning, go and do a mission project, eat lunch together and then do something fun to end the day. There are several reasons I like this format. First, it is the “Mystery”. The students want to know what we are going to do. They are afraid they might miss out on something so they show up!

Second, I like the first several projects to be for people in the church. For example, yesterday we worked in the yard of a church member who recently lost her husband. She must have shared our mission visit with her Sunday School class and friends at church this morning. Many came to me before and after church expressing appreciation for what we accomplished. So we earn some respect from the church family which helps to create a positive support system for the ministry. All the compliments were encouraging but the best part was hearing those six students (pictured above) tell me how much they enjoyed doing a good deed for someone in need. That is music to my ears!

I love Youth Ministry!

“DIRT Crew University” That has a nice ring to it!
The picture above has special meaning to me because it is one of the first of its kind. This was a weekend reunion of college students who served at DIRT Camp this summer. They wanted to get back together before school and work fills their time again. On this particular morning we hiked up one side of Kennesaw Mountain and down the other. Sitting on the rocks right there we opened God’s Word and talked about the fact that Faith is a journey.

Now why is that so special? Because its a new place on the journey, the next level, DIRT Crew college students. They represent the first generation who have come up through the ranks of this ministry and now they are leaders of the ministry! I am praying that this will be the first of many generations of students who will grow to become great Christian influencers in this world.

There is one great story from this outing that I want to share. As I lead the Bible study I noticed a fellow hiker had stopped to listen. Later as we came down the mountain and I was approaching the end of the trail this same man in passing asked me about our group. He spoke of how impressed he was with the students and the Word that was shared. He even gave twenty dollars on the spot to go toward lunch. I am happy to say this is not uncommon. Everywhere we go people stop us and ask about our amazing group of students. I am so thankful the DIRT Crew stands out in a good way.

Last month I shared my heart’s prayer for the DIRT Crew. I want to ask you again to pray with us the prayer of Jabez for our ministry together... [1 Chronicles 4:10]


We are already planning our Winter DIRT Camp. This is hard work that demands commitment and sacrifice from our college and adult leaders; a volunteer force that either work or go to school full time. So why do we keep doing it? Because EVERY TIME at EVERY CAMP souls are saved and lives are forever changed. Please pray for Winter DIRT Camp and pray for the DIRT Crew!