Serving youth: Youth pastor Andrew Callis says students need counsel in today's world

Youth pastor Andrew Callis of the Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau said one of his main reasons for teaching is because students need counsel in today's world. He admits that creating ways to get them excited about their faith and convicted about their choices is sometimes strenuous, but he has been able to find ways to do so. Callis encourages his students to be active.

How long have you been a member of your faith? About 20 years. I made a decision to follow Jesus Christ as my lord and savior, but it wasn't until about 10 years ago that I truly "got it" and gave every part of my life over to him as he truly calls us to do.

What drew you to serve in a leadership role? God opened doors along the way in my life since age 19. He would present an opportunity to serve and lead, and I'd take it, though I was usually really intimidated. It started in somewhat small ways like leading a Bible study class for one night, but this was followed by more opportunities and more responsibilities. I went from a substitute Bible study teacher to a weekend retreat leader for students to a Sunday school teacher for students to a part-time student minister and finally to a full-time student minister. My life to this point really is a testimony of the truth of Luke 16:10, which says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much."

How did you become youth pastor of Cape Bible Chapel? My wife and I joined Cape Bible Chapel in 2004 shortly after getting married. During the two and a half years to follow, we built many relationships with some great Christ-followers there. We loved it there and didn't plan on leaving. But God had other plans. Through an open door and God's apparent leading, he lead us to serve part-time in student ministry at First Baptist Church Scott City. We remained there for two years, loving the work we got to do for the students. In 2009, the student minister position opened at Cape Bible Chapel. After many people prompting us to check into it, we decided to pray about it and seek counsel about the opportunity. We eventually felt God leading us back to Cape Bible Chapel.

What do you see as one of the main purposes of the youth ministries department at the church? I think the main purpose is to lead students to Christ and help them grow in their faith. Getting that done can be a challenge. Students are bombarded daily with peer pressure, media and philosophies that are opposed to Jesus and the Bible. Creating ways to get them excited about their faith and convicted about their choices is crucial. Students are making decisions during the teen years that will alter the course of their life, so they need student ministers, adult mentors, and each other to encourage them and challenge them during this tough time.

How do you keep the youth engaged in ministry activities? Stay active, engaging and relational. Students want things to do, so we provide many outlets for them to do so. We'll meet weekly for events like in-home small group Bible studies on Sunday nights. We'll also get together and play Nerf wars during a late-night event just for fun. We engage the students by speaking on topics that are relevant to them and by using the Bible as our primary tool because it is "living and active." (Hebrews 4:12). It gets them thinking and challenges them where they need to be challenged.

As a youth pastor, you serve in a supportive role to the head pastor at Cape Bible Chapel, so who, if anybody, helps support you? I have several wonderful adult volunteers who assist in leading studies, programs and events. We've got a great team and work together to build up the student ministry. They know the importance of serving behind the scenes to organize events as well as the importance to building relationships with the students and encouraging them in their walk with Christ. I'd be working a lot more hours with a lot less results if I didn't have their help.

What would you deem as the greatest challenge that you have faced while overseeing the youth ministries department at your church? Meeting all the needs and being patient is difficult at times. Every student is at different maturity levels physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. Trying to have programs, events and studies that hit every level is a challenge. It requires a lot of volunteer help to even get close to doing so. Along with that, I'm learning to be patient. I'm realizing I can't have every aspect of the student ministry a "perfect 10" within the first year or two. Being patient to lay structure down first and slowly hone each working part one at a time continues to be a learning process for me.

Do any of the youth serve in a leadership role within your organization? Our student leadership team is in its beginning stages still. We have eight students who have committed to lead other students by example and service. They went through an application process to be selected for the position. Right now, we are meeting every two to three weeks to primarily work on becoming a team through getting to really know one another. We pray and keep each other accountable. This spring, we plan to focus more on what leadership means as a student and dive deeper in that. They have assisted in organizing some events as well. I'm excited about the potential in our student leaders and can't wait to see what God does through them in the coming years.

Were you involved with Cape Bible Chapel before become the youth pastor at the church? As mentioned above, I was and was amazed at the love, sincerity and Biblical wisdom of the people in the congregation and leadership there.

What do you think makes this organization special? Its devotion to God's word as the ultimate authority and the radically changed lives of many members there. I've found out at CBC that those two things go hand. People who are serious and excited about God's word are transformed by it and lead lives that leave many people in awe and leave others scratching their heads. I've never been a part of a church with so many genuine Christ-followers who know and love the word so much.

What's your favorite verse and why? That's tough because I feel like it changes based on what I'm currently studying or being taught by God. Romans 5:8 is one of many that I love. It says, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." It reminds me that God doesn't love me because I'm a great guy. He loves me because he is a God who loves unconditionally. It's part of his character and what makes him different from all other gods. Even when I was a sinner (and therefore an enemy to God according to Rom. 5:10 and Col. 1:21) who had no relationship with him through his son Jesus, he still gave up his son for me. Being a dad, I wouldn't give up my son for my enemies, but God did. I still disappoint him and turn my back on him, yet I can always see his love for me in what he did for me through his son Jesus. Remembering his love for me through the cross always breaks me and brings me back to him.

What events or occasions does your organization have coming up? Disciple Now is a big event for us and several area churches. It's a great event that has been around for a long time. In fact, I first went as a student when I was in [sixth] grade. It has two great aspects. One is that many churches are united in coming together serving, having fun and worshipping Christ. Two, each church has its own host homes and age- and gender-specific groups that do Bible studies and hang out for the entire weekend. We expect at least 350 area students to participate this year and would love all area students to come with a friend and check it out. It's Feb. 17 to 20.