As I sit at my desk today, I have been thinking back over the last 22 years of ministry. God has allowed me to be in some amazing places. I remember just starting out at the age of 19 in a little church located in a shopping center in a bad part of town. I can still clearly see loading my 1979 Ford Thunderbird with as many kids as would fit from the neighborhood and going to Burger King. It was there that I heard the unmistakable calling to youth ministry and I found the woman I would partner with for the rest of my life. The church closed its doors and we sensed God’s call into the military. It made no sense at the time, but we knew that was where we were being led. We committed to trust God to send us where He wanted us. Everywhere we were assigned, God led us to a church where we became the leaders of the youth ministry. It was amazing, but hard too. Separated by deployments and the Gulf War made us strong and forced us to rely on God.
After my first enlistment was up, against everyone’s opinion, we signed up for another tour. This time in Europe. It was in Germany that we found ourselves once again running student ministry and being introduced to an amazing organization called Young Life. It was all about building relationships with students, earning the right to be heard, and sharing God’s amazing story of grace and love. We were sold! We again sensed God’s call, this time to leave the military and go into full time ministry. We spent the next 10 years entering student’s lives and sharing the Gospel in Germany, Italy, and on the Space Coast of Florida. We knew every student on a little Navy base in the middle of the Mediterranean and we oversaw ministry that reached out to 1000 students in Brevard County, Florida. We loved Young Life, but there was a restlessness we began to feel in our hearts.
During this time we felt God leading us into a new adventure as He called us back into local church ministry. We moved to Bradenton Florida and watched God do amazing things in the lives of students. It was challenging for our family during this time. God was chipping away at us as He was molding us into what He wanted. God was faithful and He began to grow a vision of youth ministry in my heart. A ministry not focused on programs, but on the truth of scripture and the desire to do everything with excellence. It was about building God’s kingdom and not our own by coming along side with others and reaching students no matter where they went to church. I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself and I learned this is only possible when the center of ministry is Christ and not our own personality. God opened the door for us to join Mosaic Church outside of Orlando who had this same vision. Once again ministry grew and doors were opened into schools and with other churches in little over a year. It was astounding how quickly these relationships grew. God’s hand was on this and yet there was still that restlessness. We soon discovered God had a bigger plan than what we first imagined and that my days of running a church youth ministry had come to a close. A new adventure was beginning.
Here I am at age 41 and I am starting an entirely new ministry that combines my passion to reach students as I did in Young Life and my passion for the local church. A ministry that will engage over 24,000 students in our area, connecting them with local youth ministries and connecting them to each other to make the difference in their schools. A ministry that will invest in youth pastors and leaders, providing networks, support, and coaching. A ministry that will empower a new generation of leaders to continue the fight for our students by providing internships, mentoring, and training. Life That Matters Ministry will start in the Orlando area, but will spread everywhere. It is time to have a ministry and a life that matters for the kingdom.
Winston Churchill,in his first speech as Prime Minister said, “You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory – victory at all cost, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.” Youth ministry can not and will not fail. The stakes are to high. We must and we will reach this generation.
How do we do this? We do it together. We need you to partner with us and this great ministry. We need you to pray with us as God opens doors for school assemblies and community outreaches. We need your prayers for unity as we partner with churches and organizations. We need you to consider financial support as we establish this ministry over the next few years. We need to raise around $5,000 per month in support. If only 50 people would commit to $100 per month, or 100 people to $50 a month, or 500 people giving $10 per month we would reach our goal. Every dollar you donate will make a difference in the lives of students. If you are in Florida, we need you to consider setting up a dessert or coffee time with friends and family so that we can come and share the vision. The fact of the matter is we need all of you. We are staying on staff at Mosaic Church in Oakland, Florida for oversight and accountability of all funds. This is a huge dream and together we can make it a reality. Our desire is to launch ministry this coming August, which means we have little time to raise funds. Will you join us and help us to change the world?
All donations are tax deductible and should be made out to Mosaic Church and mailed to 3833 Glenford Dr, Clermont, FL, 34711. Please e-mail me back with whatever you can do and please pass this on to others on your mailing list. I can not wait to see all God is going to do as we partner together. I hope to hear from you soon.
Tony Hevener