Part of what this site is about is giving something back to the community that has given me so much. Every few weeks I hope to shine the spotlight on someone I look to when I think about the kind of minister I want to become. Click here to see who else has been in the spotlight and what they had to say.
The next victim, er...volunteer, to find their way under the spotlight here at 2smallcoins.org is an award-winning trainer, who, according to his web site, "uses energy, humor and stories to affirm the goodness of God's presence among us while inviting others (and himself) to take the "next step" in our journey with God." It is an honor to share with you Mike Patin's answers to the eleven questions.
(Mike received the National Catholic Youth Ministry Award in the category of Trainer at the 2006 NCCYM. Click on Mike's picture to visit his website)
Name: Mike Patin
Number of years in ministry:
The first retreat I ever worked was in the fall of 1978, when I was a freshman in college…if you count that way, 28 years is how long I’ve done this. But if you want to talk as a paid job, I have been at youth work since 1984 which is 22 years.
Past incarnations of ministry:
I have served as a summer camp director, a high school teacher/coach/campus minister, and diocesan youth director.
Current incarnation of ministry:
Speaker guy…I much prefer the following terms: faith horticulturist, itinerant witness of Jesus, or Evinrude on a cesspool.
What else should we know about you (education, family, etc.)?
I am not the best minister in my house. My wife Marlene shows Jesus so transparently in her relationships and workings. I wish everyone could just hang out with her so they can see where a lot of MY inspiration is found. I have a 14 year old daughter Megan who is a sweet talented young lady. They are so supportive of me and work so hard to help me.
What is one thing few people know about you?
I learned to read at age two (really).
In your experience, what is the most significant blessing of serving in youth ministry?
Simply, the relationships. I have been blessed to share life with some really beautiful souls who fire up my soul and inspire my living by their quiet example of including Jesus in their real lives.
In your experience, what is the most significant challenge of serving in youth ministry?
There are so many…I would start by saying to NOT take myself so seriously. I can begin to believe my press clippings and then begin to put expectations on myself which Jesus doesn’t expect. That can be a very seductive form of idolatry. Living with HEALTHY tensions (family vs. ministry) is not easy.
What has been the thing that has surprised you most about your ministry?
It is that young people are capable of more than I give them credit for…especially in terms of “raising the bar”…they are willing and hungry to be challenged by Jesus, discipleship and the gospel. I am also surprised when teens think I am cool since I have been a nerd since high school.
Share a ministry memory that helps you persevere in the dry times.
Denver, World Youth Day, 1993. A group of teens and I had an informal, unplanned talk over lemonade in
Estes
Park
after all of the WYD events were over. The chat was natural, not forced, open faith sharing…and it was magical. There are many others where I saw teens rise to the challenge of servant leadership too.
What is one issue or emerging question in the field of youth ministry that you would like to see addressed?
I have a few…the first is what about HEALTHY models for married lay ministers. I think many of us don’t honor family and don’t create safeguards to help us do this. The other might be to have a very “intentional” “revisiting the vision”…is ‘renewing the vision” still viable as a paradigm for ministry today. I am not saying it isn’t…I just wanna be in on the chat to hear where folks are.
Who is one mentor or role model of your own that you would like to see answer these questions?
Mark Pacione |
