A day in the life of Dan

 We catch up with Dan Paterson to see what a day in the life of a youth pastor is like...

The life of someone working in the spiritual lives of youth and young adults is never predictable! But each day is God's and an opportunity to honour well my witness to the Master. So here's a rundown of one of my days from last week as a semi-typical day!

5:30-7am            Waking up, making a coffee, pouring over Scripture with the Master, getting dressed spiritually and physically!

7-8am                 Start work, respond to one of the many emails I receive nearly every day asking theological, apologetic or experiential questions of the faith.

8-9:30am             Have a weekly mentoring session with a couple of ABC young adults to talk life, faith and pour over Scripture in a engaging way where we stir and equip one another for leadership, personal purity and public witness. We often evaluate sermons we've heard and books we are reading.

10am-12:30pm    Head over to SU QLD for a trans-denominational Bible Society forum where 15 youth workers responded to new research data which shows devastating results for Bible engagement with teenagers and young adults in Australia. We spent a few hours inputting our own experience and reflections, developing a plan to corporately advocate through personal model and public announcement in our own denominations a movement of effective Bible engagement.

1-2pm                 Meet with two new youth workers from the local area to meet them, hear their stories, gauge their heart and gifting, and see how I can help serve and equip them through our youth ministry's journey to get their own off the ground. As the Gap Cluster we think King-dom not Our-dom.

2-4pm                Spent more time responding to emails, engaging in pastoral care, emailing youth leaders, and preparing Sunday night's sermon handout. Send out letter invitations to all the Genesis parents to attend our parents' forum next Friday night (8th April) to talk about what's been happening in Genesis, and to connect with the parents of unchurched youth.

4-5pm                Personal reading and reflecting on Australian youth culture in preparation for youth leader's training on Monday night 11th April.

What happens next is between me and my wife! Our family life as a witness to the Master is more important than our public witness. It's the first requirement for spiritual leadership -- that they manage their own family well (1 Tim 3:4-5). So I always try and carve out as much time as possible for Erin and I, to enjoy and nurture our relationship! Thanks heaps for all the prayers, love, and physical support you give to us!