Full Name:
[GSYOUTH] – Tammy Shelton
What should we call you?
[GSYOUTH] Tammy
Where did you grow up?
[GSYOUTH] Springfield, MO
How long have you been at Good Shepherd (GSUMC)?
[GSYOUTH] 3 year anniversary will be Aug. 1 of this year
What's your title at GSUMC?
[GSYOUTH] Director of Youth Ministries and Coordinator of Mission/Service Outreach
What exactly do you do at GSUMC?
[GSYOUTH] Hang out with amazing mid-high/sr. high students, adults who love students, and a God who loves us all.
With the Youth Ministries, we are seeking to grow closer to God and to each other thru living a balanced spiritual life-together, by learning more about God/each other (discipleship), celebrating what God is doing in our lives by worshipping together as a community, being the hands and feet of God thru serving and connecting to others (mission work), always having an open door for students to bring their friends into our activities (evangelism) and to find ways to feel connected to each other, our church family and the body of Christ in the world (fellowship).
I also have the privilege of helping the Good Shepherd community to connect to others thru service. Most of our small groups have mission projects that they are involved in. We are looking to find ways that more people can connect into this life changing practice of serving others. People in our culture have a hunger to make a difference in the real world. It is my blessing to try and come up ways to help people plug into serving and creating relationships with those who need to feel the touch and love of Jesus Christ. Let’s face it, we are all on a journey. The more people we can grow and connect with as a community of those who seek God’s will in a broken world, the more impact we can have in helping God’s perfect creation continue.
What is one of your favorite aspect of what you do here?
[GSYOUTH] Sharing life with people who want more out of the daily world in which we live. To seek God’s plan instead of just following a culture of ½ truths is an amazing ride. Lock-ins, mission trips, small groups, crazy games, midnight worship in the dark, trips to see students at school activities, etc- these are my ongoing activities. I don’t think I would be happy doing anything else
From whom do you take Spiritual inspiration?
[GSYOUTH] Corrie TenBoom is one of my favorite Christian writers – I am so going to look her up when I get to heaven.
Another favorite writer in Anne Lamont (Traveling Mercies and, Plan B). I love the way she shares her faith story in a very honest way. She uses real words for a real world (i.e.- be ready for cussing), but she also shares the brokenness and imperfectness that we all share as followers of the one who truly was perfect – Jesus Christ
What 3 CD's are you listening to the most lately?
[GSYOUTH] Matisyahu- Live at Stubb’s, The new Toby Mac- Portable Sounds, and an oldie but goodie- David Crowder Band- Illuminate
What books would your recommend to the people at GSUMC?
[GSYOUTH] Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamont, Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner, the Hiding Place by Corrie TenBoom
If I was interested in doing what you do at GSUMC what advice would you give?
[GSYOUTH] Come hang out sometime and see what these amazing people are really like. I’ve heard so many adults say “I don’t know how you can do what you do with youth?” or “Kids really intimidate me” or “The youth would really think I’m uncool and stupid. They wouldn’t want me to be around.” I use the think the same thing. And I’ll tell you the honest truth- students don’t want people around who don’t want to be there. But they absolutely LOVE having adults around who care enough to get to know them, to be there, and to be honest about themselves. It doesn’t matter if you are a collage student or a 75 year old grandma, if you really care about a teenager- you are in!!! Once you get to know these amazing people, you get addicted to doing life around them. To share in their struggles, their questions, their successes – is to see the face of God.
These young adults need a solid framework of caring adults in a church family that they can build off of. These students need to know that people are going to love them as they ask the hard questions, explore who they are, and even mess up sometimes.
The other thing is that we don’t live in a bubble- taking our faith and putting it into action is the most important thing I’ve done with the youth here at Good Shepherd. Service work not only helps those we work for, but it changes our lives from the inside out. Being the hands and feet of Christ helps change our hearts and minds into striving for Christ in the most surprising and unexpected ways.
Once you start connecting to others in the name of Jesus, you never know where that journey may lead you. I know that one from experience!
What didn't I ask that you just can't help sharing?
[GSYOUTH] I left my past life behind about 7 years ago and couldn’t have made a better decision than to follow Christ info full time ministry.
I had received my masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1994 and began to practice Speech Therapy in medical settings at the same time that my husband (Kevin) and I began to help with the youth group at our church in Springfield – Asbury UMC. Over the next several year s, my love and commitment to the youth and God really grew out of control. While my career in which I had spent so much time, effort and money on, really grew less and less important to me.
My husband Kevin began his journey into ordained ministry and left computer programming. It soon became apparent that my passion had changed from serving others thru the medical field and that I felt most complete when I was serving others thru spiritual pathways. After volunteering with Asbury for 6 years, we left our amazing church family and moved to Kansas City where I accepted my first PAID YOUTH POSITION as the Youth Pastor for Red Bridge UMC in south Kansas City. I worked with a great group of staff, parents and youth there at RBUMC for 3 years and I had planned on staying at this wonderful church for a complete cycle of students (following one age group from 7th grade to Sr. year).
As it often times happens, my plans began to change as I heard a new direction from God. I really struggled for about 6 months in realizing that God was calling me to a different church. But as I answered that challenge from God and changed churches, I have felt that it was the right thing to do. I felt so sad and even a little guilty in moving churches, but God always raises up those leaders that He needs for His people. Red Bridge has an amazing and talented Youth Pastor- Marian Radar, who loves those students I miss from Red Bridge. And here at Good Shepherd, God is so busy with the students and adult in the Youth program, that I just have to hang on tight as the Spirit continues to move, change and challenge us all.
Long story short – thanks God, you rock, t
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