Exit Interview: Micah Lemon

Published on August 31, 2008 by Danny Strange

Omega Resident, Funny Man, Disciple-Maker, Servant Leader.

Hello, Micah.  Welcome to our Exit Interview.

It’s good to be here.  It’s been one crazy summer, but worth every minute.  It’s nice to be able to sit down and re-live some memories.

Tell the kids out there how you’ve been spending your summer.

This summer has been crazy.  I feel as if I hit the ground running when I got into Castro Valley.  Even though my first week wasn’t technically my first work week, I couldn’t help but find myself helping out at 20/20 and Omega because they have such great students to get to know.  When I’m not at Omega or 20/20 I like to spend time with my small group and any students who want to hang out.  Not to mention the great times hanging out with the Student Ministries Pastoral Staff.

Do you like this crazy thing called Youth Ministry?

Absolutely!  I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  Forget paying a subscription to a gym; just sign up for youth ministry and you’ll stay in shape.  Also, it’s a great challenge for you to keep grounded in the Word of God.  Students can pick up on fake-ness. There is no chance for anyone to live a fake life with youth.  They pick up on it, and you can either be honest and grow with your students or continue in a facade and damage your ministry.

What’s your favorite part?

My favorite  part of youth ministry is the fact that this is truly the time of a youth’s life when they are developing their character and their life philosophy.  The temptations to fall are greater and more numerous, but that also means the opportunities to shine for Christ in a mediocre world happen each day.  It’s a ministry that can make you proud of these students like they were your own kids, but it’s also a ministry that can shred your heart when you see the effects of sin on youth.  This ministry is for the passionate, not the casual.

Rumor has it that you’ve decided to do ministry for life.  Is that true?

That is, in fact, false.  I decided to be an actor when I was young and then God decided that I would do ministry for the rest of my life.  Since  God is my provider, strength, wisdom, sustainer, etc., etc. it would be foolish to try to make it on my own path.  A wise person once commented, “the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

How did that decision come about?

I was in High School in Omega actually.  Chris Lankford was the youth pastor at the time and he spoke about God’s desire for our lives and how He intimately is involved in our development.   He shows up in our lives through our abilities, weaknesses, skills, etc., in a way that brings Him glory. I realized that acting was a development period in my life, but my life as a whole was shaped to serve others and share the Word in a pastoral role.

Do you ever have second thoughts?

Of course!  Youth ministry can break your heart if you put your heart into it. It’s hard to see students make choices that harm them.  Satan also loves to throw in my face that I could be pursuing a vocation in business or some other more money-stable career.  Yet, God has engineered me for pastoral ministry and when I think about it, when I’m serving in this avenue, nothing  brings me more  joy than seeing a student think critically and discover God will show up if they search for truth.

When you leave this earth someday, how do you hope people will remember Micah Lemon?

I hope that people will remember me as a teacher that was goofy and fun-loving, but above all desired to know God deeply and share that passion with others.  A man who taught, only to eventually point them to the true teacher, Jesus Christ.  “He must increase, I must decrease.”

Finally, what advice do you have for those reading this interview?

The Lord is faithful and good.  Be real with the Lord.  God is a real being who knows you intimately.  If life is frustrating you, cry out to God in humble frustration.  If sin is dragging you down, don’t hide it from your prayers but cry out in dependence upon Him who defeated sin.  Lastly, He is the Truth and His truth is reality.  Don’t fall for the tempting false success sin offers because it’s temporary and empty.  Trust me, there is nothing more alluring that the All-Mighty God offering His merciful restoration, glory, and friendship.