Descent – Part 11
Kyle had similar cases to that of Axl in his youth group. A good percentage of the kids who came, came on their own accord. Their parents didn’t bring them and didn’t really care if the kids went or not. The majority of the parents were members; however, several of the kids just came looking for love. That was where Kyle came into action. He did the best job he could telling them about God’s love and trying to show it to them through his own.
But Axl’s scenario was a little more severe than the other kids in the group. Kyle had offered the idea of Axl pressing charges against his father, but the boy just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He just said that no matter how much he was beaten, the guy was still his father. And living with him was a lot better than a foster home.
Kyle had managed to get Axl into an outpatient drug rehabilitation program, and he had apparently been drug free for a few months. But the boy still had a lot of problems and spent at least one night a month on Kyle’s couch when the going got bad at home. Kyle just did what he could and continued praying for the boy.
He smiled at Axl again, greeted the other kids hanging about, and went inside.
As he held the door for one of the elderly women of the church who was coming in behind him, he heard the baritone voice of the music minister greeting incoming lay people as he strode down the corridor. Kyle had always liked the man. He was a portly, jovial man in his early fifties. He had huge, puppy dog eyes and slicked back hair muck like that of Jerry Lewis on Labor Day.
“Brother Kyle, how are you this fine morning?”
“Just fine, Brother Don. How’s the world’s greatest song leader today?”
The large man’s smile grew along with his ego.
“I’m just great! Thank you for asking. I assume you are as prepared as always,” Don said sarcastically. It was not secret that Kyle had an inhibition for preparation. In a way, Don admired that in him. The music minister had to prepare for days in advance for his choir rehearsals.
“Actually, I’m more prepared now than I usually am. How about you? Do you have some good songs picked out for us today? Axl just told me that Metalicca was coming out with a youth choir songbook. Maybe you should look into that.”
“Kyle, you know better than I do that most of the music your kids listen to is going to have a hard time making it into one of my services.”
“Actually, it’s in there more than you think.” He smiled and tapped his ear. “Walkmans. I can’t get them all.”
“Cute, Kyle. Anyway, we’re doing a good amount of Christmas songs today. You should enjoy it.”
“Looking forward to it,” he said shook the man’s hand and headed toward his office. “Sing loud, just don’t lean too heavily on those George Beverly Shea impressions.”
“You would prefer a little Elvis?” The man raised his arms slightly and shook his chubby hips.
“Oh, the deacons would love that. Take care, Brother Don. I’ll see you in the service.”
“Have fun in class, Kyle.”
Kyle smiled brightly as he greeted some of the members on his way to his office. At twenty-two, Kyle was the youngest staff member at the church. Though his age and single status were almost detrimental to him getting the job in the first place, it now helped him gain favor and free meals from a lot of the ladies at the church. He had a free, home-cooked meal just about every Sunday afternoon. Most of the meals had also included an inadvertent meeting with a female niece or cousin of consenting age. He was only a part time staff member and a full time college student, so the women of the church knew that he probably wasn’t eating as well as he should. They made sure they got some good food into his system when he would visit their homes. They also figured that a young man in his position was also in need of a wife, thus the less than coincidental meetings with single young women. Though he had yet to meet a woman that sparked any interest, he still enjoyed the meals, and was always more that cordial to the churchgoers for their hospitality.
He put on his best Sunday smile for of the ladies and offered his firmest handshake for the men. He also wanted to stay on their good side because many of them had been a little hesitant about hiring such a young and single youth minister.
After greeting a dozen or so members, Kyle finally reached his office. He looked at the door and groaned. The sign in the door that had previously said Kyle Kelly, Youth Minister had been replaced with a sign made of construction paper that read Kyle Kelly, Youth Minister Wannabee.
“I really love these kids,” he said under his breath as he removed the sign, exposing the original one.
This is an excerpt from Descent by Steve McAllister. Buy the eBook now!
