The Key to Longevity (Josh)
Yesteday Kurt offered up some solid insight into longevity in youth ministry. Here’s a little of what I’ve learned now 15 years (and 1 week) into this journey:
Hold some stuff sacred
If you want to be in youth ministry 5 years from now, you have to set some boundaries on your time and life. Do you take a day off every week? The occasional week-before-summer-camp can get overlooked but if you’re cheating too often you won’t last. How’s your family life?
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Having a long view of youth ministry means putting your family first. If you’re constantly telling your kids to wait or looking at your phone when you should be looking in their eyes then you have a problem. Your spouse is sacred. There is a connection between your faithfulness to your spouse and your faithfulness to God. Get some exercise this week. Care deeply about these things, and it’ll truly increase your chances of lasting in youth ministry.
Let some stuff go
Too often youth workers want to fight over things that don’t matter. We take on stand when we should be sitting down. We speak up when we should probably shut up. Over time, you’ll begin to understand what is truly worth fighting for … if you fight for everything, you’ll be too wounded to stay in the fight. Maybe take some time today to reflect on some things you’re holding on too tightly.
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Surround yourself with the right people
Want to stay in youth ministry for the rest of your life? It isn’t going to be easy but having the right people in your life will make a huge difference. Get these 3 people right now: 1) a ministry cheerleader, 2) a ministry mentor and 3) someone who doesn’t know you work at a church. Who is cheering you on? Who is in the stands watching you and yelling encouragement? Who is the wise sage in your life nudging in his or her practical wisdom? Who do you get to hang with who know and cares nothing about your career. These people will be life-giving in the long haul.
Follow these principles to become a youth ministry lifer!
Conversation
Thank you guys for such
Thank you guys for such honest and basic thinking!! My wife and I have been in ministry more than 20 years and both of these articles touched our hearts and minds to keep going! God Bless you both!!!
I have been a youth pastor at
I have been a youth pastor at the same church for going on twelve years now, surviving various and sundry bumps and tumbles from pay cuts to layoffs. I have functioned in various roles, pastoring middle school, high school, and college; currently I oversee student ministries but specifically lead in the high school ministry. At 41, I continue to love what I do, but have myself found some keys to longevity.
1. Be bi-vocational, if possible. I know this won't work for everyone, but it's not a secret that pay is limited in youth ministry and there is not much upward mobility unless you really want to pastor a church. Many churches just don't offer much in health care and retirement if you have a family. I teach high school, which allows me to take care of my family and not have unrealistic demands from my church. Now, not everyone can or will have a second full-time job (we know there is no "part-time" youth pastor), but having supplemental income alleviates some of the financial pressures we face.
2. Never forget that God didn't make you the pastor of your church. Lead pastors don't always make decisions we agree with or even like. They may not even ask our opinion before making sweeping changes. It takes a humble heart and perspective to say one's piece and back off; this is a lesson that will be learned the hard way if one doesn't go into situations with this in mind.
3. Develop key people to be strong in your weaknesses. A varied team has been indispensable for me. I have been blessed with a long-term volunteer who loves logistics, so I have let him take the lead on planning everything from mission trips to winter retreats-- at this point he has led mission trips without me! I have another couple with grown children who love to host overnights, complete with movies, video games, and pig outs. With four young children at my home, I am not have a high school sleepover-- but they are happy to! The husband also loves amusement parks; can you guess who is in charge of our Magic Mountain trips? I long ago decided to that the youth ministry would not be reliant upon any one person-- including me. It has kept me sane.
4. Don't reinvent the wheel. I have no delusions that I am a theological pillar-- there is no time or energy to continually invent everything I teach. With so many resources available (like youthministry.com), I can stand on the shoulders of giants and know I am teaching Biblically sound lessons.
5. Take seminary at some point if you feel God wants you to continue to pastor. I may be a 70 year old youth pastor, but I kind of doubt it. After 12 years, I finally started in seminary. I am in no hurry as I only take 3-4 classes a year, but I am in no hurry to leave youth ministry either. At some point in the next decade, my pastor will retire, and I want to be available for where God may place me-- seminary is an essential part of that preparation.
Those are my top 5-- what are yours?
Great Points! Thanks for
Great Points! Thanks for sharing.
Loved the articles by Kurt &
Loved the articles by Kurt & Josh! Smart Godly men!!! I am 61, and have served for 35 years in student ministry, beginning as a novice class leader and now serving a full-time staff minister. When I first made the transition from volunteer youth leader to staff minister, I made Galatians 1:10 my rock. God has given me a love and passion for reaching kids -- so I need to make that my point of focus -- not the opinion of people. Love people -- but focus on God's call. God will fill you, prepare you, enable you, make up for you weaknesses; people cannot and will not "take care" of you. That is YOUR job. But your flock will benefit by the positive hopeful atmosphere of your ministry -- if it is based on God's call. After all these many years, my joy is still the basic time with the students and seeing them grow! Great work, guys -- hope to see you at the SYM conference in Louisville!!!
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