Youth Ministry Déjà vu

When I started out in youth ministry seventeen years ago, there were few books to help guide new youth pastors. In fact, I often find myself feeling jealous that those entering youth ministry today have so many resources available to them. In 2002, I put my hands on a new copy of Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry by Doug Fields. Even though I had been in youth ministry for years, I thought it might be an interesting read.

I remember reading each and every page feeling as if I were sitting down with Doug in a coffee shop, sharing stories of what it is like to begin in ministry. I found that even as a veteran in youth ministry, the words rang true to my heart and soul. But recently, I have found that the principles in this book have taken on a whole new meaning in my life.

About eight months ago, God called me to a new church in a new state to be their new youth pastor. My last "new" position was nine years ago, so it had been a long time since I experienced the joys, struggles, challenges, blessings, and all that comes with being the "new guy."

After seventeen years, it's tempting to feel like I've got youth-ministry all figured out. But moving to a new ministry position brings with it all the same challenges as when one first begins. After a couple of months, I pulled out my copy of Your First Two Years and re-read it. It was incredibly encouraging. I was struggling with the ministry transitions and feeling so alone and confused about what I was doing wrong after years of feeling like I was doing things right.

As I approach the one-year anniversary in this job, I have found the wisdom that Doug shared in the book to be nuggets of gold. The principles he discusses are true not just in your first two years of being a youth pastor, but they are true in your first two years of being a youth pastor in any new ministry.

The principles that have provided the needed push to keep my head up and moving forward are these gold nuggets:

• Relationships are the key to a healthy ministry.
• A healthy and growing youth ministry ministers not only to the student, but to the entire family.
• You WILL encounter conflict, so learn some effective tools of conflict management.
• Don't be a Lone-Ranger Youth Pastor. You can't be everything to everyone. Thus, a team of leaders is essential.
• Don't forget the value that the students themselves can bring to the leadership of your ministry.
• Continually evaluate what you are doing. Remember what worked in one location or church may not work in another . . . and vice versa.
• Don't come in and change everything at once. Evaluate and make changes as needed, focusing on what's most important first.
• Be gentle with yourself-the first two years in ministry (or a new ministry) is very difficult. Give yourself some grace . . . God does!