Comments on: How to Stay in Youth Ministry, Part 1: Have a Long View https://youthministry.com/how-to-stay-in-youth-ministry-for-the-long-haul-part-1-have-a-long-view/ Daily Wisdom for Youth Workers. Wed, 01 Apr 2015 14:15:48 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 By: Keith https://youthministry.com/how-to-stay-in-youth-ministry-for-the-long-haul-part-1-have-a-long-view/#comment-278843 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 14:15:48 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51978#comment-278843 I, as John, have 40+ years as a Youth Pastor. Early on, I was worship pastor/youth pastor, but moved toward youth focus because couldn’t see myself doing anything else. There have been off ramps for sure. Fortunately, my wife never had to work outside our home (a gracious church taking care of needs) and she’s called to student ministry every bit as much as I am. Thus our children were right in the middle of ministry life from the start, and I know that is huge to staying the course. I was guilty of trusting in myself alone early on but then learned pretty quickly to build volunteer teams of leaders, from among parents, who had gifts that I didn’t have, loved their children and wanted to influence other’s kids as well. As I got where a full court game of B-ball was killing me I found it wise to enlist more college age volunteers, especially those whom I had grown up through our ministry…I’d play 5 minutes and let them have it from there. In one area, missions, I envisioned (long view) a total church committed to giving, sending and going, so short term student mission trips were really about the “long view” as much as the current project. Now, there are deacons, church leaders on our overall mission team who were on trips with me 20 years ago. And one of our pastors served as my first intern out of high school too. That’s really cool. Oh, I should mention that I am coming up on 33 years at the same church. So, the questions of when I was going to get a “real” job stopped in my 40’s. Having the kids of the kids you started with in your ministry now is incredibly rewarding personally and fruitful in the Kingdom. The “long view” requires hanging out with someone who has the “long view” or has, at least, lived longer in the pursuit. And, do it before you think you need it. They’ll let you know you will make it and not only will you make it but the best can be yet to come. I’m now with my fourth senior pastor, ( three interims) but that’s another story for another day as to how to move through those transitions. I guess I’d leave one more thought I found helpful with some youth ministry colleagues. This came to me many years ago as I observed youth leaders quitting youth ministry in the middle of struggles or moving on from church to church. “Never ‘leave’ where you are….always make sure you are ‘going’ to the next place.” That way you don’t jump on the wrong off ramp and find it’s a loop back to the same things you tried to get away from. I’ll quit now…have a blessed day all!

]]> By: Laura https://youthministry.com/how-to-stay-in-youth-ministry-for-the-long-haul-part-1-have-a-long-view/#comment-274869 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 18:44:20 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51978#comment-274869 In reply to Denise Totten.

Hi Denise! I am a 21-year-old woman in youth ministry. When I was in high school, I felt called to ministry, but I was unsure that I had heard God right. It wasn’t until I met my friend’s youth pastor, a woman named Mandy (who was well into her 50s), that I realized women can minister to youth and be in it for the long haul, too! Thank you so much for answering God’s call and leaping into this ministry life. You never know how God will use the “alien woman youth pastor!”

]]> By: Kurt https://youthministry.com/how-to-stay-in-youth-ministry-for-the-long-haul-part-1-have-a-long-view/#comment-273900 Fri, 13 Mar 2015 18:49:01 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51978#comment-273900 Hey Jkosar,
When you meet on Sunday some people may ask, “what will our youth ministry do?” or “what will our strategy be?”. A simple suggestion would be when you are starting out that a primary strategy is simply finding adults who love Jesus and like teenagers who are willing to spend some time with them! Start small….build a team…let God work!

]]> By: Kurt https://youthministry.com/how-to-stay-in-youth-ministry-for-the-long-haul-part-1-have-a-long-view/#comment-273899 Fri, 13 Mar 2015 18:45:52 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51978#comment-273899 In reply to Jodie.

Speaking only for myself, Jodie, youth ministry in one’s 40’s is wonderful.

]]> By: Joyce Bradshaw https://youthministry.com/how-to-stay-in-youth-ministry-for-the-long-haul-part-1-have-a-long-view/#comment-273894 Fri, 13 Mar 2015 18:16:50 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51978#comment-273894 I came into Middle School Ministry in 2006 as a youth worker and fell in love with the MS youth. We had a frequent turnover of directors when God called me to humbly approach our pastor about wanting to fill the director position. I am almost 2 years in as director, and still feel 100% sure that this is where God needs me to be. What an amazing joy it is to help MS youth understand their goodness and see them develop a love for Jesus Christ and His church! So thrilled that God gave me this opportunity to teach and love on these awesome kids and their families.

]]> By: Jim Adams https://youthministry.com/how-to-stay-in-youth-ministry-for-the-long-haul-part-1-have-a-long-view/#comment-273869 Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:39:04 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51978#comment-273869 Great conversation here. As another 25+ year youth min guy, I would add that I am now in a place of trying to give away as much ministry as I can. I think early on in ministry we hold on to stuff. It’s funny now, because we really didn’t know as much as we thought we did! I am so over that at this stage in life. I think Jesus said something about this or maybe it was the red hot chili peppers? “Give it away now!” For me the years have finally beat the ego out of me. I find my passion in giving away the student ministry to younger leaders. Allowing them to make mistakes and walk with them through it. That’s where youth min lifers need to be. I don’t think we ever get too old to minister to young people. The question is “are we giving it away?

]]> By: jkosar https://youthministry.com/how-to-stay-in-youth-ministry-for-the-long-haul-part-1-have-a-long-view/#comment-273641 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 13:31:53 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51978#comment-273641 So for me this series is coming at the perfect time. I am at the very beginning(est) phase of entering into Youth Ministry. I’ve felt the “tug” but not quite sure if this is where God is “pulling” me to. However, being able to hear stories and ideas from all of you just may stoke the flame of my calling. By beginning I mean my church has no current youth ministry and we are meeting on Sunday to discuss starting one…

]]> By: Jodie https://youthministry.com/how-to-stay-in-youth-ministry-for-the-long-haul-part-1-have-a-long-view/#comment-273602 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 10:01:32 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51978#comment-273602 I love reading these Youth Ministry blogs, I find them really inspiring, raw, honest, and often quite comical – I am in the process of taking up my calling, and hoping that it will be for the long haul. I just wanted to say I think your “simply avoid the off ramps” is fantastic – don’t get married, try not to have kids, avoid buying homes, ask your wife (if you didn’t avoid marriage) to work as much as possible, and if you can, skip 30… 🙂

On a serious note though, these are encouraging words. I have recently been wondering if I will be too old to be a Youth Minister (you know how sometimes people get a bit funny about old people with enough energy to keep up with teens?) and you have put me at ease. Bring on 40! Thanks.

]]> By: Kurt https://youthministry.com/how-to-stay-in-youth-ministry-for-the-long-haul-part-1-have-a-long-view/#comment-273463 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 23:18:57 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51978#comment-273463 In reply to David Bauer.

AMEN! Thanks, David.

]]> By: Kurt https://youthministry.com/how-to-stay-in-youth-ministry-for-the-long-haul-part-1-have-a-long-view/#comment-273462 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 23:17:53 +0000 http://youthmindev.wpengine.com/?p=51978#comment-273462 In reply to Denise Totten.

Denise, as a 41-year old woman you bring stuff to the table that no 21-year old hipster in skinny jeans and black-rimmed glasses ever can! Glad you said “YES”.

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