Student Ministry can be a tough gig. It wasn’t long ago that the average stay of a youth pastor was only a year to 18 months. Actually, I don’t know who came up with those numbers. They may not be real but I do know many youth workers who have dropped out of ministry far earlier than they dreamed.
It is also true that we as youth workers are most vulnerable in the early days of our career. So, how do we survive these pivotal first years? Here are a few thoughts…
1. Admit that You’re not an Expert…Yet
When I graduated from good ole’ Moody Bible Institute, I thought I knew everything. It didn’t take me long to realize that in fact I knew next to nothing. The classroom just can’t teach the nuances of ministry.
The pressure of being new will temp you to pretend that you know everything. This is a horrible idea. Humility is paramount. 4 years of classroom training grants you a piece of paper. It doesn’t make you an expert. Years of experience in the field make you an expert. During your first few years of ministry humility and teach-ability are crucial.
2. Every Church Has Issues
Both of my church jobs had a honeymoon period. One of them lasted 6 months and the other for about 6 days. And no, I’m not telling you which was which.
If you’re like me, the emotions of life cloud your thinking. When things go south it’s easy to say, “I picked the wrong church! I gotta get outta here!” Or “Church X down the street has a contemporary service! I should go work there instead.” The truth is, humans go to your church and humans go to that church. There will be a few asinine policies wherever you go. You will find impossible people in every environment. There is no perfect church. The comparison game is dangerous.
With all that said, I have seen a few toxic churches. These communities will burn and scar you. In these cases you should run and run fast.
However, you should never decide that your church is toxic too quickly or in a vacuum. The heart is deceitful and we naturally detest what is difficult. If you think your church is toxic, bring in a mentor to help you decipher the situation.
3. Find the RIGHT Mentors
Everyone needs a Yoda. Good news! There are many seasoned student ministry vets out. Find them. You would be wise to spend some time with them and join their communities. You can learn a ton from these people.
However, I have one piece of advice. There are some vets out there who are venomously bitter. To be blunt, don’t spend a lot of time with these people. Bitterness is like the flu. It’s highly contagious. Protect yourself from bitterness because it will rob you of joy.
4. Make a Commitment
While interviewing for my first job, I told the leadership that I would commit to five years. Later, there were a few times that I wanted to kick myself for saying that. In the end, I kept my word and I’m very glad that I did.
I needed time to work out who I am, what I believe, and my approach to student ministry. You can’t figure this stuff out in a class or even a year on the job. It takes time and practice. It’s takes trial and error.
My encouragement for anyone who is early in their student ministry is to buckle down and stay put. Work hard and learn. Use this time to figure out your strengths, weaknesses and ministry philosophy. Understanding yourself will lead to greater effectiveness whether you stay in your current position for decades or if you decide you need to move on.