Surviving the marathon of youth ministry

Surviving the marathon of youth ministry
by Doug Fields

Running a marathon is a fitting picture of youth ministry. It’s not an easy task within the church. If it were, we’d have more youth workers than ushers. Youth ministry is filled with long, tiring, often unrewarding, complex, unique, intense, humorous, joy-filled, and painful experiences. Many within the body of Christ enter the youth ministry marathon, but many quit before long, having lost joy and satisfaction. They're wounded and weary.

I desperately want youth workers to last in ministry. Longevity in our field is uncommon. This is both unfortunate for the individuals who leave and tragic for the health of the church. The longer you work in youth ministry, the easier it becomes, and the better you minister to students. Quick departures have a lot to do with inadequate preparation and unrealistic expectations. But, like running, setting the proper pace assures long-term results and your ability to finish strong.

Where Do I Start?
The number one question I’m asked after I teach a seminar or after someone has finished reading my book, Purpose-Driven Youth Ministry, is, "Where do I start?"

While many youth workers would love for me to hand them a checklist of the exact steps to take, it's an impossible request. Since every church is unique and each youth worker complex and all students different, the steps you’ll need to take won’t be the same as the next youth worker. But I’ve identified 10 commitments I’d like youth workers to prayerfully consider making. I believe they can serve as a foundation for effectiveness, health, and happiness in youth ministry regardless of denomination, church size, and country they live in.

Here are 10 Youth Ministry Commitments to Consider

1. I will move slowly.
When I arrived at Saddleback Church in 1992, I told my pastor, Rick Warren, that it would take at least five years for us to begin to see a healthy, balanced, volunteer-laden, vibrant ministry. This wasn’t an arbitrary number; I had come to Saddleback Church after spending 11 years in youth ministry at another church. I knew there is no such thing as a just-add-water approach to youth ministry.

Remember, God didn’t move the Israelites into the Promised Land overnight, and he’s not expecting you to change your church overnight. Relax. Prepare your own heart before you change your church. Remember, Jesus took 30 years to prepare for three years of ministry (and he had that divine-thing going for him).

2. I will regularly check my motives and evaluate my heart.
God honors pure motives, and the more you check yours, the stronger your leadership and decision-making will be. If your motives are pure, you’ll persevere, reproduce student ministers, be productive, and contribute effectively, all while having fun. Most conflicts arise from unclear, mixed, or impure motives. If you don’t personally evaluate your motives, others will—and if they’re not pure, the impurity will be exposed.

3. I will steer clear of the numbers game.
You don’t need to be in youth ministry long before you hear this famous question: "How many kids are in your group?” I’ve heard it asked more times than I want to admit. Now I feel embarrassed for the person who asks this question. It feeds into the myth that bigger is better and that the value of your leadership is based on how many students you have.

Don’t join the group of youth workers who erroneously base their value on how many students attend a particular event. This is not a basis for determining value. Bigger isn’t better - healthier is better. Steer clear of churches and youth workers who are driven by numbers, and surround yourself with those who are motivated by serving God faithfully and pursuing health.

4. I will not criticize the past.
It’s tempting to talk about the past with contempt to make yourself look better in the present or as an excuse to justify a change. Don’t do it! Honor those who went before you in the ministry.

Criticizing is easy, but character finds goodness and brings attention to it. Commit to strengthen your character by making others look good.

5. I will avoid the comparison trap.
This commitment has a similar result to the numbers game since it can't lead you anywhere good. When you compare, you lose. Either you’re filled with pride because you’re better than another person, or you’re dejected because you don’t measure up. Both attitudes are wrong and destructive. Comparison places what you know about yourself (or your ministry) against what you don’t know about another youth worker (or her ministry). That's not a fair evaluation.

6. I will focus on priorities.
The many demands of youth ministry will keep you busy. But when you’re spread too thin, you’ll eventually snap. You’ve got to make a commitment to manage your limited time to go the distance. To do this, you need a healthy understanding of your priorities based on the church’s values and expectations.

Doing more isn’t necessarily good youth ministry. Doing the right things, based on your priorities, is good youth ministry regardless of how much time you have available to spend. I’d rather have one youth worker who knows his priorities and does the right thing for 30 minutes a week than have two youth workers who have hours to spend and are aimless with their time. The most effective youth workers are the ones who know how to focus on what’s expected of them. People who are spread too thin might be busy, but busyness is not synonymous with effectiveness.

No. No. No. Keep practicing that word!

7. I will pace myself.
Hopefully, you're in youth ministry for a marathon, not a sprint. Right away, you must learn how to stay in shape. Since youth ministry is never finished, and more can always be done, learn to take daily stretches—breathers throughout your day and week so you can be refreshed. Discover places, moments, and people who provide refreshment from the busyness of youth ministry and take your mind away from all that needs to be done.

8. I will serve.
This commitment may not impress you as good youth ministry advice, but it's crucial to your long-term effectiveness as a leader. The longer you’re in youth ministry, the more likely you’ll be in positions where you lead and others follow. That’s fine, good, wonderful, and even appealing. But Jesus gave the church a unique model of leadership that requires serving. If you want to be a great youth worker, serve.

These are the tasks that probably aren’t included in your job description but should be written on your heart. Jump at the opportunity to serve in the little ways and your youth ministry will benefit because of your character. You can’t lose when you serve.

9. I will be a learner.
I live by an axiom that's popular at Saddleback Church: "All leaders are lifelong learners. When a leader stops learning, the leader stops leading.” Although this attitude requires a constant investment of time and sacrifice, not to mention a diet of humility, it has enhanced my leadership skills as a youth worker. I can only teach what I know, and this truth requires me to keep growing. This habit is especially important to maintaining a decent self-esteem, since many of the teenagers in my church think I don’t know anything.

10. I will pursue contentment.
I’ve learned that when I feel discontent with my ministry situation, every option outside my church seems better. The church down the street looks inviting, that speaking invitation sounds alluring, the opportunity that I said no to last month now appears worthwhile. Each is a symptom of discontentment.

Discontentment and discouragement are blood relatives. When you have one uninvited guest, you almost always have the other.

The Payoff
These commitments, and others you may think of, form the foundation from which healthy youth ministry can be developed. Please prayerfully consider committing to these actions and letting them influence you as you work with students, parents, church staff, and volunteers.

I have hope for you and the thousands of men and women who love God and students and who are willing to learn more about youth ministry. Thank you for being open to coaching from a veteran youth worker who's still running the marathon and cheering you on. If you are a long-term youth worker, I want you to know that from where I sit, the view is better, the terrain is lighter, and the company is incredible. Live by these 10 commitments, keep running, and you’ll experience the same.

Blessings,
Doug Fields

	Youth Ministry Resources Encouragement for the Pastor's Wife Saddleback Advanced Leadership Training

(This material was adapted from Doug’s upcoming book, "Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry.” (YS/Zondervan, August 2002). He is the author of "Purpose Driven Youth Ministry."

		Article by Doug Fields Doug Fields is a teaching pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. and the director of the Purpose Driven Youth Ministry Community. He previously served for 15 years as pastor to students at Saddleback. He is the author of numerous books, including Purpose Driven Youth Ministry and What Matters Most, both published by Zondervan. ©Copyright 2007. Used by permission.