A Tale of Two Youth Pastors

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."  Charles Dickens opens his classic novel  A Tale of Two Cities with those immortal words, and today I want to borrow them for my own purposes. Even though I have been out of youth ministry for 6 years now, I still consult with many youth pastors on a regular basis.  I am often reminded that my former calling is filled with thinkers and stinkers just like any other profession.  It is a job that is not for everyone, and if it is not for you then trying to do it will make you absolutely miserable.  Some youth pastors are creative, gifted and called by God to do the work.  Others...not so much.  This is A Tale of 2 Youth Pastors...

Our first YP finds himself in a bit of a mess, and he does not understand why.  Students should be coming to his youth programs.  After all, he is highly educated, having a master's degree in divinity from a prestigious institution.  His theology is sound.  His personality is charismatic.  He has read all of the latest student ministry books and attends all of the important conferences.- he has even spoken at a few. He writes a blog telling other youth ministers how they should approach their own ministries, and many of them think of him as a mentor.  He prays regularly and is confident that his ministry is on the path God would choose. He preaches well thought out and doctrinally sound sermons to those who gather each week.  But yet students are staying away from his ministry in record numbers. He is fully aware that he cannot impact them with the love of God whose name is Jesus if they never show up.  As I talked to him about what is happening, he dwells on things like "imparting systematic theology" and "breaking down the resistance of the students to the Word of God."  He says that his students don't get it.  They are often rowdy and out of control.  He keeps enforcing stricter rules and guidelines, but it just doesn't seem to help.  The kids are driving him crazy! They seem to think that youth group should be more fun and more relational, and he refuses to "dumb down" his ministry to their level.  And as I listen to this fine man of God, I know exactly why his ministry is faltering.  He is scared of teenagers.  Worse yet, he simply doesn't like them- and he has no idea that this is the truth.  In fact, he has no desire to hear the truth. He loves BEING a youth pastor more than he loves the youth he serves. He is trying to build a youth ministry that will transform his students into something they simply cannot yet be- adults.  It is the worst of times...

I  have also reflected recently on another YP that I know pretty well.  He has never been published.  He has no advanced degrees.  He is a bit of a redneck, and his personality is not the kind you would expect teenagers to be drawn to.  Heck, he doesn't even play guitar!  His creativity is limited; he still runs many of the same programs and events that were passed on to him by his predecessor over 10 years ago.  That's right- he's been at the same church over 10 years.  No jumping ship for a bigger ministry, or even making "getaways that gets a raise!"  It is safe to say that he is a dim light in the wider universe of student ministry.  And yet... the students keep coming.  They show up for fun, for service, for study and for worship.  They show up because this unimpressive man shows up for work everyday because he loves teenagers- and they know it.  Everyday he is changing lives in Jesus' name.   It is the best of times...

There are two absolute requirements for being a youth pastor.  Certainly you must love Jesus.  And just as important (or as Jesus would say, "and the second is like it") you must love those wacky, hormonal, semi-crazed people we call teenagers.  Not tolerate, not like...LOVE!  You must love them as they are, not as you want them to be - in other words, love them the same way God loves us!  If you can't do that, then you need to find another vocation-  because spending time with students and loving on them is the bottom line.  No amount of education, training or coolness will ever change that.  And that's the truth...

Because of Jesus,