While doing some research in preparation for a pastors' conference I'm preaching at next week, I came across some interesting articles and statistics on youth ministry. Of course this is fresh in my mind in light of the fact that just last week had a promising candidate for the Pastor of Student Ministries position in our church. Furthermore, I myself was a youth pastor for three years, and four out of my five children are teenagers! (This was the case last year and will be once again come November.)
Based on statistics, the testimonies of colleagues in youth ministry, and even my own experience, I would like to suggest three gifts that church congregations can extend to their youth pastors:
1. Faith
According to Scripture, one of love's chief qualities is that it "believes all things" (1 Cor. 13:7). This does not mean that love is gullible, but that it gives the benefit of the doubt. Love extends the gift of trust to others.
This doesn't mean that we put our confidence in man, rather we are being confident in what God does in and through people. Thus Paul the apostle could write to the believers in Corinth, "I rejoice, because I have perfect confidence in you" (2 Cor. 7:16). Skepticism and cynicism towards a man can kill his ministry in a given context. Remember that in Nazareth, Jesus "did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief" (Matt. 13:58).
Jesus enabled those who were entrusted to His care to rise to their full potential because He was utterly confident what the Spirit of God could and would accomplish through them (see John 14:12). Wolf J. Rinke, author of 6 Fail-Safe Strategies for Building High Performance Organizations, writes, "If you mistrust your employees, you'll be right 3 percent of the time. If you trust people until they give you a reason not to, you'll be right 97 percent of the time."
It is true that by trusting people, you'll get burned now and then. One well-known and highly respected pastor recalls that one of his most painful moments in forty years of pastoral ministry was when three of his associates unexpectedly turned on him. This mutiny, which occurred on a day that came to be known as "Black Monday," was one of the most shocking disappointments in this man's ministry. He testified that he never saw it coming because he is so naturally trusting towards people and assumes the best about them. Does this mean that he should have taken a different approach and been less trusting? Not for a moment, for this same pastor says that the most rewarding aspect of his ministry has been the wonderful, long-standing relationships that have developed over the last four decades.
B.C. Forbes said, "Better to be occasionally cheated than perpetually suspicious." It's better for you, and it's better for those you trust. By extending the gift of trust to your youth pastor, you give him wings to fly and to reach his full God-given potential in Christ.
2. Flexibility
By this I mean openness to change. It's been said that the last words uttered by a dying church were, "We've never done it that way before." God's truth is timeless and never changes, but the methods by which we communicate that truth and incorporate it into youth ministry require flexibility, if we are to be effective. Creativity is not necessarily an indication of carnality!
Please don't misunderstand me. When it comes to communicating God's truth, preaching must remain primary. For "since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb--preaching, of all things!--to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation" (1 Cor. 1:21 MSG). Still, the mechanics of ministry can also include certain styles of music, text messaging, facebook, powerpoint and the like. Eddie Rentz writes that some of the most effective youth ministries "have not stopped praying or discipling teens--if anything, they are more committed to those elements. However, they are creatively using whatever tools they have to preach the Word to more teenagers." If we are courageous and supportive of such efforts, rather than critical and censorious, we will reap a harvest of souls.
3. Finances
Churches that are growing and reaching the next generation for Christ are committed to making significant investments in their student and family ministries. While it is important to pay our pastors well, financial stewardship goes well beyond that to include adequate funding for discipleship, community evangelism, and cross-cultural missions. We can't expect youth pastors to "take the world for Christ," then tie his hands with lack of funding. If we really want to reach the next generation, we have to put our money where our mouth is. The investments we make will pay eternal dividends. "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously" (2 Cor. 9:6 NIV).
Both as a pastor and as a parent, I want our church to have a thriving ministry to students and their families. Offering these three gifts of faith, flexibility, and finances is a great place to start.
Based on statistics, the testimonies of colleagues in youth ministry, and even my own experience, I would like to suggest three gifts that church congregations can extend to their youth pastors:
1. Faith
According to Scripture, one of love's chief qualities is that it "believes all things" (1 Cor. 13:7). This does not mean that love is gullible, but that it gives the benefit of the doubt. Love extends the gift of trust to others.
This doesn't mean that we put our confidence in man, rather we are being confident in what God does in and through people. Thus Paul the apostle could write to the believers in Corinth, "I rejoice, because I have perfect confidence in you" (2 Cor. 7:16). Skepticism and cynicism towards a man can kill his ministry in a given context. Remember that in Nazareth, Jesus "did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief" (Matt. 13:58).
Jesus enabled those who were entrusted to His care to rise to their full potential because He was utterly confident what the Spirit of God could and would accomplish through them (see John 14:12). Wolf J. Rinke, author of 6 Fail-Safe Strategies for Building High Performance Organizations, writes, "If you mistrust your employees, you'll be right 3 percent of the time. If you trust people until they give you a reason not to, you'll be right 97 percent of the time."
It is true that by trusting people, you'll get burned now and then. One well-known and highly respected pastor recalls that one of his most painful moments in forty years of pastoral ministry was when three of his associates unexpectedly turned on him. This mutiny, which occurred on a day that came to be known as "Black Monday," was one of the most shocking disappointments in this man's ministry. He testified that he never saw it coming because he is so naturally trusting towards people and assumes the best about them. Does this mean that he should have taken a different approach and been less trusting? Not for a moment, for this same pastor says that the most rewarding aspect of his ministry has been the wonderful, long-standing relationships that have developed over the last four decades.
B.C. Forbes said, "Better to be occasionally cheated than perpetually suspicious." It's better for you, and it's better for those you trust. By extending the gift of trust to your youth pastor, you give him wings to fly and to reach his full God-given potential in Christ.
2. Flexibility
By this I mean openness to change. It's been said that the last words uttered by a dying church were, "We've never done it that way before." God's truth is timeless and never changes, but the methods by which we communicate that truth and incorporate it into youth ministry require flexibility, if we are to be effective. Creativity is not necessarily an indication of carnality!
Please don't misunderstand me. When it comes to communicating God's truth, preaching must remain primary. For "since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb--preaching, of all things!--to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation" (1 Cor. 1:21 MSG). Still, the mechanics of ministry can also include certain styles of music, text messaging, facebook, powerpoint and the like. Eddie Rentz writes that some of the most effective youth ministries "have not stopped praying or discipling teens--if anything, they are more committed to those elements. However, they are creatively using whatever tools they have to preach the Word to more teenagers." If we are courageous and supportive of such efforts, rather than critical and censorious, we will reap a harvest of souls.
3. Finances
Churches that are growing and reaching the next generation for Christ are committed to making significant investments in their student and family ministries. While it is important to pay our pastors well, financial stewardship goes well beyond that to include adequate funding for discipleship, community evangelism, and cross-cultural missions. We can't expect youth pastors to "take the world for Christ," then tie his hands with lack of funding. If we really want to reach the next generation, we have to put our money where our mouth is. The investments we make will pay eternal dividends. "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously" (2 Cor. 9:6 NIV).
Both as a pastor and as a parent, I want our church to have a thriving ministry to students and their families. Offering these three gifts of faith, flexibility, and finances is a great place to start.