YouthMinistry.com | One Place. Infinite Ideas.

Pushing Through

Average User Rating:

By Len Evans
1/29/2008

The other day I was talking to one of my youth ministry friends about the rarity of long-term youth pastors in a local church setting. In the course of that conversation, I realized that there are a decent amount of guys who have been in youth ministry for a long time (20-30 years). These guys often speak at various youth ministry conventions and other training opportunities

The other day I was talking to one of my youth ministry friends about the rarity of long-term youth pastors in a local church setting. In the course of that conversation, I realized that there are a decent amount of guys who have been in youth ministry for a long time (20-30 years).

However, very rarely are those guys in a local church setting. They tend to be youth ministry professors, camp directors, denominational leaders, parachurch ministry professionals, or professional speakers. Some have even started their own non-profit ministry to do what they’ve always loved without the headaches, heartaches, or hurts that come from local church ministry.

I’m glad that some guys have gotten out of youth ministry. Not because they were horrible, but because they had gifts to share with the larger body of Christ. They include numerous former youth pastors who have become church planters. Some have taken on a senior pastor position. Others have moved on missions or other forms of influence. Personally, I’m glad that Billy Graham, Ted Engstrom, Andy Stanley, J.C. Watts and Dan Kimball stopped being youth workers. If you need to quit youth ministry to pursue a new passion or your gifts have changed, great! Keep serving Jesus—but remember to give your youth pastor a good budget and salary when you’re in charge or on the board.

I can understand the appeal of those positions and I’ve considered almost all of those different ways to do youth ministry without being in a local church. But the question remains, why don’t more of us remain in full-time local church youth ministry for 20 plus years?

I remember being in seminary and talking with all my fellow youth ministry seminarians who were convinced that they would be doing youth ministry until they die. If commonly used statistics are true, fourteen years later 25-40% of them aren’t even in ministry, let alone youth ministry.

It’s a shame when youth ministers quit because of discouragement, hurt, isolation or pain from being in ministry. These dangers, toils, and snares can come from within the individual or from within a local congregation. After being fired abruptly by a stereotypical CEO Senior Pastor, I’ve now survived my own year and a half “dark night of the soul.” It took time to heal and thankfully we found a great church that allowed us the time and space to do so. Because of my time in the Youth Pastor ICU, I’m now able to be back in local church youth ministry.

It’s glorious. I’ve been back in the youth ministry saddle for almost nine months and there are still days where I go to work giddy. It’s my goal to retire in local church youth ministry. Is it because I can’t do anything else? No, it’s because I can’t do anything else! I’m compelled to care for students and their families in a local church setting because I think it’s the thing that I can do best to make Jesus smile the most.

So when you become discouraged in your church, push through, keep loving the local church, and I’ll save you a whoopee-cushioned rocking chair in the youth pastor retirement home. The harvest is plentiful but quality workers are few.

related articles

Conversation

add to the conversation

Thanks for your article. I have been "officially" (meaning paid) a youth pastor of a small church for about 6 months now. I have already been dealing with "is this where I should be" kind of emotions. In a small church like where I am at, it seems like church politics can take over and spiritual needs take second chair. This article has given me a renewed sensibilty to what I am passionate for.

Nathan C. 9:12:15am on 12/31/2008

Offensive

Len -- as a colleague (and friend!) I've had the privilege of seeing you walk through your dark night of the soul. God is good. I'm grateful you determined to keep on keeping on in the midst of unsure circumstances. Keep going, bro! By His Grace, Snyderman

Mike Snyder 10:08:25am on 8/16/2008

Offensive

Tommy, Sorry you have been through it and are in it now. I think a big part of it is church folks don't know how to fight fair when they have a conflict or if they are upset with you. They don't follow Matthew 18 if they are even able to find Matthew 18. There are no easy answers and you know all the answers anyway but know that you are not alone and you serve a Faithful God even when his people are not. Rest in Him and not your calling or even your church. If you are in your "Dark Night of the Soul" as I was, you have to go through it alone but know that others have been through it and God is with you now even when he seems far away. Love your enemies, even when they sit next to you, anonymously, in the pew. Feel free to contact me through my blog, if you'd like to.

Len Evans 12:08:21am on 8/01/2008

Offensive

Thanks for the article. I have been in YM for 25 years and still love it, even with all the politics. Many years ago, an old preacher gave me two pieces of advice which I have used time and time again. 1. Don't ever be suprised 2. Nobody is perfect. Yes there have been countless time I have wanted to walk away. I have wanted to give up. I have wanted to throw in the towel and not fight again. I am blessed to be with a church now that has stated both in word and deed that they want this to be my last ministry job. They want me to retire here. Prayerfully,that will be what God wants too. I will be 47 this year and still loving YM.

Jerry Falling II 10:07:09am on 7/31/2008

Offensive

22 years and counting. You guys may be in YM ICU, but I might be in the burn unit! I'm tired of constant bickering of church members who would rather complain than help. It's been the same story for all these years, but now my 43 year old heart can't take it anymore. I think I know the answer to why long term YP's are not found often in church ministry...sniff the wind and smell the burn. Not only the burn out, but the burn that comes from people who'd rather stay annonymous but still willing to bash you through their annonymity. Am I speaking anyone else's language? I don't know if I'm willing to remain in church ministry...perhaps, probably...I guess. It is what the Lord gave me a passion for -- that is what hurts the most -- knowing God called me to this and wanting to stay...and then another bash from another annoymous source. Yeah, I know they say just consider you might be doing something right 'cause Satan is attacking you. I guess that holds some truth, but I don't know how much more I have in me.

Tommy Vowell 4:07:59pm on 7/30/2008

Offensive

Thanks for your article Len. I have recently found a verse in Romans that has helped me reshape how God has called me in ministry. Romans 15:5-6 say that God gives endurance, encouragement, and unity so that with one heart and mouth we can praise God. I have found that when I was hurt, I needed to find my endurance and encouragement in Christ. The harder pill to swallow was so that I could be in unity in worship with my church. This has not always been easy, but I do know that God always has a bigger plan. This is not meant to be a Sunday School answer. I believe in long term ministry. What I have learned is that in that long term there will be times of frustration and pain. Right now, God has called me to carry on through it; and maybe I'll still be here in 20 years.

Brad Klassen 2:04:10pm on 4/17/2008

Offensive

Len...thanks for the encouragement you can share from personal experience. I wish there were easy answers to the questions that are just underneath your words. I suppose that the answer is at once complex and easy in that it is summed up in one word, "grace". This is usually missing or misunderstood in most churches. We are pretty good at extending truth but lousy at grace. And, ironically, this is the blessing that all students need from their youth pastor, the one who least receives it themselves.

Randy Sims 4:02:06pm on 2/26/2008

Offensive

Thank you for your words of encouragement. God has given me the privilege of doing youth ministry in the local church for the past 27 years. It is a thrill to see God work in young people's and adult's lives. I have found that those just entering youth ministry need to see the hope that they can be involved long term as well. If God has called you to youth ministry press on for His honor and glory!

Dawes Dunham 9:02:55am on 2/12/2008

Offensive

After some 21 years in youth ministry I wouldn't trade for the world. Students that have surrendered to God's call to ministry through the ministries we ahve been apart of makes it all worth while. I never knew the hurt that the "church family" could instill on ministers until almost 4 years ago. I was accused of the worst thing ever to be accused of in ministry and my world crashed. But through God's grace no conviction ever has come from it and still sits over my head. God has allowed us (not by my choice i would have thought) to continue in ministry but the attacks of satan still storm after us. There are dark days that i just want to walk away and say it's not worth it but then a knock on the door comes or a phone call comes from a past youth that says because of you i am where i am today, and all that seems to wash away. But I say to you who want to quit...remember God called and He never quit on you. Be blessed Len, and i pray that no one ever walks were I have walked these last years.

B Miller 4:02:59pm on 2/07/2008

Offensive

Thank you! This was just what I needed. I have been in local church youth ministry for 16 years and never once considered giving up, until the last two months. I will continue to pray and push through.

Nell 8:02:48am on 2/07/2008

Offensive

Thank you for this article it was very much needed! i am a youth leader in the ministry and i thought that my church would have been glad to see someone taking in the youth and working with them but to my surprise, it was the total opposite. friends talked about me, people that said they loved me forsook me, and i was the talk of the church! man you talk about someone being hurt! no one could have prepared me for that blow!!! i thought i wouldnt recover but thanks be to God, my Healer, i too am in Youth Pastor ICU! i will push on because i know its what God would have me to do, it is my passion, and the kids really enjoy a ministry that is focus on them. God bless you and again i thank you.

Sharnisha W. 11:02:49pm on 2/06/2008

Offensive

Good conversation! It is good to know that there are so many lifers and long-termers. I went to college for ministry in the early '80s and I know I'm the only one in my large group still even doing ministry (and I was encouraged strongly then to "just marry a pastor") and I've been at my current church 18-years. I broke two stereotypes! And I can't imagine my life being lived in any other way. Push on, everyone!

Brenda Seefeldt 6:02:16pm on 2/06/2008

Offensive

Len, your insight and caring for youth workers who are hurting (or in Youth Pastor ICU as you put it) is amazing. I know that before you found yourself in the ICU, you were still working and thinking through these thoughts and helping people who hurt (like me). Plus, as a volunteer, things get more hairy when you're hurt by the youth pastor--makes for a lot of trust issues. You nail it when you say there are a lot of youth who need leaders, but "quality" workers are few. There are folks who will show up and bide their time, but not so many who want to be invested in the life of teens. Thanks for all your hard work, Len!

amy 3:02:05pm on 2/06/2008

Offensive

Brenda, As a local church youth pastor now for 18 years and as a volunteer for four years before that, I can tell you that yes, youth pastors can still do effective youth ministry beyond their 30's. (I'm 43 and still loving it!) I know of several even within our youth pastors network who are still pressing on into their 40's still in the local church. It's not easy, but the rewards are great! I was at my first church for 10 years, second church for 5 years, and I am currently on my fifth year at my third church. I love longevity in youth ministry and plan to be here for the long haul. One of the best parts is that I am pouring myself into our Senior Highers and college students that are interested in pursuing youth ministry vocationally. Sort of an onsite mentoring/teaching program alongside of the day to day youth ministry responsibilities. The side benefit to this is that they have the youthful energy and enthusiasm to run along with me with the Jr Highers. Their energy and enthusiasm rub off on me and my collected wisdom from the school of hard knocks rubs off on them. It works! I've got 9 youth pastors out in the field now and a couple more in process!

Walt Baertsch 3:02:26pm on 2/06/2008

Offensive

this is good to hear. i've been praying about whether or not to continue my youth ministry in a local church, so thank you for this refreshing article. more to think/pray about!

anna 3:02:01pm on 2/06/2008

Offensive

Len good article! Think we have talked about it in the past some. I can't imagine doing anything else!

Jasper 3:02:18pm on 2/06/2008

Offensive

Thanks. I had my letter of resignation ready to be turned in today. After reading this, I'm going to pray and try to keep pushing on.

Bill 2:02:33pm on 2/06/2008

Offensive

Scott - Thanks for the encouragement, glad to know it helped. Brenda - If you told a candidate, "We'd like you to be here for three years and then it'll probably be time to go", they probably would not want any part of that. My youth pastor served in our church for 16 years. the program and the ministry got better with deeper roots and longevity. Longer is better, if both the individual and the institution are healthy. Longevity in a local church is possible but not very likely for a variety of reasons. If you want to contact me, my email is SnaveNel AT aol dot com.

Len 12:02:27pm on 2/06/2008

Offensive

After 11 years of leading a highly successful youth ministry, our beloved youth minister left to relocate closer to her parents in another area of the country. The transition has been difficult; many of our youth are still grieving her loss. I am part of the search team seeking her "replacement." Some members of the team are questioning whether such a long tenure is wise, given the difficulty of transition, and further, whether anyone can do effective youth ministry in their 30s and beyond. Can you really do youth ministry until you die?

Brenda Finnegan 3:02:12pm on 2/05/2008

Offensive

Thank you this was what i needed to hear! I just got burned from a "CEO Pastor" and trying to recover.

Scott Solimine 7:02:42am on 2/04/2008

Offensive

YouthMinistry.com is brought to you by the fine folks at:

Group Magazine Simply Youth Ministry