Youth pastors work anything but typical hours. Split shifts, days, nights, and too often inbetween. So why should you have to come into the office, too, and add even more hours to your schedule? I remember struggling with this concept for a long time then finally coming to grips with the fact that I needed to be in the church office at least part of the day. Here are a few reasons why:
it is when other people work
Phone calls from the parents in your ministry are going to come in during normal office hours. People will return your calls during normal business hours. Sure, cell phones have helped aleviate the pressure to catch calls on an office line (call forwarding was Invented by God [IBG]), but this is the time of the day when people work. The rest of the church doesn’t work on the same schedule or even begin to understand your ministry, so don’t be frustrated when calls and meetings are from 9-5.it is important to be available
When someone needs to meet with you, it is important there’s a regular window they can trust that you’ll be in the office. Building trust for your youth ministry happens when you have time for people. If your door is open and available, people will trust you with open doors into the deeper issues of their life.it gives off the right perception
Like it or lump it, perception is a big deal in your youth ministry. Having regular office hours is a part of that perception. It says: 1) you’re not out playing, 2) you’re not sleeping in and 3) you don’t just work on Sundays. Now, make sure you take a day off, sleep in occasionally and don’t run yourself into the ground. By being in the office and by communicating when you will not be, you are asking to be understood, and you make a great statement to your church that you are taking it seriously.
I could just as easily have written 3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Go Into the Office Tomorrow, but I’ll save that for another time. If you’re fighting office hours, set some basic hours you promise to hold to each week that will work in your culture and meet your supervisor’s expectations.
JG
Josh Griffin has been in youth ministry for 15+ years and serves as the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church. [
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Geoff Stewart serves the Jr / Sr High School Pastor at Peace Portal Alliance Church in Surrey B.C.
To be clear your not saying I have to be in the office 9-5 Monday through Friday. Instead set reasonable, non-negotiable hours that you will be in. Like 10-2 Tuesday and Thursday. I’ve also found it to be crucial to communicate the correct thing for the secretary to say. I don’t know where he is or even he’s not here are not helpful. Things like, he was out late with students last night and will be in at 10 or he is on student visitation right now can I take a message. This helps people know you working and not just at home sleeping.
Pro-office hours? I thought I was the only crazy one who thought having office hours was a good thing. Thanks for your advice.
I keep regular office hours. I even give those hours to our parents in our newsletter so they know how to get a hold of me. The hours are “flexible” according to what is going on in the evenings or weekends. I also get comp time for events that take me away from home on the weekends or out of town from my family. I even figured out how to call Monday “Home Office Day” and parents and ministry team people know they can call me at home. I get my most work accomplished in my recliner for some reason.
This has been the best part of my job. I was asked to work in youth ministry full time when I still had little ones at home. Due to my husband’s and my fierce determination to not do daycare, we have convinced the church that I can do youth ministry and be a “stay-at-home mom.” It ruffles feathers occasionally but God gives us the strength to stand up for the rights of our kids.
So, my office hours are when my kids are in school. Presently, that means 8:30 ish to 11:40ish Mon-Thurs. Next year, that means I’ll be in the office 7:30ish to 1ish. Of course I work more than 40 hours, but those are my “office hours.”
Adam hit the nail on the head. Our office staff and phone answering volunteers have said I work part-time. LOVE THAT! I just say, well if you count working 50 hours per week part-time, then you are RIGHT! Or I ask them to volunteer to work a lock-in or trip.
Works everytime!
Parents and teens reach me via cell phone for the most part – even when I am in the office. Thank you Lord for text messaging! It is an IBG thing for me but I think it is IBS for the teens.