I was at Chipotle yesterday talking to a couple of seniors who are thinking about becoming youth pastors. It hit me as we were talking that youth ministry is a calling of extremes. The more I thought about it, the more the concept resonated with me. Then it came up during another discussion this afternoon. Here are some thoughts, and feel free to leave another youth ministry extreme in the comments, too.
- They’re aren’t really any typical weeks – every day is completely different from the last.
- Youth ministry is called on most at both ends of the spectrum – when things are good and when things are really bad.
- Youth ministry pays extreme. Extremely little.
- We minister in extremes – when marriage is at an extreme, and the kids are about to face their parents’ divorce. When a life is at an extreme, we’re at the emergency room or performing the funeral.
- Youth ministry is focused on essentially an extreme age group – when students are figuring themselves out and parents are at the most challenging point in relating to them.
- Youth ministry is about asking a student to give over total control of their life to Jesus – an absolute extreme.
- We ask students to be baptized, to demonstrate their faith to their friends, family and the world at the time when peer-pressure and image are the most crucial in their life.
- Extreme pressure and expectations – from senior pastors, staff, parents and from yourself.
Extreme hours, extreme emotions, extreme work. Youth ministry seems to be about pushing everything to the limit.
So why would anyone want to do it? Seems like a nice, safe, well-paying nine-to-five is more what people look for in life.
Extreme fulfillment. Wouldn’t want to do anything else. You?
JG
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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.
the 9-5 often comes with so many restrictions that one is not allowed to be extreme or they are removed from their position.
Absolutely NOT! I love youth ministry, and even though the pay is extremely low (non-existent), I would not want to do anything else! Xtreme youth ministry; we love it, live it, and bleed it so much, we named our youth ministry after it!
“Welcome to the revolution” -Tommy Lee Jones.
Do it because that’s what God has called you to do.
That’s why I do it, and will keep on going it… because nothing else is right for me.
Josh you are exactly right and that’s why if someone goes into youth ministry without being called to it, they will burn out quickly.
Yesterday withing 30 minutes of each other, at my house, my wife and I had a painful conversation with a girl from our youth ministry and her lost boyfriend, lost younger sister and boyfriend about sex before marriage and why the girl from our group is leaving the church (she says she feels judged for her choices but in reality she just doesn’t want to deal with the truth that sexual immorality and a close relationship with God don’t go together). Did get to share Jesus with the three lost kids and made it clear that my wife and I were here to talk to and that that there were loved by us but even more so by God. It was a great conversation even if it was awkward at times. Then pretty much went straight into cooking burgers for a fun dinner for the team of passionate college students I am leading on mission to England in two weeks. Yeah…I’d say what we do has extremes.
I like that you’ve brought back the word “extreme.” I was afraid it was trapped in the 90′s forever.
Seriously though, great thoughts, Josh.
Josh this is great and 100% correct. Is there anyway to get all the Senior Pastors and parents to read and understand this?
EXTREMELY GREAT POST!
Thanks Josh
It does tend to be on many extremes, so why then are most youth pastors treated as second rate… Jr. pastors.
Great stuff Josh. Youth Ministry is extreme but so is life…if you’re living to the fullest. Working with teenagers, parents, and volunteers is an amazing/joyous/painful/stressful/scary/extreme blessing. Getting to see God work in lives of youth and families is a front row seat to one of the greatest shows on Earth and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
I used to have the same talks with Interns. I was intentional to tell them that working in a church was always an eye opening experience. You see the good AND the bad. And the bad can be VERY BAD. I’ve seen kids who love their church stop going because they were made aware of the politics that went with it. sad times indeed.
i, for one, know that i’ve been called to youth ministry. therefore, i’ve been called to live to the extreme!!
im sooo ready!
what a good reminder after having an extreme week where a kid showed up drunk, shoved a leader and threw a chair. you know. the usual.
Extremely Time-Consuming…Extremely Rewarding.
The only calling that has to be a calling. Because if it’s not, you’ll know within the first nine months ;O)