Subscribe to the NetworkGUEST POST: Is Youth Ministry Worth It?
As I’m writing this, I’m seriously wondering if youth ministry is even worth it. I’m normally not a negative person at all, but why try to put on a fake face? We are making a change in our student ministry this week (VERY minor, might I add) that might cost us a lot of students. And instead of changing to grow, we might be changing to rebuild… have you ever wondered if it’s worth it, too?
I mean, if this church hired you to be the vision caster for the students, why are so many parents arguing with you? You would think you’ve been there long enough for them to trust you. After they had seen their students grow like never before, you would hope they’ve got the idea that God is using you to change the students in a huge way. It seems like no matter how hard you try to communicate it, parent’s can’t get it in their heads that you’re not a social director and that you want more for their students than, “enough Jesus to make them come back after their wild college years” .. ugh!
So after being verbally accused, not trusted, and hurt time and time again why bother? Why give so much of yourself to people who it seems like only keep a count of the wrong things that you do? When it seems like nothing ever completely sinks into a student’s head, and they let you down every time you think they’ve figured it out finally. Why keep on trying? Wouldn’t being a Senior Pastor be a lot easier?
Because God called us all to this! This wasn’t cruel punishment for not obeying our parents or being mean to our youth pastors as we grew up. God knows that students need someone who will take a stand in their life and teach them that surviving life isn’t good enough. God knew that you would be strong enough to stand against a lot of people who are happy with the way things are and be able to lead the example for students to not be happy with the status quo. And however hurt, however annoyed, however helpless you feel please know that you’re making an eternal impact in God’s Kingdom forever.
Pray every day that God will use you to transform the passion that people have for “tradition” and “the way we’ve always done it” into a passion for eternity. A passion for the people far from God, a passion for justice, a passion for love and mercy. And one day, it’s going to sink in. Students are going to figure it out. Parents will finally realize what you’re there for. And we’ll shake hell at it’s core like never before. Hang in there. Keep loving God, keep loving students, keep loving parents, keep praying hard, and keep pushing for more than what the much of the “Church” says is acceptable.
You’re not alone. God is bigger!
Danny Eiler is the youth pastor at The Springs Church in Ringgold, GA. You can read more about what’s on his mind at his blog www.dannyeiler.com.
Great post Danny!!! I’m currently fighting some of the battles that it seems like you describe. What an encouragement to hear at this moment. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us.
Continue to ask God to reveal to you how you can be on the parents’ team in training up their kids in the way they should go. It’s not you vs. them, despite their disagreements with you. The most powerful partnership you can have in youth ministry is not partnering with the kids (though that’s what we’re there for), but partnering with their parents.