Youth Ministry Seasons of Experience

Josh on January 29th, 2009

How long have you been in youth ministry? Chances are, you won’t be understood because years in ministry aren’t like years in a normal job. I think they’re more like taking the pounding of a football season. You love, it, you’re called to it, but they aren’t easy on the body. I propose we stop saying how many years we’ve been at the job, and start talking seasons of experience.

  • In your first year, you’re a rookie. No shame in that, everyone has to get their start.
  • In your first few years, you’ve got a couple of seasons under your belt. You’ve got some experience, and you’re sticking around the big leagues.
  • If you’ve been in youth ministry for 5ish years, you’re a veteran with great leadership on your team. You might get nominated for a Pro-Bowl appearance.
  • If you’ve stuck it out in youth ministry for 10 or more years, you’ve taken big hits and lived to talk about it. You’ve been knocked down a few times, but you keep getting back up. In some ways, you’re a shoo-in Hall of Famer. 

I don’t know what season of youth ministry you are in, but I’m glad you’re on the team.

JG

Leave a Comment

ryan guard at 11:34pm January 29

i’m going into my 8th year, but starting it at my second church.
in some ways i was more comfortable being a first-year Junior High Director with my executive pastor riding along piggy-back then i am as an 8th-year High School Pastor with 3,500 people riding along piggy-back with their expectations.

but i love it :)

Grahame at 3:26pm February 5

OK coming in late on this one. 28 years now in youth ministry. Guess that makes it autumn, ’cause the hair is falling out! Youth ministry is like a fine wine – it gets better with age :-) So hang in there!