4 Youth Ministry Lies

on April 30th, 2008

Here’s four things that people believe about youth ministry that aren’t true:

  1. Youth pastors aren’t real pastors – Some of the most caring an genuine pastors I know dedicate their life to serving youth. We often focus too much on the “youth” part of the title – the audience, where we should perhaps focus on the “pastor” part of the title – our job description.
  2. Youth pastors like to push boundaries for no reason- Youth workers are often accused of pushing the edge of what is allowed in church. I’d like to think it is the desire for honesty and relevance that causes that to happen, not a thirst to shock and awe.
  3. Youth pastors just play all of the time - Many youth workers have more fun at their jobs and senior pastors envy them. Therefore, senior pastors made up a lie that youth workers just play around a lot to diffuse their own anger about having to deal with adults and have less fun in life.
  4. Youth pastors don’t need vacations – With all of the camps, mission trips, retreats and overnighters youth workers do, is it really fair to give them time off as well? Besides, they’re not real pastors and play all day, too. Lie!

Add your own in the comments!

JG


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Dave Miers at 12:39am April 30

5. Youth Pastors are ugly – no way. All the youth pastors I know are really, really ridiculously good looking.

Brad R. at 9:16am May 6

Almost completing my first year in my first full-time Youth Minister position, I have to say that the 4 listed are a reality, but in a different way for me.
1. Youth pastors aren’t real pastors – Well I am considered a pastor, but not as important as the Senior Pastor.
2. Youth pastors like to push boundaries for no reason- I have not been accuse of this, but I have gone against a tradition in my denomination of using any form of instrumental music for worship or video clips.
3. Youth pastors just play all of the time – I am not sure what my Senior pastor thinks of my job. He is new and has never worked with a Youth pastor, so he just kind of lets me do my thing.
4. Youth pastors don’t need vacations – Well I take vacations, as part of my job agreement I get 10 days off a year. Last time my wife and I took a weekend off we had people thinking we quit, so maybe there is something to this “don’t need vacations” mentality.