Subscribe to the NetworkYouth Ministry is a Calling of Extremes
Josh on April 23rd, 2009
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
the 9-5 often comes with so many restrictions that one is not allowed to be extreme or they are removed from their position.