EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is an excerpt from the Lifeway book Staying Power.
As much as we’d love to think so, longevity in ministry doesn’t just happen. I’m not sure anyone really sets out to quit when they begin youth ministry, but the list of those who exit somewhere along the way is long and painful. The challenges and difficulties that await us when we surrender to ministry are greater than we could imagine. Often, overcoming these challenges comes down to having the right mindset and perspective. As such, here are seven long-term ministry mindsets that keep youth ministers thriving for the longer haul in youth ministry.
My Walk Fuels My Work
It may seem obvious, but like believing pineapple belongs on pizza, you can slowly and subtly begin to believe that your study and ministry tasks are sufficient for your own personal walk. The truth is that your ministry should be an overflow of your personal walk. Your walk should fuel your work.
If you desire to achieve any amount of longevity in youth ministry, prioritize your personal relationship with Jesus above all ministry tasks. Be intentional in carving out daily rhythms of prayer, Scripture meditation, and worship so your leadership flows from spiritual intimacy, not obligation.
Again, this should be obvious, and maybe it is, but time after time in conversations with youth ministers I find this to be an area of neglect.
Ministry Is a Marathon
To be transparent, I am not a runner. I will run if I’m being chased by something bigger than me and faster than you, but otherwise I’m perfectly content not to run. That said, this “long-term” mindset is crucial for lasting in youth ministry.
Recognizing the ministry is a marathon and not a sprint is harder than we might think. When it comes to ministry, it is easy to see everything as a sprint. There are also plenty of people around you that expect you to see things this way too. Every event is the most important thing for you to run at as hard and as fast as you can. Every perceived crisis must be given immediate and complete attention.
The list could go on, but the reality is that these things are a part of the greater marathon of ministry. Having a mindset of ministry as a marathon means you see challenges that come your way as mile-markers and not walls. It means reminding yourself that endurance and time traveled beats speed.
Progress Over Perfection
Maybe now more than ever it can be so easy to see what others are doing around us in ministry and compare their highlight reel and perceived perfection and feel like what we’re doing isn’t good enough. In my early years, I was obsessed with looking like other ministries that were bigger and fancier than mine. Deep down I knew my ministry context was different, my budget was smaller, and I did not need to be what they were to be effective. Still, the pressure was there. Social media hasn’t helped us here, and while we know we can’t be perfect there is a pressure we often feel to do everything perfect.
The truth here is that we can’t be perfect, and for those we serve, not even a desire for us to be such. The fear of failure and the desire for perfection can often keep us from doing the things that lead to the greatest growth. Having a mindset of progress over perfection allows space for personal growth. It means noticing and celebrating small wins and growth rather than waiting around for flawless execution.
Empowerment Beats Spotlight
When I first started in youth ministry, I was young, full of energy, still loved lock-ins, could eat endless pizza without worry, was convinced I knew better that everyone else, thought parents were the problem, and if I’m honest, wanted to be the one everyone looked to for everything. I may not have said it in so many words, but I wanted the spotlight and the stage.
Spotlights burn out though, and I’ve seen plenty of youth ministers over the years do the same. Time has taught me that a mindset of empowerment of others beats the personal spotlight every time. When you trade the desire for personal acclaim for a passion to empower others with real responsibility, your students win, you win, your parents win, and Jesus is magnified. A healthy ministry needs many voices. Your students need many Jesus-loving adults surrounding them and pointing them to the gospel. You can’t do it all, so realize that, and if you haven’t already, start empowering others to serve.
Learning Never Stops
I wish one day we would just arrive at a place where we simply know all the things we need to know, but here again, this is not to be. The longer I’m in youth ministry, the more I recognize my need to learn more. The hard part here is that some of the greatest lessons have come through staying through difficult seasons. Leadership grows as it is stretched, and staying stretches you.
The longer you stay in this, the more you will realize you don’t know. After over twenty-six years working with students, I can tell you that every new season brings fresh lessons and exposes areas I need to learn and grow in. A mindset of longevity will always push you to learn and grow.
Rest Is Strategic
Aside from an occasional accidental nap on the bus headed for your next summer event or a post-camp coma, rest just doesn’t happen on its own. The pace of youth ministry is unique to other ministries in so many ways. While other ministries can slow down in the summer months, we shift gears. With a no rest for the weary attitude, we often limp into the school year with an already full calendar of fall events.
You just simply cannot achieve longevity in youth ministry without purposeful and strategic rest. Your students, the parents you serve, and your church deserve the best you can give them. A huge part of that comes from strategic rest. There is a reason after all that the Bible speaks of Sabbath so often. As a youth minister, you are not exempt from this.
I’m Here to Stay
As obvious as this one may sound, it is quite possibly the most overlooked. Having a mindset of “I’m here to stay” will help you look further down the road. It helps you build something lasting and not just react to what is right in front of you. Being committed to staying forces you to work to resolve conflicts that come your way.
Being committed to staying means viewing your role as a 5-10 investment and not a stepping stone. As you look down the road to where you are headed, you will find encouragement in the progress you are making and not frustration for where you are not yet.
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