Misconceptions of a Youth Pastor…Part 4

When you land in a church, you sense a high expectation.  Now maybe those expectations are placed on you or maybe it is your own little sick mind that has thrust them upon yourself.  Whatever the reason, when we walk into a new church there is the misconception that things will change immediately and that “whole notha level” will be accomplished immediately.  At least that was how I thought it was…boy was I wrong.

I remember looking back and expecting change within a couple of months only to find myself wondering what happened a year later.  Maybe even others wondered that same thing but didn’t say it.  I had this feeling that everyone with any reason to give a rip about the youth ministry has just taken a deep breath and is waiting with expectant little grins on their faces.  But no one is exhaling.  You feel the pressure to perform, to get results.  Quickly.

I have learned as I have watched other ministries including my own where the youth pastor comes in with a bag of tricks and a lot of flash only to see it 18 months later fall back in his lap as he packs his bag and brings his show to the next church.  You can create a lot of flash in the first year, but it won’t last.

Check out Jesus.  Even He didn’t make a flashy appearance to start his ministry.  In fact, He did very little ministry during the first of his three years.  He performed almost no miracles, and the the ones He did perform  were on the private side.  He didn’t stand on mountainsides and preach to thousands-or even a hundred students-that first year.  Instead, He built relationships.  So this misconception isn’t exactly a misconception.  The first year of youth ministry is vital, and so much can be accomplished.  But it’s seldom the flashy stuff.

This is what I have discovered: that youth ministry doesn’t start humming, it doesn’t get to the point where you start to become content with what is going on, until the third year.  It takes that long to be able to understand the system and mix your strategy with the churches vision.  It takes that long to find the great volunteers…(they like to hide for a couple years until they know you are going to stick around).  It takes that long to build trust with parents and boards and the lead pastor.  It takes that long to learn the culture of the community and of the church.

So, I have learned that I will have tons of time to run programs, but focusing on the fundamentals-relationships, locating and building student and adult leadership, casting vision, and communicating values, there is a short window to lay the foundation for those elements.