Michael Spencer, the Internet Monk, lists five things that youth ministers need to hear.
Just have a seat. You’re 24, you look great, you’re having fun at your
job….time to sit in the chair, take out the earphones, and listen to the old,
fat guy.
It’s a great list; Michael covers issues such as accountability, popularity, continuing education, music/worship wars, and communication with parents. I would add just one thing: pay attention to your marriage.
Youth ministers are typically young, newly married, and new parents.
I often see young wives dragging their youth minister husbands into my office for marriage counseling. Their complaints range from “You care more about the church than you do me” to “We never have any time alone… there’s always teens over at our house”. Some of this is directly related to unrealistic expectations placed on the youth minister by the church or the senior pastor. Much of it is expectations the youth minister places on himself.
It’s tough learning to be a minister, a husband, a parent – learning to be an adult – all at the same time.
But, it can be done.
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