I absolutely love youth ministry. I love seeing students’ lives changed by God, and I would give anything to help a church minister to and reach teens. I feel like God made me for it.

I’ve tried to get away from it several times, but it never worked. I keep coming back. I can’t avoid it, and I can’t get enough of it.

But when I take a good look around at youth ministry in general, I can’t help but worry. Sure, there are a lot of great things happening. The Lord is doing some pretty amazing things through churches large and small, and that is exciting. But looking at the state of youth ministry overall, it’s not doing so hot.

It’s a sad story that I have watched repeated many times. A church needs a youth pastor, and a young couple or individual with a heart for God and a passion for teens steps up to the plate. They may not have the experience–or the time–that they would want, but they’re ready and willing to do what it takes and learn along the way.

Then begins the cycle of burnout that most youth pastors are all too familiar with. At the beginning, everything is fresh, new and exciting. Everyone comes to the first youth meeting, and some even bring their friends (mostly for the free food). But after that, the energy and enthusiasm keeps slipping out of your fingers while the work just keeps piling higher.

What’s missing? That’s not an easy question. I don’t think anyone has the full answer. But if you take a closer look I think you begin to see some trneds.

Most youth pastors aren’t trained. But what does it mean to be trained in youth ministry? There’s a lot of different opinions out there on what it takes to create a good youth pastor, but I do know one thing: Some training is better than none, and for most youth pastors, training is like that diamond necklace they could never afford.

Streeeessss stress stress stress. So much to do, so little time, and everybody’s ready to be disappointed with you because you can’t get it all done. Students come to you with a late-night life crises every other day and there’s a new church meeting to attend every week. Oh, and then there’s a family to take care of too. And for some, there’s that “real” 40 hours/week job. What, me stressed?

Sometimes we’re a little…. directionless. It happens to the best of us. Sometimes you just don’t know what to do. There’s usually tons of purpose in a youth group–know God more, reach the lost, worship the Lord, etc.. I’ve seen some truely inspirational youth group mission statements that I think have it dead on. But when it comes down to what the youth group actually does, it’s usually a bit of guess work. There are a lot of great ideas out there, but that’s just it–there are a ton. Where do you start?

We know what we want to see happen, but we’re not quite sure how to do it, so we try a whole lot of different things. A game night here, an outreach event there, and a smattering of unique creativity whenever the inspiration hits us. Some ideas work, a lot are okay, and others don’t work at all. Then next year, it starts again with a bunch of new ideas. All the while we wish we had a proven example to follow.

I’ve been there and I know the pain. It’s not any fun sometimes, but it’s worth it. The students are worth it. And most of all, we are enamored by the love of God, and we want to see him change this generation, across the country and around the world.

This blog is all about wrestling with these challenges, and learning to be live the life of humility and influence that God has called us to.

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