When I was a junior in high school I knew I was going to Bible College and did not need to know anything about Chemistry or Pre-Calc so I blew off those classes and only got B's and C's in them. I knew that where I was going, calculus was useless. The magical land of youth ministry needs no math that cannot be taken care of with simple calculator usage.
Looking back, I suppose my introduction to "youth ministry" was at Pibel Bible Camp. I helped with at least one extra week of camp every year starting when I was in junior high so by the time I got to college I had been on staff at no fewer than 7 weeks. In my sophomore year of college I co-taught high school Sunday school and in my last two years of school I worked with a nearby Methodist church doing ministry for all ages of students. Each summer during college I chose to skip out of making more money to take on different ministry jobs. I worked a summer at a Salvation Army youth camp, spent a summer as a member of a camp team for the college, and then worked as a youth intern at a church in Bellevue, NE for my final summer.
By graduation time, I had tons of knowledge and experience and decided that I didn't want to pursue another internship but wanted to get out and do "real ministry" on my own.
I can't list all the mistakes I made as a green youth minister. I imagine that the judgment of the senior minister I worked with saved me from making as many as I would have. The first series of lessons I taught for high school youth group came from the book of James.
Poor James.
I looked back at those lessons today. I can recognize myself in those lessons - my intentions and ideas and a bit of my style - but boy was that stuff rough. I taught from James again last year and looking back that that isn't quite as painful. Between 2005 and 2009 I got a little more purposeful and a lot less clumsy. Experience taught me how to more clearly communicate messages from scripture. Evaluating that experience taught me how to improve myself and progress the ministry I am a part of.
Had someone notified me of my insufficiency back then, I would probably have blown them off. I can't say that everyone in my first ministry was patient. Not at all. Fortunately, I had many people who were patient enough to help me grow in my time there.
In the time since I was a new youth minister, I have worked with a few new youth ministers. If any of them are reading this I feel like I can say this now - you were intolerable! Fortunately for everyone, my experience has taught me something - to lay off the new guy. I don't mean to fire him - quite the opposite.
No amount of schooling and interning and part-timing can prepare us for what we encounter in full-time ministry. It is a challenge. New ministers are going to do stupid things... lay off of them. New ministers are going to struggle to produce excellent teaching at times... lay off them. New ministers are going to do things their own way in spite of logic, and oftentimes it is going to flop... lay off them. New ministers are going to drive you crazy sometimes... lay off them.
I don't mean to condescending to new ministers - it really hasn't been that long since I was one. I want to garner support for those poor little guys. I guess that may have been a bit patronizing...
If a church wants to hire a person who is new to ministry, they need to do so with the understanding that it isn't going to work out that well. It is an investment that will not pay off in the short run. All too often church leadership sees their "employee" making mistakes and under performing and decides it is time to cut their losses. Nothing could be more foolish and damaging - both to the church and the young minister.
What is left is a church with a string of short-term ministers without any continuity and students who struggle to even want to connect with the new guy.
What is left is a mob of disillusioned young ministers who often leave ministry outright.
What is left is another young minister who is ready for "real ministry." Lay off the new guy.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
On Discouragement
Today I am sick. Yesterday I stayed home because Sandy was sick. I tried to get myself going so I could get to my office and be productive, but I failed and I am up in my bed doing what work I can while fending off the temptation to just roll over and sleep. Soon enough I will fail to resist.
When I am tired, hungry, or sick I get pretty moody. When I am moody for other reasons, I feel like doing little more than sleeping and stress-eating. The primary source for that sort of moodiness is discouragement. That monster is no stranger to me as I have been in full-time ministry for close to six years now.
I recently read a book that references some of the things that make work fulfilling: it has to be challenging and have a direct work-to-success correlation. Ministry-work has no shortage of challenging work, but the correlation between hard work and success can leave you wanting. Hours of study, writing, set up, and preparation fall by the side when 80% of the students don't show up one week. That is lost time, lost work, and inevitably it is the ones who miss the message who most needed to hear it!
Storing up the moments of encouragement you receive is paramount in retaining your sanity. I have to recall moments when a student "gets it" or when an adult realizes the work and thought I have put into girding everything we do with a singular purpose and process. I have to remember those moments when a student finally actually worships or when an adult recognizes the progress in the changes I have gradually been implementing. I have to keep in mind the support of my peers who are experiencing the same things in the same ways.
Working in ministry means that "success" can be difficult to measure. Working in youth ministry means that you can rarely claim success until you see the results of a faithful life years later.
Disappointment and discouragement are a regular part of the landscape. When so much of what happens is dependent on the commitment and character and consistency of others, it is going to be an ever present challenge.
When I am tired, hungry, or sick I get pretty moody. When I am moody for other reasons, I feel like doing little more than sleeping and stress-eating. The primary source for that sort of moodiness is discouragement. That monster is no stranger to me as I have been in full-time ministry for close to six years now.
I recently read a book that references some of the things that make work fulfilling: it has to be challenging and have a direct work-to-success correlation. Ministry-work has no shortage of challenging work, but the correlation between hard work and success can leave you wanting. Hours of study, writing, set up, and preparation fall by the side when 80% of the students don't show up one week. That is lost time, lost work, and inevitably it is the ones who miss the message who most needed to hear it!
Storing up the moments of encouragement you receive is paramount in retaining your sanity. I have to recall moments when a student "gets it" or when an adult realizes the work and thought I have put into girding everything we do with a singular purpose and process. I have to remember those moments when a student finally actually worships or when an adult recognizes the progress in the changes I have gradually been implementing. I have to keep in mind the support of my peers who are experiencing the same things in the same ways.
Working in ministry means that "success" can be difficult to measure. Working in youth ministry means that you can rarely claim success until you see the results of a faithful life years later.
Disappointment and discouragement are a regular part of the landscape. When so much of what happens is dependent on the commitment and character and consistency of others, it is going to be an ever present challenge.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Joshua One
Since it is still Sunday as I write this, I am continuing my commitment to write on a passage of scripture. Today, I taught elementary students about Joshua 1. Oftentimes I get the most out of a specific part of the Bible when I endeavor to teach it to young people - I am forced to work it out to it's simplest and most basic level in order to pass on its most important points in a way that is understandable to young people.
For Children's Worship, I have been working through different parts of the Bible. We started over 3 1/2 years ago with the book of Acts, worked through a harmony of all 4 gospels, then started back at Genesis before working through Exodus as well. Recently, I summarized Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy to bridge the history of the Israelites between Exodus and Joshua. I have found in the time I have been teaching the Old Testament one of the themes that continually comes to bear is the covenant God established with the Hebrews - I will be your God, and you will be my people.
In the book of Joshua, the Israelites have just wandered in the wilderness for decades, waiting for all of the people who took part in the decision NOT to enter the Promised Land to die off. I get the feeling that they were getting tired of living in tents.
At this time, God speaks to Joshua. God tells Joshua that, like Moses, he has His support. Wherever Joshua goes, God will be there with him providing him protection and success because of his faithfulness stretching back to the first time the nation of Israel had come to the border of the Promised Land and only he and Caleb voted to enter in.
Then God has these words for his people: "Be strong and courageous."
God states once again His side of the deal. "I will be your God. You will get what I promised you. The deal I struck with your forefathers is in place. Don't let the giants and walled cities and all those other anxieties take hold, for I am with you. Be strong and courageous."
God then states their part of the deal. "Be sure to follow my Laws. I gave them to Moses and I was really pretty specific about how I expect you to 'be my people.' Stick to what I gave you. Keep it close at hand. Temptations and weak moments will not be in short supply. Be strong and courageous."
After he said it twice, it seems that the God really wants to drive the message home. "Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous? I am the One true God and I am with you wherever you go. I will be your God and you will be my people. Now let's go and claim at long last the Promised Land you have been longing for for generations."
The response of His people? "We WILL be your people. We will go to the extent of punishing by death those who would refuse obedience and lead us astray. Our final words - only be strong and courageous."
Even today God wants to be our God, he wants each of us to be His people. We no longer have the Law as a strict guide on being His people, nor do we have the goal of claiming the Promised Land. We have something much better: the living example and Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the eternal hope springing from his death and resurrection.
Only be strong and courageous.
For Children's Worship, I have been working through different parts of the Bible. We started over 3 1/2 years ago with the book of Acts, worked through a harmony of all 4 gospels, then started back at Genesis before working through Exodus as well. Recently, I summarized Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy to bridge the history of the Israelites between Exodus and Joshua. I have found in the time I have been teaching the Old Testament one of the themes that continually comes to bear is the covenant God established with the Hebrews - I will be your God, and you will be my people.
In the book of Joshua, the Israelites have just wandered in the wilderness for decades, waiting for all of the people who took part in the decision NOT to enter the Promised Land to die off. I get the feeling that they were getting tired of living in tents.
At this time, God speaks to Joshua. God tells Joshua that, like Moses, he has His support. Wherever Joshua goes, God will be there with him providing him protection and success because of his faithfulness stretching back to the first time the nation of Israel had come to the border of the Promised Land and only he and Caleb voted to enter in.
Then God has these words for his people: "Be strong and courageous."
God states once again His side of the deal. "I will be your God. You will get what I promised you. The deal I struck with your forefathers is in place. Don't let the giants and walled cities and all those other anxieties take hold, for I am with you. Be strong and courageous."
God then states their part of the deal. "Be sure to follow my Laws. I gave them to Moses and I was really pretty specific about how I expect you to 'be my people.' Stick to what I gave you. Keep it close at hand. Temptations and weak moments will not be in short supply. Be strong and courageous."
After he said it twice, it seems that the God really wants to drive the message home. "Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous? I am the One true God and I am with you wherever you go. I will be your God and you will be my people. Now let's go and claim at long last the Promised Land you have been longing for for generations."
The response of His people? "We WILL be your people. We will go to the extent of punishing by death those who would refuse obedience and lead us astray. Our final words - only be strong and courageous."
Even today God wants to be our God, he wants each of us to be His people. We no longer have the Law as a strict guide on being His people, nor do we have the goal of claiming the Promised Land. We have something much better: the living example and Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the eternal hope springing from his death and resurrection.
Only be strong and courageous.
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