I’m 24 and I have been in ministry for 6 years. I like to think of myself as a veteran, but I only kid myself.
The fact is, Im young, and I’m still new to the game.
I look at some of these older Youth Pastors and can only dream of the longevity they have. I do still think that experience doesn’t always equate greatness, and I still think there are many Youth Pastors out there who have been in ministry for a great deal of years but who need to get over themselves and realize they don’t know everything either.
I think of the great strengths of some of the better Youth Pastors out there that is a weakness in many Young Youth Pastors is the ability to plan long term.
Like myself, as an example. I’ve worked at three churches, this is my fourth, and again, I don’t have that many years of experience. The longest I have ever been at one church was 18 months. So I have yet to see the fruits of a long haul ministry.
So thinking in terms of setting things up for the long haul is still somewhat of a foreign concept for me. Don’t get me wrong, my head says “Plan Long Term.” But my concept of long term can sometimes still equate “Next Semesters schedule.”
If your a young youth pastor like myself, think about this for a minute. When you see a great idea, how quick is it before you implement it in your ministry?
Far too often, we see something great and try and bring it to our group too soon, and don’t give time to plan it out.
I know we know this to be true as Young Youth Pastors, but we need to start doing ministry for the long haul. I’m spending the next few weeks in prayer about establishing a better, more comprehensive 5 year plan for our student ministry.
My encouragement would be for you to try and do the same.
