10 Things I Have Learned In My 10 Years in Youth Ministry

1.         If its good its God if its bad its Brad (in my life and ministry…not yours haha)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

This is a statement I like to frequent because it reminds me of my own sinfulness and my inadequacy to produce good on my own. I am utterly dependent on God to do a work that is impactful and powerful. The amazing thing is, God has promised to use those who surrender to Him for His glory and their good! (See Ephesians 2:8-10; John 15:5)

If you have been blessed by me I want you to know it’s because of Jesus in me and not me. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ never the less I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself for me.” I take no credit, but want to point to the one who has made all of this possible (Matthew 5:16).

2.         Fruitful ministry takes time and patience 

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

It’s easy to let dreams form expectations, but often those are based in idealism and wishful thinking. We live in a microwave and drive thru society; we expect things to happen NOW. That is not the pattern for deep rooted, long lasting ministry and relationships. You need patience to stick out the tough times and allow time to prove what God is really doing. (read Isaiah 41:10)

Youth ministry is not a ministry that is known by youth workers who really devote their time to it. No, I’m not talking week to week, but I’m talking about years in the position. The average youth worker stays at a church for less then 18 months! They come in and get some exciting things happening, but leave before they see the real fruit of ministry.

From wise counsel I received in my first year of ministry has grown my slow growth, relational approach to youth ministry. “You can’t do a lot in 1 year, you can do a lot in 3 years, but it really takes 5 years to establish yourself. And if you are going to take the time to really get established, why would you want to leave and start over?”

3.         It's not about the program it's about the relationship

It’s easy to fill up a calendar with events, especially fun ones. I’ve always guarded against becoming a teenage babysitting service, you know, just having enough programed to keep teens busy. That view really has a low view of teenagers, thinking that they are more of a problem and nuisance to parents.

I think teens are amazing and wanting to be challenged. However, they “don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I never want to have a youth group where it is so big that I don’t know my teens. I want them to know that they are loved, prayed for and prayed with. I want them to feel like they belong and are vital to the church. An amazing program can never replace time invested into a relationship. I strive to provide a program that builds relationships, but I don’t want to program for programming sake.

This is why there are times we don’t program, a weekend or two where there is no scheduled youth group activity. There needs to be down time, there needs to be family time and there needs to be time to watch the teens gather organically, not out of necessity but because they want to be together.

4.          Ministry is not always easy or fun, but it is rewarding when you remain faithful

I know a lot of people who have gone into youth ministry because they thought it would be fun. Then they realize that there is a lot of hard work and heart break and they bail. God never promised that we would have a life of ease. He never said “follow me and you will have the most funnest time ever!” (Bad grammar intended)

Nope! Jesus said take up your cross and follow me, but he provides a promise with it too! If you follow Christ you will experience life to the full! (Read John 10:10). Let me tell you, I thought I understood this statement before Sunday, but if there was any doubt about this, the testimonies of my church reinforced this truth and blessed me all the more.

Sunday, June 23, 2013, my church honored me for 10 years of service by giving me a golf bag and a new set of clubs. Each club was delivered by a person dear to me who shared a testimony of our life together here at Lakeside Christian Church. I love golf and I love, love, love my new golf clubs, however the relationships and testimonies I have with these people far out weigh my golf game. (though I did shoot an 88 the first time I used those clubs haha)

5.         Personal worship and growth is vital for impactful ministry and Christian life

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you… John 15:7a

I’ve heard it once said that you are either “growing closer to God or drifting away from God.” It’s your choice! I have seen the impact on the ministry when I fail to establish personal time with God. When I am at a spiritual dry spot, I am not impacting lives the way God would want me to. However, when I spend time with Jesus I have the strength and energy to lead others to Jesus.

I was taught to “teach/minister from the overflow.” If I only fill my cup up and then pour out what’s going on, I will begin to become empty and wanting. But if I keep going to the Living Waters and allow Him to not only fill up my cup, but to overflow my life then I will never run out of things to give.

6.         God is surprising, sustaining and amazing!

Focusing on God and stepping out in faith allows me to see who He is and to be amazed at what He is doing. God never fails to provide exactly what I need when I need it. He allows some hard things to come into my life, but never without something that shows me He is with me. Did you catch the most important phrase in that last line…the amazing part? “He is WITH me!” That is the most surprising, sustaining and amazing truth that can capture your lie if you will just dwell on it and grasp the profundity of it.

7.         We have something special here - support, encouragement, family

Allow me to brag about what Jesus is doing here at Lakeside! Once again, Lakeside Christian Church has overwhelmed me with their encouragement and support. Even as I shared this thought, I had no idea of how they were about to encourage me. Lakeside has always supported me in my ministry endeavors. Not just by providing the opportunity to work here, but by time, energy, money, prayers and the giving of themselves.

A few years back I was burned out. I don’t have time to go into the details of it, but I needed a break so I could work on my own heart and focus on number 5 above. I told the elders what I was thinking and volunteered to take an unpaid leave of absence so I could focus on my personal walk. They responded with granting me a 7 week sabbatical, one week for every year I had given to the church, and they declined my request to do it unpaid. It was one of the most impactful gifts I have ever received and is one of the biggest reasons I am still doing what I love!

8.          I am continually humbled, thankful and awed at the privilege to preach and teach

God's Word to a Youth Group and church that hungers for Jesus

Lakeside is a place that I sense the love and desire for Jesus. I see it in my youth group kids as they minister to each other, take notes in youth group and worship service. I see it in the praise and worship times and when someone new walks in the doors. I am so amazed that my teens as they will text or Facebook me a question about the Bible and all hours of the day/night! They often seem surprised that I will respond so quickly to the late night texts, but they may not know how excited it makes me to receive such inquires.

I love talking to the members and attenders at our church. It is thrilling to have conversations where they sincerely desire to know what God’s Word says about certain topics they are struggling with.

When I get up to preach or teach, I can sense the expectation and desire to grow. May God continue to grant us hearts longing for Him!

And the last two come from:

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 4

9.          Negative: There is no greater sorrow then to see your children walking away from the Lord

Over the years I have had hundreds of students. I try to stay in touch with them and sometimes that really hurts. I can’t name names, I can’t describe situations lest I betray confidences. Yet I know many of my teens, whom I still love, have gone on to adulthood and walked away from the Lord. Some are stilling flirting with the line, but choose themselves over God.

It so tough, because I know the fullness they could have in Jesus, but they are blinded to it. It is tough because I see the hurt, pain and confusion before them, but they are blinded to it. It hurts because…I still love them.

I have this one hope. God says “train up a child in they way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” I believe they know the truth they have just wandered from the path. I pray that “God’s Word will not return void, but will accomplish what He sent it out to do” and they will remember what they learned, repent and return to Jesus.

10.     Positive: There is no greater joy then to see your children walking with the Lord

This one makes me so excited! Almost on a weekly basis I get to be led to the very throne room of grace by one or more of my current and/or former students in our worship services. To me, this is AWESOME! It is humbling and exciting. Seeing one whom I am instructing in the Lord and then to be led by them is rewarding! You see, it’s not about me and it’s not about them, it’s about the Holy Spirit working in us together!

I admit I am a jealous youth pastor. I want my students to stay with me and stay here at Lakeside and watch them grow here. But that is not always possible and the Gospel demands I release them into the world to spread the Good News. So when I have to let them go, it brings great joy to my soul when I know they are going with God. They have developed a passion for the Word of God and a walk with Christ that will allow them to be a light in this dark world. When a student contacts me out of the blue and tells me about how God is using them in their city, I can do nothing but rejoice and praise Jesus.

This is why I do what I do: to train teens on how to walk with Jesus all the days of their lives. May God continue to allow me to remain faithful to His Word, to His Call and to His Church.