Youth Pastor Wanted...

Ok... before I'm perceived as trying to be clever or picking on a particular style of youth ministry or playing games with words, this post is genuinely about something I'm learning.

I've been a youth programmer for over 15 years. I've been privileged to run some of the most exciting programs for students in the church; outreach events for hundreds, evangelism training classes, a layered small group ministry with dozens of leaders and coaches, and mission trips around the world. I've seen numerical growth and spiritual growth and lives really touched by Jesus Christ. But could I say that I've also been a youth pastor?

Being a youth pastor is about more than Biblical teaching, missional leadership, creative purpose-driven events and keeping in line with the elders. Being a youth pastor is more than clear parent communication, showing up at times of trial, mobilizing a healthy volunteer team and being a Christ-like example. All of these are important, event critical, to maintaining a healthy youth ministry but I'm discovering that being a youth pastor (or a pastor of any kind) is about something even more important.

I'm discovering that being a pastor is about shepherding the flock entrusted to my care. Like a good shepherd, my job is to care for people; to feed them, protect them, carry them, guide them, corral them, retrieve them and (like a good shepherd) live with them. My job is to care for the flock and for each individual sheep, keeping count regularly. For the majority of my ministry I did many of these things by accident. Kids would show up at my house, raid the refrigerator and lounge on my couch. I would have conversations with confused and hurting students who approached me after a weekend service. I would receive a pastoral call for a student in the hospital or even jail and drop in for a visit and prayer. I would be asked for attendance figures and reluctantly fill out a report form.

However, lately, I've been asking myself what it would look like for me to be a proactive shepherd. What would it look like if I counted my sheep by name and face? What would it look like to show up at their homes and lives before they were in need? How could I identify a needing and hurting student before their world crumbled? What would it look like to be their guardian and defender against both physical and spiritual threats? What would it look like to feed my sheep with living messages communicated every day outside the walls of my church?

I don't have all the answers to these questions but this next year I want to be a pastor and I am committed to becoming the pastor God has called me to be.

Problems don't take breaks

This Christmas, more than ever, I've become aware that problems don't take breaks. Schools take breaks. Ministries take breaks. (We typically take two weeks off the honor our volunteers and encourage family time for students and parents.) Offices have holidays. Families take vacation. But problems don't typically relent.
This is the time of year when kids' minds are naturally turned toward family, memories, tradition, mystery and excitement. In the midst of these anticipations, the troubles of life seem to take on a darker hue in contrast. Division and divorce overshadow memories of mom and dad getting along and images borrowed from old photographs. Transition replaces tradition in the move from a home of memories to an affordable apartment. Bullies beat up the wonder and mystery of the God's story and stuff kids into the mold of the immediate; the here and now of troubles and trials.
This is the reality for many of my middle school students this Christmas. And for many of these same students, our weekly ministry is their bright spot. It's the caffeinated encouragement that they need to keep moving each week. While our two week break is necessary and even healthy, it does have it's downside.
But that too reminds me that ministry doesn't just happen on Wednesday nights between 6:30 and 7:30. Ministry is what happens when a volunteer sends a quick hand-written Christmas card. Ministry is a phone call from a small group leader saying, "even through we don't have youth group, I'm still thinking about you." Ministry is a text message that says, "you are special... I'm praying for you this Christmas." Ministry is dropping off a secret Santa gift to the kids who serve on the tech team or welcome team or set-up/clean-up team.
This Christmas, don't let your ministry take a break.