I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else but pastoring—whether that’s students, adults, or anyone of any age. I love God, and I love people, no matter how messy, because I know how messy I can be.
Hey Aaron, Thanks for sharing. When I started my journey - "Having all the answers" was a real problem for me. Because when you're in a position of authority, you think ''Hey, I should have the answer to this''. This really led to my first bout of ministerial burnout. Soon after, I realized I had to teach people about personal responsibility in their faith journey and then to prioritize both the word and Holy Spirt FIRST before rushing to the pastor. And even then, I would ask if they had gone to Holy Spirit first before coming to me. I'm in a place where, I'm not sure where things are going ministry wise but it's comforting to remember that I don't have to have the answers but I follow someone who does.
It's so comforting knowing we don't have to have all the answers! I tell my youth leaders and our students, we might not know the answer but we'll go to the feet of Jesus with you!
Former Youth Pastor here. I feel what you're saying. Virtually every church I've ever heard of considers youth ministry - whether they say it out loud or not - to be like training wheels for real ministry. Even when they have high expectations for the ministry, they usually don't have high expectations for the ministers.
I was leading youth groups when I should have been in them. At 17 I led at the Salvation Army. At 18 I led at the Methodist church, and so on. My first full-time paid gig came at the ripe old age of 24, after college... and nobody EVER questioned me on my philosophy of ministry, or whether my theology conflicted with theirs, or whether I wanted to be a "real" pastor in the future. They just wanted someone to lead the teens.
One time, while traveling through eastern Washington, my wife and I stopped at a small country church for their Sunday evening service. We'd never been there before... it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. After the service they asked whether we would consider leading their youth group. No, not after a long conversation. No, they didn't ask whether I lived within 250 miles of their church. No, they didn't ask whether I was a youth pastor. No, they didn't even ask if I was a Christian. I'm not kidding or exaggerating, either.
When churches start believing the facts - that most conversions happen before they turn 18 - they might consider switching places: putting the most experienced, most mature, most capable people in charge of the kids. Until then, we'll continue to wonder. It's a shame.
Also thanks for sharing part of your story and journey. Maybe the best foot forward is to help the next generation see the value of investing in future generations. I’m blessed to be part of a church that values our youth ministry!! I know that’s not true for everyone. I wish it was!
Amen, thank you for your honesty! As young and *green* as I am, I understand these realities of the ministry life and have to say it is hard! Both my parents are pastors, I'm a youth leader (training to be youth pastor), and half of the time I'm wrestling my mentality and thoughts than the actual situations I come across. "I'm just a writer not an author" or "I'm just a youth leader not a pastor" are common degrading thoughts I've dealt with. Yet, God reveals in his word to never despise the small beginnings. We make an impact to the world with our obedience, not our titles or positions. Like you said, a youth pastor is just as important as a senior pastor. Why? Because we are all apart of the body of Christ. We are all equal and all belong. And God is partnering with us to make a difference in big ways!
So thank you for sharing, thank you for being a youth pastor and keeping that desire to remain as a pastor. You are making a difference for God's glory in just that alone 🙏
Thanks for sharing!!! You are right, we are all part of the Body of Christ. I just know as long as the Lord has me as a youth pastor, I want to do it well!
Aaron, thank you for giving voice to the palpability of these challenges. I face them myself as a second-generation minister who's currently a full-time high school and worship pastor. A friend who's a veteran (17+ years) of youth ministry often says it's the hardest and most underrated ministry in the modern church complex. I appreciate your insights and stand with you, my friend! May the Lord lead us to serve people faithfully in this season.
Thank you for sharing so openly and vulnerably. I’ve seen several youth pastors experience these same struggles over the years. I wish every senior pastor could be as deeply connected with their flock as most youth pastors are with theirs. While I am a Christian life coach, my heart is to minister to ministry leaders. You’ve articulated the need for support in a way that really helps me understand how I can help those in charge of youth. Thank you, brother.
Great insights! The problem is that the American Business model of the church today has infiltrated and destroyed much of what it is supposed to be. "Youth Pastors" are treated like 2nd rate employees in many churches that are there to serve the parents and entertain their kids so they can have a break.
There is no such thing as a Youth Pastor in Scripture. So, Scripture does not make Youth Pastors 2nd rate in anything. In Scripture there are qualified Elders and as necessary there are Deacons. Now, among a plurality of Elders there will be differing talents and gifts. If an Elder among the group is particularly gifted in Pastoring those in the age range that we call "Youth" then it would be wise for him to spend the bulk of his time in that area. However, he is just as much a qualified Elder as any other.
It is the world that says "Youth Pastors" are not the same as "Senior Pastors" because we have added labels where Scripture does not.
As someone who is close friends - practically family - with our minister (and his family) who works with the youth, and also as someone who has 3 teenagers (and one more who will be in a few short years), I want to say thank you. Ministering to the youth is so important, so challenging, but also so rewarding. You are most definitely a "real" pastor. You shepherd those young minds at a very crucial part of their upbringing and help us in our journey to lead them to Christ and a God-loving, God-serving life. I know it is a struggle - wondering if you are doing a good enough job, or even just doing enough period; wondering if you are giving enough to your family; wondering if you are making a difference. Keep on keeping on. Trust in God and He will lead you and give you the strength, courage, and wisdom to do what needs doing. I hope you have a good support system, but if you don't - and even if you do - you have someone over here cheering you on.
I really don’t like that we add so many descriptors to the word pastor.
You are a pastor, maybe you focus in and make sure a certain age group within the church is being shepherded and discipled but you are a real pastor. Thanks for sharing these struggles. Keep up the good work brother.
Hey Aaron, Thanks for sharing. When I started my journey - "Having all the answers" was a real problem for me. Because when you're in a position of authority, you think ''Hey, I should have the answer to this''. This really led to my first bout of ministerial burnout. Soon after, I realized I had to teach people about personal responsibility in their faith journey and then to prioritize both the word and Holy Spirt FIRST before rushing to the pastor. And even then, I would ask if they had gone to Holy Spirit first before coming to me. I'm in a place where, I'm not sure where things are going ministry wise but it's comforting to remember that I don't have to have the answers but I follow someone who does.
It's so comforting knowing we don't have to have all the answers! I tell my youth leaders and our students, we might not know the answer but we'll go to the feet of Jesus with you!
Former Youth Pastor here. I feel what you're saying. Virtually every church I've ever heard of considers youth ministry - whether they say it out loud or not - to be like training wheels for real ministry. Even when they have high expectations for the ministry, they usually don't have high expectations for the ministers.
I was leading youth groups when I should have been in them. At 17 I led at the Salvation Army. At 18 I led at the Methodist church, and so on. My first full-time paid gig came at the ripe old age of 24, after college... and nobody EVER questioned me on my philosophy of ministry, or whether my theology conflicted with theirs, or whether I wanted to be a "real" pastor in the future. They just wanted someone to lead the teens.
One time, while traveling through eastern Washington, my wife and I stopped at a small country church for their Sunday evening service. We'd never been there before... it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. After the service they asked whether we would consider leading their youth group. No, not after a long conversation. No, they didn't ask whether I lived within 250 miles of their church. No, they didn't ask whether I was a youth pastor. No, they didn't even ask if I was a Christian. I'm not kidding or exaggerating, either.
When churches start believing the facts - that most conversions happen before they turn 18 - they might consider switching places: putting the most experienced, most mature, most capable people in charge of the kids. Until then, we'll continue to wonder. It's a shame.
Also thanks for sharing part of your story and journey. Maybe the best foot forward is to help the next generation see the value of investing in future generations. I’m blessed to be part of a church that values our youth ministry!! I know that’s not true for everyone. I wish it was!
Thanks for sharing! Youth ministry is such an important ministry within the church.
What suggestions do you have for lay people to be an encouragement to their pastor?
I would say just to be praying for them and maybe ask their pastor specifically how they can be praying.
Amen, thank you for your honesty! As young and *green* as I am, I understand these realities of the ministry life and have to say it is hard! Both my parents are pastors, I'm a youth leader (training to be youth pastor), and half of the time I'm wrestling my mentality and thoughts than the actual situations I come across. "I'm just a writer not an author" or "I'm just a youth leader not a pastor" are common degrading thoughts I've dealt with. Yet, God reveals in his word to never despise the small beginnings. We make an impact to the world with our obedience, not our titles or positions. Like you said, a youth pastor is just as important as a senior pastor. Why? Because we are all apart of the body of Christ. We are all equal and all belong. And God is partnering with us to make a difference in big ways!
So thank you for sharing, thank you for being a youth pastor and keeping that desire to remain as a pastor. You are making a difference for God's glory in just that alone 🙏
Thanks for sharing!!! You are right, we are all part of the Body of Christ. I just know as long as the Lord has me as a youth pastor, I want to do it well!
Aaron, thank you for giving voice to the palpability of these challenges. I face them myself as a second-generation minister who's currently a full-time high school and worship pastor. A friend who's a veteran (17+ years) of youth ministry often says it's the hardest and most underrated ministry in the modern church complex. I appreciate your insights and stand with you, my friend! May the Lord lead us to serve people faithfully in this season.
I agree youth ministry is the hardest ministry in the church today - but it's also the most needed! The next generation matters!
Thank you for your vulnerability in this post. It's refreshing.
I wrestled with publishing it - so glad I did!
Thank you for sharing so openly and vulnerably. I’ve seen several youth pastors experience these same struggles over the years. I wish every senior pastor could be as deeply connected with their flock as most youth pastors are with theirs. While I am a Christian life coach, my heart is to minister to ministry leaders. You’ve articulated the need for support in a way that really helps me understand how I can help those in charge of youth. Thank you, brother.
That's great, thanks for sharing!
Great insights! The problem is that the American Business model of the church today has infiltrated and destroyed much of what it is supposed to be. "Youth Pastors" are treated like 2nd rate employees in many churches that are there to serve the parents and entertain their kids so they can have a break.
There is no such thing as a Youth Pastor in Scripture. So, Scripture does not make Youth Pastors 2nd rate in anything. In Scripture there are qualified Elders and as necessary there are Deacons. Now, among a plurality of Elders there will be differing talents and gifts. If an Elder among the group is particularly gifted in Pastoring those in the age range that we call "Youth" then it would be wise for him to spend the bulk of his time in that area. However, he is just as much a qualified Elder as any other.
It is the world that says "Youth Pastors" are not the same as "Senior Pastors" because we have added labels where Scripture does not.
Thanks for chiming in!
Great insight! I struggle with these as a Christian. Thank you for sharing. It truly is an encouragement.
So glad this encouraged you, Donnie!
I first became a youth pastor at the age of 19 and I can tell you I had all of these thoughts and more!
So glad it’s not just me!! 😀
As someone who is close friends - practically family - with our minister (and his family) who works with the youth, and also as someone who has 3 teenagers (and one more who will be in a few short years), I want to say thank you. Ministering to the youth is so important, so challenging, but also so rewarding. You are most definitely a "real" pastor. You shepherd those young minds at a very crucial part of their upbringing and help us in our journey to lead them to Christ and a God-loving, God-serving life. I know it is a struggle - wondering if you are doing a good enough job, or even just doing enough period; wondering if you are giving enough to your family; wondering if you are making a difference. Keep on keeping on. Trust in God and He will lead you and give you the strength, courage, and wisdom to do what needs doing. I hope you have a good support system, but if you don't - and even if you do - you have someone over here cheering you on.
I really don’t like that we add so many descriptors to the word pastor.
You are a pastor, maybe you focus in and make sure a certain age group within the church is being shepherded and discipled but you are a real pastor. Thanks for sharing these struggles. Keep up the good work brother.
God bless, Daniel!!