Full-Time Youth Ministry Isn't What It's Cracked Up To Be

A paid ministry position can seem more glamorous that volunteer work. The impression is that full-time youth work is more fun, constantly affirming, and always filled with quality time with students. Not true! A paid position does not necessarily equal effectiveness. You can often have a more worthwhile ministry as a volunteer than in a paid ministry position.
My wife, Cathy (Doug's not mine) has a great volunteer ministry. When kids want to talk about problems or important issues, they approach Cathy. She has deep, meaningful conversations with kids. She can spend her ministry time building significant relationships while I'm at the office making flyers, returning phone calls, and digging out from under the administrative piles that come with a paid position.
I've meet dozens of ex-volunteers who decided seminary and a career change would make their ministry more effective. Most of them were wrong. They ended up disappointed.
As volunteer, you're the church's most valued treasure. Unless you're confident of God's calling into full-time ministry, remain a volunteer and allow your present employer to finance your youth work.

Leaders, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! You are hugely valuable and my hope and prayer is that God is working on each one of you personally and through what God is doing you are influencing these students. Know that you are highly valued and loved. Cling to God and let him show you how great you are.

-Drew

Congratulations you're a role model

Here is the scary truth: You are constantly communication a message to the kids you work with. They consciously and unconsciously take note of everything! They watch how you live, how you love the unlovely, how you deal with authority, how you react in different situations, how you handle pain, and how you treat your family. They watch because you are a significant adult in their life, and they are looking for answers and direction.
I grew up in a youth ministry with many quality adult leaders. I watched dozens of lessons I'e never forgotten. I saw adults love others, give others dignity, and encourage the hurting. These adults didn't need to say, "Doug, let me teach you a lesson on how to care for people." Their lifestyles were a continual curriculum to an impressionable mind and heart. So is yours! Remember, young eyes focus on your life.


Leaders,
Know how important you are!!!!!! It is the way that you love and interact with these students that is going to make the biggest difference in their lives. Make sure that you are developing you relationship with Christ so that you can be authentic in encouraging the students to do the same.

You all rock!

Building Relationships is Effective Youth Ministry

Quality youth ministry is built on the foundation of meaningful relationships. Beyaond all the hype and flashy programs, it's the relationships with kids that measure an outstanding youth group.
Your relationship with kids will last years longer than the faint memory of your best message. Messages are important, but relationships impact kids more than speeches do. I really wish kids remembered my messages... but they don't. They remember the time we spent together.
Junior Highers need strong relationships with adults. Though few admit it, they desire significant relationships with older people. When kids feel the love you have for them, they will understand your spoken messages about God's love much better.
Build relationships the will continue beyond jr. High. It is exciting to watch kids grow and develop, understanding that part of their maturity came from a relationship that a classroom couldn't offer.

-From Doug Field's "Help! I'm a volunteer youth worker!"

LEADERS: This is the true heart of the effectiveness of our ministry. We need to have the #1 goal of building relationships with students because until we do that our ultimate goal of helping them grow, know and share Christ will be significantly less effective. I challenge you to call up the people in your small group just to see how their day was. It might be totally awkward (especially for the guys), but it will make their day. Ask yourself, in every interaction with the students, "How can I use this opportunity to grow in my relationship with this/these students?"

-YOU ALL ROCK!

Compliments may be few and far between

From the Book: Help! I'm a volunteer youth worker!! -Doug Fields

You've just returned home from a weekend retreat. You settle onto the couch and give thanks for the weekend's success. You're grateful your boss gave you the time off work. You're thankful God used your new truck to transport kids. Not getting reimbursed for the gas doesn't even matter to you.

Your thoughts turn to the kids in your cabin. You really love them even though they disappeared in the middle of the night to raid the kitchen. You think of Johnny, who had a life-changing experience due in part to your late night conversation, constant attention and unending love. You begin to pray for him, but the phone rings, interrupting your prayer.

It's Johnny's mom. You initially think she called to thank you for her son's wonderful weekend. WRONG. Within seconds you learn she called to ask why Johnny didn't return home with all of him underwear. She also questions your wisdom in allowing the boys to kill cockroaches with Johnny's aerosol deodorant. Does this sound familiar?

I'm sure you've already discovered the infrequency of praise for your tireless service. To enjoy long-term youth ministry your validation must come from confidence that GOd is using you to impact the lives of young people, not from the praise of others.

LEADERS: I encourage you to spend time with GOD on a dialy basis, whether that be 10 minutes or 2 hours. Be in the word, pray, and find your confidence in the calling God has given you.

Know too, that I truly appreciate the work you are doing. The impact you are making on the students lives are significant and each one of you is gifted in an awesome way to help bring these kids closer to God. THANK YOU!!!!!