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
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