Going the Distance in Youth Ministry: Longevity, Role and Personal life.

Andy Stevenson is Head of Ministry Support and the SRE Office for the Sydney Anglican Diocese.

20 years ago, it was common for youth ministers to only last 2 years in any given job. Thankfully this has grown…but not by much. Average tenure for a youth minister is now 3-4 years[1]. This is a sad statistic because longevity in a youth ministry role leads to a healthy ministry. Dave Chiswell says it like this:

‘…few things in youth ministry matter more than being there for the long haul. If it’s about accompanying young people through their dissonance with the gospel, being there long enough to build trust and prove your commitment is surely one of the best gifts you can offer.[2]’

Apparently, I am now old enough to be classified as a long-term youth minister. My friends will laugh at this. They can see my increasingly grey hair. Some things change - like my age and my hair! But in the youth ministry space, I feel so many things are still the same. I have never stopped riding this bike since I was 20 and often feel like I am just getting started!

Why should we keep going? How do we keep doing it year on year? How does our role evolve and yet stay the same? How do we grow and go through our own life stages and yet stay in youth ministry?

I don’t have all the answers - I don’t claim to have perfected the art of youth ministry. But I am still here in youth ministry.

Here are some things I have done, thought about and found helpful to keep going the distance in youth ministry.

Purpose, Passion and Self-Motivation

You won’t survive or thrive without a focus that is much bigger than yourself. What do you love doing? What gets you out of bed in the morning, makes you want to seize the day? If you are not driven by the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and sold out for him, his mission and his people – the Church - then you won’t last very long.

The Scriptures that Encourage me to Press on

Over the years, I’ve kept coming back to Bible passages that have re-aligned me with Jesus, given me purpose, and encouraged me or spurred me on. All this as a reminder that what I am doing in youth ministry is worth it. Here are a few:

Hebrews 10:19-25

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus… 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings…23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess…24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

It reminds me that we can have confidence because of Jesus’ blood to draw near to God, to hold on to the hope we have in him, to spur one another on and to not give up meeting together.

These words are so true and inspiring for me.

1 and 2 Timothy

To correct and rebuke me as a leader over the years, I keep coming back to 1 and 2 Timothy. They have teaching on character and convictions, watching life and doctrine, leadership, the household, family, temper, self-control, teaching, gentleness and so much more. For me, these texts are a must-read each year.

Loving the Youth

To go the distance in youth and kids’ ministry, you’ve just got to love them - love the weird, wonderful, wacky energy of young people and be willing to roll with whatever happens in their tumultuous lives. It’s a wild ride, but it’s so worth it to see youth grow through the years. Time flies, so it’s a privilege to be a part of their lives!

In the Bible we see young people do big things – David, Daniel, Isaac and more. To really help youth thrive in faith, you need to believe that the young people you walk alongside can also do big things. This has been one of the biggest factors that has kept me going and given me energy in youth ministry.

Ministry Relationships

There are so many books, courses and advice in this area these days. But here are a few things I’ve found have helped me to not go crazy when things get hard.

Be friends with the people you minister with but make the line of authority clear when needed (and don’t confuse the two when the context is blurred).

Some say, ‘don’t make yourself vulnerable’, ‘don't be best buds’ or ‘don't be too honest’. But I say, if you don't let people in and open yourself up, then people won’t do that with you. You need to bleed, cry, try and fail together. This really helps to build unity, to be on the same page and ultimately to go forward together in the gospel.

Open and transparent communication is crucial for relationships with the people you work with. Here are just a few of the things that have helped me with relationships with my senior ministers and other staff members:

·       Don’t let disagreements fester.

·       Pick your battles, be willing to let some things go.

·       Be willing to die on the hills that matter, but

·       Be a team player when it comes to moving forward.

·       Understand that every team needs diversity and difference in personality, gifts and ministry skills.

·       Sometimes you might annoy others by how you do things. Be willing to see when that is your issue and when it is helpful for others to do things differently.

Cultivate great relationships with ministers from churches around you. I am a massive fan of collaboration and seek to do things with others in youth ministry networks as much as possible. A common myth is that investing in working with others across churches, denominations and regions will be a time suck and not worthwhile. In my experience, collaboration has multiplied ministry and played a big part in keeping me going as we partner in the gospel. If you can get on a conference committee, work on a combined youth event or do one thing that aligns with your role in your church but is working with others, this will help your own ministry relationships and perspective.

Personal Relationships

It’s important to have a normal life outside of ministry. Your identity is in Christ Jesus, not your ministry job. While I need to hear this as much as I say it, having time with family and friends outside of church, playing sport, exercise, sleep and time alone are all important.

These things may be a given but maybe you need to hear them. You may need to structure something in, rather than hope you might do it. For me, even though my life is full, I still play hockey. I really enjoy that time where I switch off from phone calls and deadlines and just play sport with mates.

Over the years, this has been a key circuit breaker in my week to reset me and kept me going for the long term.

Personal Habits and Tips

It may be different for you, but here are some of the little things that have kept me going:

·       I find eating a nice brunch or burger is something to look forward to and relaxing. Often, I will do this while I chew the fat with a long-term friend or on the phone to close mates, some of whom are also in ministry.

·       Check-in phone calls have been so important and have helped me keep going in ministry more than I or they will ever know (shout out to those mates!) They’ve been mentors, Bible college friends or people who I have served alongside in running youth camps. They are people who understand me and do what I do, so they know what I am going through.

I hope I have helped them even a little bit as much as they have helped me to keep doing such an important ministry for as long as we can into the future.

 Why should we keep going in youth ministry? Because few things in youth ministry matter more.

‘That’s why, under God, I hope to be the youth minister at my current church for at least ten years.’ - Dave Chiswell.

Could it also be you?

Contact Andy today to get help with your youth ministry.

[1] https://www.ythology.com/jeffgrenell/nepn8bf5jxp2dk24ahgenmxbdpe9d3

[2] https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/article/a-plea-for-more-unicorns-in-youth-ministry/