Leadership...

Last gathering of YPA, we discussed Youth Leadership: What do we do to train, equip, and let youth be leaders in our churches and groups? The range of answers was from "nothing, it is easier to do myself" to "we let them have enough leadership that they might fail from time to time."

I got me thinking, not just about youth leadership though, but about who is helping to lead us as youth pastors.

I know that in the perfect world everyone would get along great with their pastors and they would guide us in leadership and faith, but let's face it; this just isn't always the case.  And even if you do have a great relationship, the pastor is so busy with the other staff and rest of the church; the focus on you is minimal.

So I ask: Who is helping you develop into a leader of student and adult leaders?

It seems like often times we just wing it, it might work and it might not.  But what if we could have other leaders come along side us and help give us guidance, encouragement, and challenge our thinking and practice to make us better at what we do?

If we are honest, we all need people in our live who will help push us to keep growing. Sometimes this happens naturally, sometimes you need to create it.  

For me, I am currently part of a program Center for Youth Ministry Training, in which thier four priciples are Classroom, Church, Coaching, and Cohort.  Essentially pairing a seminary student with a church while support both with a coach to guide the youth worker and provide a place for thier peers to gather and grow.

I believe that YPA can help provide the cohort aspect in any context, but you must seek out mentors, coaches, in you life.  Mentors who will challenge you to become the leader you were created to be!

Be inspired today that the mentors are out there, you just need to be active in finding them and setting out time to meet.

Who are you going to sit down to coffee with?

Who is pouring into you...

We had a great YPA gathering this month!  It was amazing to be back together after taking the summer off.  I cannot describe how uplifting it is to be together with the community!  We spent the time sharing stories of how we witnessed God working this summer, one by one we shared great stories of how we saw God at work in our teens, through our teens, and even in us.  They were all amazing storied, but there was one story that got me thinking...

The story was about how she was invited to go on a mission trip with some people from her church, and although there were youth on the trip, she was not really expected to lead in any way; and they were paying for her to go.  

Through the trip she was able to experience again what it is like to go on a mission trip and experience God at work, without needing to worry about the next thing or what that kid is doing over there.

She described it as a truly refreshing and refueling.  She then described, how many of us feel, that it seems like she was always giving...giving...giving, and never being pour into herself, and she looked up and said to the group of youth ministers: "Do you every feel like that? Where you are always pouring out and no one is pouring into you?"

And you could see on everyone's face, including my own, that we all felt that way in one way or another.

It does seem like we find ourselves in this place more often than not, if we are honest.  As ministers, too often we find that no one is there or even thinks of ministering to us.  And we know that it is not just some devotional that is going to fill us.

For me, at each church I have been at as a youth pastor, I have always found a family or two who recognizes this and in their own way pours into our life and is there for us, without trying to push an agenda. And second, it is relationships with peers, fellow youth pastors, those in the same boat, that I also find refueling in.  It is these relationships that you can find refueling, rest, and God.

May you find these kind of relationships in your context, so that you may find rest...

A letter to student's parents...

Click here for a letter written by a former youth minister who now works with youth pastors, Brian Abby from YouthMark.

I like the things that he says in the letter, but here the question:
Have you ever had "the look?"  Do you now?
I know for me, often times I can feel alone on an island, as a minister.  I can't talk to anyone in church because it could come back to bite me. I can't always share with others on staff; friends don't understand.  I feel alone.

I have seen too many great youth ministers be beaten by the system, the church, and because they felt alone walked away from youth ministry. This brings me so much sadness to me.

I want you to know you are not alone, and I encourage you in these moments...before these moments; find other youth workers, others in your shoes and build a community you can turn to.

If you can't find anyone, contact me.

You are not alone!

Sabbath for Pastors...

There was a new article out in the United Methodist Portal about the struggle of pastors trying to find Sabbath. It obviously works well for all those in full or part-time ministry as well.

Here is the Link

Epic Fail Pastors Conference...

I stumbled upon this and was excited there was at least something out there for pastors.  Looks interesting.

Find out more here


Epic Fail Pastors Conference from Epic Fail Pastors Conference on Vimeo.