GUEST POST: When Are You Taking The Time To Breathe?
BREATHE There is a glowing speech bubble on my kitchen counter that reads:”…
It can be unhealthy to be a youth minister. Between aggravating teens, health-less eating, and a lack of prayer, we can find ourselves worn out and questioning our calling. But, it’s not easy to admit when we’re the problem. It’s easier to point the fingers at co-workers, priests, and parents for lack of support, but the reality is, we need to own the situation.
27 year old who likes to sip her coffee slowly and wash the dishes because she loves those that use them. Her current state of life includes being a newly married homemaker who uses half of a kitchen rosary and only burns part of most dinners. Coffee gets cold for a youth minister who doubles as an administrative assistant with Right to Life of Michigan but with her messy car and desire for adventure, Jenifer is ready to tackle the world!
To be healthy, we need to start acting healthy, and that means embracing what’s in front of us and focusing on habits like:
COOKING YOUR MEALS AHEAD OF TIME
Cooking your meals ahead of time may seem like an out of place call to action, but it can make all the difference. To run a healthy youth ministry, we have to care for our physical health. Say, “No” to fast food, youth room snacks, or eating after youth group. Bring a meal that’s prepared and healthy because you matter. If a youth minister is physically fit, the program has a better chance to flourish. Healthy meals allow us to be more active, focused, and energized. So prep.
PLANNING AND EMBRACING OUR HUMANITY
It’s ok for your youth to see you mess up, rushing to finish a project, and fail at an activity you thought you had down pat. Quality youth ministry requires that you are down to earth and relatable. It is unhealthy to think that the program is successful because of anything you did or unsuccessful because of what you didn’t do. Whose ministry is it after all?
I know my teens can be a lot more open to me when they can laugh at my mistakes with me. They have possibly even more respect when they realize I’m not there to teach them but to walk and trip with them too.
INVITING YOUR STAFF TO HOLINESS
My staff doesn’t have meetings because I haven’t asked for them. And they do not have staff prayer, because I’ve never led. Sure, the salvation and order of your staff should not depend on you, but as a disciple of Christ, you are called to invite.
If your leaders and fellow staff members do not accept your invitation, you cannot control how they respond, so don’t beat yourself up over it- invite! A healthy youth ministry is only as healthy as those serving. Lack of support and encouragement make youth ministry much harder than it needs to be- but not impossible- you got this!
PRAYING AND PRAYING MORE
If you do not have a prayer life, your ministry will suffer, and you’ll let your teens down because you are unable to give them the best version of you. When I slack in my prayer, teens become even more aggravating, I show up tired and frustrated, and I don’t take my mission seriously. A lack of prayer leads me to question my call to youth ministry. I know through prayer that my department is not perfect, but it’s through prayer, where I learn that I have to own it.
God wants us to be healthy. The beautiful thing is that He will work with our mistakes, and even though the program is messy, He has called us, and He knows we are capable of getting the job done. We need to trust Him and focus on what’s important. Youth ministry is humbling, but I’m grateful for the journey it has been trying to get there!
Where do you need to step it up to make your ministry better?
Jenifer is a 27 year old who likes to sip her coffee slowly and wash the dishes because she loves those that use them. Her current state of life includes being a newly married homemaker who uses half of a kitchen rosary and only burns part of most dinners. Coffee gets cold for a youth minister who doubles as an administrative assistant with Right to Life of Michigan but with her messy car and desire for adventure, Jenifer is ready to tackle the world!