Ministry At 40 Years Old

I know I’m not the only youth minister in their 40’s, but it’s an odd sensation to hit this decade and know that most of the teens in my ministry weren’t even alive when I started. For a long time, I believed the myth that youth ministry was a young person’s game; however, I’ve witnessed and experienced the benefits of being older and leading the young church over the years. While I do miss the days of:

• Being able to hang with teens during a game of hoops
• Eating pizza and chips with no consequences.
• Understanding the culture a little bit better

I am enjoying what I’ve learned and who I’ve met along the way. As I start a new decade of life and ministry, this is what I do know:

MY MINISTRY IS MORE ABOUT ADULTS THAN TEENS

While I’m responsible for sharing Truth with the young church, it can’t be done if I’m a lone ranger. My best years in ministry have been when I had a dynamic team of volunteers and was in tune with my parents. I have learned that one of the secrets to doing this for the long haul is relying on and investing in adults who also love the young church.

As a Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, my responsibility is to direct programming, delegate responsibility, and preach vision. While I love interacting with teens, my focus needs to be on equipping and empowering adults to do the same.

THERE IS NO ‘ARRIVAL POINT’

When I was younger, I used to say to myself, “After 5/7/10 years of ministry, this will get easier.” While certain areas of ministry are more simple and clearer, they are not necessarily easier. Dealing with hurting teens, firing a volunteer, and addressing disappointed parents never gets easy. Youth ministry is a relational endeavor, which means it will also be messy.

While there is no cruise control, but there are habits and steps to avoid certain mistakes. There are strategies and systems we can incorporate to overcome certain obstacles. Ministry won’t get easier, but you can get wiser, which comes from investing in yourself and making your formation a priority.

THE MORE I GIVE, THE MORE I GET

The other day I had a former student call me to catch up. It took me a minute to realize that it had been several years since we last spoke; however, learning what he was doing and how he grew in Christ was such a reward. There are so many joys to serving in ministry, and none of them had to do with statistics, but simply with moments where I listened, served, and loved.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a teen, volunteer, parent, or coworker, the moments that have brought me the most joy are the unexpected and unplanned. If you want to experience the full joy that comes with a ministry, it’s crucial to give your trust and attention over to the Lord.

What’s in store for the next ten years? God only knows; however, I plan on being in ministry for as long as He wills it. What will ministry look like? That’s what we’re discovering, and I can’t wait to share with you all that I learn.

What have you learned over your tenure in ministry?