Now that Rebuilding Youth Ministry is out people have asked me how it all started. The how was simple. I took blog posts and journal entries together. But, the why I started writing is a whole different question.
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So, why did I start writing the book? Someone invited me to share my story. And I accepted the invitation to share my story because of how much I’ve benefitted from the stories of fellow youth workers. And I think it’s important for you to do the same.
I’m not suggesting that you write a book, but I think it’s important for all youth workers to share their story in some way or another because:
You need people where you can sit down and just share life. When you face challenges and obstacles it’s important to open up so that others can hear you and pray with you. Remind yourself you are not alone.
It’s easy to get stuck in your own world. You could be highly intelligent and very bright, but you do not know everything. You need people to point out where there are holes and how you can grow. They can only do that if they are hearing your story.
When you share your story you also give people the blessing of being second. Your story helps other youth workers learn what not to do and how to do certain things better. Your wisdom is priceless for someone getting started. Don’t hold back on what you are learning and what you know.
Sharing your story isn’t about building your reputation or making a quick buck. It’s about forming a deeper and stronger community. Look for ways to get it out there. You can do that by:
Get the stories out so that others (including yourself) are reminded that they are not alone. Youth ministry is messy, it’s a journey and it’s better when we are doing it together.
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