What Will You Sacrifice?

I never knew tired until I had kids.  People warned me. They said that as soon as the first child would arrive that I would never sleep again.  I remember shrugging it off thinking they were just pulling my leg.  I wish they were just pulling my leg.  With that said, I wouldn’t trade parenthood for the world.  

Courtesy of malias/Creative Commons License

Same thing with ministry.  Despite the emotional roller coaster and spiritual battle I wouldn’t trade youth ministry for the world.  It’s hard work mentoring and discipling teens; however, the payoff is great because you:

• See Kids Grow Into Adults
• Experience Deepening Relationships
• Help Others Find Their Purpose
• Witness Life Change

And the list goes on.  There is so much fruit that can emerge from youth ministry; unfortunately, not everyone sticks around to see it.  There is the pressure to instantly have record breaking attendance with a high energy buzz.  The thing is in order to make your ministry grow you need to make a few sacrifices.

So, what will you sacrifice in order to make your ministry grow?

• Owning All Creativity: Despite your leadership you could be the reason your ministry stopped growing.  You only have a limited amount of wisdom and expertise.  While it’s valuable, you need to allow others to feed into the ministry.  This will help you discover new ways of reaching teens for Christ.

• A Normal Schedule: Like people in the medical field, and law enforcement, youth ministers have unusual schedules. You also share the same goal, saving lives.  Abnormal schedules can be difficult that’s why you need to set boundaries. Communicate with those around you to hold you accountable and have them let you know when it’s time to make adjustments.

• Being Consistently Fed: When you work at a church you are constantly pouring yourself out to others.  The need to be spiritually fed is greater; however, it won’t come easily.  There will be periods of sacrifice as you grow tired of knowing God academically.  Fight the urge to make it work by finding spiritual accountability.  Be sure to schedule in quiet time with God. 

• Comfort:  Youth ministry is messy because it’s all about relationships.  You will deal with kids who are hurting, and families in the midst of conflict.  Leaning into the messiness means giving up your comfort zone.  You will also face challenges that will make you question your leadership.  Those will be times of unease.  To help you through connect with a network of youth ministers who will walk with you through the tension.  

If you want your youth ministry to grow, you need to know where and when to let go.  The sacrifice might seem great and you might wonder, “Do I have to?” That’s where you need to lean in and ask God.  Do not fear the sacrifice, instead embrace it.  

Where do you feel the biggest sacrifice comes from in youth ministry?