I recently watched a video (below) by fellow youtubing youth pastor Delmar Peet, and he brought out some excellent points as to when a youth pastor should be fired. I’d like to add my two cents with a list of my own. Sexual Immorality/Abuse/ etc. is a no brainer and is the clearest of the…
I was eating breakfast this morning at a fast food place this morning and wondered, “does the manager manage the people or the system?” Everyone has a role. Someone has to take orders. Someone has to cook the tater tots. Someone has to cook/heat up the food. If someone does not do the job, we…
This is part two in my series on the seven questions to re-evaltuate your youth ministry volunteers. In my last post, I shared the first question: Who has the leverage? My next question is, “What’s your passion level?” Let me offer a caveat before I get rolling. I understand that many youth groups do not…
I’ve had great volunteers. They’ve worked hard with me. Some were with me for a year, some almost a decade. Part of my role is to evaluate and re-evaluate them to see if they need to make a shift in the ministry laterally to another position or if they need to make an exit to…
It’s too much work. Similar excuses sound like “it costs too much” and “it’s unreasonable”. Youth ministry is hard work, it costs money, and is often unappreciated. You should embrace the challenge of the work by bringing your best to it and providing joy because of it. Besides, what did you think you signed up…
Excuse # 2: “I don’t have the right team” “I’m all alone” Missed the beginning of this series? Check it out here Most of you reading this probably work in small churches and you get who you can get. Those who are committed to your weekly church services are the people God has brought…
For years I wanted my staff to be more like youth pastors than volunteers. I would train them, and want them to love books about youth ministry, enjoy the training videos or handouts I give them. I’ve given up trying to put my calling on them. I’ve had some great volunteers in the past and…
I like a busy youth ministry. I like when kids come in and have a job; that’s why I don’t do everything. I leave things undone on purpose so kids will have something to do when they get to the church. I believe in the economy of youth ministry. Youth Ministries function like small cities,…
We recently had a young lady join our youth ministry. She is as sweet as could be, a little shy, but I also sense an inner stength brought on by trial. This past week we kicked off our summer TRIBES and one of our tribe leaders bough shirts for the kids for like $1 a…
When I prepare a message, most of the time, I usually know where I’m going with it and I have an outline in my head. There are times though when I leave the prepared path and go muddin’ (as they say in the south). In preacher talk we call them rabbit trails. Talking and preaching…
