It’s my premise, that mediocrity feeds into the short tenure cycle of youth pastors. Be it because the youth pastor does not bring excellence with them into the position and they are exposed or because the youth pastor does not or cannot pursue excellence quick enough.
Mediocre youth pastors never last—not because they’re bad people, but because mediocre leadership can’t survive in a ministry that demands energy, vision, and growth. In many churches, the expectation is that the youth pastor will bring fresh ideas, build momentum, and ignite passion in the next generation. But when the approach is passive, the systems stay broken, and the energy fizzles fast.
Churches grow impatient. Students disengage. And 22 months later, a youth pastor is packing their office. Excellence isn’t about perfection—it’s about intentional pursuit. Mediocrity, on the other hand, is a slow surrender.
Allow me to share a few quotes about mediocrity that will challenge you and, as Paul told the Ephesians, “For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
No Shortage of Mediocrity
There is always a heavy demand for fresh mediocrity. In every generation the least cultivated taste has the largest appetite. – Paul Gauguin
There is no shortage of mediocre bible curriculum, mediocre sermons and mediocre programming fed to you by mediocre people. The more you say no to mediocre the less you will see it in your life in youth ministry.
Look at mediocrity like the Youtube algorithm. You are only fed what you click on and watch. Mediocrity attracts mediocrity. When you say no to that viral video and click the 3 dots to the bottom right of the video and click “don’t show me this any more” you will quit seeing mediocre content.
Only click on excellent things, like Philippians says,
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 4:8
You are in charge of you
People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents – Andrew Carnegie
It’s time to stop pointing fingers and blaming others be it your church, your education or lack there of, your upbringing and an thousand other things for your mediocrity. No one can force you to be mediocre, you choose it. Like mediocrity, excellence is also a choice. How do you motivate yourself to do that?
Think about how much better you will become.
Think about the lessons you’ll learn whether you succeed or fail.
Think about what could be if you try and what could be if you do not.
You must, as The Apostle Paul told Timothy,
Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
For this reason,
The Reason: Paul love Timothy and saw a living faith in Timothy and did not want to see it diminish.
I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
You have to stir up what God has placed in you if you are to lead teenagers to stir up their faith as well.
Be Excellent
Excellence is the accumulation of hundreds of minute decisions; it is execution at the most granular level. Once you accept the idea that you should give in to things that make no sense because other people do those things and you want to appear reasonable, you are on a path towards mediocrity. – Eva Moskowitz
How much do you follow trends vs following the Holy Spirt, one rarely correlates to the others. Think of all the unreasonable things Jesus did,
mud on eyes to heal
asking the lame to walk
leave everything and follow me
Think of all the unreasonable things the disciples did in the book of Acts,
kept preaching in the face of persecution
calling people to leave the comfort of religion to a relationship with Christ
welcoming a known murderer of Christians into their folds
To avoid mediocrity, you must be unreasonable, first and foremost with yourself, in regards to excellence. You cannot demand excellence of others until you first demand it of yourself. You must decide what your unreasonables are.
You can choose excellence which comes with reward or you can choose mediocrity which comes with free boxes to clean out your office.
Who is helping you become excellent?
My guess is, at least nobody real in your life. Books, podcasts and videos are great but none of those people are keeping you accountable. That’s why I recommend one on one coaching through my Catalyst Coaching program.
We will meet twice a month for 3 months
We will plan, pray and prepare for the best outcomes for both your ministry and life.
We will be as real as you want to be and talk about what’s on your heart.