As a Youth Pastor i face many challenges during the average week. The challenges could be a number of different things: lack of adult help, lack of rescources, lack of leadership, etc... I can think back and remember one wed. night when we had about 50 teens in our youth ministry and me plus 1 other adult. you talk about having a wild night and not enough eyes to watch every thing thats going on.
Out of all the things that could possibably get me down, i think the biggest would be the lack of commitment that some teens have. No doubt there are some teens in every youth group that you would almost pay them a salary to come to your youth night. They are always paying attention, always the first one to step up and lead something in the ministry, and always someone you can depend to be the "leader" of the group. However, I also believe that there are some teens in every youth ministry that almost seem like they are there to bring down everybody in the group including the Y.P. I believe that i have been in youth ministry leadership long enough that i know how to handle someone being disruptive or loud or being a distraction.
However, what i can not handle or control is what the teens do when they leave our youth group meeting. There is nothing worse for me than to see a student being so involved in every aspect of a youth night, then as soon as they get home they completely forget everything that was said and done 25 min. ago at church. I came home after a youth night and saw 2 boys that were both at our church 1 hour ago, were already on facebook calling each other and other people names that have no reason to be coming out of the mouth of a christain.
There is nothing that rubs me worse or takes all the air out of me than to see that. Maybe i need to be more clear about what it is that, not only me but God, expects from them as Jesus followers. I am a huge believer in loving the unloved and loving the "least of theses", but goodnight i get so worked up when i see a lack of commitment like this.
I would love to know your thoughts or suggestions.
stay HUMBLED
stay FOCUSED
love GOD
love PEOPLE
