[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGcebK4iYy4&w=560&h=315]
Did you happen to catch comedian Nick Thune on the Tonight Show doing a whole routine about being a youth pastor? What did you think!?
JG
Most people run out of teenagers’ lives. And with good reason … they are nuts! Developmentally they are all over the place, everything is red-lining, off kilter or running wild. But as a youth worker – we run into their lives.
When I meet people on airplanes while traveling, as soon as I tell them I work with teenagers they just shake their head in awe. If I could read their minds, I’m sure I would hear, “Ha! This guy is nuts … you couldn’t pay me enough to work with teenagers.” And while the “you can’t pay me enough” part is true, I love running into the mess of their lives. Over 20 years in youth ministry there’s nothing I haven’t seen. I’m ready and prepared to care for students in the rollercoaster thrill ride of young adulthood.
I think Jesus knew this feeling better than we think. Historians tell us that many of the disciples were very young men, several of which were probably still in their teenage years. So my first big observation is… Jesus was a youth pastor! YES! Sweet vindication!
I think Peter may be the perfect, Biblical example of what it looks like to mentor a teenager!
Read the rest of the post here!
JG
Most people think I never have a bad day.
I mean, working for the church must be great, right? All of these perfect people serving a perfect God must equal a perfect job. But you know what? The church isn’t perfect! And the people in the church aren’t perfect and, well … I’m not perfect either. Which means I have bad days. It means I get discouraged. It means things get tough sometimes.
So when someone takes the time to encourage me, it is a BIG deal. When someone says something genuine and kind it makes my day. When I get a note or a pat on the back it fills me right back up. Here are a few SMALL ways you can be a BIG encouragement to the youth pastor or small group leader in your life:
The good old-fashioned “thank you” note
I have a whole drawer filled with thank you notes! I LOVE them! They meant the world to me. Cards … and gift cards (hahahahha) are huge. So meaningful.A simple but thoughtful gift
It doesn’t have to be big – just a small, thoughtful gift is so encouraging. The other day someone left me a Darth Vader™ mug on my office door – I use it every day and it is so uplifting. Cost isn’t the concern, the thought counts for so much!Babysit for our family!
If you really want to make my day, watch our kids so we can go catch a movie and catch up. It would be a huge gift to me!
One last thought – words mean far more than you’ll ever know. If I could encourage you to do just one thing – I would say give him or her the gift of your words. Words are so big, a passing comment to you may just fuel them for another season of ministry. There are no perfect people or perfect churches, but your words could come at a perfect time.
Be encouraging to your youth pastor this week!
JG