Focus on youth pastors:High Expectations (for Youth Pastors)

David Wiebe

"The youth pastor doesn't care about my son."

"My daughter doesn't really like the youth pastor."

"I wish parents could understand what I'm trying to do here. I can't be friends with every kid in the group."

What do we expect of our youth pastors? Parents, church boards and church members often have a slightly different perspective than the youth pastor. The result is often a skewed evaluation of the youth pastor's work. So what should we expect of the youth pastor?

1. Expect the youth pastor to have a good relationship with most of the youth. The average church hires a youth pastor to oversee ministry to 30-40 youth. It's possible to have a working knowledge of each kid. However, you can't expect one leader to be good friends with and have a personal, life-changing impact on each of these kids.

2. Expect the youth pastor to have a strategy to impact the entire group of youth. The leader must have a plan that uses volunteers and equips them to carry it out. Life impact can only occur to the degree that the youth pastor invests time in the volunteer staff. Expect several of the youth to have a negative impression of the youth pastor--and expect the youth pastor to figure out a "back door" way to impact them through volunteers.

3. Expect the youth pastor to invest extra time and energy in some of the leading kids of the group. The best influencers on teens are their peers. The key spiritual influencers need extra input and encouragement.

4. Expect the youth pastor to value relationships more highly than events. The Saturday night event is only a tool to get adults in touch with kids. If it doesn't, expect him to kill itdead! Expect another idea to take its place, and encourage the attempts to try something new.

5. Expect your youth pastor to be a spiritual person, in love with Jesus. Expect change and growth in ability. Expect conversation with parents, board and members. Don't expect administrative genius, but do expect attempts at getting it better. And when the group grows, expect much more personal investment in leaders than directly in the kids themselves.

Sources: How to Choose a Youth Pastor, Paul Borthwick (Thomas Nelson, 1993).
The Coming Revolution in Youth Ministry, Mark Senter (Victor, 1992).
David Wiebe is Director of Christian Education Ministries for the Canadian MB Conference.

Return to the M.B.Herald Vol. 36, No. 16 Home Page