Should I stay Or Should I Go?
Should I stay or should I go?
The problem: Too many young leaders are leaving Next Gen ministry too early.
Now I know you might be thinking, who am I to determine God’s will for someone’s life. That’s not what this is about. This is about solving the problems that cause young leaders to leave prematurely when it is not God‘s leading. And only young leaders can determine that for themself.
Young leaders are leaving for a better place, are leaving to take executive positions, or leaving to plant a church, or even become a lead pastor. For many reasons. So, we’re going to look at this problem of longevity in Next Gen leadership.
Let me give you ten overarching reasons why we need longevity in Next Gen work:
1. With the breakup of the family in America comes an even more important reason for Next Gen leaders to commit to longevity in their work.
While the family and home may not be a consistent and stable influence in a young persons life, the church and Next Gen leadership should be a consistent and stable model of presence for our young people.
Next Gen leaders who model a healthy family culture in their work are assured of growth because of this cultural lack of the family unit.
2. The stages that a young leader will go through prepare them for even greater effectiveness as they get older.
When you first start out in Next Gen leadership you might be considered a peer who is not much older than the teens, and, a novice by the parents of the children you lead.
But, as you age you mature. And go through very important phases:
A peer or friend in the first few years has a lot of similarities to the youth
A big brother or sister at like year 5-10 grows in influence and still remains close to the youth
A cool aunt of uncle at like year 10-15 has now gained a lot experience
A father or mother at like year 15-20 becomes a very experienced leader and has a lot of influence on the parents and the youth
A grandfather or grandmother at like year 20+ is a whole different influence on not just the youth or the family, but also, the church.
These phases of personal growth, relational growth, professional growth, and spiritual growth create a cycle of maturity and greater ministry success for a Next Gen leader.
3. A Next Gen leader does not phase-out or age-out of youth ministry simply because of age.
In fact, age is not a deterrent in Next Gen leadership. Age is actually a benefit and one of the great qualities that make a healthy youth leader.
Ministry is about relationship. And age brings maturity and relational experience and capital. And relationship in Next Gen ministry may be at a whole other level of importance when it comes to longevity in youth ministry.
4. The older a youth pastor is, the longer the stay at one church. Youth pastors who were 35 and older stayed up to 6 years longer in one place!
Longevity has been an issue in Next Gen ministry. However, one recent study showed youth ministry longevity going up from an average stay of a youth pastor of 18 months in one place, to now 3.5 years at one church. (ythology)
In another study, the average career of a youth pastor was 7.5-9 years. (youth specialties)
5. The Loss of Spiritual Health creates unwillingness to work and be faithful
The loss of spiritual vitality can be a key reason that all ministers leave the ministry, but, it may be the most important reason for youth leadership.
Because of the stress of Next Gen ministry, PERSONAL spiritual health is critical to longevity.
It is much easier for a youth leader to address all of the problems in ministry when they are spiritually healthy.
6. The commitment to spiritual disciplines is critical to the success and longevity
Prayer, reading, fasting, worship, giving, rest, total wellness, and other spiritual disciplines increase ministry effectiveness exponentially!
As youth leaders we have a responsibility for the faith handoff from one generation to the next.
7. Not solving problems will cripple leaders
When youth leaders neglect problem-solving there is an avalanche of pressure and work that builds up. Parental issues, budget issues, pastoral team issues, event-planning issues, and even personal family issues can all become like a tsunami crashing down upon us.
And when you get behind the mounting problems, it can be easy to simply quit and move on to another opportunity. It is when we solve problems that we gain confidence and longevity. Solving problems and the wins this creates brings a joyful and positive atmosphere in youth ministry.
Here is a quick practical way to increase problem-solving:
I often ask Next Gen leaders to write down a list of the problems they are facing - and to then write down a list of solutions to those problems. If you cannot come up with solutions, ask someone with more experience to help you.
What you will find is that there are always more solutions than problems!
8. A Lack of Currency
As a Next Gen leader gets older, he or she may start to question themselves. Maybe they start asking questions like, “Am I relevant?” Or, “Can I relate to the younger generation?” Maybe they entertain the thought, “Is it time for someone younger to lead?”
One of the things I do to stay current, about every 2-3 years, is to just simply reinvent myself at every stage of ministry. It takes effort, but, I simply discover or rediscover myself every few years by looking at a certain gift that I have and working on improving or highlighting that gift for a season. Or even adding a gift or talent to my bag/ skill set.
I have found that often it is not God leading a young pastor to leave youth ministry, it is discouragement from a lack of currency and the inability to relate to the world of the adolescent.
But, remember, a Next Gen leader does not phase-out or age-out of ministry simply because of age.
9. Losing your relationship to students is the first step to leaving Next Gen
This may seem similar to the last reason on remaining current or relevant. But, this relational ethic is completely different. What I mean by this is losing our direct proximity and conversation and relationship with teenagers.
When youth leaders are not in the context or setting of teenagers, it is easy to lose the love of the youth culture, or, miss the personal stories that make up each student, and we become statistical and sterile in our approach to teenagers. Our work becomes presentation and not presence.
A second part of this point is the time spent with students versus leaders. The more time you spend with adults the easier it is to move on to adult ministry. The more time you spend with youth the longer you will be in youth ministry!
I have watched this play out in youth leaders for many years - as soon as I see a youth leader spending an inordinate amount of time with adults, it is not long before they are planting a church, becoming an executive pastor, or moving into senior leadership. Missionaries got it right - ministry in relation to the target and the context of the people we are trying to reach.
The greater our relationship with teens, and not just the systems and tasks of day-to-day ministry, the greater the emotional return for our work.
10. A Superman or Wonder Woman mentality goes against collaboration and increases burnout and not burnon
None of us has the answers to all of the problems that will arise in Next Gen ministry. But, with collaboration and team-work, we can handle anything. The circle you run in is your strength, joy, and vitality.
A plurality of leadership with a singular vision
The National Champion Michigan Wolverines have a motto they have used for many years - THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS!
I truly believe that a team approach to Next Gen ministry creates several things that increase longevity:
1. Family relationships that make the work more joyful (everything is easier with the right circle around you)
2. Delegation of responsibility that makes the work more doable
3. And a diversity of age/race/skillset on the leadership team that makes the work more effective
You’ve heard it said before, “Teamwork makes the dreamwork”. And. “Many hands make light work”. When young leaders employ a Super-friends or a Marvel or an Avengers approach to ministry, there is nothing that cannot be solved in Next Gen ministry.
Superman and Wonder Woman have a weakness. But the combination of super heroes has no weakness.You will have leaders who are administrative, who are athletes, and some artisans, or academics, and even alternatives. Each of these add to the effectiveness of the team.
11. Doing Next Gen alone is a deadly separation - you need a rabbi
You need a mentor. All of us should have someone in our life that we are spiritually afraid of. Someone who can say anything to us.
A teacher, a coach, an educator, an elder, or a veteran youth leader in your area can be the perfect rabbi to help you remove lids and tear down fences and push over walls
Finally
Use these principles and practical advice to stay spiritually healthy, to help you solve problems, to remain current in the youth culture, to assist you in cultivating relationships with teens, and to build a team around you who can share the vision of Next Gen leadership with you.
Whatever the reasons for a lack of longevity in youth ministry, there are plenty of solutions to help increase the effectiveness and ultimately the longevity of a Next Gen leader. But, remember, a young leader does not age-out or phase-out of youth ministry simply because of age.