10 REAL Secrets to Being an Unforgettable Youth Pastor

So, yeah, in case you missed it…that list from Monday.  Farce.  Not real.  Don’t do it.  Try these instead.

10.  Invest in parents.  They’re the most important spiritual influence their kids have (good or bad).  And most are desperately trying to hold their heads above water.

9.  Know your pastor.  Chances are, no one is ministering to him/her.  Maybe you are here for such a time as this.

8.  Balance mercy and justice.  Students need grace, but they also need guidelines.  Giving them both, with love, is a non-negotiable.

7.  Set boundaries for your family.  Not everyone will like that – but they’re all watching to see how your family ‘rates’ in your life.  It could be the most teachable moment you ever offer them.

6.  Invest in getting better, not smarter.  Regardless of how you pursue continuing education, make sure it’s sharpening your skills, not just your intellect.  (Nothing worse than a youth leader who knows all the answers, but has no idea how to deliver them!)

5.  Never go over budget.  Period.  We prefer the term frugal over cheap.

4.  Be seen.  The whole world is a red carpet and you are Lady Gaga.  Football games, grocery stores, and the church office.

3.  Guard your heart.  Though most will never know directly the accountability measures you set for your life, they’ll sure find out if you fail to have any.

2.  Sabbath.  Wherever you can for as long as you can.  Which if you’re being unforgettable in a lot of other ways, may not be much…and only in the bathroom.

1.  Love students.  People notice it.  And then they catch it.  And that’s when you truly become most memorable….

Be Flexible, Not Ill Prepared

So, I’ll say it!  My favorite ‘F’ word in youth ministry is flexibility.  I like to keep things ‘off-kilter’ a little bit.  When things get too routine, too familiar, I like to mix it up.  Sometimes, I throw ‘planned wrenches’ into the plan just to orient my leaders to embrace change.

But LOTS of youth ministers say they’re flexible, when really what they are is lazy, unproductive, or unprepared.

Flexibility is NOT waiting until Wednesday afternoon to prep your Wednesday night talk.  It’s not an excuse for not planning ahead or preparing adequately.

Here are a few ways to be INTENTIONALLY flexible – because sometimes stuff happens and you’ll have to be.

1.  Always have a ‘break glass in case of fire’ Bible study prepped and ready.  I use my trusty Interlinc boxes for such a time as this.  Each box is labeled with the theme contained inside – and inside are all necessary supplies, pre-written notes, and a Bible (just in case.)

2.  Keep generally used supplies on hand….and by on hand, I mean make sure you have a key to the children’s ministry supply closet – you KNOW they have everything in there.  It’s probably where Al Capone’s hidden fortunes all reside– since we know kids ministry gets all the money.   :)

3.  Never panic in front of people.  It’s OK to take a moment to gather your thoughts.  Flexibility can turn into the other ‘f’ word if you leap before you look.  If something goes awry, simply take a few minutes and gather your thoughts, seek counsel from other leaders, make a quick plan of action, and implement it.

4.  If the need for flexibility comes from a mistake or a plan not well-thought through, evaluate that following up after the event, study, plan, etc.  Flexibility is fun, but it shouldn’t happen because of repeated mistakes.

5.  Prepare in advance.  Check the van.  Know the calendar.  Have some contingencies.  Embrace the opportunity for flexibility when it comes because you were fully prepared ahead of time.

Flexibility can be fun or it can be frightening, kind of like a roller coaster…planning ahead and keeping a cool head is your personal lap bar.