As this site is dedicated to student ministry, I expect that most of the readers/visitors are going to be younger men and women working with youth in churches. The reality about being young in ministry is that there are many challenges facing us because of our youth. I say "us" just barely, as I am now 31, which is practically ANCIENT! However, I started in youth ministry when I was 19 years old, so I am all too familiar with the numerous challenges of being a young leader in the church. Here are just a few of the difficulties younger leaders face:
INEXPERIENCE
The reality is that a 19-year-old, a 25-year-old, and yes, even a 30-year-old working in ministry suffers from a lack of experience. Though we hate to admit it, there are many situations we're simply unprepared for. For every year I've worked in ministry (over 12) I could list many, many challenges, strange situations, new varieties of conflict, and more that have sprung up. Each time something "new" presents itself, I find myself seeking out resources and advice from my more "seasoned" colleagues who have walked this road before. Again, we hate to admit it, but inexperience is a legitimate challenge to the young leader in the church.
CRITICISM
Ah - this one. One of the most painful challenges to a young leader is criticism from church members, parents, even our own students! NO ONE likes to be criticized, and often in the church it's even more difficult because - let's just admit it - church people can be MEAN. Some of the criticism we receive is deserved, some is not. Either way, criticism hurts, and often young leaders aren't prepared to deal with the level of criticism some ministries bring their way.
FRUSTRATION
People don't understand your vision. You can't get funding for your ministry project. You are looked down on because of your age and inexperience. You don't know how to accomplish the tasks set before you. You can't live up to the unrealistic expectations your supervisor has placed on you. The people you are leading just won't get on board and follow you. These are the tip of the very large iceberg of reasons why ministry can be so frustrating for the young leader. Again, many young leaders don't know how to deal with the seemingly endless frustrations that come along with life in ministry, and not dealing with frustration in a healthy way can lead to early burnout or worse.
LACK OF TRUST
The reality is that young leaders don't have the trust built up that older leaders often do. The old adage about "paying your dues" has a lot of merit, and the truth is that many people won't trust you because you haven't put in enough years. I can tell you as someone who has stayed put in the same church for almost eight years that the longer you're in the game, the more people are willing to trust you. Whether or not that has to do with age or with longevity of relationship, I'm not sure, but I am sure that lack of trust is a real challenge to young leaders.
These are just a few of the challenges that young leaders face. Rather than seeming hopeless, however, here are a few quick tips I would give to young leaders to help them survive these and other challenges as they navigate life in ministry.
1. PRAY. Seek God's help and counsel in every challenge and make sure your heart is at rest in Him even when the world around you is rocked by the wind and waves of difficult days. I cannot stress enough the importance of your personal spiritual life when challenges come!
2. READ. Read books by others who have gone before you. Books on church/ministry leadership and on staying spiritually healthy will greatly benefit you.
3. REACH UP, OUT, AND DOWN. What that means is that you should reach UP and connect with a mentor, someone older than you who can speak into your life, reach OUT and connect with peers, other leaders your age with whom you can walk through ministry together, and reach DOWN and connect with someone younger than you whom you can mentor and pour into. This will significantly increase your capacity and longevity as a leader in ministry!
What about you? What challenges do you as a young leader face, and what have you done to navigate them?
INEXPERIENCE
The reality is that a 19-year-old, a 25-year-old, and yes, even a 30-year-old working in ministry suffers from a lack of experience. Though we hate to admit it, there are many situations we're simply unprepared for. For every year I've worked in ministry (over 12) I could list many, many challenges, strange situations, new varieties of conflict, and more that have sprung up. Each time something "new" presents itself, I find myself seeking out resources and advice from my more "seasoned" colleagues who have walked this road before. Again, we hate to admit it, but inexperience is a legitimate challenge to the young leader in the church.
CRITICISM
Ah - this one. One of the most painful challenges to a young leader is criticism from church members, parents, even our own students! NO ONE likes to be criticized, and often in the church it's even more difficult because - let's just admit it - church people can be MEAN. Some of the criticism we receive is deserved, some is not. Either way, criticism hurts, and often young leaders aren't prepared to deal with the level of criticism some ministries bring their way.
FRUSTRATION
People don't understand your vision. You can't get funding for your ministry project. You are looked down on because of your age and inexperience. You don't know how to accomplish the tasks set before you. You can't live up to the unrealistic expectations your supervisor has placed on you. The people you are leading just won't get on board and follow you. These are the tip of the very large iceberg of reasons why ministry can be so frustrating for the young leader. Again, many young leaders don't know how to deal with the seemingly endless frustrations that come along with life in ministry, and not dealing with frustration in a healthy way can lead to early burnout or worse.
LACK OF TRUST
The reality is that young leaders don't have the trust built up that older leaders often do. The old adage about "paying your dues" has a lot of merit, and the truth is that many people won't trust you because you haven't put in enough years. I can tell you as someone who has stayed put in the same church for almost eight years that the longer you're in the game, the more people are willing to trust you. Whether or not that has to do with age or with longevity of relationship, I'm not sure, but I am sure that lack of trust is a real challenge to young leaders.
These are just a few of the challenges that young leaders face. Rather than seeming hopeless, however, here are a few quick tips I would give to young leaders to help them survive these and other challenges as they navigate life in ministry.
1. PRAY. Seek God's help and counsel in every challenge and make sure your heart is at rest in Him even when the world around you is rocked by the wind and waves of difficult days. I cannot stress enough the importance of your personal spiritual life when challenges come!
2. READ. Read books by others who have gone before you. Books on church/ministry leadership and on staying spiritually healthy will greatly benefit you.
3. REACH UP, OUT, AND DOWN. What that means is that you should reach UP and connect with a mentor, someone older than you who can speak into your life, reach OUT and connect with peers, other leaders your age with whom you can walk through ministry together, and reach DOWN and connect with someone younger than you whom you can mentor and pour into. This will significantly increase your capacity and longevity as a leader in ministry!
What about you? What challenges do you as a young leader face, and what have you done to navigate them?