Comments on: Youth Ministry Model Broken

By: Joe Baggett

Joe Baggett — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:41:33 +0000

I am a part of the fall out also. I went to ACU for two years and did an internship and that cured me of the desire to work in full time ministry once and for all. I became an engineer instead. At the time there were no cofC colleges that offered BS degrees in technical fields so I had to go to a state school. Out of the 15 friends I had at ACU that graduated with BAs and MAs with the intention of going into full time ministry, 12 years later only one is still in that capacity. Seven were fired some without notice. Two were fired when they refused to sing the “Time to speak” petition in the Christian Chronicle last November.
The churches of Christ are facing a “minister” shortage. The idea of going to school then putting your family at the mercy of the opinions of the church for below average pay with little benefits does not attract the cream of the crop. The Christian Chronicle actually wrote an article about this phenomenon a couple of months ago.
Here is the jest a church of Christ minister can expect to change churches about every three years on average. They can also expect to be paid below the median income for the area. The church where my father in law is an elder has gone through 4 youth ministers in 10 years. Is the problem the youth minister or the church? I asked him how many more they would have to go through until they realized it was the Toxic atmosphere of the church.

By: Martin

Martin — Sat, 31 May 2008 04:26:31 +0000

I did preaching–then YM. I loved it–wife couldn’t take it. I was willing to sacrifice almost anything for the teens I worked with–except her–and my kids. The church didn’t help–in fact, made it worse. I figured the next time I ‘interviewed’ I ought to just save everyone some time, try walking across the baptistery. At least that way we would know if I was still ‘in it.’
The reason there is a preacher shortage is the way we train, hire, pay, manage, oversee, and craft expectations for preachers. Other than that—and the folks I worked with— preaching was perfect. YM is worse, not better. My son graduated from Lipscomb–he is passionate about making a difference in the lives of teenagers. I’ll support him 110%. I’m pray God won’t let ‘the church’ eat him alive….

Back to preaching–20 years.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:18:52 +0000

We were writing at the same time on this post, amen brother, I argee completely.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:17:54 +0000

Justin, thank you for your true insight. You are doing what I am trying to write about every day. I am thankful that you plan and have a congregation that allows you weekends and time for family. Some congregations expect the ym to be at the office at 8am Monday to Friday and then be with the young people on the weekends. I read your thoughts on ym, and feel there needs to be more men who man this their calling. The problem is, as you mentioned, congregation do not think the ym is as important as the pulpit man, which affects the pay. It seems afterwhile the ym cannot afford to work in this important field any longer and support a family.

By: Justin

Justin — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:17:40 +0000

Sorry for that terrible post. I was trying to watch TV and post at the same time. The last part should read:

“I am not saying there is not a shortage of pulpit ministers in the church. There is a shortage. However, there is also a shortage of trained godly men and women who want to devote their lives to youth ministry. One paragdigm shift we need in the church is to stop seeing youth ministry as an extended intership for pulpit ministry.”

By: Justin

Justin — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:13:31 +0000

Like some of the other posters have said you hit the nail on the head about the ym wives working and literally working two jobs. However, I disagree with your paradigm shift. You ministers are not pulpit ministers in training. We need men and women who are willing to devote their lives to influencing young people to become faithful members of the Lord’s church. When it comes to family time you have to plan it just like anything else. It is not the quantity of events but the quality of events. Also leave certain weekends open for your families and the families of others. For example, I do not plan events on Memorial or Labor Day Weekend. Those are family times for Tiffany and me.

Do not get me wrong. I am not saying that there are not a shortage of pulpit ministers. There is a shortage. However, there is also of trained godly men and women who need to be working in the kingdom of God.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:59:45 +0000

It seems from the comments the reasons vary. I think youth ministers (and other ministers) leave ministry because they cannot be every members employee. Additionally, leadership uses their favored members expectations as leverage in their evaluation of the “employee”. I survived and still rely on God to thrive in ministry, not because these aspects have had their day, but because “I am called of God.” If I did not sincerely embrace my calling, I would leave. Nevertheless, I fully support that the making of tents is compatible with the calling.

By: Odgie

Odgie — Thu, 29 May 2008 05:38:20 +0000

Matthew,

This was a good post and this is an ongoing issue for the church. There were several factors that contributed to my decision to leave youth ministry. One was that I had grown tired of looking for youth minister jobs as a single man. Many people don’t believe me when I tell them how bad it was, but years of that can take it’s toll. Another was the expectation that I was to entertain the kids. Being expected to come up with the newest, dazzling, shiniest flavor of the month got old. Finally, it was the competitive nature of the whole thing. “Their youth minister does this…” was a common suggestion.

By: Alan Bell

Alan Bell — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:13:24 +0000

Matthew,
This doesn’t relate to this section of your blog but this had me rolling.
Check out: http://www.treymorgan.net/2008/05/7-crazy-things-i-have-seen-in-church.html

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:31:30 +0000

Joey, I really feel bad for the youth minister’s wife who teaches in the school system, then is expected to travel with the youth minister to a youth retreat or rally. This poor lady never gets a break. Thank you for sharing with us, your insights are wonderful.