Job, Career, or Ministry?

I’ve got a secret – I hate my job. No, not my youth ministry gig, but the part time job I had to take to help pay the bills. I’m a pizza delivery guy. Its not as glamorous as it sounds (and it doesn’t sound glamorous at all!) The one thing I have is a lot of time to think. And I’ve been thinking a lot about why I am in youth ministry. And I had to ask myself the following question, and I ask it to you as well today -  are you a youth worker because its your job, your career…or your ministry?

Job

We’ve all worked someplace that was just a paycheck. We hate (or at least tolerate) going there, and the only redeeming quality is the money we get in the bank at the end of the week. Most would agree that viewing youth ministry as merely a job is not good, but too many are in it for the paycheck. They are in it because its the only place you can get paid for playing video games and chubby bunny.

Career

Viewing youth ministry as a career sounds like a good thing, right? Generally we think of a career as something we like, something we enjoy, and a profession we’re going to stick around in for a while. Unfortunately, the downside of a career is that we’re always looking for the next promotion, or the next payraise, or the next opportunity. It becomes about OUR upward mobility. I’m sure most of us at times are guilty of treating youth ministry as a career, but there are some who are solely looking to move up the youth ministry totem pole.

Ministry

Viewing what we do as a ministry means that sometimes we do it for less pay (or no pay!) Sometimes it means we go to a smaller church, not a bigger church. Sometimes it means we take another job to support our ministry. Sometimes it means doing whats best for God’s kingdom, not our own resume. Sometimes it means its hard work, not fun and games.

I’ve been in ministry for a long time, and I’ve seen many of the first two. Sometimes I’ve been a part of the first two. But if you’re going to make a difference, then the only way to go is for Youth Ministry to actually be a ministry. If you are ministering for any other reasons than to honor God by bringing teens to Christ, then you’re in the wrong profession. But if you’re in it for the ministry, then I want to encourage you. One of my favorite verses is Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Don’t give up, and keep ministering!