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Are You Competing With Your Youth Ministry?

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I was sitting at CPC one year listening to a group of children’s pastors trashing the youth ministry in their respective churches. I wanted to jump in, but I bit my tongue. I learned long ago to not give advice if I don’t believe people will listen.

After years of competing with my youth ministry, one day it dawned on me, if I do not have a good relationship with my youth pastor it will hurt to the kids.

Think about it. Every child you are teaching is heading to the youth ministry. They are all becoming teenagers and there is nothing you can do to stop it.

If you see the 6th graders sitting in the sanctuary because they don’t like the youth ministry, it’s their first step away from church. It’s easy to point the finger at the youth ministry, but you also have responsibility to create a smooth transition to the youth ministry.

When was the last time you talked to the youth pastor?

If it’s been a while, take him or her out to lunch and start building a relationship.

  • Ask him or her questions.
  • Work hard at looking at things from their point of view.
  • The key to having influence with other leaders is to allow yourself to be influenced by them.

You may have parents come to you and tell you they don’t like the youth ministry. Don’t listen to them. Do not agree with them. If they have a problem with the youth ministry they need to talk to the youth pastor.

I have a question for you:

If you were the youth pastor what would you want the kid’s ministry pastor to do to prepare the kids for youth ministry?

Pastor, Filmmaker and Coach, Mark Harper has over 30 years of experience in the local church. He is the creator of the Super Church 2.0 Curriculum, which is used in over 5,000 churches worldwide. The focus of Mark’s ministry is helping leaders build strong churches and helping parents build strong families. Not only has Mark served in the local church as pastor, associate pastor, and family ministry pastor but he is also a certified coach with the John Maxwell Team.

3 thoughts on “Are You Competing With Your Youth Ministry?”

  1. Jeanne Bowser says:

    Good thoughts Mark. I actually get along great with our youth pastors. One of them came to see me yesterday for ministry advice. I prayed beforehand because I wanted to be sure I said the right things.

    Reply
  2. Joanna says:

    Thanks for your advise! I love my Youth Pastor… it helps he’s my husband! But I’m going to apply what you said to the Young Adults Leader… as we have youth leaving the youth group and graduating to the Young Adults… so we need a smooth transition there. Thanks for sharing your passion with us! God Bless!

    Reply
  3. Sherry says:

    As a Christian ed coordinator, when I had a youth pastor, we worked together. We shared responsibility for MS and HS education. He led youth group- but I often attended and helped. He has since left, and until we call another pastor, I’m the youth leader. I think its imperative to have a relationship and work together. Ministry is relational and you can’t compartmentalize it

    Reply

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