I have been doing youth ministry now for a while. Every environment I find myself in has harbored amazing students and awesome friendships with those students. I was recently asked how I do what I do and how it is so relational. I will try to answer it simply.
I do not over think youth ministry. Let me clarify. My wife can attest that I LOVE to think things through and process potential decisions. As a matter of fact, I absolutely LOVE to be in a room where my thoughts have no limits. I could think about stuff and process it at depth for hours and hours. However, when it comes to students, this is what I know; students want boundaries and students desire someone older to care more about them than they do the friendship. The moment we start over thinking simple steps in the process, we will stop doing ministry and start becoming analysts. Certainly there is nothing wrong with the latter, but when you are doing ministry you have one simple task to do what is best for your students. No matter what. Too often we over think simple things that do not require that much analysis. I have been successful in ministry because of the gifts God has given me and His provision and blessing. I also think I have had some success because I do not over think youth ministry.
I wonder what would have happened if Peter thought as much as some youth pastors do? Now I am not making the case that we should be just like Peter cause there was a whole cutting off an ear thing that was found in his zeal. But what I love about Pete is that he did not over analyze to the point of exhaustion. On the contrary, he actually just did what he felt was right in the moment. The times where Peter did analyze stuff he started to drown in the water he was walking on before he started analyzing.
We need to be wise in our decisions. We need to carefully work through the pit falls and the problems that could arise from our actions. But I think to some extent we need to stop over thinking it.
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Food for thought: The last time you came upon a student crying because their parents are going through a divorce or they just broke up with their significant other and it hurts, did you sit down and let them talk or were you constantly trying to get on to the next part of the program? I hope you sat down and let them talk instead of thinking how this would impact the timing of your program or prep.
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