Majority of the youth pastors I know are young men that have been in ministry for a limited amount of time. They are in need. In need of a godly mentor pouring into their heart, soul, and mind. In fact, those that have been in ministry for less than a decade should be considered still in need of an experienced man of God pouring wisdom into them. Young pastors need to be mentored. Youth pastors, being mentored is not optional, but ought to be essential in your life and ministry.
I'm not talking about being mentored in how to run a student ministry, how to learn to budget your ministry, how to develop curriculum, or any other situation that one may face in ministry. Don't misunderstand this post. Those are all important areas that a youth pastor will face, and a youth pastor will need wisdom and council in navigating the waters of ministry methodology.
I'm pleading for youth pastors to be mentored by men of God on the spiritual side of ministry. As a youth pastor grows in his walk with Jesus Christ, he will be able to navigate the waters of ministry with greater dependence on God leading and directing his steps for the Kingdom. Student ministry has many difficulties, but without the sovereignty of God grasping the heart of the youth pastor, those difficulties lead to burn out, resentment, anger, frustration, and complacency. Youth pastors will learn the administrative tasks and responsibilities, but a godly mentor will provide spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth seems to be lacking in young men of God today. Look at the multitude of numbers available about the longevity of pastors in ministry. I have heard of numbers from 70 percent to 90 percent of men falling out of ministry before they are in their 60s. Maybe a lack of godly mentoring has contributed to this problem. Youth pastors need a godly mentor that will have three qualities.
1) A godly mentor calls out the sins and failures of the youth pastor. No one likes to be exhorted. No one likes to have their failures and sins called out. But, a godly mentor will have the boldness and courage to confront a young man of God in order for the young man to stand firm in the faith. God needs men that are holy. God needs men that seek his face everyday in study and prayer. God declares, "You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (Lev. 11:45b). Youth pastors need a godly mentor to sharpen their spiritual growth by holding them accountable to live a life of holiness for the glory of God (Proverbs 27:17). A godly mentor asks hard questions: Are you staying holy? Are you seeking Christ? Are you leading your family well? Are you leading your wife? Are you loving your wife the way that Christ loves the church? We need this type of mentor in our lives.
2) A godly mentor encourages through times of trials and tribulation. The are three season in youth ministry: you are either in a confrontation, coming out of a confrontation, or about to go into a confrontation. A godly mentor encourages and provides wise counsel during times of difficulty in ministry. A godly mentor tells the youth pastor to stand firm as God's man by depending on Jesus Christ to lead him through times of confrontation. Look at any of Paul's letters to Titus or Timothy, and you will see a godly mentor encouraging these young men to stand firm through difficult days. Paul exhorts Timothy, "Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 2:3). To the young Titus Paul explains, "Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us" (Titus 2: 7-8). A godly mentor will help a youth pastor understand that times of confrontation, trials, and tribulation are actually times of spiritual growth.
3) A godly mentor must be an example to follow. A godly mentor not only imparts wisdom, but imparts a life of ministry that has sought to glorify God, has matured spiritually, remained devoted to prayer and study, and devoted to shepherding the people of God faithfully. A godly mentor provides the youth pastor with a lifestyle worthy to be emulated. Youth pastors seek out a godly mentor that can say like Paul, "I urge you, then, be imitators of me" (1 Cor. 4:16). Youth pastors need godly men that have been through a long period of ministry in order to be an example of a man of God. A youth pastor will do well to find a mentor that has continued to grow spiritually in order to spiritually grow themselves.
Youth pastor, being mentored by a godly man is not optional. It is mandatory! We all need mentors. We all need help to complete the task that God has called us to. A godly man in your life remains an essential element for you in ministry.
I'm not talking about being mentored in how to run a student ministry, how to learn to budget your ministry, how to develop curriculum, or any other situation that one may face in ministry. Don't misunderstand this post. Those are all important areas that a youth pastor will face, and a youth pastor will need wisdom and council in navigating the waters of ministry methodology.
I'm pleading for youth pastors to be mentored by men of God on the spiritual side of ministry. As a youth pastor grows in his walk with Jesus Christ, he will be able to navigate the waters of ministry with greater dependence on God leading and directing his steps for the Kingdom. Student ministry has many difficulties, but without the sovereignty of God grasping the heart of the youth pastor, those difficulties lead to burn out, resentment, anger, frustration, and complacency. Youth pastors will learn the administrative tasks and responsibilities, but a godly mentor will provide spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth seems to be lacking in young men of God today. Look at the multitude of numbers available about the longevity of pastors in ministry. I have heard of numbers from 70 percent to 90 percent of men falling out of ministry before they are in their 60s. Maybe a lack of godly mentoring has contributed to this problem. Youth pastors need a godly mentor that will have three qualities.
1) A godly mentor calls out the sins and failures of the youth pastor. No one likes to be exhorted. No one likes to have their failures and sins called out. But, a godly mentor will have the boldness and courage to confront a young man of God in order for the young man to stand firm in the faith. God needs men that are holy. God needs men that seek his face everyday in study and prayer. God declares, "You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (Lev. 11:45b). Youth pastors need a godly mentor to sharpen their spiritual growth by holding them accountable to live a life of holiness for the glory of God (Proverbs 27:17). A godly mentor asks hard questions: Are you staying holy? Are you seeking Christ? Are you leading your family well? Are you leading your wife? Are you loving your wife the way that Christ loves the church? We need this type of mentor in our lives.
2) A godly mentor encourages through times of trials and tribulation. The are three season in youth ministry: you are either in a confrontation, coming out of a confrontation, or about to go into a confrontation. A godly mentor encourages and provides wise counsel during times of difficulty in ministry. A godly mentor tells the youth pastor to stand firm as God's man by depending on Jesus Christ to lead him through times of confrontation. Look at any of Paul's letters to Titus or Timothy, and you will see a godly mentor encouraging these young men to stand firm through difficult days. Paul exhorts Timothy, "Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 2:3). To the young Titus Paul explains, "Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us" (Titus 2: 7-8). A godly mentor will help a youth pastor understand that times of confrontation, trials, and tribulation are actually times of spiritual growth.
3) A godly mentor must be an example to follow. A godly mentor not only imparts wisdom, but imparts a life of ministry that has sought to glorify God, has matured spiritually, remained devoted to prayer and study, and devoted to shepherding the people of God faithfully. A godly mentor provides the youth pastor with a lifestyle worthy to be emulated. Youth pastors seek out a godly mentor that can say like Paul, "I urge you, then, be imitators of me" (1 Cor. 4:16). Youth pastors need godly men that have been through a long period of ministry in order to be an example of a man of God. A youth pastor will do well to find a mentor that has continued to grow spiritually in order to spiritually grow themselves.
Youth pastor, being mentored by a godly man is not optional. It is mandatory! We all need mentors. We all need help to complete the task that God has called us to. A godly man in your life remains an essential element for you in ministry.
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