Anyone who knows me is aware that I have a difficult time with people using youth ministry as a stepping stone into “real” ministry. Yes, I recognize that some youth pastors go on to lead churches and others go into different careers. However, I am convinced that God calls people uniquely to minister to teens.
Jon Coombs addresses this better than I ever could. He has a helpful article on the TGC blog about this very subject.
Here is a sample…
A common misunderstanding about youth pastors is that they’re training for the higher-ranking position of lead pastor. While it’s true many pastors once worked with youth, the two roles are distinct. Senior pastors who’ve previously served as youth pastors can provide encouragement and understanding. They can also channel their experience into unrealistic expectations, perhaps beginning with the refrain, “Back when I was a youth pastor . . .”
The implication of such responses is that the youth pastor role isn’t true ministry; only those who have the title of senior or lead pastor hold that distinction.
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