Help for the Bivocational Youth Minister

Written by The Leading Student Ministry Editorial Staff

Bivocational youth ministers in smaller churches are often faced with the same issues as ministers in larger churches. The difference is that challenges are often magnified because in most bivocational settings there are fewer adults involved to assist in the student ministry area.

Four Truths to Consider
Before looking at some helpful hints to help you do more than just survive, let's take a look at four truths that may be hard to admit:

There are no truly part-time youth ministry positions. There is part-time pay, but no part-time work.
Everything that is on your plate (counselor, minister, parent, spouse, planner) cannot be a priority.
You are not a super hero. This is an expectation that just cannot be met.
Personal spiritual health, physical health, and the health of your family are most important.

Helpful Hints for a Strong Bivocational Ministry

Pray. Without concentrated, intentional prayer, very little of what happens in ministry will have lasting effect. Without prayer, you may find yourself caught up in good things that possibly cause you to miss the best things God has in store for your student ministry.
Be Intentional. Student ministers are some of the most creative, technologically savvy, fun-loving, extreme people in ministry. Trying to keep up with all the other ministries out there is not the best ministry motivation. Take the time to determine the purpose and mission for your church's ministry to students. Give your students and leaders a unified, concerted set of goals and plans that your people can rally around. Gather a team together to help you determine what will become the main priority for your ministry long-term and what actions to implement now to help you reach your long-term goals.
Seek Help. Don't be afraid to admit that you do not know it all, have time to do it all, or even have the desire to do it all by yourself. Involve parents, other adults, and even look to partner with other churches in your area to pull off some ministry you could not do on your own. When you make a mistake, admit it and find out how not to repeat it again. Remember, most mistakes are made when we are tired, in a hurry, trying to do more than we really know how to do, and are just plain over committed.
Network. Many youth ministers whose churches are in close proximity to each other are learning the benefit of partnering together for ministry. This takes understanding and a high level of trust, but at the heart of this partnering is a strong sense of kingdom growth. Many of these ministry partners use each other as accountability partners and have learned to trust, respect, and support each other.
Communicate. The number-one complaint from parents of students about youth ministers is that "we never know what is going on soon enough." Say the same thing over and over. Be sure students, parents, leaders, staff, and the community know what your ministry is designed to accomplish. Allow others to help you communicate. It is critical that you communicate using a variety of ways to get the message across. And remember that the church bulletin is often the least-effective means of communication.
Get Comfortable. Being comfortable does not mean being complacent. Be comfortable in your own skin. Be comfortable with being in God's Word. Allow God to show you your spiritual gifts and talents and operate out of those. Remember that you do have another job that probably actually funds your ability to be in student ministry. Allow God to show you ministry opportunities in your other job as well. Be thankful God has provided another job that allows you to be involved in student ministry.

It is true that you have very little time. Stay focused on taking care of yourself and your family, then ministering to those whom God has privileged you to serve. God has called you to serve Him and to serve others. Thank Him for the calling. Rest in Him and allow Him to work in, around, and through you.

Related Articles: