Life and Youth Ministry
One statistic I recently read said that the burnout rate for youth ministry is 3.9 years. There can be many reasons for this. I'll get back to this, but first, some back story.
This day, September 1st, marks my husband Nathan's first day as the youth pastor for Loon Mountain Ministry paid FULL TIME. He has either been unpaid or part time paid for several years now, not out of the Ministry's unwillingness to hire him full time but out of waiting on God's provision. Now the day is here! Thank you Lord! In November 2015, Nathan first came as an intern for LMM and when his internship the following April ended, he saw the need for someone to run something for the youth and stayed. He's been here ever since faithfully committed to sharing Christ with both kids at youth group and in our community. For the first few years, he worked limited hours at a job to pay his bills and volunteered his hours running the youth group. Just before we got married 3 years ago, the ministry was able to pay him 15 hrs/week and he worked another job the remaining 25 hrs a week, as being married required more living expenses than a single person. The next 2 years, the ministry was able to pay him for 25 hrs/week and he worked another job to make up the remaining hours. But now, he is full time, praise God for His provision!
Personally I've been volunteering as a youth leader at LMM since fall 2016. Over the last 6 years, as kids have gone in and out of youth group, I can say there are a lot of things that have been consistent regarding youth ministry. There has always been a mixture of both easy-going kids and some who just drive you crazy, there has always been moments where I have felt over-worked or taken advantage of and moments where I have felt loved and appreciated, and there has always been moments of praising the Lord for how He is working and moments of asking God how He is working. I could go on. Perhaps this back and forth is why youth ministry burn out happens so easily.
I have learned A LOT. I have been tried endlessly in my patience, love and grace for others. Convicted endlessly by my lack of patience, love and grace for others. If there is one thing I admire most about my husband, is that he seemingly abounds in these areas I lack. At the end of the night, after that trying kid pushed my buttons again and I am prone to grumble - and in honesty, often do - what does my husband do? He does not join in. He reminds me of God's love for that child. God's desire for that child to know Him. He does not grumble, although he could list many reasons if he wanted to. THAT is why we do what we do. That is why my husband has worked for years unpaid or part time and has been so committed. Because he loves God and His children! He is passionate and called to sharing about Him with others. This patience, love and grace Nathan has is through the Holy Spirit working in him.
I feel so blessed to have him as my husband and for the ways he reminds me of the truth, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). We are all in need of salvation and God freely offers salvation to those who would receive it through trusting in His Son. God desires a relationship with me, with you, and the whole world. We feel honored and humbled to serve and work in youth ministry and look forward to this new life transition!