Several years ago I gathered with a group of student ministry pastors from our community as we did each month. This particular month I presented our student ministry leader community with a few intentional questions about life in ministry and the very real and personal challenges we all face as leaders. As we began to dialogue about the questions, the conversation took a turn that will forever be etched in my memory when one leader attending said, "I have to be honest. I'm checking the ministry 'boxes' but I'm dying inside."
If you and I were honest and if we've been in ministry any length of time we'd have to admit that we've probably found ourselves in a similar place at one point or another. Because of this, I've made an unwavering commitment to ensure that our "network" of student ministry leaders never becomes about surface conversations and merely "getting together" for the sake of just hanging out.
The stress that ministry can put on our family and personal health has taken too many leaders out of the game. I believe we must all resolve to do everything we can to stay healthy. My mentor, Bo Boshers, says that only "healthy leaders lead healthy ministries." This statement is the reason he founded the coaching and mentoring organization called Lead222. Too many leaders are taken out of the game because they are not intentional about their health.
Wouldn't we all become better people and better leaders if we had an unwavering commitment to pursue authentic community with those around us? What if every network and gathering of student ministry leaders across the country decided to settle for nothing less than intentionally sharpening one another every time we gathered? What if we were as committed to surrounding ourselves with the right people and asking the right questions as we'd like our student to be?
I believe student ministry in America can become more effective than it's ever been, but I also know that our effectiveness will always be limited by the health of those leading the ministry. I often ask myself, "If every student followed my example, would the world change for better or worse?" Let us be challenged daily to become leaders worth following, because the students following us today will shape our culture tomorrow.
I'd like to invite every leader reading this to take action toward becoming a better person and a better leader. Join the coaching and mentoring community at Lead222.com. Stay committed to only being a part of a culture of authentic community. Resolve to no longer settle for "checking the boxes". Resolve to be and remain healthy leader.
Nate Chrisman and his wife, Mindy, live in Dayton, Ohio and have four children, Judah (5) and Jovi (4), Justice (2), Jace (1), and have been married for 7 years. They are expecting baby Chrisman 5 in August 2017.
Nate is the Founder and CEO of THECLEFT, a non-profit ministry designed to reach [un]churched middle and high school students through partnership with schools and churches, and creating environments for students to make a decision to follow Jesus and be connected to a local church. Nate is also the Pastor of UYC (Uncommon Youth Church) at Xenia Nazarene Church and serves as lead developer of the Youth Leader Experience Conference in Orlando, FL. Nate is a Lead222 Coach, and gives leadership to the Lead222 National Gatherings (a community of student ministry pastors gatherings nationwide).