The word "thrive" is so...fresh.
It's right there in the words of Jesus: "I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)
"Abundant" equals thriving; reviving. Like streams of living water. That long, sweet drink from a gurgling mountain stream at the end of a long hike.
Can you taste it?
To Thrive is To Radiate Jesus
I want my connection with Jesus to thrive. As a youth leader, I'm sure you want that too.
A thriving youth leader is authentic, infectious, compelling. Students want to be around that kind of leader. More importantly, they want to be around the Jesus they see in that leader.
"Thrive" is my favorite word in NNYM's Vision statement:
To see every youth leader thrive in deeper connection with God and each other so that every young person is changed by the story of Jesus.
I think I know when I'm thriving. I for sure know when I'm not.
Languishing in Youth Ministry: Stunting Leadership Growth
One year into a pastoral role change in my youth pastor days, I knew I wasn't thriving.
I'd just finished six years shepherding middle schoolers at my SoCal church. I loved it. Within the next two years, I got married, rented our first apartment, finished seminary (MDiv), got "recorded" (the Friends Church version of ordination), and became a full-time associate pastor.
I was suddenly overseeing all the youth staff and trying to figure out why those wonderful, quirky, transparent middle schoolers had changed so much just by graduating into high school.
Very quickly, all the change and challenge caught up to me. I was choking on my feelings of fear, inadequacy, and emotional immaturity. I felt...stuck and uncertain how to do what I knew I was called to do.
A deeper connection with Jesus was obviously needed. I worked at that.
But I also needed others to help me navigate this new territory.
We Need Each Other to Thrive
I found help by connecting with others in my community. A Cru staff person helped me understand how to set goals for discipling high school students. I began meeting weekly with a couple of youth leaders to pray for each other personally - and for our ministries.
From that foundation, we did some collaborative events for outreach. Then, a monthly prayer gathering where students from different churches met by school groups to worship, and pray for their campuses. We planned a shared annual baccalaureate service for our school district.
I know for a fact that the lives of students were changed by what we did together.
I discovered others in Southern Cal who were doing the same things locally, and we dreamed about local networks like ours all across the LA metro area.
We Are Better Together
I won't minimize the challenges or setbacks. I won't pretend: those ten years of high school ministry included some dry seasons, and failures on my part. But I can say with assurance that "deeper connection with God and each other" was a transforming combination.
Those experiences as a local youth pastor were influential in making a choice to join the NNYM team. Because I want every youth leader to serve within reach of a healthy local network.
I want them, like I was, "to be personally encouraged, professionally equipped, and spiritually strengthened for faithful and effective ministry with the next generation" - that's the outcome of NNYM's Mission statement.
We're better together. Let's thrive.
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Doug Clark is the National Field Director for NNYM and serves as Team Pastor for our staff. To connect with Doug, send him an email.