I feel like I have come to the game late. My dream growing up was to be a youth pastor. I even went to college and seminary to be a youth pastor. The dream never stopped, but
I got married,
and had kids,
and wanted to support the family,
and ____ ,
and ____,
and ____...
the list could go on.
So when my family made a transition to full-time ministry at the age of 31, I thought I was behind. I wasn't sure how well I could connect with teens when that was more than a decade ago for me. I was almost positive that my outdated movie references and dad joke humor would keep me from getting close to the students I ministered to.
I was running on adrenaline from the excitement of the dream job. I ran events, went to extra-curricular student activities, and preached with passion. Things seemed great that first year, and even if an event didn't work out, I just rolled with it.
By year two I started feeling less excitement. Rolling with the punches worked my first year, but the punches started to leave emotional marks. I felt any failure was a direct reflection of my abilities. I felt that I was letting my age show and my lack of experience catch up with me. I felt like I - and the ministry - were stuck and we needed some way to gain traction again.
That's when I learned of a youth leader gathering from a friend of mine. At the time I had no experience with NNYM but I thought hanging with a group of youth pastors could at the very least be fun. The next gathering was in a few days and I decided to show up even without knowing anyone. It was a bit unnerving to enter a group by myself without knowing anyone there but right away I felt an instant connection. Here was a room of youth leaders that were in the trenches with me. They were following God's leading in their life and serving students just like I was. I realized I wasn't alone in this. I heard stories of what others were doing well and ideas that I could integrate in my own ministry.
At each meeting I could look around the room of youth leaders and feel like we were all part of something bigger. I no longer felt stuck. I had a group that I could relate to and, at times, vent to. I felt like I was in a seminary class gaining so much wisdom and insight in ministry... without all the big books and long lectures. I had a resource I didn't know I needed but one that I will never do ministry without.
Then one meeting, I was asked by one of the group members Jonny about starting a group in my area. You see, I was attending a local gathering of youth pastors, but it was a good thirty minutes to each of the meetings since I lived further west than anyone in that network. I started to wonder, "How am I going to start a group in my own area?" I still don't have enough experience to lead other youth leaders.
Yet, I knew that my area could use a group like this, even if, like me, they didn't realize it yet. I started to realize that it didn't matter my experience because that gap could be filled by others. My job would be getting them there. I now know that we can't do ministry alone. We are better working alongside others, building off of each other, and sharing our successes and our failures.
If you want to hang out with DJ and some other amazing leaders, join the Chester County Network! It takes place on the second Thursday of the month from 11:00 - 1:00. Location rotates. Click here to stay in the loop.