There has never been a time or season in my two decades of youth ministry that I have not needed the people in my ministry networks. Notice I didn't just say benefitted from. I said needed.
I love, and have come to depend on, the shared culture of youth ministry. Fill up a room of youth workers (young and old) from all over the country and from different ministry settings, and just listen and watch. We are telling the same stories, struggling over the same things, and laughing over familiar scenarios. We are also dreaming the same dream - teenagers becoming and growing as disciples of Jesus, who discover how they are uniquely called to go and make more disciples of Jesus. Lean in and pay attention because I promise you will learn something. I don't care how new you are or if you're a veteran, you need the voice and perspectives of other good youth workers.
That is why Zach Hummer and I started the Youth Ministry Podcast called 'When you gonna be a real pastor?'(now called "NEXT: A Next Generation Ministry Podcast") for our district youth workers. We set out to engage New England, but quickly discovered that we were talking about things that mattered to many youth workers across the country. While podcasts are "digital" networks, I find a variety of networks can be springboards to engage in the shared experiences, language, and vision for youth ministry.
I have had the privilege of meeting and talking to hundreds of youth workers from all over the country, and without fail, healthy youth workers are connected youth workers. It helps us remember that we are not alone.
Networking has been a necessary catalyst for growth and innovation in my ministry to teenagers. Our youth ministry networks should be expanding our ministry imaginations, encouraging us to the core, and fueling a passion for better youth ministry. If your network or networks aren't about those things, set a different course and make it happen. Because you need it.
Ryan Baker is the Pastor of Youth and Worship for Christ Chapel in Madison CT for 18 years. Check his podcast NEXT: A Next Generation Ministry Podcast on iTunes. You can follow Ryan on twitter is @pastorryanbaker.