Home Sweet Simple Home

Part 3: Then What Happened

In order to best understand this post- read Part 1 and Part 2 FIRST.

Without going into all the details, my pastor stopped meeting with me regularly after the first year and I was left to “go it on my own” for the most part and felt that I was doing alright, after all I had a mentor. Then my mentor lost his job with the district and moved away. Then our new district superintendent met with the pastor and our church board and shared his concern over the fact that I held the title youth pastor without the formal training. He explained that I really had no right to the title without the degree and that I was putting myself on the level with others who had spent the time and money to earn the degree. I was then given the choice: start classes towards a youth ministry degree or take a title change to “director of youth ministries”.
Allow me to interject into my own story- The call I feel God has placed on my heart for youth ministry is to the ministry in my own church. I feel called to lead youth at my church and no where else. I have also lived with the understanding that my first calling is to be a wife and mother and that youth ministry comes after all that. When I first looked into classes they were held on Monday nights from 6 to 10 pm a two hour drive away- that’s 2 hours one way. Mr. Steady and I both agreed that I could not take these classes and still be the wife and mother God called me to be and shared this with our pastor. I continued to study books and pray and learn. When it became available to take the same classes online, neither the church nor myself could afford to pay for them. So again- it went to the way side. I didn’t worry overly much as I continued to study and pray and learn on my own. I have often felt uncomfortable with the title youth pastor but since it was the title I was given, I went with it. I have struggled, at times, with others (within the church) perceptions of me and my lack of formal education to holding that title (my in-laws for one). And to be very honest, I have also struggled with the lack of recognition within my church for me and the ministry I lead. For example, until last October, I was overlooked for pastor/ministry appreciation month (and had been in youth ministry for 5.5 years @ that time- 4.5 as paid staff). I have always admonished myself that I am “storing up treasures in heaven” and shouldn’t be concerned about recognition here on earth. But yet, I continue to struggle in this regard because I am the type of personality that needs encouragement and praise to continue giving my all- it is easy for me to get down-hearted and distressed (as well as stressed) when all I am hearing about are my mistakes and missteps.
Stay tuned for Part 4: Back to the Story @ Hand

Many of us understand

9:40 AM, 2007-Oct-10 .. Posted by Anonymous

Helping in the church is hard work. People in the church can be hard to deal with. Working in the childrens ministry is sometimes over looked. My husband was working with the children and many times they looked to the children as second class. All that really matters is what you do is for God and for Him only:)

I hope you can see many others are in the same boat as you.

A response

11:11 AM, 2007-Oct-10 .. Posted by YPAmy5

Thank you and yes, I am well aware of the many, many, many others who are in the same boat with me- perhaps we should say SHIP- because it’s gotta be one BIG boat!
I haven’t finished my posts on this subject yet- I am leading up to something more- and the need for support of all ministries. At our church it is the opposite- Children’s ministry gets the recognition and youth ministry is shoved to the wayside (perhaps “shoved” is a bit too harsh). Our children’s ministry director is a volunteer and gets more help. In fact, the bulk of our volunteers in our church work within the umbrella of children’s ministry. Because I am paid many people think that I should be running the youth ministry on my own- since they are paying me for it and therefore I don’t need the volunteers as much as children’s ministry (and I should mention that some people are much more comfortable with leading little children than youth).
Anyway- if there is one thing I have learned it is to be much more aware of acknowledging those who work within the church. I have made it my own “little ministry” to pray and send cards of encouragement to those in volunteer ministry within our church. I figure if it is something I have wanted done for me then there are others out there who feel the same. In fact, our little family has made it a challenge to think of all the different ways people help and volunteer within the church (like volunteering to fold bulletins).
So- stay tuned.
Amy W