6. Teenagers need you now.
Suicide is up among this generation. It’s the second-leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. Among the culprits that trigger suicidal thoughts is teen stress. According to Psychology Today, the average teenager today has the same amount of stress as the average psychiatric patient in the 1950s! Teens are desperate for peace, and nobody will bring it to them like the Prince of Peace, Jesus himself!
7. Teenagers will thank you later.
Let’s take a cue from Ray Boltz’s classic “Thank You“ song. Imagine yourself in heaven with a long line of believers standing before you. One by one, they thank you for your investment in their lives when they were kids. Imagine the souls that were saved, the lives that were changed, and the tragedies that were averted because you persisted in this challenging (but eternally rewarding) job. Think of the gratefulness you’ll feel in your heart because you decided not to quit student ministry.
I know youth ministry can be tough. And I also know sometimes God calls us into other roles. But if you’re wrestling through whether or not to stick with it because it’s hard, consider these seven reasons to not quit.
And if you’re gonna stay, do it right. Build your youth ministry on Gospel Advancing, disciple-multiplying values that make all the hassle worth it and give you the biggest bang for your ministry buck.
If done right, youth ministry is worth your lifelong investment. Unless God is directly calling you out, refuse to give up!
This article about why you shouldn’t quit youth ministry originally appeared here.
