Guest Post by Geoff Stewart
Whenever I meet a new Youth Pastor one of the first things I tell them is, do some research and learn the Ministry Landscape that exists where they are. The leg work in doing this research will help to have a greater understanding of what is going on, what has gone on and help them get things going faster and easier. Here are the 3 P’s of the Ministry Landscape.
People: Get to know the other Youth Pastors in the area; these guys and gals will be your greatest resource. They know the lay of the land, they know people, the might even know some of your students and above all they are knowledgeable. Attending your local youth ministerial meeting might seem arduous, but the value that comes out of it will be greater than the time invested. Shared responsibility on events, brainstorming, accountability, and prayer and support are available for you there, you just have to show up. Having people that know the culture where you are and know what to look out for are invaluable.
Para-Church: Besides youth groups, what else is happening? Young Life, Youth For Christ? Spending regular time in the High Schools is becoming more and more challenging and if you are wanting to visit the schools, chances are Young Life already does and they can help you navigate through the many hoops it can take to get in. Spend time getting to know these people, because there is typically overlap in students between your ministry and theirs, they are a great ally to have as they are in the schools, and often closer to and more in tune with the youth culture than we can be.
Past: It is really important to understand what has happened if you are new in the area. Unfortunately, there are many instances where the Church, or Youth Pastors are not seen in the favorable light. A moral failure, a well publicized injury or lawsuit or anything like this can make being a YP that much more challenging. It’s important to understand what has happened, peaks and valleys of the Ministry you are taking over as well as the others around it and what has caused them. The more you know about the history, the better you will be at planning to avoid past pitfalls.
Before you go in and gut your new Ministry, take the time to get to know the landscape, the people and the stories. The value that will come of it will help you as you discern the next steps in the building of His Kingdom.
Geoff Stewart is the Pastor of Jr & Sr High School for Journey Student Ministries at Peace Portal Alliance Church and regularly contributes GUEST POSTS to MTDB. You can, too! See how right here.
