I have had the idea for this book since I began as an intern Youth Pastor at my church, which for the protection of the innocent will remain unnamed. I have been in youth ministry for over ten years now and I have worked with some of the greatest Youth Pastors and leaders a young man could ask for. I studied for two years at my Bible College, interned in a Youth ministry of five hundred students, and volunteered as a right hand for a ministry of one hundred and nothing could have prepared me for the things that took place when I became “The Man” of that ministry, so to speak.
No one ever includes these events in their sermons or books. I do not know if they are forgotten because they want to paint a rosy picture of Youth ministry or like so many who suffer post-traumatic stress they block out those memories from their mind. But my experience is made up of good and bad alike, and I wanted to share those memories with you so you could know you are not alone, and it can always get worse.
So I wanted to write this book (Which is now my blog) with the hope of better preparing some soul who comes after me to the always noble, always exhausting, always rewarding calling that is youth ministry.
Illustrations Gone Awry
The Hammer
I was asked to speak at a youth my youth ministry and God lead me to speak about using the proper tool for the proper job. I asked for a guy and a girl to volunteer to have a little contest, a battle between the sexes if you will. I quickly had my volunteers and was ready to begin. I gave each a 2×4 and a 3” nail, and instructed them to use their hands to put the nail into the wood. I said go and then handed the girl a hammer she would then pound the nail into the wood proving that if you use the correct tools for the correct job you would be better off. Unfortunately, the young lady was fairly unskilled with a hammer and the young man turned over nail and hit it with his 2×4, pounding it quickly through the wood. Did I mention this completely ruined my illustration and proved the opposite point?