Here’s what I’d like you to hear this week,
Thank you for being willing to lead! Thank you for being willing to pay the prize and lead youth whatever it might cost you.
Yes, there are moments where you might not feel like leading, where you are afraid to stick out with your opinion, where it is required of you to take the first step, for role-modelling a new format, engage in a crazy game, start a ministry from scratch or decide on a discipline which might hurt some, where fear might cripple you… thank you for being courageous and seeking the best for the young people entrusted to your care.
Being in leadership and investing into young people might be the most costly thing you will ever be doing. It might never bring you fame nor glory nor praise in exchange for your great sacrifices . You might face some angry parents who don´t want their children to be Christians. You might face church people who do not understand that youth work can be messy, noisy and different and the impact of your work is not immediately seen nor felt.
Youth work is complex and demanding, church support is not always available, betrayal of co-workers can happen, tiredness and working so hard can drain you of your energy, but may I encourage you no matter what you are facing right now, “Don´t give up or in”.
In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul writes to young Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”, encouraging Timothy to run faithfully and keep going. Hebrews 12:1 motivates us, “to let us run with endurance the race God has set before us”.
In youth work, we run a marathon and not a sprint.
Leadership and pain go together. You cannot have one without the other. But no matter what happens, God is cheering you on. He wants you to run the race well and cross the finish line.
Besides being a painful journey sometimes, you will hopefully always again arrive at the conclusion that it is the best thing you will have ever done. Every sweat or tear drop is worth the efforts. Just continue running with God!
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Taken from this incredible new resource: A WHOLE YEAR PLANNER FOR YOUTH LEADERS
A whole-year planner created especially for Christian youth leaders. Strategic and contemplative, it’s a new way to think, dream and pray through your ministry with young people. The Gameplan is here to help. In there you find a lot of ideas, encouragements, social media reminders, letters by leaders to cheer you on.
You can buy this fantastic resource here: youthscape.co.uk/store/product/the-gameplan