Enough.

“You are enough. A thousand times enough.” – Atticus

I have the answer to the churches struggle with finding, resourcing and keeping youth workers. Are you ready for this answer, it will solve nearly all of our problems. It’s not overly complicated and it can be implemented instantly, with incredible results. Ready?

HEY CHURCH, STOP STEALING OUR YOUTHWORKERS!

Now please don’t think I am doubting God’s call on anyone’s life, even a call to move from being a youth leader to being a church leader! I continue to meet people who share such a clear conviction and calling to be a vicar, and who find themselves stepping into exactly what they are meant to be doing. But after being involved in youth ministry for over 30 years, I still feel like my ministry isn’t ‘enough’, it isn’t as important, it isn’t as valued, it is second class! I am left wondering that if youth leaders had a greater value spoken over them, they wouldn’t feel the need to seek that value elsewhere. They would seek to grow in their roles and skills, they would explore creative and ambitious ways to reach young people, they would seek to pass on their experience, they would be content in being a youth worker. This will only work if the environment allows it, that means the ministry being seen as important and significant, and worthy of generous and regular investment. I believe it means the role of youth leader needs to be seen as equal to that of a vicar! Now I know that may seem controversial, but the only way we reverse the decline in people choosing to be youth leaders is by ‘collaborative partnership’. We need to work together better, we need to cheer one another on better, we need both roles, vicar and youth leader, to be valued and to have an equal voice.

“Train people well enough, so they can leave, treat them well enough, so they don’t want to.” – Richard Branson

Being a youthworker is ‘enough’, actually it is more than enough. If around 70% of people come to faith between 16-25 then the role is worthwhile and effective, if the demographic missing from our churches is young people then we are clearly needed, if being a youth leader requires a calling and passion and skill set, then we know we must invest in training and equipping.

I love a Marvel film, I love so many of the superhero stories. I’ve been reflecting on the journey of Spider-Man, seemingly portrayed as a young, naive, an ‘almost-avenger’. But throughout his stories, with the help of a mentor in the form of Iron Man, he grows. His gifting and bravery was always there, but often he was either left in the background or pushed aside.

Then as the ‘Infinity War’ films unfold we see Spider-Man save the day again and again, confident, growing in his gifts, encouraged and affirmed, released to be the hero that he is. Not a ‘second class’ hero, but deeply valued and necessary.

When it works, it works really well. My first church leader was a guy called Nic Ladd, he encouraged me daily, he knew the value and importance of youth ministry, and was always keeping it high on the agenda at our church. The youth worker in post prior to me is a good friend of mine, we have known each other for over 30 years. I believe that one of the main reasons we are both still in full time, active, thriving youth ministry roles, is because back at the beginning a value was placed on us by Nic and the church we served, a value that was backed up by leadership opportunities and training. Time was invested to ensure the church heard about what we were doing, and the whole congregation had the chance to be involved. The relationship between church leaders and youth leaders shouldn’t be seen as competition but as an opportunity for courageous and exciting collaboration.

I have a prayer for the church. Please continue to encourage the gifts of your church leaders and continue to seek creative, passionate, humble leaders for your churches. But please, please, also see youth leaders as important, as vital, as necessary.

Don’t look at your youth leader and think “they will make a great vicar one day!” Look at your youth leader and think “what can I do to ensure our church keeps them and that they are still in a thriving youth ministry in 30 years time!” Thank you.