Five Reasons Why The Average Youth Pastor Tenure Is 18 Months - Pt. 2
In part one, which I encourage you to read here, we look at five critical issues impacting the tenure of youth pastors. As you'll notice, many of those impacts were directly related to external circumstances. While those reasons are true for many, we cannot overlook the internal reasons why YPs leave ministry.
I think we need to say "Enough of the victim mentality!"
Let's look at the other side of the coin.
Here's part 2 of five reasons why the average youth pastor tenure is 18 months:
1 - They're "always open to conversation."
If you are always open to an interview at another church, you are distracted.
Plain & simple.
But what if you were not open to conversation and committed to taking a group of students from 6-12th grade?
I bet the next generation would be better off.
2 - Their burnout is a "tap out."
No one made you stop praying.
No one told you to stop reading your Bible.
No one forced you to lose your passion.
Ministry is hard.
But what if your "burnout" is just a tap-out?
3 - They "just preach the gospel."
Ever heard someone say "just preach the gospel" as the method for church growth?
A lot of guys believe this. And it shows because their rooms are empty.
But how do you preach the gospel?
Eventually, if you don't consider "how" you preach the gospel in all areas of ministry, you'll be preaching to an empty room!
And you'll eventually quit (or be fired).
4 - The faithfulness drug
Just be faithful.
That is what most new YPs hear about what it means to be in ministry. Sure, faithfulness is essential.
But what does faithfulness look like? On Monday mornings? At summer camp?
We got so high on the drug "faithfulness" that we forget God's goal is "fruitfulness."
5 - They aren't called to ministry
I used to think my YP had the easiest job — pizza, video games, etc.
Some get into ministry because they think it'll be easier than the sports management degree they thought about after HS.
Then when they realize it's not, they bounce.
Maybe it wasn't too hard? Maybe it was just too hard for them? Because they weren't called to it? 🤷♂️