Very few senior pastors, and other church leaders, realize just how exhausting youth ministry is. It is a relentless crush of evening meetings combined with the endless planning and promoting of youth events all mixed up somehow with counseling, discipling and one-on-one relationship building. On top of all this, most churches expect their youth leaders to represent the youth on various committees and administrative bodies. Unless you are very careful (and the reality is most youth leaders aren’t), you will find yourself feeling more than a little drained and washed out.
I am sure you have heard it all before, so I’m not going to waste time reminding you of the immense importance of taking regular Sabbath time and find regular rest and renewal periods in the presence of God. (If you do want to find out more, I have learnt a tremendous amount from authors such as Marva Dawn, Eugene Peterson and Gordon MacDonald – any of their books are well worth buying and reading).
However, I would like to share the following Sabbath ‘tactics’ which have all served me well over the years.
1. Plan rest time into your diary at the beginning of the year. Don’t try to fit it in as you go along because inevitably you will lose out.
2. Make sure that you pursue interests outside the church on a weekly basis. Church, church and more church will kill off your passion, but cultivating hobbies or sports interests will mean that not only will you make non-Christian friends, but also wonderfully refresh you for Church life and ministry.
3. Ensure you also spend time with people who inspire you both emotionally and spiritually. You will spend a lot of time with people younger than you, or who look up to you for guidance, meaning it is vital you maintain peer relationships as well. Relationships with people who will be mature enough to care for you, to listen and pray with you.
4. Also, never forget how important it is to have a spiritual mentor. A parent figure who can listen, advise and challenge you. Normally, it is best this person doesn’t worship in your church as you will more honestly be able to share struggles and frustrations with someone who doesn’t vote on your salary!
5. Finally, take little mini-Sabbaths every day. Small 5-10 minute breaks where your mind is taken completely off your ministry and church. This helps create the emotional space you need to regain perspective and insight.
This list is by no means exhaustive, I am sure that you could come up with many more. What is vitally important is remembering that ultimately, you are responsible for your own spiritual health and vitality. Don’t grumble and moan about being tired if you are not being disciplined enough to Sabbath. Also, take seriously the effect your work habits have on others – on family, colleagues or even those impressionable youth who model so much of themselves upon your example.
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This article has been written by Gareth Killeen, the editor of Crux and a youth leader with nearly two decades of experience behind him.