the    sides

This is part of an email dialouge I’m having with a mom of girl who wants to be a youth pastor. And honestly - it’s all stuff she’s probably told her daughter before but for some reason, hearing it from someone other than your parent makes a difference. Go figure.

1. Go to college, get a degree in something other than ministry and volunteer in the same local church student ministry the entire 4 (or 5 or 6) years you are there.

2. Take a summer during college and be a summer missionary somewhere - local or abroad.

3. Get a non-ministry job that you could have a career in if you wanted to - either as a summer job or right after you graduate.

Why all this crap if you know that you are called to ministry? I got X reasons…

1. Because only 1% of the world ends up doing what they think they will do when they were 18. Me included. I was going to coach high school basketball. At smart as we thought we were at 18, we’re still idiots.

2. If you are going to lead volunteers, be one. Know what it is like and what it costs. Learn how to follow random, imperfect youth leaders…because you are going to be one soon.

3. You may be called to be a great interior decorator/plumber/barista/engineer AND be a volunteer in student ministry all your life. you may gifted with the ability to make lots of money for the purpose of giving it away and be an influence in that vocational arena. You may love doing both of those. That may be how God’s wired you.

4. If you can’t follow God and serve unless you get paid to do it….become a lawyer. There’s a profession you can charge your hours. Not ministry. Learn to follow and learn in the crazy, hectic, and in the mundane.

Above all this other advice I’ve given - just do what God is telling you to do. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Enjoy the ride!!