Here are 5 wrong motivations for serving in youth ministry:
1. To make new friends. You are bound to make new friends and forge new relationships with those who serve with you. But these should be a by-product of your ministry and not a main motivation. If you focus too much on friendship with your co-leaders, then you're not focusing enough on the young people.
2. To feel affirmed or appreciated. Teens can be high-maintenance people. They are often needy and they don't often thank you or pray for you. You need to be confident that what you are doing is having an impact and making a difference, whether you're told or not.
3. Because the ministry "needs" you. It might be tough for you to hear, but you're not irreplaceable. Serving because we think the ministry needs you is only inflating your ego. And speaking of which, is your EGO one of Edging God Out or do you Exalt God Only?
4. To beef up your résumé. Yes, serving as a youth ministry leader looks good on a resume...especially for those wanting to work with young people as a career. But if you're heart's not in youth ministry for the right reasons, it will be very evident.
5. To be more popular or more cool. This one should be obvious. I mean, come on...does anyone think that youth ministry leaders are cool? :p
Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie. He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years, helping parishes develop their own youth and young adult ministries. When not doing ministry, Clay enjoys spending time with his family, playing music, playing sports, playing naptime, and writing blogs on topics such as family, faith, and the Vancouver Canucks. Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo
