A couple of weeks ago I was in Calgary hanging out with Matt Wilks and Wayne Smele. Matt works with me at Youthfront and Wayne is the Pastor of Student Ministries at Centre Street Church. Wayne also teaches Youth Ministry at Rocky Mountain College.
I was a guest in one of Wayne’s classes. It was very cool to sit and visit with a great group of emerging leaders. I was deeply inpspired by the questions I was asked and the passion that each of the students has for new kinds of youth ministry. I left the campus of Rocky Mountain College feeling very encouraged…
As I was leaving the building a bulletin board caught my eye. The ad below (crappy pic — I took it with my phone) made me chuckle. It also made me deeply concerned. An intern that can lead, develop and supervise an entire youth ministry — wow — I’d like to meet that person. I am not saying that intern doesn’t exist but I sure haven’t run into someone who can do all that effectively especially as an intern. [I'd love to hear what Mark Riddle would say about those expectations. Mark works as a consultant with churches around the US and he sees first hand these kinds of expectations being unfairly placed on emerging leaders all the time.]
When I wore a younger man’s clothes I couldn’t even lead, develop or supervise myself let alone a number of students and their families. Makes me think that among the many challenges we face in the world of youth ministry today, this might be one of the biggest. I mean, asking an intern to lead, develop and supervise an entire youth ministry? I just hope whoever takes that role, assuming someone does, has a mentor who can help them. I am all for young leaders having positions of influence but with this mindset how can we possibly be setting up emerging leaders for success?
It also pushed me to think about who I am mentoring and who I am investing in. I need to do more than I am… I couldn’t help but be grateful to people like Dave Michener, Dan Webster, Doug Jones, Stan Key, Mark Patrick and a slew of others who took seriously the role of a mentor and invested (and still invest) in me. So fellow veterans of youth ministry … is there someone in your area you ought to be mentoring?
** Words from Piano Man, Billy Joel
um…
Here’s what it sounds like they’re saying,
We want an amazing youth intern, to do it all, lead the youth programs and the teams who implement them. Develop a ministry, but keep in mind that it needs to have been developed, running and successful before you leave in 8 months. supervise people you can convince to work with you.
But we aren’t asking for too much, heck, you don’t even have to play an instrument. (Do you play an instrument? cuz if you do, we’ll want you to play it.)
Hey Chris,
As one of the students @ RMC crazy enough to follow a career in youth leadership I just want to say thanks for stopping in to see us a few weeks ago! We really appreciated it!
I’m the camp youth chick. I just finished your book (ah, the spring when a million things need to get going and if you are lucky some will be completed) and loved the insight you brought to the table! I would love to see any ideas you might think might be helpful in a camp setting! Let me know!
-shelley