The Long Game: Next Gen Leadership Longevity
Next Gen Leadership Longevity
Should I stay or should I go?
We haven’t talked about this topic for about three years so it’s time again! Let’s talk about the importance of the longevity of Next Gen leaders in ministry.
The problem: Too many young leaders will leave Next Gen ministry too early. Now I know you might be thinking, who am I to determine God’s will for someone’s life. That’s not what this is about. This is about solving the problems that cause young leaders to leave prematurely when it is not God‘s leading. And only young leaders can determine that for themself.
Young leaders are leaving for a better place, are leaving to take executive positions, or leaving to plant a church, or even become a lead pastor. For many reasons.
So, we’re going to look at this problem of longevity in Next Gen leadership.
Let me give you two overarching reasons for why we need longevity in Next Gen work:
1. With the breakup of the family in America comes an even more important reason for Next Gen leaders to commit to longevity in their work.
While the family and home may not be a consistent and stable influence in a young persons life, the church and Next Gen leadership should be a consistent and stable model of presence for our young people.
Next Gen leaders can model a healthy family culture in their work by building a family unit and culture, beginning with adult and student leadership teams.
2. The stages that a young leader will go through prepare them for even greater effectiveness as they get older.
When you first start out in Next Gen leadership you might be considered a peer who is not much older than the teens, and, a novice by the parents of the children you lead. But, as you age you mature. And go through very important phases:
A peer or friend in the first few years has a lot of similarities to the youth
A big brother or sister at like year 5-10 grows in influence and still remains close to the youth
A cool aunt of uncle at like year 10-15 has now gained a lot experience
A father or mother at like year 15-20 becomes a very experienced leader and has a lot of influence on the parents and the youth
A grandfather or grandmother at like year 20+ is a whole different influence on not just the youth or the family, but also, the church.
These phases of personal growth, relational growth, professional growth, and spiritual growth create a cycle of maturity and greater ministry success for a Next Gen leader.
Let me say at the outset of this podcast that I am using Next Gen Leader in reference of children, youth, and some young adult ministry leaders. We are talking about longevity. Listen, a Next Gen leader does not phase-out or age-out of youth ministry simply because of age. In fact, age is not a deterrent in Next Gen leadership. Age is actually a benefit and one of the great qualities that make a healthy youth leader.
Longevity has been an issue in Next Gen ministry. However, one recent study showed youth ministry longevity going up from an average stay of a youth pastor of 18 months in one church, to now 3.5 years at one church. (ythology)
In another study, the average career of a youth pastor was 7.5-9 years. But, interesting in that study, was a finding that is really important to talk about. The older a youth pastor is, the longer the stay at one church. Youth pastors who were 35 and older stayed up to 6 years longer in one place! (Springtide)
Let’s look at some key reasons for a lack of longevity in Next Gen ministry:
1. The Loss of Spiritual Health
The loss of spiritual vitality can be a key reason that all ministers leave the ministry, but, it may be the the most important reason for youth leadership. Because of the stress of Next Gen ministry, as we will talk about in the following reasons, PERSONAL spiritual health is critical to longevity.
It is much easier for a youth leader to address all of the problems in ministry when they are spiritually healthy.
Spiritual formation such as prayer, reading, fasting, worship, giving, rest, total wellness, and other spiritual disciplines increase ministry effectiveness exponentially!
2. Not Solving Problems
When youth leaders neglect problem-solving there is an avalanche of pressure and work that builds up. Parental issues, budget issues, pastoral team issues, event-planning issues, and even personal family issues can all become like a tsunami crashing down upon us.
And when you get behind the mounting problems, it can be easy to simply quit and move on to another opportunity. It is when we solve problems that we gain confidence and longevity. Solving problems and the wins this creates brings a joyful and positive atmosphere in youth ministry.
Here is a quick practical way to increase problem-solving: I often ask Next Gen leaders to write down a list of the problems they are facing - and to then write down a list of solutions to those problems. If you cannot come up with solutions, ask someone with more experience to help you.
What you will find is that there are always more solutions than problems!
3. A Lack of Currency
As a Next Gen leader gets older, he or she may start to question themselves. Maybe they start asking questions like, “Am I relevant?” Or, “Can I relate to the younger generation?” Maybe they entertain the thought, “Is it time for someone younger to lead?”
One of the things I do to stay current, about every 2-3 years, is to just simply reinvent myself at every stage of ministry. It takes effort, but, I simply discover or rediscover myself every few years by looking at a certain gift that I have and working on improving or highlighting that gift for a season. Or even adding a gift or talent to my bag/ skill set.
I have found that often it is not God leading a young pastor to leave youth ministry, it is discouragement from a lack of currency and the inability to relate to the world of the adolescent.
But, remember, a Next Gen leader does not phase-out or age-out of ministry simply because of age.
4. Losing Your Relationship to Students
this is usually the reason why number three may happen.
NAMES and STORIES.
This may seem similar to the last reason on remaining current or relevant. But, this relational ethic is completely different. What I mean by this is losing our proximity and conversation and relationship with teenagers.
When youth leaders are not in the context or setting of teenagers, it is easy to lose the love of the youth culture, or, miss the personal stories that make up each student, and we become statistical and sterile in our approach to teenagers. Our work becomes presentation and not presence.
A second part of this point is the time spent with students versus leaders. The more time you spend with adults the easier it is to move on to adult ministry. The more time you spend with youth the longer you will be in youth ministry!
How do we ignite this relational priority?
We cannot forget about the story behind every teenager. And I believe relationship and proximity to teenagers and their story will light a fire of passion and purpose and hope under a tired, disorganized, or pressured Next Gen leader.
5. A Superman or Wonder Woman Mentality
None of us has the answers to all of the problems that will arise in Next Gen ministry. But, with collaboration and team-work, we can handle anything. The circle you run in is your strength, joy, and vitality. Thjere is no weakness in the Avengers because they all have various giftings and strengths. So that as a whole, there is no weakness.
The National Champion Michigan Wolverines have a motto they have used for many years - THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS! Longevity pays out especially when you have a group or team of people who share the work. The team. The team. The team.
Here are 5 more reasons Next Gen Leaders quit…
6. A loss of a love for the youth culture
I have watched this play out in youth leaders for many years - as soon as I see a youth leader spending an inordinate amount of time with adults, it is not long before they are planting a church, becoming an executive pastor, or moving into senior leadership.
Missionaries have done this right - ministry in relation to the target and the context of the people we are trying to reach.
Ministry is about relationship. And that relationship is not simply about people. It is also about a teenager’s culture and understanding their setting.
The more a ministry is willing to do theology and sociology, a youth leader can increase their love and have a holistic Next GEN ministry. Both personal relationships and relationship to the culture.
7. Delegation of responsibility makes the work more doable and cures burnout
‘Many hands make light work.’ We’ve all heard that. Two things make delegation work well:
CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS – A lack of success always starts with the one giving the instructions or directions
SWEET SPOT – The placement of our leaders in the best possible role for them to succeed
WE NEED TO CREATE ‘BURN-ON’ AND NOT ‘BURN-OUT’!
8. A diversity of age/race/skillset on the leadership team
Diversity makes the work more effective. It takes all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people.
You’ve heard it said before, “Teamwork makes the dreamwork”. And. “Many hands make light work”. When young leaders employ a Super-friends or a Marvel or an Avengers approach to ministry, there is nothing that cannot be solved in Next Gen ministry.
The combination of superheroes has no weakness. You will have leaders who are administrative, who are athletes, and some artisans, or academics, and even alternatives. Each of these add to the effectiveness of the team.
9. No reinvention of your gifts and talents
Over the course of time, we can lose our identity. Or we can become bored of our identity. Or we can compare ourselves to everyone else and never reach our potential design.
|ASK CLOSE FRIENDS WHAT YOUR SKILLSETS ARE AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY REVELATIONS
|REIGNITE YOUR SECONDARY SKILLS THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE SOENT MICH TIME ON
10. What do you think? Let’s come up with another reason within the group…
Finally
Use these principles and practical advice to stay spiritually healthy, to help you solve problems, to remain current in the youth culture, to assist you in cultivating relationships with teens, and to build a team around you who can share the vision of Next Gen leadership with you.
Whatever the reasons for a lack of longevity in youth ministry, there are plenty of solutions to help increase the effectiveness and ultimately the longevity of a Next Gen leader. But, remember, a young leader does not age-out or phase-out of youth ministry simply because of age.