When preparing for ministry, youth pastors are encouraged to develop skills to communicate well with the members of the church, particularly students and parents. We are urged to present age-appropriate lessons and present the gospel well, but rarely is there discussion on how to communicate well with members of our pastoral team and lead pastors. Communication with these ministry team leaders is vital to the success of your personal ministry and the success of your larger ministry. As you plan your communication with students, consider these helpful points for engaging with your lead pastor and others on your ministry team.
1. Your pastor is human.
It is important to remember that your lead pastor is human, like everyone else around him or her. It can be easier in some settings to develop a relationship, but it is important to know your church leadership on a personal level. The first step is easy: spend time together. A priority should be to laugh together—find the joy in your shared ministry and lean into that. Another great point of connection is around a table—share a meal together, tell stories, make a mess, clean up a mess, share life. See the humanity in your pastor(s). This approach breaks down barriers to communication.
See the humanity in your pastor(s). This approach breaks down barriers to communication.
2. Communication goes both ways.
Observe the communication styles of your pastors and leaders to understand the best way for you to communicate with them. If your lead pastor sends emails, email them; if he or she sends texts with GIFs, send a text with a GIF. You are not compromising your carefully crafted identity by responding in the same format; in fact, you are realizing that communication is important enough to adjust.
3. Ask good questions, and make clear statements.
Seek to understand the mission of your ministry setting. Learn about any objective beyond the foundational mission of making Christlike disciples in all the nations; how is that lived out in your context? Be willing to ask instead of assuming. If your assumption guides your action, it is likely to be headed in the wrong direction.
When you’ve understood what the mission is, seek to clarify your roles in ministry. Clearly fulfilling your responsibilities is key to being content and finding personal growth in a ministry. If you don’t know what is expected of you, it is hard to fulfill your ministry roles effectively. Ask what is expected of you. Say, “I want to confirm” rather than, “What do you mean?” In clarifying conversations, avoid accusatory phrasing or tones. Be willing to admit your uncertainty or ignorance. (Ignorance is not bad; it becomes bad when you hide it. Admit when you don’t know.)
4. Row together.
Imagine your ministry setting as a float trip. You can have your own canoe, or you can share a canoe with your lead pastor and the others in your ministry team. When you are in your own canoe, you can choose your own path; you can find the swift current or take a break on a sandbar, but it can be difficult to stay connected with the others on your team. Consider getting in the boat together. You can share the workload and communicate the shared vision of where you want to go. By sharing the canoe, your communication will be founded on shared experiences and a shared objective.
Consider getting in the boat together. You can share the workload and communicate the shared vision of where you want to go.
A great model for communication can be found in Jesus and his disciples. The disciples believed Jesus was the Son of God, yet they joked together, ate together, and served together. The disciples saw the humanity in Jesus, and it helped break down the barriers to their communication. Good communication provides a setting for fruitful Kingdom work and is crucial for a healthy ministry.
- 4 Strategies for Communicating with Lead Pastors - September 9, 2025