Thank You, Youth Pastor

 

Perhaps you’ve heard, October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  So, to all the Youth Pastors out there I’d like to add my thoughts and say thank you for accepting God’s call to invest in the lives of youth.

Thank you for loving Jesus and liking students.

Thank you for giving yourself and sacrificing your time, money, energy, and sometimes blood.

Thanks for believing in young people.

Thanks for swimming against the stream and challenging students to do the same.

Thanks for going to five graduations in one weekend.

Thanks for carrying burdens, lifting prayers, and walking with students through the dark times.

Thank you for celebrating milestones and being there to share pivotal life moments.

Thanks for sharing God’s Word with students and helping them connect it to life.

Thanks for giving students a glimpse of His love and grace.

Thank you for giving up your long weekend to plan a retreat.

Thanks for leading with joy and laughter.

Thanks for sacrificing sleep and sanity for youth camps, trips, and lock-ins.

Thanks for listening to students and to God.  And carving out time & space for students to listen to Him.

Mostly, thank you for pointing students to Jesus.

Having been a youth pastor for close to 20 years I’m aware of the sacrifices you make to continue to follow God’s call and minister to/with students.  I know all that goes on behind-the-scenes, in-the-trenches, and under-the-surface.  Can I just tell you that it’s all worth it!  So keep believing, keep praying, keep shining, keep giving, keep investing in the lives of youth!  You are not alone and God is using you to do things that you never dreamed possible in and through young people. 

I once heard a wise old pastor say this about God’s sovereignty, “When it seems like nothing’s happening, something’s happening!” 

In the meantime hear Paul’s call to those who carry on the ministry of the gospel,

“Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4)

I thank God for you and pray His power and presence in your life, on your family, and for your ministry!

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