12 heart-bearing frustrations of a Youth Worker

rethinkingyouth; youth ministry frustrations

1.) Having to constantly balance keeping youth entertained while slipping in Bible study and worship when they aren’t paying attention.

2.) Parents who see youth group as a privilege to be granted only if homework is already done on Sunday night.

3.) Youth who wait until Sunday night to do their homework and use that as an excuse not to go to youth group!

4.) Churches that want youth in worship…as long as they sit and keep quiet!

5.) Schools/coaches/piano teachers/dance teachers etc. who schedule practices and events on Sunday morning and Sunday evenings.

6.) Families that take youth out of church on Sundays in order to participate in school or sporting events.

7.) Youth who let you know at the last minute that they can’t participate in the long-planned retreat/mission trip/youth Sunday/(fill in the blank).

8.) People who always ask you “How many youth do you have coming to youth group?” as if this was the most important indicator of a quality youth ministry.

9.) The oft-asked question “Have you ever though about being ordained as a pastor??”

10.) Teens who feel completely free to share, in the midst of your well-planned program, “I’m bored” or “When are we going to do something fun?”

11.) A culture that encourages youth to split their time and energy between 20 different activities at once so that, at best, church receives about 5% of their focus, along with sports, band, school, music lessons, jobs, etc.

12.) When you plan an activity for the 5 teens that attended last week…and 25 teens show up. Or, when you plan an activity for the 25 who came last week, and you walk into a room with only 5 quiet faces staring up at you.