A Day in the Life of a Youth Pastor

Yesterday morning I spoke at Career Day for one of our local Christian high schools.  I don’t think a lot of jobs come with a warning from God, but mine does:

– Not many of you should be teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

This verse is basically a threat.  If I don’t do a clear and accurate job of teaching the Bible to my students then God will hold me accountable.  Many people treat youth ministry like fun and games, but this shows it is serious business.

However, if I do preach the gospel correctly it is the power of God for salvation to all of the young people who believe.  This is why I am a youth pastor.  Because God will use me to save his students:

– Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.  Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Even as I was telling the future prospects for youth pastors how to be one…I was inspired about what God has called me to do!

Then last night I was driving a student to small groups.  On the way, we stopped for a fundamental ingredient for good fellowship: Taco Bell.  I knew something was wrong when I asked for my order of 30 soft tacos and 30 chicken burritos and all I got was a blank stare.  I then came to a horrible realization:  I had called in the order to another Taco Bell!

(This is a problem when you are a frequent visitor at multiple Taco Bell locations.)

Suddenly the simple idea of bringing Taco Bell to small groups got very complicated.  It took 10 minutes to drive to the other Taco Bell.  They hadn’t even started making it so we had to wait 10 minutes more. Then I started getting texts and calls from people at the small group asking me where I was!  Epic fail!

Finally the food was ready and we started running through the parking lot to the car, when someone started shouting!  I didn’t recognize him but he was yelling at me:

“Hey!  Are you the Youth Pastor Man?  Are you the Youth Pastor Man?”

I stopped.  “Yes, I am!”

“I’ve heard about you dude.  Keep getting real with your kids.  God loves you and keep doing what you’re doing.”

And then it was over.  We were driving away and still had no idea who it was.  We realized that if we hadn’t gone to the wrong Taco Bell and had to wait then we would have never been running through the parking lot at that moment.  Finally arriving at small groups, I shared the story with all of the students there.  And now I’m sharing it with you:

Because when you read a verse that tells you, “Persist in this…” God means it.

And if you know who that guy was in the parking lot you tell him I’m not going to stop.