I wrestle with control. I like to control things…specifically in youth ministry. I would rather do something myself and know it will be done right than let someone else do it and it not turn out the way I planned.
One of my students leading our transition to worship.
However, when we open Scripture, we Jesus entrusting ministry to the disciples. Jesus came to be the perfect propitiation for our sin, but also to hand off ministry to a mixed bag of nuts. Every time the disciples seem to have it together, they have a concentration lapse and start arguing about who will be the greatest in the kingdom. Sound familiar?
If you are a youth pastor you have seen this. You have seen students demonstrate an amazing ability to faithfully do ministry. But then days later, those same students do something that makes you question their salvation…sigh.
But we can’t give up. We can’t completely take back the reins. We must continue to hand off ministry to students…it’s what Jesus did…it’s what He had to do so that the ministry of reconciliation would move forward.
I am always looking for ways to hand ministry of to students. Whether it be a Bible Study they are doing at their school, leading worship, or most recently for me…leading Wednesday programming. For the last two months, I have handed a large part of our Wednesday night programming to students. I have put the planning, preparation, and execution of our welcome, game/activity, and transition into worship into their hands.
I can’t even begin to describe how hard this has been for me. There have been times where I have wanted to barge onto the stage and grab the mic…but I let go…and God moved! Students thrive off of the energy and presence of other students on the stage.
Robert Coleman, is his classic text The Master Plan of Evangelism, describes the method Jesus used to hand off ministry to the disciples. Steps 5-7 of 8 give us the verbiage of demonstration, delegation, and supervision. These work perfect in describing how we should be handing off ministry to students.
Demonstration – Let students watch you do what you will ask them to do. The disciples watched the way Jesus taught, prayed, healed, and loved others.
Delegation – Give your students meaningful ministry that will help them develop leadership skills. Jesus in Mark 6:7 sent the disciples out 2-by-2 to do ministry. He entrusted them to do the things they had seen Him doing.
Supervision – Give your students feedback on the work they are doing. Help them continue to grow and develop their ministerial skills. In Mark 6:30, after going out 2-by-2, they return to Jesus for a debrief. Imagine what those conversations where like!
What does this look like in your ministry? Are you being too controlling? Are you demonstrating, delegating, and supervising? Are you giving youth ministry back to youth?
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David Hanson: Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava, Ben & Madelyn, Student Pastor at The Fellowship in Round Rock, Tx, table tennis (ping-pong) extraordinaire, addicted to coffee. For anything else…you’ll just have to ask.
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