I write a lot about parent partnerships. In fact, if you read my posts on a regular basis, you will know my favorite saying: "Good youth ministry is good ministry with parents." I can't say this enough. Parents should be of equal priority alongside of kids and leaders.
The Art of Meeting with a Parent
As my good friend remarked the other day, there is an art to meeting with a parent.
I agree, and it is crucial. I know several youth pastors and youth workers who recognize the overwhelming benefit of parent partnerships but feel either intimidated or under qualified to actually do it. Allow me to dispel this: God has entrusted you with the privileged task of gathering, equipping, and sending students. Therefore, be confident in your call and leadership. Period.
Adult Leaders as Chaperones to Adult Leaders as Youth Pastors
I hold a philosophy of leadership that allows much space for my adult leaders to own and embrace the responsibility of faith formation within the lives of our students. Essentially, I want to create space for my adult leaders to function like youth pastors in the lives of their 3-5 kids.
With each passing week that I serve with my leaders at Wyldlife and Anthem, I am landing all the more on this paradigm for adult leadership in youth ministry. I touched on "the why" part of this subject a couple of weeks ago in my post: "Take Your Head Out of the Sand." It may be helpful for you to read that post first before continuing with this one.
Take Your Head Out of the Sand
Youth Ministry is not about you.
No surprise, but many of us, including me, make it about ourselves. It's the raw and tough truth — one with which all of us need to wrestle and deal.
We want to make youth ministry about us on some level because we want to keep our jobs. It's not entirely selfish. We have families to feed. Roofs to keep over our head. We need our jobs. Yet, is the right response to make ourselves indispensable by creating a community that revolves around our personality? Abilities? Charisma? Charm? Knowledge?