In a previous post, 5 Things Parents Do Not Know About Their Youth Pastor, I looked at the side of Youth Ministry many never see.  Because ministry requires you to lead, you are often alone.  Ministry can be a lonely place to serve and be.  In general, we are all needy people, and more often than not, we fail to recognize when others are in need.  In light of this, here are 10 signs you should invest in your Youth Pastor:

1. They are in a season that requires them to take a lot of Youth Ministry trips

Youth Ministry trips are a lot of fun.  They can also be extremely effective for ministry.  However, they take a ton of time to plan, a lot of energy (or coffee) to carry out, and can take the Youth Pastor away from his family a lot as well.  Add in all of the other things that still have to get done while away on the trip, and you have one exhausted Youth Pastor.

2. They are spending many nights out for Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry never stops.  There is never really a true day off in ministry.  With students in school during the school year, many events take place in the evenings.  Add in all of the games, recitals, practices, and random parties that take place week nights and weekends, and again you have a busy Youth Pastor spending a lot of time with family…just not his.

3. It’s the end if the school year

The grind of the school year is exhausting in itself.  Throw in what awaits in the summer (which happens immediately following the end of school) and there is often little time to catch your breath.  Managing and carrying out the summer events while planning the events for the fall is an often overlooked piece that summer brings.  Few fail to appreciate the work that goes into actually making it all work.

4. They look and seem tired

This one seems obvious, but in a culture where everything is fast paced, filled with tired people, it is sometimes easy to miss this.  If your Youth Pastor looks and seems tired it is because they are tired.

5. They are breathing

Yep.  I said that.

6. They are married

Ministry can wear a marriage out.  Caring for so many other families and students while giving your own marriage the attention it needs is really difficult.  Youth Pastors who are married need nights out to invest in their marriage too.  You will bless them more than you know if you help them invest in their marriage.

7. They have kids

Raising kids in ministry is so unbelievably difficult.  The desire to raise kids who are always at church, who see the nasty of side of ministry, who are often missing their parent due to them doing ministry, is a burden most cannot really fully grasp. Time is limited, and the budget even more. If your Youth Pastor has kids, there are few blessings you can give that will be more appreciated than free babysitting or gift cards for places to eat.

8. They have a pulse

Yep…said that too. And it is also true.

9. It’s the beginning of the school year

Coming off of a busy summer and heading into the school year is a crazy time for a Youth Pastor. They will be tired, but the need to reset the ministry so to speak and start again for a new year cannot wait. Ministry is a train that never stops.

10. They seem to have it altogether

No one is exempt from struggle and discouragement. You can never know the things that another may be dealing with. Never assume everything is alright. Always encourage and support. It goes further than you imagine.

Now here is what I would like you to do. If you are a Youth Pastor, share this and leave a comment telling me the most helpful thing others can do to invest in you.  If you are not a Youth Pastor share this and leave a comment telling me how you will invest in your Youth Pastor.