Let’s be honest.  We all make mistakes…a lot of them.  Many times we even make the same mistakes over and over.

Whether just beginning your “career” as a Youth Pastor or simply starting a new season of ministry in a new church, there are mistakes that seem to be commonly made when you’re new.  Most of these are mistakes of “omission” rather than “commission.”

Sure, there are a lot of things that are actively done, but the most dangerous ones are often those that fail to be done.  Here are 10 mistakes new Youth Pastors make:

Not establishing clear vision

Vision is essential for successful leading in any aspect of life.  This is especially true in ministry.

If people do not clearly understand what you are trying to accomplish and what direction you are heading in, you will be met with a ton of frustration and will fail to accomplish anything.

Vision is essential for success and for longevity.  If you need help with vision check out Episode 009 of the Longer Haul Youth Ministry Podcast with Nate Turner.

Not pacing the changes made

The pace at which you lead is really important to continually monitor and be aware of.  If you lead too fast, you will make everyone mad at all the changes being made.  If you lead too slowly, you will frustrate everyone and they will quit.

Changes must be made wisely and methodically.  There is away to make changes without getting fired.  Failing to pace these changes will find you looking for another position quickly.

Not building or working with a team

You cannot do it alone.  I’ll say it one more time…you cannot do Youth Ministry alone.

You need a team.  You MUST HAVE a team around you.  Regardless of the size of your ministry, you need people around you.

If you have not started building a team, do so today.  If you inherited a team and haven’t really worked with them, start today.

Not working to earn parents trust

You will not be able to accomplish anything if the parents in your Youth Ministry do not trust you.  You have to work very hard from day one at building and earning trust with the parents in your ministry.

This means communicating well, being mindful of schedules, reaching out, and praying for the parents in your Youth Ministry.

Not investing in younger students early

One of the hardest things to come to terms with as a new Youth Pastor is that those older students in your ministry will never see you as their Youth Pastor.  You’re just the next and new guy.

Those younger students however, will most definitely see you as their Youth Pastor.  This is especially true over time.  Their connection with the Youth Pastor before you is much less than those older students.

You will be their Youth Pastor.  Start early.

Not communicating enough/clearly

It is great that you have all of these things you are planning to do.  You’re telling the students…surely they’ll tell their parents.  Right?

Uh, no.

You’ve put the events on the Youth Calendar.  Surely your Youth Leaders will know what is coming up.  Right?

Negative.

You put it on social media.  That means everyone in the whole world now knows about it.  Right?

There’s a pattern here. Notice it yet?

Planning the events is only part of the process.  You must also communicate them.  Having a vision is only part of the task.  You must also communicate it.  I would rather have parents telling me they are getting too much information than not enough.

If you want to sabotage your ministry, don’t communicate.

Not investing in leaders they inherit

You may find yourself in a situation where you have leaders already serving in the Youth Ministry when you show up on day one.  These people have likely been carrying the load until you arrived.  In many cases they have been the only consistency in the Youth Ministry for years.

You must recognize this and the potential of influence they carry.  Invest in these leaders.  There are things youth leaders need from a Youth Pastor.  You aren’t there just to minister to the students.  These people are a part of your ministry as well.

Your leaders can make or break you.  Invest in them.

Not committing to stay put

If you are not committed to stay put from the start, you wont stay put for the long haul.  You must decide ahead of time how you handle the temptation to leave when it comes.

Not setting realistic goals/plan

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.  You must have realistic goals to measure by.  If you do not set realistic and attainable goals you will always feel like you aren’t accomplishing anything.

Having goals along the way helps to encourage you and give you direction.  It will also keep you motivated to move forward to accomplish what is ahead.

Not recognizing how much can be accomplished over the longer haul

Everyone thinks they can (and wants to) accomplish a ton in their ministries.  When they seem to fail to accomplish them, it seems that often it is “the church’s fault.”

Most of the time though it is just because the Youth Pastor didn’t stay long enough.  Most expect to be able to do a ton in the short term and underestimate how much they can do over a longer period of ministry at one church.

Honestly, the sky is the limit here.  If you stay long enough, there isn’t much you can’t accomplish.  Stay put.

I’d love to hear what other mistakes have you seen in new Youth Pastors?  Or what mistakes have you made as a new Youth Pastor?  Leave a comment below and share you experience.