Last week we had the largest number at youth group we've had in over a year. In fact, when it comes to the rough guide I use to track numbers, this is one of the first times I've achieved 80% attendance from the teens actively "on the books."
But, the number which walked through the door wouldn't impress many at the local youth ministry conference.
It's not a number which I could use to intimidate others or puff out my chest.
But, for us, it was an above-average turnout.
Today I was reading newsmallchurch.com and was struck by many of the things written because ministers of "small churches" feel the same as youth pastors and youth leaders of groups under (insert whatever a thriving number would be in your context).
The thing which caught my attention most was the repeated mention that every small church minister is not a failure. In fact (and here is the gold!), most ministers aren't meant to be in charge of a mega-church. Most never will be. God has something different, and just as valuable, planned for them.
And every youth minister isn't meant to be up front of a group of 50/100/500/1000 teens.
And that's ok.
The faithful youth group leader, sharing life with a handful of youth, is not a failure.
The youth minister of ten, faithfully telling those kids abut Jesus, is not a failure.
The youth minister of a group with a few dozen teens might not be on the cusp of explosive growth.
For, every youth minister is not designed to lead (insert the largest church in your region) and within every youth minister is not a (insert your youth ministry guru) just waiting to bust out.
Instead, no matter how many you have, you are called to be faithful.
Then you are a success.
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