Ever wonder what happened to some of your peers in youth ministry? Over the past few years, I have talked with long term veterans who have maintained strong ministry for years, veterans who are no longer involved in ministry and a bunch of youth leaders in between. I have come to the conclusion that there is one main reason why a youth leader ends up off course.

Pride

We no longer rely on God.

We may stop praying regularly.

We also stop going to Reconciliation.

We start off with some perceived success in ministry and we kid ourselves into believing it is our talent making things work.

We believe that no one else gets it and that we have been around long enough that any new ideas coming from some rookie or even an old veteran can have no validity.

We no longer ask people for advice when we don’t know what to do.

We forget to keep being trained in the latest youth ministry techniques.

We don’t learn more about the Church or take the time to read Spiritual books.

We become so self focused that our relationship with God becomes more of an obligation than an intimate encounter that is always transforming our lives.

We stop picking up the basin and the towel to wash another’s feet.

Pride blinds us to so many areas that we need to stay open to. It is just what the devil is pushing on everyone of us in the hopes that our ministry will derail. Where is your pride at? Are you in danger of ending up off course? Pray we can all check our ego at the door every day. The Church and the teens are counting on it.