Success in Student Ministry

I am as guilty as the next Student Pastor, it's a habit when you meet someone in ministry that one of the first questions that is asked is "How many do you have in your youth group or church?" The question in and of itself isn't a bad question, but we end up setting a precedent that success in Student Ministry is all about numbers. Through my 12 years of ministry I have struggled with this issue of success in Student Ministry and in churches. Success should not be defined numbers, but rather by how God is moving among the people.


Our Student Ministry has significantly grown in the past year and half and most scholars and believers would say because of that we have been successful. I disagree. I am reminded of Matt Chandler's sermon to SBTS on Hebrews 11. He clearly preached how some will be faithful and conquer great and mighty things, while others will be faithful and be devoured. 


Although I'm thrilled we have grown numerically in our Student Ministry at Mount Pleasant, our real success is we are seeing a generation of young people who love the Lord, are on fire for Him and yearn to continue to grow in Him. If we had that and God decided to use other people and other churches to grow in Student Ministry, I'd be totally fine with that. Our success isn't on results, but rather on faithfulness. And I truly love our students because they are extremely faithful to God and His Word.


So for those who believe numbers means success, I want you to really reevaluate what true success looks like. Individuals like Rob Bell and Joel Olsteen have lots of people following them, but because they're not faithful to the Word, I don't consider that successful. Let's all be challenged to not build our success by worldly standards, but only by God's standards.

Pastor Joe