Finally, I've given in to the loving proddings (nagging?) to friends and family and begun writing a book on student ministry. 

More specifically, how to survive student ministry for the long haul.

The struggle is I'm not conviced I have anything to add to the conversation that hasn't already been said. Student ministry is long past the days of entertaining students and calling it ministry. Student pastors (veteran and green) need to approach their ministry as a long-term investment.

A marathon not a 50-yard dash.

A focus on health, not numbers.

A focus on making Jesus-loving disciples, not a herd of electric chihuahas that can chug a gallon of milk and not puke. (Although, it IS pretty impressive…).

A focus on guarding your heart, your family, and your passion, while training students and adults to do ministry without you.

In an era when nearly 80% of seminary grads drop out of the ministry within 5 years of service,  we've got issues. When there's little statistical difference between the online porn-viewing habits of Ozzfest bands and pastors…something's messed up. But so much has already been said about that.

Perhaps the struggles and mistakes I've learned from can benefit someone? Who knows? I'll be speaking to a group of youth ministers this January about some of those very things and it will be a wonderful time of loving and ministering to them. Most of us are in a constant struggle: we need a bigger budget, more adult volunteers, parents who will get involved and take responsibility, and students who will catch the vision of the dangerous gospel of Jesus. 

It's time to Run For Your Life. God's work is too important not to.