If you invent or launch or market (and you're human) it's likely that you have the voice of the critic in the back of your head. It's natural to fear what they'll say, and if you're not careful, you'll end up redesigning your product to please them before you even launch it. (see full article here)
His point is that, we do need to listen to some critics, but others don't matter. So my question for you is this...
Which critic(s) should a Youth Minister listen to?
We have lots! Students, Parents, youth leaders, Elders, Senior Staff, Church governance boards, Youth Minister down the road, Holy Spirit... to name a few.
But who matters? Who is worth listening to? And how do you decided to stick to your strategy despite the critic of one or many of these critics?
It won't help any of our job security but if we only ever listened to Jesus I think we'd be better off.
ReplyDeleteMaybe try and get some advocates as well as critics...when I was a warden at HTD, I went to the youth minister at the time and told him when he felt hard done by in terms of criticism, lack of support, housing issues, or relationship issues with other staff etc, he should come to me and I would do my best to sort it out. Is there a warden or vestry member who could be that role for you?
ReplyDeleteI think you pose an interesting question here mate.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Joey that we need to listen to Jesus and yes, he is the only one who will help us ultimately. This includes listening to the Spirit and His Word, which will direct our paths.
But (and it is a small 'but'), we also need to be concious that wisdom and wise advice can come through other people who have been there before and who have expereience in dealing with various issues of youth ministry and ministry in general.
It is important, i think, to have people inside and outside of your church/organisation who one get advice from and ask questions about certain scenarios. Other expereinced youth ministers and senior staff members i think are the best, everyone else either 'doesn't get' youth ministry or what your trying to achieve. They, for example, will be able to give sound advice if you need to talk to someone about a breach of Duty of Care or something like that.
Again, ultimately the best critic to listen to is Jesus, the Spirit and His Word.