Youth Pastor: Most Important Part of the Day

Written by: Maximino Fernandez
Date Posted: January 12th, 2012
Category: Fernandez Ramblings
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The most important part of a youth pastor’s day is when he spends time with Jesus Christ.

Recently, my family and I took a trip to visit family in Georgia. During this trip, our vehicle surpassed 217,000 miles. The beginning of this trip was quite smooth. After arriving at our destination, twelves hour away, we noticed that the car began to shake. It felt as though the engine was shaking more and more. Every time we would stop at a light, the shaking was worse.

Finally, it came to a point where driving was becoming difficult, so I decided to take the vehicle to a local parts store. They had a small machine that they hooked up to the vehicle. The reading on the machine indicated where the problem was originating. I asked the employee of the establishment if he had the piece that I needed, and they did have it. It was a small coil pack that needed to be replaced.

When I saw the piece, it was hard to believe that the failure of that one piece could make such a large impact on drivability of our vehicle. I had never done anything like this before, but I decided to change the piece. It was hard to reach; but with the assistance of the employee, we changed the piece out. We cranked the vehicle up, and the difference was quite noticeable. The vehicle was now back to normal.

A small part can make a big difference, not only for vehicles, but for youth pastors who truly want to have a ministry that is consistent with the Word of God. The small, critical part that must be seen is the youth pastor’s devotional life. Oh! Please do not turn this off right now! This is the part of the youth pastor’s life is is most underestimated. It is more than just a part of a spiritual engine. The youth pastor’s devotional life is the engine. This is the driving force in all that he IS and DOES. Youth pastor, you must BE the right person before you try to DO the right thing; and being the right person begins with being WITH the right Person daily.

It is with great concern that I write this particular part of the lesson. The Word of God says much about the importance of spending time with Jesus Christ. Romans chapter twelve and verse two says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” There is a daily transformation that must take place within the mind of a believer. What this world, specifically teens, needs are individuals who are so yielded to Christ and His Word that the Lord lives through them. Frankly speaking, your teens do not need you. They need Christ in and through you.

Several years ago, a preacher was giving a lesson. During his message, he began an illustration that dealt with another pastor. This other pastor had openly admitted that he did not consistently study the Word of God. How can this happen? Why is this happening? Why do we consider ourselves fit to lead teenagers when we ourselves have not been led by Christ first?

John chapter fifteen and verse seven says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.“ Realize that our abiding in Christ and His words abiding in us directly impacts our prayer life. The reason we have spiritually anemic youth ministries today is because we have spiritually anemic or carnal leaders.