"Take a piece of paper, and write down everything about your position [as our high school pastor] that only you can do. Then do your best to do only those things."
It was great advice. At first, I struggled with the exercise, because it seems prideful to think there are things only I can do. But that wasn't his point. The point is to identify the things within the ministry that can only be done by me, the high school pastor. Roy offered one suggestion to start my list: vision casting.
It's been helpful to work through this exercise. On one hand, it sounds easier than it actually is. Not every leader leads the same way, and so my list probably wouldn't look the same as someone else's in the same position--another person would have different gifts and lead differently.
It's also humbling in that there are things I've held onto that I should have been identifying and equipping people to do, but because of my pride or short-sightedness, I've insisted on doing them myself. But it's also freeing in a way, because by identifying things I should be handing off to others, I am excited to focus on the things God has called and gifted me to do.
So, allow me to offer you the same advice: what are things that only you can do in your particular position as a pastor, volunteer worker, or other type of youth ministry position? Take a few minutes and try to write those things down.
QUESTION: In general, what are things in a youth pastor's position that only the youth pastor can do?
