Wide Range of Pseudo-Knowledge
I used to joke that “student ministry” was the widest job description in the employment world. Think about it. As a student pastor, in addition to the huge rewards you get to experience weekly, you are:
- Bible teacher
- Adolescent counselor
- Parent consultant
- Small group/volunteer trainer
- Question answerer of things like “Why can’t my 6 friends and I pile in my Civic and drive up at midnight to the youth retreat?”
- Dating relationship expert (it only takes about 2 years to hear all the stories. they’re repeats after that)
- Sound technician
- Computer geek
- Graphic designer
- Event planner
- Public school liason for your church
- Christian school liason for your church
- Student of all things teen culture: music, myspace, facebook, sports, really bad teen movies
- Cheerleader for your students at sporting events, plays, concerts, etc.
- Fastest adult text messager in your church
Now I’m learning things like how to file for non-profit status, sales tax exemption, a CCLI license, malpractice insurance, background checks, ftp access for websites, and a long list of other things about which I only know enough to be dangerous. I know the bare minimums about more topics than I care to…
I am a living contradiction of this book. But, that’s just the nature of church planting.
I don’t think I’ve spent two days in a row on the same task in months. But, I can’t believe I get to spend may days doing this! It’s challenging but I’m having a blast.
