Ten Things to Pray for Youth Ministers

If 2020 has taught us anything, it should be pretty obvious that we don’t have as much control over our lives as we once thought we did. So many things we used to rely on are vulnerable (our health), confusing (our media and government), or unpredictable (well, most everything). It’s a sweet relief to remember that God has not been surprised by any of this chaos. Still, trusting Him is hard work for us fallen human beings, and we want to be able to do something in the midst of our circumstances. 

With that in mind, we’d like to invite the Rooted community to pray together this week. Each day we will post a list of prayers, drawing from the deep well of God’s Word to nourish our souls as we cry out to Him together with one voice. 

And because it’s our 10th anniversary here at Rooted, we’ve got the number 10 on the brain! We’ll pray 10 prayers each day for Parents; Students; Youth Pastors; Teachers, Schools and Leaders; and Churches and Ministries. We hope you will join us in lifting each other up to our good God.

Today we pray for Youth Ministers. 

1. Endurance — Father, just as the Israelites were called to endure in the wilderness for 40 years, so youth ministers must endure in the desert of this pandemic. We have learned that we cannot muster endurance from our own strength or know-how. Just as you once delighted to give manna to the Israelites, you are the God who delights to give youth ministers the exact endurance and encouragement they need (Romans 15:5). Where they are weary from this new ministry landscape, you endure; where they are exasperated from trying to reach students who are scattered in their homes, you endure. You have set each of our races before us — we trust that you will set the pace, provide us the physical and spiritual nourishment, and give youth ministers the strength and endurance they need to make it all the way to the finish line (even as there is yet no end in sight).
2. Inspiration and Creativity — Father, each one of us has fallen into a pattern. We have gotten comfortable with a status quo. But these unique times require youth ministers to think outside the box, and to get creative with how they connect to students. Ignite their hearts and minds with the same creative spirit that imagined the abundant world around us.
3. Good connection with students — Lord God you have called Youth Ministers specifically in the discipling of young people. A pandemic does not change that. In fact, a pandemic may even clear the path for less programming and more one-on-one connections, for less group meetings but depth in personal relationships. Just as youth delight in depth of relationship with each one of us, help youth ministers to connect with students during this time. Give youth ministers the courage to reach out, the tools to connect, and give students the willingness to engage. (Matt. 28:18-20).
4. Wisdom — Father, in such confusing times, we are often finding ourselves without sound wisdom. But when we seek you for wisdom, instead of looking to the world, you give it generously. Plant our feet in your will, and let us seek your way in every small and large decision. (James 1:5).
5. Companionship of Christ (not lonely) — Father, ministry can be a lonely calling, with or without a pandemic. God that your intimate friendship would bless the homes of those in youth ministry. That you would plant youth ministers safely in community with others, to be rooted and built up in you. Above all, where we lack a friend in these trying times, ever remind us what a friend we have in Jesus! (Job 29:4, Colossians 2:7).
6. Support and encouragement from senior pastors — God these times are divisive, but we pray that it would not be so within your church. That you would make senior pastors and youth pastors of like mind in the perilous way through this time. That your church and her leaders would be a beacon for teenagers through this darkness. 
7. Good relationships with parents — Father, as our students are now primarily in the home instead of at church or out in the world, we pray that you might use this time to unite parents and youth ministers in the common goal to see their students come to know your love more deeply. That parents would take advantage of their youth ministers for guidance and wisdom, calling, emailing, and reaching out.  
8. Being effective teachers — Father, teaching over Zoom is not ideal. But we know that you have promised to turn every non-ideal situation towards your good. Help youth ministers to creatively utilize the tools available to them to teach the richness of your Word to young people. No matter the venue — virtual or otherwise — you have promised us that your Word does not return void, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it. (Isaiah 55:11). 
9. See fruit from their labor — God that in every way you would reveal yourself to us during these times. In your graciousness, open the eyes of your youth ministers to see the fruits of their work, so they can clearly see that they do not run or labor in vain. Give them a powerful sense of the work you are doing in and through them, to hold out the abundant word of life to their teenagers who are otherwise surrounded by death. (1 John 1:1, Philippians 2:16).
10. Ability to see where the need is, and how to fill it — That you would give youth ministers a divine ability to triage, to clearly see the greatest need within their flock and to respond accordingly with strength and love. 

Conclusion

Though we can get tired in the waiting, Father, we know that your Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before you. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for you is worked into something good. May we live our lives absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and your love because of the way that Jesus has embraced us. We love you Father. Amen. (Romans 8:26-28, 38 MSG)

To conclude prayer week, we are hosting a prayer call via Zoom, and we would like to invite you to join us. On Friday at 11:00 CST, Rooted steering committee, staff, board members and friends will meet to pray boldly for all of our communities. To register for the zoom prayer call, please click here. We hope to “see” you there.