Adam McLane

May is tough on youth workers

May is youth ministries weirdest month

  • Attendance and interest typically fades.
  • Things like prom, impending graduation, end of the school year studying, spring concerts, and spring sports ending all fit into a tiny window. It’s nearly impossible to program anything.
  • You want to put a bow on your youth ministry year with a party or something, but it often feels like all the air is out of the balloon.

Danger Month

May is also the month that many ministries make a change, if one is coming. Meaning lots of people are going to get fired. (I’m sorry, “asked to leave” with a little going away gift in lew of saying it was mutual. That’s how we do it in youth ministry, apparently. We don’t fire people, it’s better to bribe them.)

So it’s a bad month to get called into a random meeting with your boss. That random invite with an elder you were hoping to get to know better? Yeah, it might not end well.

It hasn’t happened yet but I know that in May I’m going to have some emails and phone calls from hurting folks who just don’t know what went wrong, that feel like they got screwed snowed, or otherwise didn’t see it coming.

Survive and Advance

Whether you’re experiencing the doldrums of May or worried that you might get fired this month, I guess my only bit of advice comes right out of March Madness: Survive and advance. 

Have bad May memories? Share a comment with your story. 

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Adam McLane

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Comments

10 responses to “May is tough on youth workers”

  1. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    UGH! Don’t get me started! I have 5 special events in May because of Grad Sunday and end of confirmation, plus the usual church events and fundraisers. Plus, I can’t go to graduations or parties because they are during said church events! And yeah, we’re ALL tired (kids and me) in May

    Reply
  2. James Monnett Avatar
    James Monnett

    Nice writing. So true. It is firing season. Survive and Advance.

    Reply
  3. Ben Seamans Avatar
    Ben Seamans

    Was there THREE times. I was asked to leave and then the spin on truth took off. Most of the church believed I resigned and was not fired. Pastors and leaders fabricated there own stories. It is shameful how “we do it” to youth leaders. They all to often take the rap for poor parenting. Even so, God is faithful when the leaders are not.

    Reply
    1. Mary L Avatar
      Mary L

      Been there done that and gearing up to start over AGAIN.

      Reply
  4. Cathi Avatar
    Cathi

    The most devastating day of my life was the day I went from being the happiest and hardest working youth director to being “asked to resign”. Eleven years later, I still tear up.

    Reply
  5. jesse D Avatar
    jesse D

    rebuke the curse! 🙂 Regardless what happens in May or any month
    God still is in Control

    Reply
  6. Chad S Avatar
    Chad S

    I had this “meeting” happen a year ago, and regret ever since my decision to resign rather than let them fire me. However, I had “survived” for long enough. I don’t want to just survive, I want to LIVE! And if I can’t live out who God has called me to be, how He’s gifted me and taught me, that particular church isn’t following God’s plan for leadership of His Church and I shouldn’t be there. The institution has it wrong – it’s not about pleasing the right people or doing things the way other people think they should be done. And we shouldn’t just accept it as right or “that’s just the way it is” or “that’s how they do it in the business world”. We were meant for so much more, fellow youth workers, and don’t ever let anyone tell you different! Live out your God-given identity!

    Reply
  7. MIdave Avatar
    MIdave

    great work, Adam! I literally lol’d in a crowded mall when i first read this. I was in that seat 4 years ago….looking at where God has brought me since then, I guess I should’ve just shook his hand and said “thank you.

    Reply
    1. Katie W Avatar
      Katie W

      I wonder if there is a website or a social media way for fired/ “asked to resign” youth workers could come together and encourage one another. How can we make this happen?

      Reply
  8. Ben Read Avatar
    Ben Read

    Just now reading this, but dang is it true. In our YouthMin.org Facebook group this past week, we had about 12 youth pastors share they had just been told they were let go or asked to resign, and about 8 of those all happened on wednesday night alone. Ridiculous!

    Reply

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