Doug Fields, 30+ years
YWJ: What do young leaders most need to succeed as they start?
Doug: Big picture: A youth worker needs a sincere passion to follow Jesus, a love for teenagers, the family and the church, and some spiritual and leadership mentors.
It’s also important for young youth workers to have a clear picture of the realistic expectation that the church has for their role as youth workers. Too many youth workers are simply thrilled to be working at a church (and I don’t blame them) that they go into the role without a specific working knowledge of what the pastor/elders/deacons/governing body and/or pastoral staff expects of them. “We want you to lead the youth ministry” is too general, because all parties have different ideas of what it means to lead. The reason I encourage youth workers to push for specifics is because it’s impossible to be held accountable for a job that doesn’t exist or only exists in the mind of the youth worker’s supervisor. Nothing becomes dynamic until it becomes specific.
YWJ: What make for long-term service and success?
Doug: After serving in church number one for 11 years and church number two for 18 years, I can address the issue of service better than success. Success is so elusive and typically tied to numerical data that we don’t have room for it in this type of interview format. For me, the key to long-term service has been relationships—specifically relationships with volunteers. Once I realized there was one Savior and it wasn’t me, I learned the importance of developing volunteers. At first it was tactical (How do I get volunteers?), but in the long-term it became my survival (I knew they had my back and loved me in spite of my weaknesses).
YWJ: What’s one perennial problem that all youth workers face, and how can they address it?
Doug: There are many problems youth workers face, but I would say I hear more about discouragement than all the others. In my book Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry, I have a chapter on discouragement; and I’ve received more positive feedback from that chapter than anything else I’ve ever written. Youth workers need to know they’re not alone in discouragement. We’re constantly looking at the youth worker down the street and assuming he/she doesn’t have any problems. That’s a misguided, blind lie that’s inspired by the enemy. Everyone in youth ministry has issues, problems, battles…and they all can lead to discouragement. So first I’d say, “You’re not alone.”
Secondly, have a safe sounding board where you can vent, complain, moan and weep if necessary. Many would disagree with me, but I don’t think this person should attend your church—he or she is safe because he or she is neutral and not emotionally invested in the church [which allows him or her to be] emotionally invested in the discouraged youth worker.
Thirdly, I’d emphasize regular connection to the Vine for the source of spiritual power. I don’t want to allow something in the dark to defeat what I’ve been called to in the light.
YWJ: What developments have encouraged/concerned you?
Doug: I’m encouraged that we’ve come a long way in the understanding and importance of parent/family connection with youth ministry. When I began in youth ministry, it seemed as if the parent/family was the enemy of good youth ministry. Today, I think youth workers understand good youth ministry can’t happen isolated from parents and family. We still have a long way to go, but we’ve made great strides.
I’m concerned because I think most senior pastors don’t really care about teenagers and their engagement within the local church body. Obviously some senior pastors are incredible advocates of youth being part of the overall church body, but I find them to be the exception. Many pastors want a youth ministry, but they want it to keep the tithing parents happy. The result of a local church not caring enough to engage teenagers is one of the causes of teenagers graduating from high school and the church at the same time.
YWJ: How have you adapted your content as you teach youth ministry students?
Doug: I’m constantly saying, “I’ve become a better Bible teacher during the past eight years than I was the first 20-plus.” I don’t have the energy or the coolness factor I may have had when I was younger, but I didn’t have the insight into teenagers then as I do today, with three of my own kids going through our youth ministry (current ages: 21, 18, 15). I’ve been able to have more relevant content because I understand teenagers better than I ever have.
YWJ: Any other insights you’d like to share?
Doug: Insight is a tricky word! I’m not sure how much insight I have, but I do have a lot of experience—good and bad. My greatest insight for youth workers is to realize their jobs are important (very important), but it’s just a job. You could do many things for the kingdom of God. There are many other people who could lead the teenagers as well as you, but there’s no one who can love your spouse or nurture your own children better than you. Remember your calling to your family, and don’t allow the pressures of the ministry (that will never go away) to wound or hurt your family. When you’re done with your job, someone else will take it. No one can take over your family.
