Wearing More than One Hat

I broke my guideline because I knew I was in dual roles at the moment. Yes, I was and am a youth pastor called by God to work with youth; however, I was also an employee of the school, talking with a student on school property surrounded by numerous students, parents and teachers. I could have offered to pray with him, but I would have violated the rule that prohibits a school employee leading youth in prayer. If a youth initiates and wants to pray, that's fine, but I could not initiate a time of prayer.

After our conversation I kicked myself on the drive home because I felt like I had prioritized the school's standards over God’s calling. I returned home disgusted with my actions. Inside, I wrestled with whether or not I had let school become an idol. I thought of various Christians throughout history who had stood up to religious injustices.

Prayer in schools has become a touchy issue that has people riled up on both sides. Should I join the ranks of those who think the public school system has overstepped its boundaries in limiting when a person can express his or her religious beliefs? Youth ministry is known for its times of rebelling against the traditional systems, but I didn’t feel this was the right answer.

Over time, through prayer and discussion with peers, I realized I had been putting God in a box. God is more than one-dimensional. God doesn’t require me to pray for Him to work inside Sam’s life. Working in the school system opened up so many opportunities to build relationships with youth and the teachers. However, I could have easily destroyed the trust placed in me as an employee of the school if I had decided to violate the school’s policy. The simple fact was that I was wearing two hats, the hat of a youth pastor and a tutor. I did not have to take off my youth pastor hat to serve as a tutor; although, I did need to realize my role as a tutor narrowed my options in how I could respond in the situation.

An Act of Humility

We and teachers are two sides of the same coin. We both struggle with numbers and statistics. Teachers are expected to make sure every student is ready to perform well on standardized tests whether the student is doing the work or not. Youth workers are expected to increase the numbers of youth group members. Both are limited on help. A small group for teachers is considered to be 20 to 30 students. We are always in desperate need of more volunteers. The word money needs no explanation to those in both professions.

Like our desire to have more volunteers working with our youth, teachers and schools are in need of adults who care and are willing to give their time to help students learn. It is an opportunity to open more doors for God, but it is an opportunity which requires us to approach it with humility. We have to be willing to set aside our roles as youth workers and become willing servants, investing time in building relationships and earning trust.

Serving in public schools cannot be a means to an end. Our goal in the classroom or cafeteria should not be a public promotion of our ministries. We would be no better than the Pharisees and other religious leaders Jesus had issue with in His day. When Jesus met with the woman at the well in John 4, He did not see her as a means to reach the rest of the Samaritan village. It was due to His willingness to meet a need and help her as a means that would lead to the woman to take His message to the rest of her village. Likewise, helping out at school has to be genuine with no preplanned agenda.

The bottom line is that if we want to reach our students and build a bridge into our culture, there is no faster way to start than aiding those who care about our youth just as much as we do. Are we called to pray? Most definitely! Are we called to make disciples? Without a doubt! Are we called to serve? Perhaps no other commandment is affirmed more throughout Scripture. Just maybe some of the antagonism which has been created between Christianity and the public school system can be relieved if we are willing to take on the role of a servant.