-Understand where your ministry fits into the overall scheme of the church: If you do not know the vision of your church, find out. Ask everyone from your elders, senior pastor, other ministry leaders, to those sitting in the pews. Once you have determined what the vision of the church is, ask whether or not your ministry is in agreement with that vision and how your ministry can help accomplish the overall ministry of the church. If there is no clear vision for your church among the leadership, then maybe you can find some ways to help develop one. The reality is that you cannot do youth ministry alone; you need the leadership and assistance of the total church, so find where you fit.

-Get to know your senior pastor: I am not saying you need to be best friends, but you should have a relationship that goes beyond staff meetings and Sunday services. Here are some things you should find out about your senior pastor:

-What is his ministry experience (the good, the bad and the ugly)? What gets him spiritually fired up? What is his vision for the church, and how does your ministry fit into that vision? What is the greatest accomplishment he has had in ministry? What were the greatest mistakes in ministry? How does he rest, re-fuel and relax? Getting to know your senior pastor will give you insight about where he has been and where he is going in ministry, and it will better prepare you to work alongside him.

-Be professional and consistent: Determine that you are going to break the stereotype that youth pastors are capable of doing little more that playing messy games and making odd noises with their arm pits. Through your professionalism in the areas of speech, conduct, administration and conflict resolution, show your pastor, leaders and congregation that you truly can hack real ministry. Look at what Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

A great professional and personal relationship is produced in part by youth pastors who understand their ministry role and seek to do everything possible to help their senior pastors successfully carry out the vision of their churches and give them everything they need to support and promote the success of their ministries.

Intentionally fostering your relationship with Jesus Christ and your relationship with your senior pastor will set a foundation for the success of your youth ministry. It takes a lot of time, hard work, much prayer and unfaltering consistency to be successful in your role as a youth pastor; but with the help of God, you can be all He has planned for you to be. Keep up the good work!

Ken Swatman holds a bachelor's in Biblical Studies/Christian Ministry from Puget Sound Christian College, Edmonds, Wash.; and a master's specialization in Theological Education from Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon.