5. Creativity. They might not know all the brand-new nuances of doing ministry, but older youth workers are learning more and more how to think outside the box, to paint outside the lines. As I look at most of the leaders of today's major youth ministry organizations—Jim Burns of the National Institute of Youth Ministry, Mike Yaconelli of Youth Specialties, Barry St. Clair of Reach Out Solutions, Ron Luce of Teen Mania, Paul Fleishman of the National Network—none of them are in their 20s! But they're very innovative, strategic leaders with a mission. They're entrepreneurial. Intentional. They see the big picture. They resist the one-size-fits-all mentality.

6. Credibility. With age and maturity comes strength in the midst of pressure; a balance between grace and justice, input and output; a passion for ministry—but humility enough to take a weekly Sabbath from the tyranny of the urgent; a new respect for and from parents, contentment, honesty, stability: From all of that comes credibility.

7. Committed. The Apostle Paul fought the good fight. He finished the race. He kept the faith. He finished well. He was committed, "...beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, in danger in the city and the country, labored without food, cold and naked" (2 Cor. 11:25-27).

Perhaps we should rewrite the latter words for the aging youth worker: "I sat up all night and counseled a suicidal kid; got yelled at by parents; served the poor; went on many mission trips; put up with disinterested teenagers; got laughed at when I walked into the high school cafeteria to eat lunch with students in my youth group; watched a teen die of AIDS; did a funeral for a bulimic; led teens to Christ; saw students run from God's love; preached; taught; laughed; sang my heart out to God; prayed over dozens going into full-time Christian ministry; cried; hugged; waded through a lot of junk; and when I look back, I'd do it all over again because of Jesus and the difference He makes in kids' lives."

The Middle Years: A Marathon Race

Hans Finzel writes about his experience running a marathon. "The middle years...are much like the middle of a marathon. Without question, the middle is the hardest. The beginning was euphoric, and the end was pure adrenaline as I saw the finish line within view; but in the middle I got tired and discouraged and almost gave up hope that I would have what it would take to finish. I felt like quitting..."

If you're thinking of giving up, if you're convinced you can't do it anymore, if you don't know if you can finish the race, here are some things you can do to refocus and reenergize:

1. Find a Paul, Be a Timothy. Few youth workers in their late 30s and 40s have older mentors. Two years ago I realized I had no clue about how to enter the middle part of the fourth decade. I needed wisdom, navigating. I needed a Paul. So I swallowed my pride and Lone Ranger spirit and got serious. I started praying and searched—and found one! We meet every other week, and it has blessed me beyond words. Find a wise, older person to walk with you.