Volunteer, sponsor, leader, humble slave to the youth ministry pastor—whatever you call your lay leaders (or whatever you're called, if you happen to be a lay leader)—it means the same thing: no pay.
OK, it means other things; but you've thought it, too.
I've had some wonderful training, godly examples and some of the best memories of my life during my years of volunteer youth ministry. My closest friends are youth pastors and their spouses. I love the youth pastor I currently serve. She's a no-nonsense kind of leader who knows her strengths and weaknesses; she shepherds leaders but doesn't micromanage; she genuinely cares about volunteers and challenges us to be closer with Jesus and better at what we do.
I haven't always enjoyed volunteer service. I've received the 7:15 a.m. call from a youth pastor asking me to take the 8 a.m. servanthood meeting because he didn't make it back from an out-of-town speaking engagement. I've endured the doe-eyed plea to handle a dropped ball, the complaint-of-the-week about the worship team, the comparisons with leaders from the past, and the "I can't win for losing" feeling which accompanies of all that. I know full-timers feel the same things at times, but do they know their volunteers do, too?
The 'Just a Volunteer' Mentality It's not that I haven't had offers for full-time paid staff positions. It's my choice, with two kids at home, to keep the best of both worlds intact. There are definite pros to being just a volunteer, but I can't tell you how many times someone wanted vital info about an upcoming youth event, but because the leadership meeting wasn't until Sunday afternoon, I responded, "I dunno. You'll have to ask the youth pastor." Without thinking, I would add, "I'm just a youth sponsor," as though I owed the person an apology for my volunteer status. It's not low self-esteem, just a fact.
Although, it occurs to me that you wouldn't hear a nurse, because she's not an M.D., say, "I'm just a nurse." Dick Cheney never responded to reporters, "I'm just the Vice President."
A few years ago, talking with a veteran youth pastor, I said, "I'm just a youth sponsor." This youth pastor retorted, "Danette, you're not just a youth sponsor." He said that if youth sponsors didn't do their jobs, youth pastors couldn't do theirs. While I wasn't looking for the ego boost, I've recalled his encouragement on a many a discouraging day.
The Other Side of the Coin Though I'm not on a church staff, I get the privilege of frequently rubbing shoulders with my full-time counterparts. I've learned a tremendous amount from them, but I've concluded that sometimes youth pastors who've been at it for a while or who go into full-time ministry out of Bible College unintentionally forget what it's like to do this youth ministry thing around a full-time job and family, all without a paycheck. It's a whole different dynamic.
