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Sweet Surrender

Youth workers attend countless graduations in the course of their ministries. Somewhere along the way we're bound to have heard a revised version of Winston Churchill's famous address to the students at Harrow School where he challenged repeatedly, "Never, ever give up."

Sometimes this inspiring concept can become damaging to the soul of the youth worker. This idea of perseverance in ministry, although very good, can often be misconstrued to mask deeper issues of control.

I've encountered many youth workers who mistake perseverance for control. Control issues are usually defined by deep longings to be needed, loved, "in the know," have things perfect, or be in the center of decision-making. Most of the time these needs produce a debilitating stress, because the youth worker worries about countless variables. The only way to beat the stress of ministry is to surrender. Even now, there are many reading this article whose minds are already formulating the, "but…"

Stop! Surrender is required. If God is in control, it means you're not. That means you must give up. There are several areas this can be evidenced in ministry.

Empowerment

Most youth workers believe that it's important to develop others and our students to do the work of ministry. Yet many never really empower people because they fear the work won't be as it should. Empowerment requires that we give ministry over to someone else, who's equipped to do that work.

It's here that we must exercise humility— giving up and doing it someone else's way. We also have to trust that God really is in control of the results of ministry, that God builds and protects as the Psalmist says in Ps. 127:1-2. The same Holy Spirit that empowers you is at work to accomplish God's will through others, so give up! Surrender.

Moving On

I've watched many youth workers endure abusive ministry settings because they didn't want to quit on their kids. These faithful and well-intended saints love kids, yet choose to remain victimized. The stress and pain of these ministry venues often render the youth worker ineffective and can have long-term damaging effects.

Many fail to realize that God loves kids more than we do. God will care for them in greater ways than we ever could. And sometimes God wants to move us to other things or different kids. God can accomplish this by turning up the heat until we surrender. When I left ministry positions, I always felt the tug of kids on my heart; but I also saw God do greater things in their lives for me not being there. Give up!

Trusting God

We'll never teach kids to trust God if we can't learn to quit. Surrender is the ultimate form of trust. The writer of Proverbs knew this well. He chose a military term of surrender for the word "trust" in Proverbs 3:5-6. To trust God with all your heart means to surrender. When one surrendered in battle, that person would put his weapons at the feet of his opponent in an act of trusting surrender; then that soldier would lay face-up on top of the weapons rendering himself helpless and powerless.

God desires that we trust completely. It becomes a freeing experience to give God complete control. Don't mistake perseverance for control. Understand that while we're called to endure, we're called even more to surrender. Surrender is so sweet. My graduation speech to youth workers would be, "Always, always…give up!"

Steve Gerali is Director of the Youth Ministry Undergraduate Degree Program at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. In addition to over 25 years of youth ministry experience, Dr. Gerali is a clinical counselor, author, speaker, and educator.