Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Young Pastors

Can I get on my blog stump for a minute?

Can we, as God's church, stop abusing our pastors? Specifically, our young pastors. This is not a pity party for myself, even though I am a young minister. This is a widespread trend in many churches.

You wouldn't think this would be so, since we live in a culture that worships youth. Youth is the idol of the day. Why else would older people spend a fortune on products that promise to make them appear younger?

It's ridiculous. Youth is not to be worshiped. But neither is growing older. In the church, we worship Jesus. Not a person, regardless of who they are…or how old they are.

There is a trend in a lot of churches to hire younger pastors (they're plentiful; they work cheap; etc.), but then turn around and treat them like they don't know anything. (Again, I'm not speaking directly to my situation. This is a general trend.) I've talked to so many guys who have been chewed up and spit out by churches. And what was their great sin? Their age. There are a lot of very talented, godly men who have been run out of the ministry by churches who couldn't see past the date on their birth certificate.

While I'm not speaking of my situation, I'm also not immune to criticism about my age. I'm easily one of the youngest preaching ministers in our community. Everytime I get criticized about my age, I'm in a no win situation. I'm being criticized for something that I can do absolutely nothing about. I can't make myself older.

Let me go to bat for all the young guys out there who are fighting the good fight of faith. Just because your pastor is young does not mean that he just sits around drooling into a cup all day. The whole reason he started in ministry is because he has a passionate love for Jesus and a burning desire to lead people into a deeper walk with him. So if you've been hard on him because he's young, please stop. For him. For yourself. For your church. For the Kingdom. Please stop.

Do young ministers make mistakes? Heck yes. Are they perfect? Heck no. Young guys in ministry are wise to seek the counsel of older, seasoned believers. In fact, all young believers should look to someone who is older as a model for their faith. But if a young fella's ministry is based solidly in the Word of God, then he has great authority to do the job. Churches need to treat them as such.

Now, I have seen young guys blaze into a church, brash and arrogant. They think they're the greatest thing since Pentecost. Bro, if that's you, get ready for slice of deep dish, steaming hot humble pie. God cannot work through someone who is arrogant. Arrogance pushes God out of the mix. Don't expect him to bless your ministry if you retain your swelled head.

When it comes to age in the church, there is a complete flip side to this issue…there are churches who abuse pastors because they're too old. They will run him out on a rail when he bypasses that magical pastoral age, whatever that age is. There are a lot of guys with a wealth of experience and a passion for Christ that stands undiminished, and yet their church has deemed them too old.

Can we please just move past the age issue? Pretty please, with sugar on top? Wouldn't the church be better off? Wouldn't God's Kingdom have an even better opportunity to advance? Most importantly, wouldn't God be glorified if we worked together to accomplish his purposes, regardless of the age of our co-workers?

I do want to thank my church for their acceptance of me. ACC took a gamble when they hired me. I had applied at dozens upon dozens of other churches who recognized my talent, liked my drive and my passion, but wouldn't hire me because I was too young. Then, along came ACC. They were able to look past my youth to see that I actually had something to offer.

I'm forever grateful for that.