I’ve heard it more than once from people who don’t work full-time in ministry: you couldn’t pay me enough to do the job you do. Sometimes I feel that way too.
Like many of the youth pastors, pastors, and camp directors I know, my work can be messy. There is tremendous responsibility and high expectations. We often work long hours. We’re always on call. People text and Facebook at all hours and have a hard time understanding the delicate balance we walk between what is work for us (though it may be home life for everyone else) and what is home life.
But I’m not in it for the money.
From day one, I’ve been serving in ministry—first in youth ministry, then as a collegiate church planter, now in Christian camp and retreat ministry—because of the mission.
I love to see young lives transformed by the message of the Gospel. I love to see them come alive as they learn to use their gifts to further God’s kingdom in their own spheres of influence. And I love to help others in ministry fulfill their calling to advance that same mission.
It’s true: some days you couldn’t pay me enough to do the job I do. But you don’t have to. Because I’m working in a mission-driven organization, and I share a passion for the mission, the reward is so much more than money.
At SpringHill Camps, our mission is “to glorify God by creating life-impacting experiences that enable young people to know and to grow in their relationships with Jesus Christ.”
Every day I get to be a part of that. I get to see students make decisions to follow and serve Christ with their lives. I get to work alongside and coach younger staff who are doing the same. And I get to partner with scores of youth workers from hundreds of churches to influence the young people in their ministries.
It’s a mission I’m sold on. And, in fact, you couldn’t pay me enough to leave it behind.
(By the way, I make a good living working for SpringHill Camps… they take great care of me, and give me the ability to take great care of my family.)
How are you motivated in your work by the mission of your church, business or organization?
