I’ll never forget the first time I considered the importance of a long-haul ministry vision. I was in seminary, studying under Dr. Richard Ross. The room was full of future youth pastors, all eager to learn what it meant to effectively reach the next generation. Dr. Ross said something I’ll never forget:

“You’ll start to see the impact of your ministry after your fifth year at the same church. However, if you want to see real impact, you’ll have to wait until your tenth year.”

My professor was not implying that these were rigid or legalistic timelines that automatically produced fruit, nor was he suggesting that short-term fruit was impossible. At the time, the average tenure for a youth pastor in my home state was less than two years at one church. Frankly, a long-haul vision for youth ministry was rare or unheard of.

In my first church, I had the privilege of staying for nearly ten years, partly because of Dr. Ross’ influence. It wasn’t always easy, but from my own experience, I can testify to the irreplaceable joys of knowing one flock over the course of many years. Below are some joys and suggestions related to staying in your church longer than comfort may allow, for the sake of discipling the next generation:

1. Establishing a long-haul vision for your ministry helps kill the "grass-is-greener" syndrome.

We all deal with this temptation at times, but through the power of God, we can put aside this commonly accepted form of coveting. When you stop comparing your situation to others and embrace where God has placed you, you’ll begin to love your ministry and shepherd effectively.

2. A long-haul vision helps you avoid the "bag of tricks."

If a children’s or youth minister only stays at a church for two to three years, they may continually bring their "greatest hits" to each new setting—relying on the most entertaining stories, the most captivating events, and the most inspiring calendars. However, committing to long-term ministry forces you to faithfully plod along, realizing your own weaknesses and glorifying the power of God. We are not impressive—He is! While creativity and short-term planning are valuable, they pale in comparison to the deep impact of faithful and consistent service over many years.

3. You get to see kids grow up.

One of my friends and youth ministry heroes served at his last church for over 35 years as a full-time youth pastor. Not only did he get to see his own students grow up, but he also got to minister to the children of his former students! What an amazing blessing to have a front-row seat to God’s work in a family’s life over one, two, or even three generations.

One of my greatest joys is keeping up with former students. In fact, in two months, two of them are driving across the country to visit me and my family. I beam with pride to see what God is still doing in their lives and count it a privilege to know them as brothers in Christ. Staying in one church for a considerable amount of time allows for joys like this.

When a Long-Term Ministry May Not Be Possible

Though long-term ministry at one church is often rewarding, it isn’t always possible or advisable. Here are some environments that are not conducive to a long-haul ministry:

1. A toxic work environment.

If you’re on a church staff that is harmful to your emotional and spiritual well-being, I’m not suggesting you tolerate abuse. A toxic environment won’t just affect you—it will affect those you love most. Be cautious not to label an environment as toxic simply because you face difficulties, but if real abuse (of any kind) is occurring, it’s time to seek another opportunity.

2. Staying just to stay.

I truly believe that God is honored by intentional, long-haul ministry. However, He is not honored when we stay somewhere just for the sake of staying. Ask yourself:

• "Why am I so determined to stay?"

• "Is it comfort or is it God?"

• "Is this the path of least resistance, or do I genuinely feel called to this place?"

Human motivation alone will never sustain a fruitful ministry.

3. Not raising up future leaders.

Sometimes, ministry leaders find too much of their identity in being on staff at a church. I’ve been there before! When this happens, leaders may take a do-it-all-themselves approach instead of equipping others. While a long tenure is a good thing, ask yourself:

• "What will this ministry look like when I leave?"

• "Is it fully reliant on me, or have I trained up others to carry it forward?"

A sustainable ministry isn’t built on one person—it’s built on discipleship and shared leadership.

4. Some churches won’t let you stay.

It’s not lost on me that some churches drive out good staff members. Even if you intend to invest your life in one church for many years, all it takes is one vocal leader in the community to oppose you, and you may find yourself on the way out. These situations are heartbreaking, and unfortunately, they happen all the time.

God has a purpose for you in every season—even if you’re navigating a difficult situation like this. As I mentioned earlier, I don’t advise staying in an abusive or toxic staff environment. However, barring such a situation, stay as long as God has you there, continually asking Him to show you what He wants you to learn and how He wants you to grow.

There’s so much more that could be said, but Paul’s words in Galatians 6:9 serve as the perfect encouragement as you continue in ministry:

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Ministry is hard, but it is worth it. You do not have the strength in yourself to last, but God does. Even if you can’t see the purpose in your current ministry context now, you may see it clearly in 30 years.

Keep going and keep trusting!

Frank Trimble (D.Ed.Min., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the Executive Director of Family Time Training in Littleton, CO (famtime.com). His desire is to see home discipleship become the norm, rather than the exception, in the lives of believers 
all over the world. His primary ministry is to his wife, Kristin, and their two wonderful daughters, Ava and Olivia.