Youth and Children’s Pastors are in constant danger. I became a Youth Pastor at 20 years old. I really didn’t know what I was doing, so I was assigned to report to a wise Pastor who would bring me along. But most of the time, he wasn’t there when I taught or led. At that point in my spiritual growth, I hadn’t learned the danger of this verse.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” - Mark 9:42.

Knowing what I know now about God’s standard of teaching and example-setting, I would do things so differently. A lot of kids were saved and taught God’s Word, but did I teach holy living and personal sin-fighting to those students? Probably not nearly as much as I should have. And some things I did before them should have resulted in a chain and a rock around my neck.

That verse says such a fate would be better. Better than what? Better than standing before a holy God and answering for what I taught by action or word. I can’t change the past. I can only ask for forgiveness and trust that what Jesus did on the cross is good enough to save me from such condemnation. From now on, I must focus on what example I am setting and what I teach about holiness.

This is part of my charge from the Lord. It is yours, too. -Pastor Mike

BTW, I just found out I’m colorblind. The news came out of the purple!