Advice To a Young Minister -Benjamin Zulu
One young man told me he’s only a few months into his job as a Youth Minister in a church and he feels somewhat unsure about how to play the game to advance his career. My two cents:
‘They hired you on basis of theological training and if you’re not careful you may think that’s what it takes to succeed in that environment, but if you do so you will be rudely shocked. The truth is that you’re not joining church you’re used to, the front side where there are congregations and prayers. Rather, you’re joining the backside that’s composed of organizational structure and hierarchy. This side doesn’t operate so much on prayers and fellowship but on targets, internal policies and politics.
You will do well to educate yourself on these subjects, so that you can perceive trouble when it’s brewing and step aside, engage only in battles that concern you, and anticipate every wave of change and on ride it to propel yourself forward as opposed to sitting there and getting swept away. This is how you will have a long and fulfilling career. This kind of career is a result of getting a deep understanding, not just a prayer.
Do not get swallowed by the system, rather use the system yourself to advance your career. You should design the trajectory of your journey early and independently. Why did you choose this job? What social change did you want to see? How do you want to serve? What legacy do you want to build?
This way you will be serving a higher cause and you will be more far seeing and transcendent in everything you do. You won’t get caught up in politics and pettiness because, like Daniel of old, you’re envisioning your Jerusalem. Or your ultimate reward; a job well done.
Do not just become a preacher, rather become a healer. Do not just preach sermons, rather dispense light. Emit hope. Send out strength and encouragement. ‘Challenge the comfortable and comfort the challenged.’
Two ways to become a healer:
1. Understand Narcissism.
Narcissists flock to churches to paint themselves as saints, as well as to monitor their victims lest anyone tries to awaken them. Their victims, too, come to church looking for healing. Unfortunately there are so few ministers who understand this subject, and so they keep sending victims back to die in the hellish torture by pacifying everything with ‘prayer, restoration,’ and a blind advocating for ‘forgiveness.’
It may take you a minimum of one full year studying this subject before you can give any useful advice – or better still, a postgraduate diploma in Abnormal Psychology. But if it will save lives and make your career eternally significant, why not?
Secondly, Understand the Modern Single Woman.
There is an increasing number of well-to-do women who are getting to 40’s single. They have careers and they’re not in a hurry to get married. Insecure women see them as threats to their husbands but many of them are actually more disciplined and focused than those suspecting them. Otherwise she wouldn’t be doing so well for herself without relying on anyone.
Her singleness is both a personal decision and a social shift. Women today want a marriage that’s meaningful and enriching, since she can already pay her bills. There before marriage was both an economic vehicle for the woman, and a proof that she was ‘raised well.’
Two social shifts have given rise to the middle-aged single, career woman: inheriting their parents’ families emotionally and financially, and the evolution of the evil mother. This is another social group you should study. Some womem are deeply disordered and narcissistic, and they totally destroy their children. Wounded sons run to clubs while wounded daughters usually run to church. She cannot marry until she has healed and found herself, and this may last until she is in her forties.
Protect them against pressure and encourage them to continue their journey of healing and outgrowing their families’ dependency. Validate their choices of being happily single as opposed to miserably married. Let them journey with their faith until they feel ready. And even if they settle on dispensing their love to helping society in other ways like charity and excellent corporate service, that is still very valid. God doesn’t require everyone to get married.
Lastly, build a financial base for yourself.
Use your salary not as a means of living but as seed to cultivate your true freedom. Check out all manner of ventures until you find that which thrives. Do not rest until you don’t need your salary.
At this point you will have conquered fear and secured your voice. You can now can speak your truth boldly. Yes, learning the truth and possessing your convictions may be free but pursuing them is not. You must procure your freedom first.
Also, when you have money you can change lives through charity and sponsor your family to a good quality of life without burdening your congregants. You can live a stress free life and expose yourself and your children to the outside world.
By your example You can inspire others to grow and work with integrity and selflessness. Remember your lifestyle is your perennial message.
But again, this is a result and you must climb first. Climb financially until your work is no longer for making a living, but rather for touching lives.
(©️ Benjamin Zulu Global
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