A Calling to Cultivate

Youth ministry is one of those ministries where there is a beginning and an end. They “grow through” your ministry. It feels temporary sometimes. These are the people we are called to shepherd. Yes, it’s full of fast paced calendars, catchy but yet inspiring messages, heavy conversations, and parent drama. But underneath all of it, there’s a deeper calling—not just to lead or to teach, but to cultivate.

To cultivate is to prepare, nurture, and protect what’s been planted. It’s slow work. Unseen work. Faithful work. You don’t always see immediate growth, but you trust that something is happening beneath the surface.

So what does it mean to cultivate a spiritual foundation in the lives of students?

It means creating environments where God’s Word is central. It means challenging surface-level faith and encouraging students to wrestle with truth. It means modeling what it looks like to walk with Jesus when life is full, stressful, confusing, or just ordinary.

It also means understanding this: our time with students is limited. At some point, they leave youth group. They graduate. They move out, get jobs, go to college, or step into adulthood in all its complexity. And that’s when the foundation we helped them build is tested.

We’re not responsible for the harvest. But we are called to prepare the soil.

How Do We Cultivate in a Way That Lasts?

Here are a few simple principles I’ve come to believe:

• Teach beyond the moment. It’s easy to preach to what they’re feeling today—but make sure you’re equipping them for what they’ll face tomorrow. Teach habits. Teach spiritual depth. Teach the whole counsel of God, not just the highlight reel.
• Focus on formation, not just attendance. It’s easy to be discouraged by small groups that feel half full or nights when the energy is low. But true formation often happens in quiet, consistent rhythms. Don’t just celebrate full rooms—celebrate faithful hearts.
• Let go of outcomes. This may be the hardest part. Sometimes you pour into a student for years and never see fruit. You wonder if it mattered. But ministry isn’t transactional—it’s transformational. And transformation rarely follows our timeline. We also need to beware of writing the story of transformation for our students, and simply allow the Lord to be the writer.

You May Not See It, But It Still Matters

If you’ve been in ministry long enough, you know the truth: not every student comes back to thank you. Many drift. Some walk away. And that can wear on your soul.

But we cultivate anyway.

Because God sees. God waters. God brings the growth—in His time, not ours.

So stay faithful. Keep planting. Keep showing up. Keep pointing students to Jesus.

Because cultivating may not be flashy, but it’s exactly what we’ve been called to do.

If you’re feeling the weight of this calling—or just wondering how to keep cultivating when the soil feels dry—I’d love to walk with you. I offer one-on-one coaching for youth pastors who need encouragement, clarity, or just someone to process ministry with. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Click here to sign up for a free coaching session and let’s take the next step together.