I had a youth pastor many years ago who was all talk and no game. He was able to flash a smile, exude a positive attitude, and say things people wanted to hear. To this day he still has some people in our church convinced he is wonderful. The problem was that he never followed through. It didn’t take long for the youth to see through it, especially my kids. He eventually flamed out and fled the church (and the state for that matter).
In ministry you have to be able to speak in such a way that it convinces people to follow you while at the same time producing results that are expected of your job. The norm is to find people who are one or the other. While over generalized, results people often run roughshod over people’s feelings and relationship people make everyone feel good but don’t get anywhere.
We have to value both results and relationships. You have to have your eye on the goal while building a team of people who can accomplish it together. That is a difficult balance if you are prone to one or the other. It’s investing in people while telling them where they are headed and what they are trying to accomplish.
In an ironic twist I am now doing both jobs, lead pastor and youth pastor. My church and youth group are around the same size. I am building relationships with teenagers who are my kids age. I don’t have the time or the energy to more than the basics and the kids appreciate us just being real with them. In some odd way it is working.
Chuck Musselwhite 
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