This week's episode again features Andy McGowan from Dare2Share; he's the lead pastor in Kenosha, WI at Kenosha City Church. (Watch it here!)

He and Keith discuss how to discern whether or not God is calling you out of youth ministry, and how to faithfully follow the Lord as a youth pastor, "stay in the game" and not quit when the days get hard. They talk about youth pastors of all ages, and how to be remain encouraged in Christ!

Initially, Keith and Andy discuss their personal stories and share their experiences of going from youth ministry to another position within the church. They describe how they sought the Lord, the people pouring into their lives at the time, and how to follow God's leading. Essentially, is the Lord is leading you to a different position, then the following the Lord is the right answer! This is a great episode for senior pastors to hear as well, as they outline ways in which the senior pastor can help make this process a smooth, well-thought-out transition.

Questions to consider to help make a decision:

1. What was the original call? Did the Lord call you to youth ministry?
2. Who is pouring into you to encourage you?

The motives for leaving, such as "grass is greener," or the days are hard, are not always the right reasons to leave. They share examples of people who've left due to burn out, or difficulties, and though those aren't necessarily bad reasons to leave the church in which they're serving, it may not mean the Lord is leading you out of youth ministry.

Andy shares about a moment in time when he watched Cal Ripken, Jr. beat Lou Gehrig's record in baseball. This stood out to him because CRJ accomplished this feat at an older point in his baseball career, and that stood out to him because CRJ didn't quit. He didn't give up, and for some youth leaders, that's their calling: to not give up and to stay in the game for the sake of students hearing the gospel.