Deadliest Catch and Youth Ministry
Today I have been watching the new episodes of Deadliest Catch. This show, which documents the rough, sometimes deadly, job of king crab fishermen in Alaska, is the best documentary show on television. These men risk life and limb for 3 weeks on the high seas in order to make anywhere between $20-40,000 for that trip (which is what most youth pastors make in a year). Sometimes the fishermen hit “crab gold,” meaning they are pulling up crab traps holding 50 or more crab each. Other times, they strike out and can count their crab on 1 hand.
I noticed one interesting parallel between the crab fishermen and youth pastors: both are trying to obtain a very elusive catch. While one is searching in the vast expanse of the Bearing Sea, the other is is searching the vast expanse of today’s high schools. One uses cod and frozen fish as bait, while another uses flashy programs and solid Bible lessons. One group stays up 20-30 hours working the crab traps, while another group stays up 24 hours with tireless Junior High students (see Overnighter video). If the crab aren’t being caught in one location, the fishermen move. If the students aren’t coming to an event, it is either A. missing the purpose of the ministry, or B. called Sunday School.
Although youth ministry may not be as physically dangerous as crab fishing (you might disagree based on your recent dodgeball tourney or ski trip), it is just as difficult, draining, and yet rewarding. We may not bring up “crab gold” but we bring in students for the Kingdom of God.
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