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What do you do? What do others think you do? Does it matter?

February 21, 2012 By 17 Comments


Last week these “what others think I do” collages made their way around the internet… they were both clever and funny.

Having been a 30+ year youth pastor, I definitely understand and appreciated the one below (thanks to Craig Adams/Green Forest, Arkansas).




Over the years, I’ve learned that “perception is fact” in the eyes of those who are looking-in on your job/performance.

While these collages are made with good intentions, I think they raise questions of perception.

Question: What do you find that you have to do to change the perception others have of your job? Share here and let’s learn from one another. Also, share links to other ones like this.


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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=724705397 Mark Strickland
    • Doug Fields

      That’s a great one (love the herding cats)

  • http://www.newbeginningschurch.info Jeff Berg

    This is the one I saw…

  • Ben

    Eph. 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
    Your performance should be done in such a way that people say you have been with Jesus Christ.  We have stereotypes for a reason.  Whatever the stereotypical youth minister/worker is, if it is not Christ, then make it Christ.  If perception is fact then your pastor, youth parents, church members, teens and the world should perceive you walking with Jesus.  Your life actions should be reflecting that devotional time with the Lord.  If you are looking at other youth workers as examples on how to run a youth ministry and live your life, you are looking at other sinner-saints who have the same need for Jesus as you do.

    • Doug Fields

      My push-back to this Ben is that we can’t control others’ perceptions. You can walk with Jesus all day long, but if others have [wrong] perceptions… should we care?

      • Matt

        I think we should only care in so much as to understand what it’s telling us about the individual with the wrong perception. Someone who you’ve been in a relationship, heck someone who at minimum knows your pure intentions behind your actions, would give you enough credit to not jump to a negative conclusion. I think the only reason we should care is to investigate the individual instance that led to a specific someone believing a faulty perception of you.

  • Toddperkins

    Perception without truth = a distorted reality.
    Many leaders who are ask “what do you do all day” are often (not always) leaders who fail to communicate their ministry and opportunities to get involved.

  • Klint

    After being clobbered by these in my facebook newsfeed over the past week… this is the only one I could share in good conscience.  http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/398668_10150621819789756_506409755_8833256_572717086_n.jpg

  • Grip2him

    One I don’t deal with very well. Changing perception takes a lot of doing what were not here for or what we weren’t hired for. It’s defending yourself against the assumptions of others. Why must I spend so much energy defending ministry? Let the assumptions have to be defended; they will either be proven wrong or right, but assumptions they will no longer be.

  • michaelbest

    The thing that I have found to have the most effectiveness in helping to change perceptions is by telling stories of life change. Every time I’m asked how our ministry is going I try and tell a quick story of how God has worked in the life a particular student. I’ve found that sharing a story of God at work is much more beneficial than simply telling what you’re teaching about or how many students are coming or involved in small groups.

    • Doug Fields

      good wisdom here Michael!

  • Brian Stuart
    • Doug Fields

      I like it!

  • Andy Lawrenson

    I use a blog post to tell what happens each week at our youth gathering.  I also e-mail parents updates each week which tell what we studied the Sunday before and what we are studying the next Sunday.  They then see that there is some prep and thought that goes into youth ministry and not just fun and games.

    One time a lady came to the church all hopping mad because I had “not been in the office for days”.  I asked (with the pastor there) why she thought that I wasn’t in the office.  Her reply, “You car hasn’t been in the parking lot all week”.  My reply, “here’s my bicycle that I have been riding all week to the office”. 

    Some people don’t live in true reality but only the reality of their perceptions even when their perceptions are way off base.  I don’t spend time fighting the perceptions.  I do my best and work hard at what I do.  I would rather spend time investing in lives than putting out the little fires of perception.

    • Doug Fields

      I would have loved to have seen her face when you pointed out the bike. :)

  • http://www.hobotheology.com/ Hobo Derek

    A couple thoughts…
    1.) I think MichaelBest is right on. Leaders are storytellers. We must tell our stories well and often, up and down the leadership-layperson line.
    2.) I try to remember to laugh. Many teasing comments about student ministry are just people making chit-chat.  And a (genuinely) confident chuckle in return can go a long way. In fact, genuine security in who you are and what you do seems to rub off on other people…thus changing their perception in a subtle way.

  • http://brandonweldy.wordpress.com Brandon Weldy

    My mother-in-law likes to bring up “new” bits of information that her church is discovering about youth ministry. What I find funny is my wife and I have told her these things before. After we have these conversations she will say things like “I know you brought it up but it just seemed different.” It feels like she does not think we actually do ministry. 
    We will always run into those who feel that way. “So when are you going to become a minister?” I AM! Something I have worked really hard at doing is being professional, especially with parents. I like to look and act professional with them. Not so they think more highly of me, but that they see I am serious about the ministry I do and so hopefully they feel they can trust me.