You go into ministry with tons of energy, excitement and ideas. “Then you hit this reality wall where ministry is not what you expected it to be,” said the Rev. Tim Yi, who has spent over 15 years in youth ministry.

The youth pastor at Community Church of Seattle, a primarily Korean American congregation, talked about disillusionment, discernment and more with the Rev. Zoë Garry in a recent Leading Theologically program and podcast. Garry is Associate Director of Theological Education Funds Development for the Presbyterian Foundation.

Seeking wisdom

Yi said he can’t remember exactly when discernment became a priority, only that it was in his most difficult moments.

He realized it wasn’t about how smart or talented he was or how well he planned, and that he couldn’t do it alone. It was in those valleys he sought discernment and wisdom from God and trusted people in his life, and that changed how he does ministry.

“Sometimes I question my own calling,” he said. “Like, is this really for me? Are my kids listening to my sermons? Do they even like me? So I’m thankful for people who speak life and truth into me, saying: Hey, we all go through that.”

Qualities needed for adult leaders

Volunteers fuel Community Church’s youth program. What qualities, Garry asked, does Yi look for in adult leaders?

Yi, who came to faith in high school, said faith is No. 1. “I really do believe God uses people in the church to guide our students.”

Faith is a given, but consistency is vital because it demonstrates caring and builds trust. “Your presence matters way more than what you can say. Showing up is, I would say, 80% of youth ministry. … When I recruit teachers, I tell them: Show up, man, even if it’s like for 30 or 40 minutes. Just come say hello.”

Teachability, in the sense of being willing to learn from the students themselves, is also important. Life experience is good, but “sometimes students can teach us about God. We don’t have all the information.”

Regardless of age, Yi added, adult leaders need to be relatable. (Yes, being able to tell a corny joke helps.)

Getting real in a curated world

Consistency doesn’t have to be hard, Yi emphasized.

“You’re not asking someone to move a mountain. You’re asking someone to show up. I think almost every single person has it in their power to be consistent, and it pours into building trust.”

Consistency of character is especially important in the picked and chosen social media world. Yi, who has an active YouTube channel, admits he’s figuring it out along the way. Though online ministries can be genuine, the desire to garner views can easily override authenticity. It’s still a place to reach people who might never set foot in a church.

“A certain topic or video could be their first exposure to Christianity,” he said.

While there’s room for both in-person and online ministry, “one of the things the church can offer is that real, genuine human connection, and it really comes down to consistency.”

Creating space for questions

In his Asian American context, Yi has seen more open discussion in recent years on topics such as mental health and the intersection of faith and politics. In 2025, you can find answers to any question you might have — answers that support your or anyone else’s position. He encourages students to search with care, ask more questions and seek input from trusted people in their circles.

“Again, that’s where discernment comes in,” Yi said. As an example, he described walking students through their fear about the end of the world ending on a particular day based on something they saw online. “That content is really popular because it gets a lot of views, and they were really influenced by that,” he said.

Yi spent time with the students talking about where the information came from, what the Bible actually says and where their attention might be better directed.

Even in a culture of self-reliance and individualism, he said, “the Christian faith is also corporate.”