#Leadership Nuggets
Borrowed from Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn’t Last and What Your Church Can Do About It, copyright 2008 by Mark DeVries
You've got a passion to help young people grow spiritually, lots of creative ministry ideas, fun programs and events, and cutting-edge technology. Yet your church's youth ministry is still failing to attract many students? If so, don't despair. It is possible to build a lasting youth ministry that has a powerful impact on the lives of many students – if you lay down the right foundation first.
Here's how you can build a youth ministry that's strong enough to last:
1. Don't push the "easy button." There are no easy answers or quick fixes that will lead to a strong youth ministry. Be willing to put in lots of effort over a sustained period of time to invest in your church’s youth ministry for the long haul.
2. Think clearly about what your ministry needs. Too often, youth ministry plans are either too vague or filled with unrealistic expectations. Ask God to help you understand and communicate the ministry’s real needs well. Have specific and realistic expectations.
3. Ministry infrastructure. Build the kind of ministry infrastructure that will help any moderately gifted youth leaders/members to thrive in their role.
4. Develop key documents. Create a directory of youth members and people who have visited our youth ministry. Update these directories annually. Map out the ministry’s annual events on a calendar. Write ministry descriptions that clearly outline the scope of responsibilities. Then give people annual reviews. Create a curriculum template. Craft a mission statement for the ministry. List measurable goals to aim to achieve over three years. Write a statement of values. Develop an organizational chart for the ministry.
5. Consider a new initiative or trajectory in youth ministry bring key stakeholders together to cast a fresh vision for the ministry. Dream boldly and ask God to breathe new life into the ministry.
6. Change the culture. If the culture of your youth ministry isn’t healthy, change it before it changes the people working within it. First work to give stakeholders visible evidence that something good is actually happening in the ministry. Ask God to help you avoid anxiety and be joyful despite the problems around you. Your attitudes will help other people remain positive.
7. Build a constellation of people who are willing to invest their time and energy into the lives of others, with everyone working together to shine as brightly as possible. Write down the ministry’s needs to help you figure out what and who you will need. Develop a pool of potential personnel, regularly communicate with them. Give them job descriptions, behavioral covenants, and an accountability structure. Affirm and encourage them regularly by showing your appreciation in creative. Build friendships with each other, and encourage them to remain committed to volunteering with the youth ministry. Delegate responsibility to key volunteers by building a culture of apprenticeship.
8. Shift the focus from programs to friendships. If your youth ministry doesn’t give members the chance to be with the kind of friends they want, they won’t stick around to participate in the ministry’s programs – no matter how fun or creative they are. Studies have shown that what matters most to youths is finding a welcoming environment where they can be themselves and build quality friendships. Do all you can to help them feel wanted, accepted, and connected in your youth group.
9. Don’t wander down rabbit trails. Avoid pursuing activities that distract you from focusing properly on the ministry’s core vision.
10. Scale brick walls. Work to overcome challenges when you encounter them. Focus on one issue at a time. Have your team members share responsibility. Set aside time regularly for strategic thinking. Set expectations for problems to be solved gradually over the course of years instead of pursuing futile quick fixes. Avoid anxiety and remain focused on working on strategic plans.
3. Ministry infrastructure. Build the kind of ministry infrastructure that will help any moderately gifted youth leaders/members to thrive in their role.
4. Develop key documents. Create a directory of youth members and people who have visited our youth ministry. Update these directories annually. Map out the ministry’s annual events on a calendar. Write ministry descriptions that clearly outline the scope of responsibilities. Then give people annual reviews. Create a curriculum template. Craft a mission statement for the ministry. List measurable goals to aim to achieve over three years. Write a statement of values. Develop an organizational chart for the ministry.
5. Consider a new initiative or trajectory in youth ministry bring key stakeholders together to cast a fresh vision for the ministry. Dream boldly and ask God to breathe new life into the ministry.
6. Change the culture. If the culture of your youth ministry isn’t healthy, change it before it changes the people working within it. First work to give stakeholders visible evidence that something good is actually happening in the ministry. Ask God to help you avoid anxiety and be joyful despite the problems around you. Your attitudes will help other people remain positive.
7. Build a constellation of people who are willing to invest their time and energy into the lives of others, with everyone working together to shine as brightly as possible. Write down the ministry’s needs to help you figure out what and who you will need. Develop a pool of potential personnel, regularly communicate with them. Give them job descriptions, behavioral covenants, and an accountability structure. Affirm and encourage them regularly by showing your appreciation in creative. Build friendships with each other, and encourage them to remain committed to volunteering with the youth ministry. Delegate responsibility to key volunteers by building a culture of apprenticeship.
8. Shift the focus from programs to friendships. If your youth ministry doesn’t give members the chance to be with the kind of friends they want, they won’t stick around to participate in the ministry’s programs – no matter how fun or creative they are. Studies have shown that what matters most to youths is finding a welcoming environment where they can be themselves and build quality friendships. Do all you can to help them feel wanted, accepted, and connected in your youth group.
9. Don’t wander down rabbit trails. Avoid pursuing activities that distract you from focusing properly on the ministry’s core vision.
10. Scale brick walls. Work to overcome challenges when you encounter them. Focus on one issue at a time. Have your team members share responsibility. Set aside time regularly for strategic thinking. Set expectations for problems to be solved gradually over the course of years instead of pursuing futile quick fixes. Avoid anxiety and remain focused on working on strategic plans.
God bless you.
Kachel
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