A Big Reason Youth Ministry Leaders Struggle To Grow

In the event of a decompression, an oxygen mask will automatically appear in front of you…If you are traveling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask on first, and then assist the other person. Keep your mask on until a uniformed crew member advises you to remove it.

I’ve heard those words hundreds of times never thought twice about them when I became a parent. It made sense before I could care for my child; I needed to take care of myself. In ministry we forget this principle, we think, I need to serve and help these families, but we forget about ourselves. This is why we’re seeing good men and women leave parish ministry, and even the church, we’ve forgotten to care for ourselves and make it a priority.

There are too many of us who lose focus on our own Personal, Spiritual, and Professional Development. While we figure out new and creative ways to invest in them, we lose sight of investing in ourselves. To grow, we need to look at:

• Daily habits and how we connect with God regularly
• Retreats and spiritual getaways that we get to participate in and not run
• Finding a ministry coach, spiritual director or prayer partner to ask us about our journey
• Attending conferences and enrolling in courses to learn best practices 

By investing in yourself, you’ll grow confidence to tackle areas like:

• The spiritual battle in your own life
• Strategic planning for your ministry
• Conflict management between parents, volunteers, and coworkers
• Leading and feeding your teams of volunteers

There is always a high return when you take the time and money to grow professionally, but what about time and money?

ADDRESSING THE PUSHBACK

Now, some of you might be thinking, “Chris, this sounds great, but my parish doesn’t have the money, and I don’t have the time.” I hear you, and that’s where we need to challenge the status quo and try something different, for example:

Spiritual Direction

If you live near a Catholic university or school, reach out to see if they have religious who offer spiritual direction. If that doesn’t work reach out to the diocese or talk to a fellow youth minister to see if there is a parish priest, you can go to when you need guidance. And if that doesn’t get you anywhere look for someone in your parish that can be a prayer partner. Commit to meeting on a regular (monthly) basis to pray with one another.

Ministry Coaching

If you can’t afford professional coaching, ask your pastor (Or someone on parish council) to recommend a person in your community that is highly successful in what he or she does. Invite them out for a bite to eat or a cup of coffee (make it informal) and ask them about what they do and how they do it. Take notes and listen. If there is a connection, ask them if they’d be willing to be a resource, someone you can call on when you have strategic or big-picture questions. Chances are they’ll say yes.

Retreats and Conferences

Instead of sending teens to a retreat or conference this year, find one for you and your adult volunteers to attend. If you feel like that’s depriving the teens of an incredible experience, I get it, but you are already depriving them if you and your team are running on empty. If you take your adults to the right experience, they’ll walk away more empowered and ready to grow a stronger program.

Curriculum Vs. Courses

Instead of blowing the budget on curriculum look for opportunities for ongoing training. MYM University offers training for as little as $25/month (To Learn More Click HERE). I’d also recommend resources from Download Youth Ministry University for your volunteers. If all you can afford is the curriculum look at what resources they provide for you beyond BEST PRACTICES FOR USING THIS CONTENT.

Every curriculum provider should at least have a blog or a podcast talking about the different ways to grow your ministry. Many of the good ones will host webinars, have exclusive Facebook groups, and additional materials to help you grow as a leader. If you are going to spend the money, make sure you are getting more than content.

We need to change the landscape of youth ministry, and that’s not going to get done if you aren’t caring for yourself. Your teens need a strong leader who knows how to care for themselves, professionally and spiritually. Don’t be afraid to make it a priority because a healthy leader benefits everyone.

How do you invest in yourself, spiritually, or professionally?

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