I was on fire with ideas and enthusiasm, and my team was not ready to receive it. I had just gotten back from my first youth ministry conference, inspired to implement as many ideas as possible. But my team—who hadn’t attended—was overwhelmed and pushed back hard. They said:
With each response, I felt deflated, wondering if there was any hope for the ministry. Then, one of my team members pulled me aside and said, "Chris, we love the enthusiasm and excitement, I just think we need time to process this."
That simple statement helped me step back. My ego was bruised, but after the euphoria wore off, I was able to reflect with a clearer mind.
Over the years, I’ve learned that anytime I attend a conference or workshop without my team, I need a strategy to share what I’ve learned in a way that engages them and sparks collaboration. If you’re not sure how to bring back what you’ve learned to your pastor, coworkers, team, or even family, consider the following:
Walking away from a conference, you might feel challenged, empowered, overwhelmed, or all of the above. While it’s important to express those feelings, take time to process them first. Journal your thoughts—get everything out of your head and onto paper. Once you’ve written it all down, pray over it. Whether you’re seeking discernment, offering gratitude, or surrendering your excitement to God, inviting Him into the process will give you clarity.
If writing isn’t your thing, find someone you trust and invite them to listen. Let them know you’re not looking for feedback—just a space to process without judgment. Verbal or written, getting your emotions out helps you validate them and lift the weight of the experience off your shoulders.
After reflecting on your experience, reach out to your team and let them know you want to share what you learned. If you have slides or handouts, send a summary highlighting key points to help them process the information ahead of time.
Beyond sharing resources, make the purpose of your meeting clear. If you simply want to share insights, let them know it’s a learning opportunity. If you want to workshop ideas, invite them into that process and explain how you’d like their feedback.
No one likes to be caught off guard. Giving your team time to prepare makes them more receptive and gives you space to organize your thoughts so you can facilitate the conversation effectively.
Even if you prepare well, your team might not respond the way you’d hoped—and that’s okay. They weren’t there. It will take time and more conversations for them to fully process the ideas with you.
Instead of pushing for immediate implementation, invite them to help you discern. Ask:
If they challenge your ideas, lean into the discussion. If you’re convinced about a plan, seek to understand their hesitations rather than bulldozing through them. The goal isn’t just to move forward but to find clarity together.
Attending workshops and conferences is essential to any ministry leader’s development. In addition to gaining new insights, it’s an opportunity to connect with others in the field. If possible, bring someone with you next time. While it increases costs, it makes it easier to introduce new ideas when someone else has shared the experience.
There will always be pushback—but that’s okay. You are not alone. God is always by your side.