How To Become A Highly Effective Youth Minister

Ever wonder what makes a youth ministry successful?  Sure, it has great resources, well thought out programs and a community that will invest in it, but it all starts with a Highly Effective Youth Minister.

A highly effective youth minister is a leader worth following.  They are someone who not only knows how to reach the next generation but mobilize adults to make the ministry a movement.  To be a highly effective youth minister you need to:

CONSTANTLY INVESTING IN A CORE

Every youth minister needs a core of adults who is going to elevate them to a new level.  That means having people on their team that:

• Invest in the mission and vision.

• Will volunteer for any task big or small.

• Take on problems that you cannot solve.

• Extend your capacity by investing in others in your ministry.

To invest in those people you need to build trust and respect.  A few ways to do that is by:

• Getting to them personally (i.e. family, personal interests, etc.)

• Inviting them to join you for conferences and workshops.

• Sharing with them your dreams, and goals.

The more they see the investment the more they’ll return it with dedication, commitment and hard work.

(For more on building your core click HERE)

NETWORKING WITH LIKE-MINDED YOUTH WORKERS

An effective youth minister is constantly building relationships with other men and women in the trenches of youth ministry.  The reason this is important is because it will:

• Build confidence and reassurance that you are not alone.

• Provide outside the box thinking and different perspectives.

• Allow a space where you can be vulnerable and share ups and downs.

• Individuals praying for you in your journey.

A network is likely having a group of people cheering you on when ministry gets rough.  It’s a group of people outside your world who can help you escape.  Get yourself support by joining a network of youth ministers.

(For more on networking with other youth workers click HERE)

INVESTING IN A DEEPER SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

If you are investing in the next generations spiritual journey then you have to do your own as well.  You are constantly pouring into others and that can leave you empty.  Having a spiritual plan is going to help you during the seasons when:

• A parent chews you out.

• You don’t see eye to eye with leadership.

• Tragedy strikes the community.

• Decisions between family and work need to be made.

Your ministry might feel like a job but to keep it a calling you need to listen to God.  Build this in and find that your decisions will become more wise.

(For more on being healthy click HERE)

FOCUSING ON COMMUNICATION AND CLARITY

You have a lot to communicate to a variety of audiences.  As a youth minister you need to figure out systems that will help you:

• Mobilize your team.

• Inspire, encourage and challenge the next generation.

• Build up parents.

• Share the vision and advocate for your ministry.

Youth ministers are leaders and leaders communicate.  Work on your messaging and look at:

• What you want to say.

• Why you want to say it.

• How you are going to say it.

• When you need to say it.

And the more you do that the more you’ll find people listening and engaging with your calling.

(For more on communicating clearly click HERE)

EMBRACING THE MESS THAT CONSTANTLY AWAITS

An effective youth minister refuses to hide.  In fact youth ministry needs someone who is willing to lean into the mess.  To embrace the mess means that you are:

• Willing to take risks even if it means complete failure.

• Sit and listen to the drama of people different from you.

• Loving people who might not like you (i.e. parents or teens).

• Deal with change, which consistently happens.

Youth ministry is messy, there is no avoiding it.  But, it’s a beautiful mess and not worth missing.

(For more on the messiness of youth ministry click HERE)

Work on becoming more effective by embracing these habits because in the end a youth ministry lead by an effective leader leads to life change.  There is nothing more beautiful than a changed life for Jesus Christ.