How To Get The Most Out Of This Year

I ate a lot of cookies this Christmas.  I’m not joking, I ate A LOT of cookies and on New Year’s Eve I said, “Enough.”  But then on January 1st I had some more cookies.  Starting off the year can be tough.

As a youth minister you might be looking at the New Year as a second start to what began last fall.  While you are probably ready to set goals, if you want to get the most out of this year then you will need to make sure you:

CAPTURE “ONE WORD”

A coworker of mine shared this concept with me last year.  It’s finding that one word that will thematize the year.  It’s the word that you feel God is calling you to focus on in this season of ministry.

Ask God for your “One Word“, write it down and share it with others.  My word this year is INNOVATIVE.  I’m not sure what God is going to do with that word, but it’s what’s been placed on my heart.

LOOK AT WHAT NEEDS PRUNING

You might be thinking, “A few inches around the waist.”  But in all seriousness what do you need to eliminate from your plate.  That means analyzing your programs, schedules and daily habits.

Write them out and sit down with someone who will hold you accountable.  Find margin and capacity by taking away things that might have found it’s way into your life during the busyness of fall and Christmas.

BUILD A DEEPER AND WIDER COMMUNITY

We all feel naturally motivated around this time of year.  Seize the opportunity by asking people to step up and serve.  Hang around Mass on the weekends and get to know people.  Ask them to try out serving with students.  This is the time of year people are motivated to try something new.

Take time to build a stronger community with the team you currently have.  Set up a one day retreat or give them a leadership book to read.  Take advantage of the motivation people are feeling this time of year.

BRING STUDENTS ALONG FOR THE RIDE

Make the New Year an opportunity to rally your teens together.  Challenge them to create goals, prune things off of their plate, find accountability and even find that ONE WORD.

Bringing students along not only gives them tools for the future, but gives you a new level of accountability.  They will want to know what you are focused on doing and what you want to eliminate from your plate.  By sharing something personal with them you bring the relationship to a new level.

Make this year about focus and do not go at it alone.  Even if it feels like you need to hit the ground running, take time to create those boundaries, build community and know where it is God wants to take you.