This time was going to be different. I was going to be able to reach my goals and hit results in a more efficient and effective way. There was no way I would repeat the same mistakes. Two years ago, when I started over I thought I had most (I’m not that prideful) of it figure out. The result:
THERE IS STILL A LOT TO FIGURE OUT
Now, I could blame the fact that at my last church the demographic was homogeneous, there wasn’t a school and I had two other people on staff dedicated towards youth ministry. I could say that the staff was a little bit bigger and the resources were easily accessible, but that would be ignoring the biggest truth of building any ministry or business…
IT TAKES TIME
After two years at my current parish, I’m reminded that all my dreams , ambitions and goals take time. I’m sure I’ll have to remind myself at the 5 mile and 10 year mark.
Whether you are starting over and or just getting started there are a few truths, outside of “It Takes Time”, that we have to remember about building a healthy youth ministry.
TRUTH #1: PRODUCTIVE MINISTRIES HAVE PRIORITIES
If you want to make progress you are going to have to know what’s most important. When it comes to leading people to Christ the priority starts with:
Your Own Spiritual Health because you cannot lead on empty, nor should you try. Do not confuse the work you do for a church as the work you are doing on yourself. They need to be separate and personal prayer comes first.
After your spiritual health it comes down to who you are trying to reach, what are the expectations of your position and what is going to yield the biggest fruit. It’s also important to note that what’s important today can change tomorrow.
What’s helped me is some accountability from friends and a coach. I’ve also started using the Monk Manual, to reflect on what’s going on in my life today and what I should be focused on tomorrow. No matter what tool or technique you use knowing what’s most important is going to help you stay focused on achieving reaching the vision God has given you.
TRUTH #2: YOU NEED MORE THAN JUST VOLUNTEERS
You could have a hundred volunteers and still be ineffective. That’s because you need more than doers, you need people who can:
- Help you dream and think big so that you can overcome problems and challenges
- Connect you with resources and relationships that will advance and fuel your ministry
- Advocate on your behalf, spread word about what you are doing and create a buzz in the community
You need leaders who are going to amplify your strengths by addressing your weaknesses and helping your with the growth of your ministry. To find those people and knowing who is the right leader will take:
- One on one conversations where you get to know their personality because you have to like them and they have to like you.
- Trials and test periods where you hand over a piece of leadership.
- Some failure and plenty of instruction because no one is going to get it perfect right away
It takes an investment, but it’ll be worth it because having the right people on your team will bring you piece of mind.
TRUTH #3: YOUR POSITION IS TEMPORARY
You might be the leader but the ministry still isn’t yours. You are not the owner, your pastor isn’t the owner, you are simply a steward. Whether you will be at your church for 3 years or 30 you are charged with caring for it. That means:
Taking what you’ve been given and nurturing, pruning and developing it.
Preparing it for the next leader to come along so that it can continue to grow.
If you approach your ministry with the mindset of a steward and not an owner you’ll understand how things take time and you won’t always get to experience the end result (Moses didn’t Deuteronomy 34:4), but that’s okay because you are part of a bigger story.
To become a steward and not an owner you need to:
- Invest in a team that can run the ministry without you
- Give teenagers the tools to continue to grow after they leave your ministry
- Continue to learn how you can grow and adapt the ministry so it won’t grow stale
At my last church making that transition was tough because it meant letting go of things that I loved so that we could reach other teens. It meant being a little uncomfortable so that we could do God’s will.
Building a healthy ministry not only takes time, but the willingness to embark on a journey. Over the years I’ve learned that some lessons can’t be avoided and that I’m on God’s timing, not my own. As frustrating as starting over can be the journey is worth it. If you are just getting started or finding yourself stuck on the journey don’t hesitate to reach out for a free chat. A bonus TRUTH is that you aren’t alone, don’t be afraid to reach out to other youth workers on the journey.
What are some of the biggest truths you’ve learned in ministry?
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