Why Templates Are Important

I don’t like my time wasted.  Unlike other things in life once time has gone by you cannot get it back.  I went to a meeting not too long ago that went on longer than planned.  There was no template; therefore, there was no flow.  With no flow the agenda was loose and constantly interrupted with tangents and distractions.  What should have been over in an hour took four.  I want my time back.

Courtesy of Dinner Series/Creative Commons License

One of the best organizational tools a youth minister should use is a template.  A template is the outline to what happens and where it happens when it comes to:

• Meetings
• Messages
• Programs
• Small Group Discussion

Without a template you only have chaos.  With a template you can keep people engaged and focused.  It allows you to stick to a schedule and leave people inspired.  To develop an effective one:

• Know Where It Is Going: Your template has to have a bottom line.  What do you want people to know and do by the end of the message?  What is the action step you want people taking from the meeting?  How are you going to lead them there?  A template will conduct the flow of the conversation and create synergy with everything you do.

• Consistently Revisit It: You won’t get it perfect the first time.  Make sure as you go through your projects and meetings that you are looking at what is working and what isn’t.  You can do this by examining whether or not you are reaching your goals.  Tweak until you see fruit grow from the outline that you have created.

• Gain Feedback From Others: Make sure you give people permission to critique the flow of your ministry.  Have them tell you where you are spending too much time on one area.  Allow them to give you insight and direction on how to improve.  Allow them to feel like they are a part of the process.

A good template will help focus on what is important.  It will save people time and help you stay efficient in what you need to accomplish.  Look at the areas of ministry that feel out of sorts and a little chaotic.  Do not just settle for an agenda, but give that area of ministry a flow.

How do you organize your ministry?  Share your thoughts.