Youth Ministry Tips

Tip #318 Say Thank You

September 5, 2008 – 4:46 pm
This may seem overly simplistic but you need to say "thank you" a lot in youth ministry. Youth Worker Appreciation Day reminds us that we should thank our volunteers and paid youth workers. But you also have other people to say thank you to. Start with the parents of the students in your ministry. Thank them for supporting you and for helping get their kids to youth group. Thank the janitor for cleaning up your messes. Thank your spouse for putting up with your hours. Thank your pastor for being your friend, mentor, and advocate to the board. Thank the board, thanking them may be good on a lot of levels. Thank the people who pray for you. Thank your friends who encourage you. Thank you students for showing up every week. The thing is, by saying thank you a lot to the people who invest in you the most... it'll ...

Posted in leadership, teaching, volunteers | 1 Comment »

Tip #463: Role Reversal

August 27, 2008 – 2:11 pm
One of the most important roles ministry leaders have is to identify, encourage, and equip new leaders; youth ministers are not excluded from that privilege and responsibility!  Take a few moments to prayerfully consider the gifts and talents of your adult and student leaders, and of potential adult and student leaders, at your church. Which of these people, with encouragement and training, could step into a new and different role in the ministry you lead? Who can you help discover a gift, or a calling?  How can God use you to show His purpose and passion to the people in your flock?

Posted in collaboration, disciple, encouragement, leadership, volunteers, youth ministry | No Comments »

Tip #4: Step aside

June 30, 2008 – 9:18 am
Youth ministry is definitely in the action and adventure genre, especially during school breaks and vacations.  There is a need (or is it a temptation?) to pack those times where students are available full of activities.  I understand; I've done it too.  I wonder, though, if the whirlwind schedule of pool parties, picnics and theme parks - all of which make for valuable relationship and memory building time - can serve to defeat the purpose we're with these students in the first place. While you're having tremendous fun together, be intentional about finding a time and place to step aside together and pray.  Here's one example of a way to raise awareness of people around you at a theme park; of course, there are loads of ways to adapt this to your group's personality.  As always, please offer your ideas too! Before your group scatters into the park, give them this instruction:  ...

Posted in creative, disciple, leadership, prayer, teaching, trips, youth ministry | 1 Comment »

Tip #17 Be Flexible

June 23, 2008 – 12:07 pm
Don't get bent out of shape about deadlines and sign-ups. While you need a good count for an event you don't have to be rigid. Instead, build flexibility into your planning! It's much better to recruit an extra driver with the understanding that you may not need her than it is to tell a student she can't bring 3 friends at the last minute. Be willing to "call an audible" during events. Adjust and flex based on what is happening as opposed to getting upset about your plan not working perfectly. By focusing on the "main thing" (relationships) you will get to the goal (reaching and teaching students about Jesus) with a lot less frustration. Just think of all the extra energy you'd have!

Posted in encouragement, events, goals, planning | 2 Comments »

Tip #81: Map it!

June 16, 2008 – 11:24 am
Ever sit in a meeting or brainstorming session and wonder how you were going to make your random notes into an outline encompassing all the aspects of your plan and turn it into something that works with the way you think?  If you haven't tried mind mapping yet, there's no time like the present! If you're new to the concept, start here with Lifehacker's Beginner's Guide to Mind Mapping Meetings.  There are also two handy mind mapping tools on the web.  MindMeister can process your email into mind maps, and has lots of nifty options for attaching task information, notes and more.  Text2MindMap is a web-based tool that turns your input into a down-loadable image (like the mind map with this post, click for larger version) you can use in lots of ways to share and follow the plan. Are you using mind mapping in your ministry?  Share your tools and tricks ...

Posted in communication, creative, goals, leadership, planning, time management, web, youth ministry | No Comments »

Tip #411: Update

June 2, 2008 – 12:19 pm
Ever get to the theme park, concert, or festival, try to reach one of your students or volunteers whose new cell number never got into your phone? How about your students' friends who came along? Yeah, me too. As you're loading the vehicles for your next trip, give each van or car an index card with your name and number at the top, and a pen to record the name and cell number of all the occupants. It will only take a moment for leaders to double-check the contacts, and it could save a lot of time if plans change or someone comes up missing at check-in time (because that never happens).

Posted in communication, leadership, planning, time management, trips, youth ministry | No Comments »

Tip #911: First Aid

May 27, 2008 – 10:37 am
It's one of the simplest and most useful bits of training you and your volunteers can have - a first aid class. With the many activities on the average youth ministry schedule, and 1.3 daredevils per 10 students, there is always the potential for minor-to-major owies. Having leaders who are prepared to handle these eventualities is priceless! Click here to find out how to participate in an American Red Cross First Aid Course in your area, or bring one to your church.

Posted in leadership, planning, training, volunteers, youth ministry | 1 Comment »