5 Decisions to Make This School Year

While students are carefully deciding what they’re going to wear on the first day of school or who they hope to date, youth leaders also have important decisions to make.

1) What is your ministry’s purpose?In other words, why do you exist? More importantly, how does it reveal itself in your programming, advertising, and the overall vibe of your ministry? I can tell you we exist so students can ‘Dare to Love, Serve, and Lead.’ But I can also tell you that you would never have known that the second half of last school year. We stopped talking about it and it ceased to be a priority. Come up with a biblically sound statement, but then do something with it.

2) What are your ministry goals?
This is directly connected to #1 and adds meat to your ministry skeleton. Having a purpose statement is important, but it’s meaningless if you don’t have goals directly connected to it. You don’t always have to have ground breaking goals. It’s OK to say you want to have a “10% increase in mission trip participation.” But connect that goal to your ministry purpose so both fit hand-in-hand. 

3) What is your ministry theme for the year? (or semester)
A theme actually keeps the purpose alive and the goals relevant. Our purpose statement can quickly be forgotten. But if I say “this semester we’re focusing on risk [ministry theme] because that’s what our youth group is about. We will dare to love, serve, and lead [ministry purpose], and one goal for our year is to have the most students attend this year’s retreat [ministry goal]. Sometimes it’s risky to invite friends, but that’s what ‘dare’ means. We dare you to step out in faith.” 

4) What are your personal goals?
Stop thinking about ministry so much! We need to be passionate and excited about what we do in ministry, but we also need to have a life. When was the last time you went out with friends who were not students or youth leaders? Do you have any? When was the last time a student asked what you did Friday night and thought you were weird? Do things YOU care about. Learn things YOU want to learn. Go to movies YOU want to see because you like an actor, genre, or director...not to find a good illustration. 

5) What kind of attitude do you have for ministry this school year?
You won’t always be excited and in love with God, students, and ministry. But it sure helps if you were more often than not. You’re not helping anyone if you’re making it a habit of pretending. I’ve been there and it’s lonely, dangerous and harmful. If you’re struggling, talk to friends. Talk to a therapist. Have a heart to heart with God. This may be there year to step away for a season of ministry, or this may be the year to expect a break through.

You’ll have to make plenty of decisions this school year, but don’t ignore these questions. How you respond will in many ways determine how your ministry year goes. As well as your personal and mental health.