Busy is the norm in youth ministry. You work all week to create a great program on Sunday to start all over again on Monday, meanwhile you try to manage parents, leaders and students. There really is never enough time to get the work done. Don’t even get me started camps, mission trips and outreach events.

Do you ever feel like you were tricked as a teenager to thinking being a youth worker will be all fun and games? Youth ministry is hard work…but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have any fun.

Thanks to five 7th grade girls I was reminded of an important element I had forgotten in the midst of the heavy work of ministry. We had one night to make memories and to celebrate their soccer team’s victory at State. And I am going to be honest, we had one amazing and fun night.

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We had so much fun and they made me laugh so hard. And they reminded me that having fun is good for our ministry.

Fun is good for students. There is a lot of darkness in the world of students.To have a few moments to laugh, to be reminded that there is goodness and joy is a gift for students. Having fun together is also part of the road that makes way for honest conversations. There is a vulnerability to being silly that is necessary for real connection. Fun is good for students.

Fun is good for your ministry. Fun is contagious…watch it spread and grow.

Fun is good for you. Despite the fact that I was exhausted the next day, I couldn’t help but feel more passionate about my work. I love students, they make me smile, we can have fun and my desire for them to know Jesus on a deeper level grew after that night.

It doesn’t matter how long you have been doing youth ministry or how old you are…Don’t forget to have fun.

A cheerful heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit makes one sick. Proverbs 17:22

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