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23 Apr 2024

Encourage Your Volunteers!

By Ronald|2024-04-23T10:36:35-07:00April 23rd, 2024|Leadership, Volunteers|0 Comments

Springtime might be tough for a Youth Pastor, but it can also be difficult for a Youth Ministry volunteer! These are the people we rely on to help make ministry happen. We can’t do this thing by ourselves! So, how can you show volunteers appreciation and ensure they feel valued as a part of your team? I’ve got three quick ideas!

Send them a text

Sending a quick text message to a volunteer is a great way to show them you appreciate them! Normally, we text volunteers when we need supplies for a game or for them to put out a fire in the youth room. But if you spent the next 10 minutes texting your volunteer team, you could show them that you were thinking about them, appreciate their support, and give them a small encouragement that might carry them through the week! Something like:

“Hey Susan! Thanks so much for being on the team. I saw you having a great conversation with Samantha last night. I’m glad you’re doing Youth Ministry!”

“Hey Scott! It’s always great to see you throwing football and chatting it up with the dudes. Glad you’re on the Youth Ministry team!”

Grab Them a Snack

Ask your volunteers what their favorite snack is. And then next time you meet, have it ready for them. We do this with students all the time. Why shouldn’t we do this for our volunteers? It’s a great way to show them that we know them, we love them, and we were thinking about them. It doesn’t even have to be in the Youth Ministry budget for you to show this type of appreciation! Once you know their favorite snack, you can get it for them again! Think right before the retreat happens or at the end of the school year. You can show your volunteers appreciation just by running to the store real quick.

Sing Their Praises

Maybe not literally singing, but think of it this way: every time you get a microphone, it’s a chance for you to talk about how great your volunteers are. Maybe it’s when you’re making an announcement at church in service or before you break up for small groups. Make sure you tell your volunteers you appreciate them in front of people! It’s definitely not the only way to show people that you appreciate them, but it’s a great way to remind them that you are on their team and you are thankful for them! The next time somebody hands you a microphone, take 30 seconds to talk about how great your Youth Ministry volunteers are!

Did I miss anything? Is there anything you would add to the list? I’d love to hear about it!

6 Mar 2023

Spring is tough, but so are you!

By Ronald|2023-03-06T13:40:14-08:00March 6th, 2023|Leadership|13 Comments

As a youth pastor, I’ve learned that every season has its own challenges, but there’s something about spring that can be especially tough. For starters, spring tends to be a very busy time of year for students, with end-of-year exams, sports, and other extracurricular activities all competing for their attention. And on top of that, the weather is finally starting to warm up, which means many students are itching to spend more time outside and less time cooped up indoors.

All of these factors can make it difficult to maintain consistent attendance at youth group meetings, which can be discouraging for both the youth pastor and the students who do show up. However, I’ve also learned that with God’s grace, it’s possible to minister well even in a hard season like spring. Here are a few things that have helped me stay focused and effective during this time of year:

Prioritize relationships: When students are busy and distracted, it’s more important than ever to prioritize building relationships with them. Take the time to check in on how they’re doing, ask about their lives outside of youth group, and show a genuine interest in who they are as individuals. When they feel seen and valued, they’re more likely to stay connected to the group and to the church as a whole.

Keep things fresh: Spring can be a great time to mix things up in youth group and try new activities or events. Consider planning an outdoor scavenger hunt or a service project that allows students to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather while still connecting with each other and serving the community. You could also try incorporating more interactive elements into your lessons or discussions to keep students engaged and interested.

Be flexible: It’s important to remember that not every student will be able to make it to every meeting, and that’s okay. Rather than getting discouraged by low attendance, try to be flexible and adaptable in your programming. Consider offering different meeting times or formats that might be more convenient for students with busy schedules, and don’t be afraid to adjust your plans if something isn’t working.

Lean on prayer: Ultimately, our ability to minister well in any season comes from God’s grace and strength, not our own abilities. Make sure to spend time in prayer both individually and as a group, asking for wisdom, guidance, and perseverance. Trust that God is at work in the lives of your students even when you can’t see it, and rely on his power to sustain you through the challenges of ministry.

While spring can be a challenging season for youth ministry, it’s also a season of growth and renewal. By leaning on God’s grace and wisdom, and by staying focused on building relationships and serving our students, we can minister well even in the midst of busy schedules and distractions. May we always remember that our ministry is ultimately about pointing students towards Jesus, and may we trust in his power to bring about lasting transformation in their lives.

Ronald

11 Mar 2020

Spring Slump is the Best Time of Year!

By Ronald|2020-03-12T07:18:43-07:00March 11th, 2020|Leadership|0 Comments

Listen, by now you are probably experiencing the dreaded spring slump. Low numbers due to spring sports, nice weather, school work, and general family fatigue. I have experienced this myself and, while I sympathize, I challenge you to re-think this time of year and use it to the advantage of your ministry.

Rather than painstakingly plan for Sundays or Wednesdays only to be disappointed when a handful of (or no!) kids show up, accept the reality and plan for it. Buy some games and programming from DYM, hand off the planning to an intern or some volunteers who really need to be leading, and GET OUT OF THE OFFICE!

You see there is a reason why everyone is out and about, and you should be, too. Why would students care about your best-laid plans if you don’t really care much about theirs? This is the season to go to all the things. Games, matches, meets, recitals, competitions, art shows, assemblies and more. There is plenty of ministry to be done outside the walls of your church.

Here are my best tips for making the most of your out and about time this spring.

Put this in your budget. Games and tickets can get pricey, so make sure you aren’t spending your own money to go to all these events. PRO TIP: If you don’t have a budget…many private schools don’t charge for sports or concerts, and most public schools play some private schools on their schedules. Also, school assemblies can be an easy and free way to see middle school band, orchestra, and chorus all at once, during your regular work hours!
Make a strategic calendar plan: I go through each student and write down the two best chances I have to make it to whatever they are into this season. Call parents and get concert and recital dates now. Line them all up and see…are there games where you can see more than one student at a time? Or times when games on one campus overlap? PRO TIP: Figure out some tricks that work for you. Is there a school near your house where most schools compete? My kids went to a K-12 private school, and most of my students from various schools competed against this school. So I picked up my kids, brought them to the game with me (conveniently located right outside their carpool pick up), and was home before bed. So convenient and easy!
Partner with Parents: It means as much to parents when you show up as it does to their kids. And this is a GREAT time to communicate with them. In fact, you can meet and get to know the whole family at an event and it gives you so much more insight into the student’s life. One parent told me how her kid had never played the sport and was now the captain. I had no idea the kid was that brave and willing to take on hard things! Often parents are so excited you are coming they offer to buy you a ticket to sit with them. PRO TIP: The best parents will introduce you around to all the parents whose kids are on your roster but you’ve never laid eyes on the family!
Bring other students and leaders. Invite the student’s small group leader, confirmation mentor, other staff, and other students. Once I was at a middle school musical with our choir director, youth handbell director, a confirmation mentor, and a small group leader. I heard a parent behind me brag to her friend “That whole row is from my church, here to support our kids!” There can be no better advertisement for your church than this!
Get that pic for the ‘Gram. It seems like bragging, but your Insta tells your story, and your story should include you and your leaders, on-site, at schools, with families, being the church. Plus, it documents for everyone how you spend your time. People often just don’t know what goes into youth ministry. Maybe they would want to join you if they knew what you do!

I hope these tips inspire you to get out of the office and into the lives of your students this spring! You might be surprised who shows up to church after you showed up in their lives. Either way, that student and their family will know they matter to their church.

Ansley has served in youth ministry for two decades and holds a certificate of Youth and Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. She loves the relational aspect of youth ministry as well as helping equip adults and students to lead. Ansley lives on her family’s beef cattle farm in Virginia with her husband and two young sons (and, sadly, no llamas).

See more from this DYM author here.