As a Youth Minister, you are the leader, the captain of your Core Team. They look to you for direction, guidance, and inspiration when it comes to leading teens closer to Christ. They want training and clear communication so that they can effectively fulfill their role, and yet, as I talk with Youth Ministers around the country, arguably their biggest frustration is with their Core Team. Perhaps the Core Team isn’t the problem. Maybe it’s the captain.
While many of us will make resolutions for the coming year for our personal lives, why not make some for our ministries as well? Here are some resolutions to pray about as you get ready to start a new calendar year of Youth Ministry.
Eventually it was gut-check time. While giving time and talent is great, that’s only 2/3 of what I’m called to do, and I’m either going to be 100% Catholic or not at all. There are no fractions when it comes to living out the Catholic faith, so I began to offer up my treasure as well. And now, I can safely say that my wife and I do the same. I know this is not an easy topic for those of us in ministry.
As many of you know, I will be running my first marathon here in Phoenix on January 15, 2012. For the past 11+ weeks I have been training and will continue to do so for another 7 weeks. After thinking and praying about it, I have decided to offer up my marathon as an opportunity to [...]
I once heard someone say, “If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen.” If we want to lead teens closer to Christ, let’s find a way. If you have a small budget, who cares? Lead teens closer to Christ anyway. If you don’t have a Youth Room, who cares? Do good Relational Ministry anyway. If you don’t have a cool Music Minister, who cares? Lead teens in prayer anyway.
If you’re really honest with yourself, you probably have more time in your days and weeks than you think. Imagine if you took that time you spend each day mindlessly surfing your TV or the Internet and used it to do relational ministry, plan more creative Life Nights or connect with fellow staff members. How would that change the way your life and your ministry looks?
Cutting cable wasn’t easy, especially for this sports-loving, ESPN-addicted man. But believe it or not, I’ve managed to live without it, and it’s transformed my life.
You see, in ministry, when we throw things together at the last minute we’re basically telling those we serve, “My time is more important than yours.” And I don’t think any of us want to communicate that to teens. So, if you’re a youth minister who’s struggling with leaving things to the last minute, here are some tips to help you get things done (before the last minute).
If you’ve been in youth ministry long enough, chances are you’ve been to a conference in which multiple speakers listed off books that “all youth ministers must read.” Most of these are very great spiritual books that lead us to be holier people so we can lead others to deeper holiness. But let me recommend to you three unconventional books that can still make a huge impact on you personally and in your ministry.
One of the most common complaints I have heard from Youth Ministers over the years goes something like this, “I really love ministry, but I’m struggling with the rest of the parish staff.” If you’ve been in Youth Ministry long enough, there’s a good chance you’ve had some difficulty with other parish staff members. While some may be supportive, others may not get why you are “never in your office,” or maybe they don’t see the transformational power of shaving cream, duck tape, and red vines. Regardless of the conflict, relationships among parish staff members can be improved.
Throughout my life I’ve been on a lot of teams. There have been baseball teams, basketball teams, and now that I’m old – slow-pitch softball teams. Some of these teams I’ve played for and others I’ve coached, but perhaps my favorite team was my youth ministry Core Team. There are few things more rewarding than working together with other dedicated Catholics to lead teenagers closer to Christ. As you take time to evaluate your ministry this summer, consider these 5 things that make great Core Teams.