Too often as youth ministers we try to please everyone. We want to say “yes” to everything, but the problem is that the more we say “yes,” the more we risk over-complicating our ministry, watering it down, and burning ourselves out.

We do high school youth ministry, middle school youth ministry, and Confirmation preparation. We host Bible Studies and prayer groups. We plan multiple retreats, service projects, and mission trips throughout the year. We try to please teens, parents, our pastor, the parish staff, the diocese, parishioners who have “an idea of ways the teens can serve,” and more. It’s all very noble. It really is, but sometimes, we have to be willing to say, “no.” And the sad thing is, we don’t think we can.