Do You Have A Training Mindset?

Do you have a great ministry? Are things going really well? Are
members of the congregation frequently telling you how wonderful
you are and what a difference you are making? Well, I hope so. But,
I have a question for you. What will your ministry look like after
you leave?

Whether you are a paid staff member or a sold out volunteer, the time
will come when you will no longer hold your current role. Then what?
Will the ministry collapse without your leadership? Will the kids
all move on somewhere else and find a different “cool” youth leader?

What will happen?

Well, Good things are happening! There is something you can do to
contribute to (not guarantee) the ongoing success of your ministry
after you have long departed; train other people to do what you do!

It seems like such a simple concept but, amazingly, there are many,
many leaders who do not train other adults to continue a ministry
work. Don’t believe me? How many times have you heard (or been part
of) a conversation like this…

“How are things going with the youth group at First church?”

“Well (deep sigh), not too well. Ever since Pastor Bobby left,
things have been terrible. Not very many kids come anymore and most
of the volunteers have stepped out. The Pastor needs to hurry along
and hire someone soon.”

A great youth leader pours into those who work alongside him/her.
This way when transition times comes the ministry can continue,
expand, and flourish until continuing leadership settles in.
Briefly, I want to suggest three things you need to pour into those
leaders around you.

First, pour vision into your leaders. Volunteers and paid staff
alike must constantly be reminded what the vision of the ministry
is. Without this critical part, a youth ministry will rapidly
wander off into a sub-mediocre social group that will entertain
kids but offer no substance.

Tips:

Make sure you have a vision for your ministry
Communicate that vision often and creatively to your youth and
leaders.

At your next meeting for volunteers/youth helpers, ask if anyone
can share what the vision of the ministry is. If no one can answer,
you have some work to do.

Second, pour the essential elements of youth ministry into your
leadership team. Proactively teach your help what is really
important in working with today’s teens.

Again, if those who follow you are not well grounded in the
essential principles of youth ministry, the ministry will quickly
drift off course.

Finally, pour process into your leadership team. Are you great at
giving devotions? Teach someone else to do it.

Are you a great activities leader? Show someone else how to be a
great activities leader. Are you really gifted at teaching Bible?

Share tips of your trade with your helpers so that they may in turn
bless others.

Teach your helpers the processes you use that make you a great youth
leader.

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