It’s important to make resolutions and goals that matter. Consider the reasons why we fail at keeping resolutions. Sometimes its because the resolutions are too superficial. Many times its because we choose goals that are too challenging or require resources that we don’t have. The key to success is to choose achievable goals that matter – goals that make a difference in the ministry we care about. In other words, make resolutions that are close to your heart. Here are some example goals you for you to consider…
1. Get to Know Your Teenagers Better
As leaders, we think we know our teenagers pretty well. We laugh with them, share in their disappointments and successes, and we honor them on special occasions, especially their birthdays. However, no matter how well you and I think we know the teenagers we minister to, the truth is that we can get to know them better. Do you know their favorite subject in school? Do you know if they drive and if so, do they have their own car, and are you praying for their safety? Do you know how they spend their free nights – listening to music, watching television, hanging out, or doing something else?
Here’s some ideas that can help you get to know your teenagers better this year:
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- Visit every teenager in their home at least once during the year;
- Send a special personal note to each teenager at least twice during the year, once at their birthday and again at a significant time of their life such as back to school or summer vacation;
- Ask your teenagers about their Facebook page or other social interactions and visit their page often; and
- Find out about their school experiences, classes, and activities by asking about them on a regular basis and attending one of their school activities if possible.
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Make it your goal to get to know each teenager in your group a little better this year.
2. Get to Know What Your Teenagers Like
Do you know your teens? Consider, do you really know them? Have you learned what they know about music, media, and their world? Do you know who they hang with and where they spend their free time? It’s not a bad idea to make it your goal to get to know what your teenagers like to do.
Sometimes as leaders, we think we know things we really don’t have any idea about. What we think we know turns out to be a great misconception. I speak from experience. I didn’t learn enough about what teenagers liked until I lived with teenagers of my own. Unfortunately, I had been a youth leader for years before I learned what I now know. I spent those years thinking that I knew everything, when actually I knew very little about anything teenagers liked.
Learning what teenagers like has brought me closer to the teens I minister to and has shown me how God uses so much more than I ever imagined to reach this generation. It’s also given me a better understanding of their needs and what I can do to help them grow in Christ. Find out what your teenagers like this year.
3. Challenge Your Teenagers to Excel at One Thing and Keep Them Accountable
Every one of your teenagers can grow in some area of their Christian walk. Give each teenager a personal challenge to excel in a particular area such as their prayer life, Bible reading, or being a witness for Christ. Help them grow by tracking their progress. Participate with them on a regular basis. For example, if you challenge a teenager to pray more effectively, ask him/her to go to the altar and pray with you. Take a step toward excellence in your teenagers’ lives this year.
4. Lead Your Teens on a Mission
God has a mission for everyone. Unfortunately not everyone can accomplish the mission on their own – they need leadership. Use wisdom and sound judgment to determine a mission for your teenagers as a group. Lead them through the phases of the mission: planning, preparation, implementation, accomplishment, and communicating the results to the church. Be bold and extremely sensitive to the Holy Spirit, sharing the mission responsibilities with your teenagers along the way. Get your teens on a mission this year and lead the way.
5. Expand Your Leadership Style
We get set in our ways. I’ve been leading teenagers for over 20 years. Sometimes I find things that work and I never change them, thinking that the techniques I’ve used in the past will always be effective. Unfortunately, as time changes, what worked with 9th graders in the last century doesn’t get results with today’s teens. Attention spans are shorter; you-tube, multimedia and social media captivate teenagers’ minds; and there is a much stronger influence of good Christian music available for our teenagers.
We need to learn what’s new and effective, incorporate these things where it makes sense, and keep our ministry leadership fresh and practical for our teenagers. Resolve to expand your ministry leadership style this year.
6. Start a Structured Leadership Team Training and Bible Study Program
Most of us have some sort of training for members of our teams. Most likely, many of us recommend Bible studies or devotion guides as well. However a great tool to help improve the overall effectiveness of your youth ministry is a structured training and Bible study program. Most of the time, we lack structure because we lack time. After all, ministering to teenagers is a 24/7/365 activity. However, there are ways to bring structure and make it seem like a break at the same time.
Although I recommend monthly training and Bible study sessions, there are alternatives. One example is to plan S.T.A.R.T. dinners (Study and Training ARound Tables), where the leadership team meets at a members home for a pot luck dinner, Bible study and training. Another example would be to have a quarterly Friday night/Saturday morning combined session at the church Fellowship Hall, where Friday night could include Bible Study, followed by a group game and a movie. Saturday morning would be for training sessions and a brunch. Whatever method you choose, make this the year you start structured training and Bible Study for your team.
7. Acknowledge Those Who Support Your Ministry
Long ago, I realized that I needed lots of help to accomplish the task of leading teenagers. There’s far too much for one person to do and oftentimes the burdens are too heavy to bear alone.
We all have our support groups. For me, it starts at home with my spouse. Doing the things that I do would not be possible without her support and helping hand. Then there are those who help in Sunday school, youth services, and activities. It seems that when there’s something happening with the teenagers those folks are there to lend a helping hand. Finally, there are those who provide financial support and prayer support for the ministry.
All of the individuals mentioned above are vital for the success of a youth ministry. Make it your priority to acknowledge each of your ministry supporters with a personal “thank you” this year.
