Planning:  Gearing Up for the Coming School Year

By: Jack Redmond

Summer means different things to different youth ministries and churches.  For some, it is a time of family vacations and decreased attendance.  For others, it is the busiest time of year with mission trips, camps and conferences.  No matter what the culture of your church and youth ministry are, it should be a time of planning for the upcoming school year.

Summer Should Be a Time of Planning and Building

Over time, I have discovered that the beginning of the school year and the New Year are the two times where there is the greatest expectation and excitement for new ideas and activities to be introduced and embraced.

Now is the time to look at your youth ministry and ask yourself a few questions.

1. How are we doing?  Are we going in the right direction?
2. Is my leadership team larger and stronger than it was last summer?
3. Are our teens maturing, as a group and as individuals?
4. What needs to change so that our teens are becoming more active in their service and evangelism?
5. How does my leadership team have to grow to achieve our vision?

Planning Now will Keep You Off the Hamster Wheel Later

The hamster wheel is that place in ministry where you run faster and faster but don’t get anywhere.  It is the result of being consumed with today’s crisis and living in that place where every day you are just trying to get done what needs to be done NOW!  The hamster wheel is a reality that we all get stuck on some days but in the long term, it doesn’t get you anywhere.

Ask the Tough Questions and Set Up a Plan to Overcome Them

Be honest with the state of your youth ministry.  Don’t get discouraged but be honest.  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!  The recipe for frustration is pouring out all that you have without a plan and not achieving God’s purposes!

How many leaders do you need to disciple your teens or add additional small groups, ministries, etc?  Have the leaders ready before you add a program otherwise it will look great on paper but not work in the real world.  Trust me on that one.

Don’t be afraid to stop doing some things and add new programs.  If the branch isn’t producing fruit, cut it off so the rest of the tree is healthy.  Spend your and your leader’s time and energy where fruit is being produced in the terms of new salvations and discipleship growth.  Being effective is more important than being busy.

Use the Momentum of the New School Year

Now is the time to plan activities where your teens will come to and bring their friends.  With the new school year, teens will be returning to your church along with new teens.  Activities with both spiritual and social connection should be planned along with a plan to stay connected for the rest of the year.

Have the Plan Before the Teens Arrive!

How many youth leaders have planned events, had many teens show up, but with no numerical or long term spiritual growth.  This is exciting during the event but results in long term frustration and discouragement.

Use July and August as a time to train your youth leaders in a greater way.  Start putting the plans together now to be launched in September and October.  It is better to do a few things effectively than to do many things with no long lasting fruit.

It is God’s will for your youth ministry to grow both numerically and in maturity.  Plan now, plant the seeds now and reap a harvest every season of the year!

Jack Redmond is the president and founder of Fourth Generation Ministries (www.4thgen.org) and local Youth Pastor of Christ Church in Montclair, NJ.  He passionately declares the Gospel and trains leaders and teens to actively infuse the power, purpose and plans of Jesus into the culture.