Anatomy of Effectively Planning Ahead

Planing ahead at the end of June is always hard. Who wants to start thinking or even planning strategically about September through June for next school year when the summer this year has only just begun?

Effectively Planning Ahead can be broken down by using a simple template. I've used this template for years and each year I tweak it a little bit more or a little bit less based on the upcoming year. Get you calendar out for 2014-15 and lets get going.

My planning template consists of six components.

1. Non-negotiable: weekly programs and seasonal events that always happen every year go right into your calendar without any hesitation (e.g. winter retreat, mission trip car wash fundraiser in May, fall kick off event, Friday night you or Sunday school). Make sure you have the church calendar for the next year so you don't double book stuff on missions weekend etc...
2. Curriculum: you need to be praying about this and writing notes down about where God what you to go with curriculum and then evaluate the curriculums to get the right one. This can be done by yourself or in a group setting with your leadership team.
3. Journalling: through out your past year, you must be taking notes about everything. Key questions parents have asked, how can we prevent someone from breaking their arm in our pillow fight night, what worked well at your Christmas banquet, what failed when kids got on the roof and the a neighbour called the cops. These are then applied or thoughtfully consider for the next year. 
4. Next Steps: what are those next steps that you need to provide for your students or volunteer leaders to challenge them to go to that next level? Do you need to start a student leadership team or recruit more volunteers? Do you need to focus on Spiritual gifts this year or plan an overseas mission trip?
5. Share the Plan: after you have everything planned out you need to go through several beta tests (3-4) with three groups of people; 2-3 key volunteers and students from your leadership team, church staff, 2-3 key parents.
6. Publish: send out a basic 2014-15 calendar that only marks out key dates ad has no details. You don't need to list your Friday night theme from September through June but you should have you Friday nights in the calendar.

Two key things you should have on every basic calendar is this: 1) youth ministry schedule subject to change without notice. 2) Friday night youth will not be on these four dates: ____, ____, ____, _____.

@jeffsmyth

How do I map out my day to day work hours?

How do I map out my day to day work hours? 
Am I working 40 hrs a week? 60 hours a week? 100 hours a week? What do I include in that? Do I put in volunteer hours in the church too?
Here is a simple way of planning our work weeks so there is integrity, accountability and inclusion.

 





Dave Brotherton was a youth pastor from 1984-2006 and now teaches youth ministry at Ambrose University College in Calgary. Dave is also the National Youth Guy for the Alliance churches in Canada and the director of Legacy Youth Conference. Dave is married to Lisa and they share 2 of the greatest kids in the world. Fishing, camping, and cheering on the Leafs are some of his favorite things. 
twitter: @oldbrotherdave

How are we using the time when kids are off school?

Another quick video from Dave Brotherton.  More than anything, I just wanted to be with kids. Sitting in my office sucked the life out of me. Why, then, do I see so many ministries that do nothing over Christmas break? The kids are out of school, making it prime time for relationship building... getting the quality, extended time with kids! Use this holiday season well! Be with kids.

Dave Brotherton was a youth pastor from 1984-2006 and now teaches youth ministry at Ambrose University College in Calgary. Dave is also the National Youth Guy for the Alliance churches in Canada and the director of Legacy Youth Conference. Dave is married to Lisa and they share 2 of the greatest kids in the world. Fishing, camping, and cheering on the Leafs are some of his favorite things. 
twitter: @oldbrotherdave

More or Less

One of the biggest battles that every youth worker faces on a daily, weekly, monthly basis is: TIME MANAGEMENT!

Improve your time management in two easy steps:

1. ONE: one calendar & one to-do list. By consolidating everything you will have it in one place and you will see how much time you have or don't have to get things done. This means that you will condense your family calendar with your ministry calendar, your ministry to-do list with your home to-do list; home reno's, exercise, ministry, reading, RSS feeds, schooling, kids, spouse, meetings, research, email, visits, volunteering, etc... into ONE. This will give you a more realistic outlook on everything that you have to do and future events.
2. COMPARE: the most crucial step to your survival in youth ministry is you must compare your most recent job description with what you are honestly doing each week in the allotted hours required for your role. Take each section and each point and give that a specific amount of length of time that you are giving to each one each day and each week. This will require you to keep track of you hours but it will give you a healthy COMPARISON. You will also need to list all the additional things that are not listed on your job description that you are doing for you role, your blog, facebook group, v-blog, etc...

Jeff Smyth is a youth worker who has been involved in both the local church and non-profit areas of Canada. He works with DOXA Toronto, providing resources, training and coaching for local churches. Jeff lives in Toronto with his wife Heather and son Nathan. Jeff's blog ThinkYouthMinistry.com