Value In Consistency

Youth Ministry is such a dynamic thing, change is common and needed, the group dynamics can shift week to week based on who is there and who is not. The temptation can be that sometimes we can be as dynamic with our approach week to week, changing style, flow and structure to a youth night. What I have noticing more and more is that a steadfast commitment to keeping a reliable and consistent structure can and will have more value and dare I say more fruit than a go with the flow style and here are two reasons why.

It Makes Outreach Easier: In the past year we have adopted a much more standardized format to our youth services, they are not the same week in and week out, but will always incorporate: a message of some kind, Worship and small group time for all students. What I have noticed as a result of this change is that students don’t ask, “what is happening at youth this week, I want to bring my friend out”. This was a question that as a small group leader several years ago I would get often. Students now know what to expect , and as a result are inviting their non-churched friends in droves. Consistency is many ways is safety, and creating a safe place for students to grow in their faith is of the upmost importance.

It is helpful to your leaders: I remember vividly, being a small group leader, and having one of those “God is moving huge nights” with my small group guys and just knowing that the next week we would take it further, challenging them more, sharing more. But then we got to youth the next week and its now crazy games night instead. The lack of consistency meant a loss of momentum and in some respects missed opportunities to build on what was already happening. Having consistency makes being one of your small group leaders so much better because you know that you are going to have time next week to answer those tough questions that you had to park, or for students to share how they implemented what was God put on their heart the week before. I am not saying not to have fun games night, but have the scheduled in a way that they are not counterproductive the the purpose of your ministry.

This might not be for everyone, its challenging to do, to set a vision, purpose and objective and stick with it. But from what I have seen, the impact it is having on students spiritual growth is worth all the hard work and discipline we have put in. Your students and leader will appreciate it, I know ours have.

Geoff Stewart is the Pastor of Jr & Sr High School for Journey Student Ministries at Peace Portal Alliance Church and blogs here and at www.morethandodgeball.com 

When Routine is a Good Thing

At my recent stay with my family at the Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark in Grand Mound, WA, I was quite fascinated by the lifeguards.  They were extremely disciplined in their approach, almost robotic.  They would scan the giant wave pool width-wise then length-wise, shooting their eyes across the pool and then down alongside the near wall.  Often, they would use their hand to point at what they were looking at and their necks were always moving from side to side. 

Admittedly, I was slightly amused at the first lifeguard I observed.  Her movement seemed unnatural and forced.  In chatting with a few of the lifeguards throughout my three days there (and watching the Great Wolf Lodge episode of Undercover Boss...haha) I gained a greater appreciation for their disciplined routine and of course, their important role overall.

Much like lifeguards, we youth ministers are in the business of saving lives as well. While we may not have to jump into a pool or ocean (although it’s very possible), we’ll certainly be called on to help a young person who is drowning spiritually.

Here are 3 ways to build routine into our youth ministry:

1.  Have regularly scheduled gatherings.  Whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or whatever; it’s important that there is some sort of rhyme and reason to your youth ministry schedule.  It will be easier for the youth to build your youth gatherings into their already hyper-busy and over-scheduled lives.  Parents will also appreciate the regularity so they can plan ahead with their children.  Of course, a good youth ministry will also add one-off and non-regular events for variety; this combo is the best approach.  But without a regular routine of gathering, it will be more difficult to get young people to commit to coming regardless of how good the event is.

2.  Be consistent with your availability.  When it comes to relational ministry, be routine in the times you are available to young people.  While we might say to a teen that he can “call us anytime”, it’s also important that we set parameters (whether we announce them or not).  With my primary vocation being husband and father, I’m always trying to separate family time from ministry time although I recognize that they sometimes inevitably overlap.  I work hard to schedule relational ministry time in to my own busy schedule, yet not cheat my family of my time with them.  It’s hard, but I’m slowly learning that I don’t have to pick up every single phone call or return every text message within seconds of receiving it.

3.  Set-up and clean-up.   Back to our gatherings for this one. Routines can be extremely helpful when it comes to the before and after portions of our gatherings.  When members of the leadership team know what has to be done and by whom and by when, it makes things go much faster.  That doesn’t mean that we make a certain person do a certain job week after week after week; after all we want avoid the rut of repetition.  But it does mean being strategic in deciding who does what so things go smoothly.  After the regular weekly youth gathering at my home parish, the youth workers always do their best to spend a few minutes with teens as they are waiting for their rides... before they start to clean up. This is prime relational ministry time!  Once the teens are gone, the leaders then go into their clean-up routine.  After all, many hands make light work.

Going forward, consider how much “routine” you are using in your youth ministry.  This consistency and discipline will certainly make a splash in the lives of young people...and might even save a life or two.

Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years, helping parishes develop their own youth and young adult ministries.  When not doing ministry, Clay enjoys spending time with his family, playing music, playing sports, playing naptime, and writing blogs on topics such as family, faith, and the Vancouver Canucks.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo