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More Events or More Prayer?

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By Doug Fields
9/10/2007

As summer is here, a lot of our youth ministries will be judged and evaluated by the amount of activities that we are able to put on the summer calendar. When it comes to youth ministry, some people believe, "Busier is better. More is meaningful
If this attitude is near your youth ministry (via parents, pastor, students, etc...) you'll most likely feel a pressure that you're not doing enough. This feeling can lead to a constant pressure, stress, fatigue and a lack of focus that looms near the heart and mind of a youth worker.
Events translate into enthusiasm." Can you relate to this?

If this attitude is near your youth ministry (via parents, pastor, students, etc...) you'll most likely feel a pressure that you're not doing enough. This feeling can lead to a constant pressure, stress, fatigue and a lack of focus that looms near the heart and mind of a youth worker. It's a pressure that seems to drag on. I wish I could boldly brag that I've escaped the trap of more, bigger, and better events...but, honestly I haven't. If I'm totally honest, I still feel the pressure to do more-especially as summer nears.

I know what I teach other workers and I've memorized my marquee quote from Purpose Driven Youth Ministry, "I don't want to organize more activities, I want to impact more lives." But, even today, it seems that a few thoughtless comments can awaken some old beliefs that unfortunately haven't died in my people-pleasing soul. A few weeks ago, a parent from my church said, "Hey Doug, I saw the summer calendar-it looks like you're not doing as much as you used to do." Critical? I don't know I didn't pursue the motive. An unintelligible, random comment? More likely. Regardless of the motivation, the comment triggered my insecurity and it stung. I began to think, "Maybe we're not doing enough." I hate thinking that way.

When something like this happens to you...what do you do?

I don't have the answer, but here's what I did. I pause, reflect and think through my core youth ministry beliefs. When it comes to special events and activities, I believe they are compliments to a healthy youth ministry, but they're not essentials. As far as priority, they are way down the list:
  1. Biblical purposes (evangelism, worship, discipleship, fellowship, maturity)...what we do.
  2. Students and families...who we do it with.
  3. Primary, consistent programs...how we attempt to fulfill the biblical purposes.
  4. Process...how our programs interact with one another.
  5. Special events...supplemental programs to enhance existing programs.

I'm not suggesting that occasional special events aren't good, but I am saying that a special event isn't that important to a healthy youth ministry. Why? Because events aren't that effective when compared to a few, primary programs within a healthy youth ministry. Events are fine, but they tend to be more on the entertainment-side of youth ministry and typically require a leader's time and attention and dilutes one's main focus. Here's a truth I've learned: doing more isn't better, better is better.

I find it ironic that youth workers will rarely pray for their primary programs, but when an occasional special event comes around, prayer becomes "essential". In our souls, we know that prayer needs to be the foundation of a healthy youth ministry and not reserved for special events-it's just hard to keep that perspective when you're doing the same thing week after week. Special events give the illusion that they require our special prayers.

Actually, as I think about my own life, if prayer were more foundational to my ministry, I would probably be less concerned about awkward comments from people who want their kids entertained. Prayer would help me be more concerned about seeking God for guidance in fulfilling the eternal, biblical purposes that are more than special, occasional, and entertaining.

I want to encourage and challenge you this summer to keep prayer frequent and foundational. Ask God to help you focus on who he has called you to be and what he has called you to do. I've got to believe that God isn't calling you to do more. As I mature as a Christian and a youth worker, I'm learning that less is more. People may not value this truth, but God does.

I've got so much to learn...and a lot to pray about!

Conversation

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Thanks, Doug! Great article! Important reminder.

Tony Nord 11:09:51am on 9/19/2008

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You have touched a subject that is of concern to many of us. I fear too much of our work with our youth has become more focused on entertainment than evangelism.

dj 11:02:33pm on 2/18/2008

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Thanks So much for this article...I have been thinking of different eents fo the youth as a youth leader.. but thought that haing many events will be an added point. However after readig the article I realize that itz not true and have changed my priority to spend more time in prayer

Priya 4:01:23am on 1/04/2008

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thanks for this article. your article enlighten me to study our priorities in youth ministry in our local church. God bless!

shaz 2:12:08am on 12/06/2007

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hi i"m Soko, i"m also a youth leader at our church based in Sydney,australia. I can relate to your article pretty well, our church has about 51 youths between the ages of 12-26year olds. we recently had to attend a camp in Brisbane last June and a total of 46 youths signed up to go . Now attendance has dropped down to an average of 10-12 turning up for normal youth programme. for our church it seems like it is only when there is an event planned out that they make effort to attend. the aim of our youth group is to win youths to Christ but i can voutch that we don't seem to be getting anywhere near there. i am hoping and praying that in time our youth members as well as I take closer steps towards commiting fully to the Lord.

soko 9:10:33am on 10/31/2007

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Thanks for the article. I too think that we sometimes forget our priorities. At our congregation, we have regrouped and are trying to get back no. 1 on your list - focusing on fellowship, discipleship and on no. 2 - students and families. We hope to have more fellowship time at our UMYF (United Methodist Youth Fellowship) meetings on Sunday afternoon; instead of always going elsewhere. We're also starting a prayer group of parents next week, where we'll use Stormie Omartian's The Power of a Praying Parent as a guide. As you clearly stated, prayer is foundational. We know we cannot raise our teenagers on our own; we need God's help. So that's where we'll start - parents praying for their teenager.

David Holshouser 7:09:58pm on 9/26/2007

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