Most people would prefer to play a role on a solid, fun, relational team than be on a dysfunctional, conflict-filled, self-absorbed team. That’s a no-brainer! But, great teams are difficult to build.
Healthy youth ministry teams are not only effective at reaching and discipling students, but they also have a strong sense of community among the leaders. This week, we will share some ideas for creating community with other adult leaders so you can work to strengthen your own ministry:
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Engage and equip ALL parents…easily!
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MEET REGULARLY
Yeah, we know, no one likes meetings (except for the person who’s planning the meeting). The main reason for this is because most meetings aren’t worth going to and the information shared could have been downloaded online. Take this as a challenge to figure out how to create better meetings so stronger community can be developed. Don’t use the excuse (“people hate meetings”) to delete face-to-face gatherings. How often should you meet? That’s for you to decide. Through our many years in youth ministry, we’ve tried everything: weekly meetings before a weekly program, monthly meetings, and quarterly meetings. Pick something and stick to it for a season. The key to building momentum is to pick a meeting strategy and stick with it for a consistent amount of time. If you don’t gather together, it’s pretty difficult to create a bonding team.
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Engage and equip ALL parents…easily!
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MAKE TIME FOR SMALL TALK
We written about this in terms of hanging with teenagers and said that some of the best youth ministry with students happens in the 15 minutes before and after a program. This same truth can apply with your leadership team. When you gather together, don’t fill every minute with an overwhelming agenda. Sure, you have a lot to cover, but if your people aren’t connecting, your information won’t help the ministry that much. Build community by letting your leaders mix, mingle and make small talk. At first, it may be good to give a little direction to trigger the conversations, but after a while they will happen naturally.