Youth Ministry Summer To-Do List

I don’t know about you, but it’s been my experience that ministry is very seasonal.  There’s always something going on and something to prepare for, but some stretches of time are just naturally more busy than others. With that understanding, there are things that we should be doing this season that help set us up for success for the season that is ahead.   

The writer of this article lays out some things that she does every summer to prepare for the next year’s youth ministry. While not all of these will apply in every context, hopefully her list will help you think ahead to what you need to do this summer to prepare for the next season. 

https://stuffyoucanuse.org/9-things-i-do-every-summer/ 

Ministering in a Busy World

„I don‘t have time“ 

I‘ve heard this phrase so many times when inviting persons to ministry events or when trying to engage leaders in serving roles. It‘s true, the demand on everyone‘s time has increased and the amount of elective time has decreased. I think this article gives three practical ways to engage busy persons, specifically youth in this instance. 

https://youthministry.com/3-ways-engage-teenagers-busy-world/ 

How does this apply in your context? 

What are the messages we are sending to our students?

If we were to ask our students what they knew of being in our ministries or with us in relationship, what would they say?  Here’s an article that helps frame that question and could possibly help guide us to life giving interactions with our students. 

https://blog.downloadyouthministry.com/5-things-students-need-know-leaders/ 

The Reality of Post-Christian Youth Ministry

I found this article to be hopeful and realistic about youth ministry in the context of Post-Christiandom. 

​“...as we embrace doing ministry in our current culture we must remember that Jesus did not call us to efficient programs or growth models. Jesus calls us to himself and then sends us to people. There is no greater work than being sent by Jesus to a people who do not know him, being faithfully present with them, and inviting to share in the story God is working into our lives. This is the way of Jesus and it is the way of youth ministry in our post-Christian world.”

https://churchleaders.com/youth/youth-leaders-how-tos/318363-3-practices-youth-ministry-post-christian-world-jeremy-penn.html

Fundraising Ideas for Youth Groups and Beyond

Looking for a way to raise funds for your next youth group activity or possibly toward 3WLN #3? Here is a website that lists 71 ideas that might help you find a creative solution to funding problems. Not all of these ideas fit every context, but hopefully there’s an idea in here that’ll help you along. 

http://www.studentministry.org/71-fundraising-ideas-for-youth-groups/