We are starting a new year; planning and training are underway and the memory of the summer camp is fading. As we get ready for the ministry year I think it would be good for us to think about what is most important. What are the actions and activities that will make the biggest differences in the lives of our students? This is an important question, right? I mean you didn’t just plan your ministry year without thinking this through. You would never just do the same activities you did last year because that’s what you always do, right? I admit that’s what I did. When I was an active youth pastor I often did what I did last year because I got comfortable with the schedule. I wish I had spent more time thinking through what is most important. If I had this is what I would have come up with…

1. Relationships over responsibility
Students, parents and volunteers would always come first.

2. Spending time loving on my adult volunteers
I would get to know my volunteers like friends. I would use my friendship to help them grow in Christ and grow in their ministry.

3. Building bonds with parents
I would help parents be the primary faith influencers of their students.

4. Evaluating the effectiveness of small groups
I would visit as many small groups as I can and as often as I can so I could offer evaluation to help them the volunteer leader grow.

5. Pouring my passion into adult volunteers
I would use my love for students to fuel my volunteers with energy by being an example of love and friendship.