by Bruce Fawcett, Ph.D.

I've had the joy of being involved in youth ministry for over two decades and seeing many young leaders learn to lead by ministering to their peers and those a generation behind them. I've also had the unfortunate experience of watching incredibly gifted young leaders commit rookie mistakes as new youth leaders and find that leading youth wasn't as easy and enjoyable as they thought it might be. On many occasions their mistakes stemmed from the fact that they forgot, or didn't recognize, that they had multiple audiences to please. Youth ministry is not just about ministering to youth.

In case the Lord opens the doors for you to serve as a youth leader in your church, hopefully a reminder of the following audiences can help you avoid an unnecessary leadership crash and burn:

Audience #1: The Church Staff and Board

Since youth events often take place on weekends or in the evenings among a defined age group, youth ministries often operate independently of the rest of the church. Because of this, it is easy for youth leaders to forget that they are accountable to the church leadership. In order to function as part of the wider team of leaders in your church you will have to maintain the confidence of the church staff and your church's governing board. Whether the board is called "Deacons", "Elders", "Leadership Team" or something else, you need to remember that it is their responsibility, in partnership with the pastoral staff, to keep the overall ministry of your church on solid footing. Make sure you provide the leadership of your church with regular updates about what you are doing and why. Be sure to stay within your budget. When your youth cause property damage, make sure you take responsibility for what happened. When there are tensions or trouble, keep the pastor and, if appropriate, the board in the loop.

Audience #2: The Youth Leadership Team

Did you know that your youth leaders are more important than your youth? It's true, because without them you would not have a ministry to your students! Satisfied and loyal staff, both volunteer and paid, are essential to producing a quality youth ministry program. To make sure that your staff are satisfied, schedule regular opportunities to plan and dream together. Remember that people own what they help create, so provide opportunities for your leaders to speak into your plans. Often their insights can help you make your plans better. Yes, you are busy and they are too, but saving time by not having regular meetings is a sure-fire way of alienating this audience over the long haul.

Continue article >>

Audience #3: Core Students

While you may love all your students the same, you should not treat them all the same when it comes to leading your ministry. In your group you will likely have core students who are influential among the other students who attend your ministry. You will need to help them understand your vision for your ministry and the rationale for why you do what you do. Spend time with them one-on-one and as a group. Seek their input. Explain your plans. Winning over the influencers in your group and having them defend your choices among their peers is key to preserving unity and harmony in your group.

Audience #4: Students' Parents

While the opinion of the youth is very important in determining whether they will attend your events, ultimately most attend because their parents allow them. Always remember that parents gave birth to and are raising your students. So, as much as you love your teens, their parents love them much more. As a "Youth Group Dad", I want to be in the loop. Assume that most of us parents are interested, but busy. E-mail me weekly with event updates. Send me a paper calendar of the semester's events so I can put it on my fridge for quick reference. Make sure if you tell me the start time and the end time of an event that you stick to it - don't make me wait in the parking lot for an hour to pick up my kids! To gain the confidence of most parents all you need to do is keep us updated, keep our kids safe, and run a quality program.

Audience #5: The Congregation

The congregation pays your ministry bills, and if you are on church staff, they pay your salary too. Their opinion counts. Be friendly and make sure you speak to everyone you meet, not just the teenagers. Develop a brochure to include in the Sunday bulletin so everyone knows what you are doing in the youth ministry. Provide weekly updates in the bulletin so members of the congregation can pray for your youth ministry. Provide updates at the annual meeting. Make sure that they don't only hear from you when you are looking for financial support for a youth trip! Most people in the church will want you to succeed, their natural bias is to support you in your ministry among teenagers in the church and community, so remind them of the value in what you are doing.

Youth ministry is a wonderful ministry area where you can cut your teeth on leadership. Remembering the audiences whose opinions count can allow you to be more effective in your leadership and help you avoid the rookie mistakes that can easily lead to disappointment and conflict. May God bless you as you seek to serve Him, and I pray that your investments in the lives of your students will secure eternal dividends in your life and theirs.

Dr. Bruce Fawcett is Associate Professor of Leadership and Director of Doctoral Studies at Acadia Divinity College in Nova Scotia. http://adc.acadiau.ca/

March 04/2010