Life is filled with seasons. Some occur year after year (football season, tax season, hunting season), while others are once-in-a-lifetime events (wedding, birth of a child). But the one thing all of these seasons have in common is that they alter your day-to-day routine for an amount of time
Seasons in youth ministry also require you to alter your typical ministry schedule. Some seasons occur year after year, like the start of school, while others may be unique, like a church-wide outreach.
Seasons in youth ministry also require you to alter your typical ministry schedule. Some seasons occur year after year, like the start of school, while others may be unique, like a church-wide outreach. Your busy season may last a week (retreat), or it may last for a month (graduation).
Seasons are different for each ministry. The ministry I am a part of is a summer-only church geared toward tourists. This means that our winters are calm and uneventful, while our summers are filled with long days, late nights, and ministries every day of the week. Our busy season lasts from Memorial Day until September.
No matter your season or how long it lasts, a busy season is a fact of life, and you must learn how to embrace and use seasons when they come. Here are four tips on how to minister through the busy seasons:
Be Prepared. In Pennsylvania, the start of hunting season is a state holiday; schools are off, businesses close, and everyone is focused on the start of the season. Likewise, you should prepare yourself and your ministry for the upcoming season. Pray for the students, volunteers, and staff during this time. Plan for the season in advance (3-6 months) so you are not caught rushing around at the start. If your busy season includes more than one large activity, planning far enough in advance will also help you keep things straight during the season.
Focus on What Matters. It is so easy to get lost in the details of a season. Weeks leading up to a retreat can find you worried about the miniscule details of the trip—travel arrangements, schedules, volunteers. During this busy season, do not forget the focus of your ministry—the students. You can plan for an amazing season of ministry, but if the emphasis is not on the students, it is all for nothing.
Pace Yourself. The phrase "Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint" is applicable to a busy season as well. If you have three retreats scheduled in one month, you MUST take that middle weekend off. It is required for your own sake, as well as for the sake of your family and ministry. No one will give you a gold star for working every day, but they will notice when you are burned out.
Enjoy your Rest. After the busy season, take a long rest. Hang out with your family. Read a book. Whatever you do, make sure you take (and enjoy) your rest. Do not focus on the next busy season; it will be there when you get back. So many of us struggle with jumping from one busy season to the next without a break. This can lead to stress, a high-strung attitude, burnout, and ultimately ineffectiveness in ministry. Proper rest will reenergize you and renew your sense of ministry.
Learn to embrace and endure through the busy seasons. They can be a highly effective and influential part of ministry, and they can also be something that you enjoy as well.
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