Coaching & Sharing Life with your Team: A response

I love being part of a team! Whether it was as I grew up and participated in different sports, during intramurals while in college or now as I watch my own kids and help by coaching their teams during the different seasons of sports, being part of a team is fun.

Early in my ministry as a youth pastor I have learned some great ways to build and sustain healthy teams that has helped in accomplishing the goals we have had for our student ministry, let me share with you a few:

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Inviting others to join your team
As many times as I have put announcements in bulletins, newsletters or other publications of the church I have found that the best way is to find other adults to join your team by building relationships with the adults of your church community. I love working with people that I like hanging out with and as I get to know people within our church community I invite them to come and check out our student ministry to see if they might want to join our team. I also use that same invitation with our current staff and use them to help find adults that they think would be a good addition to our student ministry team.

Meeting with your team on a regular basis
I have found over the years the importance of meeting with our student ministry team on at least a monthly basis. Much of our time together is building our relationship with one another as well as talking about planning, evaluating, and praying for our student ministry. We also take time to play together throughout the year. A team that plays together…stays together! The teams I have been a part of it is important to have fun together. So find ways to do this throughout the ministry year, and you need to plan it to make it happen. Put it on your calendar!

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Support and training for your team
I see my youth leaders as volunteer youth pastors and my job is to train and equip them as we partner together to lead our student ministry. They need to be supported and trained so look for ways to meet with them each month, contact them by phone or e-mail/text. Take them out for a cup of coffee or meet them for lunch. Find out ways that you can pray for them or care for them. I see myself as the “pastor” to the youth pastors of our church. Also be sure to provide the training for your team, whether that is in your monthly meetings or take them to a training event locally or in your area. The extended time away at a conference will benefit your ministry more than you can imagine plus build memories for your team.

As much as I love being part of a team, I also love leading our team…take time to invest in your student ministry team!