Adult volunteers are by far the most valuable resource you have as a Youth Leader. These incredible individuals sacrifice family time to be a part of weekly services; they labor in ministry for the growth of students; and some even take PTO to attend summer camp, retreats, or both! Since our leaders significantly contribute to our ministries, we should commit to training and discipling them.
In your time in ministry, you’ve probably learned that nothing significant happens by accident. If you want to make an impact on the adult leaders in your Youth Group, having a plan in place will increase your effectiveness tenfold. Here are some things to consider when developing your strategy for leading leaders.
- Clearly define your process. Whatever strategy you land should be clearly defined for all parties involved. You should not change your process from leader to leader, and each volunteer should receive information on how you plan to train them. This gives you accountability and provides your volunteers with clear expectations for what your relationship will look like moving forward.
- Start early with solid onboarding. How you begin a relationship with a volunteer often determines how that relationship will continue. If you meet with new volunteers regularly and provide them with top-shelf training, they will see you as a resource in the future. If your onboarding is weak and inconsistent, leaders may think they can go rogue and implement their own methods and practices.
- Don’t neglect your veterans. We all know those youth leaders who have served for over a decade. Just because they are more experienced doesn’t mean that they still won’t benefit from regular check-ups and training. These meetings can be extra beneficial because they can offer insight into your ministry much better than a new leader can.
- Regularly meet all together… without students. I know that rallying your leaders for a training meeting is easier said than done. However, being in the same room together is vital for the health of your team. Use these times to communicate vision, provide culture-setting feedback, and celebrate wins in the Youth Ministry.
- Communication is crucial. I’m sure your adult volunteers live busy lives. So, how you communicate information is just as important as what you communicate. Calendar your meetings well in advance to increase attendance and send follow-up emails with all the important details. Not only does this help your leaders, but it also helps you keep track of all you have communicated to your leaders.
The worst strategy you could have is no strategy. Consider taking time this week to examine how you disciple your team of leaders. Or, better yet, take one of those veteran volunteers to lunch or coffee… I think they’ve earned a little love.
Kyle Williamson
Director of Student Leadership Development
Photo by Small Group Network on Unsplash