You’re the person who gives 110%! You play your guitar for every song service. You teach the Sabbath School lesson study. You direct the drama team. You open your house for Saturday night parties. You drive the van on outings. You’re a friend, a counselor, a pastor, a cook, and a maintenance person. You plan meetings, arrange dates, buy supplies and pick up kids who can’t yet drive.
And, oh-by-the-way, you have a real job, a spouse, and a family!
AND YOU’VE ABOUT HAD IT! You don’t think you can keep up the pace. And even if you could, you’re not sure the kids even notice what you do, much less appreciate it. Besides, every time you plan an activity that really seems to work with the kids, somebody in the church complains to the pastor that you’re leading the youth in the wrong direction. Maybe you should just quit and let someone else take over.
You’re experiencing a classic case of youth ministry burnout!
Five Ways to Prevent Burnout
1. Build a Master Calendar.
Keep your youth activities reasonable. Don’t over schedule. Reserve days every week for family activities, and refuse to schedule anything else on those days.
2. Involve Your Youth.
Don’t do all the work yourself Involvement of the youth is one of the key foundations of successful youth ministry. Let your youth become part of the planning and the preparing, as well as the presenting of your programs.
3. Recruit Volunteers.
Search for volunteers among the parents of your kids, young married couples, new, enthusiastic Adventists, and alumni of your youth group. The more you can share the responsibility, the less likely you’ll feel overwhelmed.
4. Learn to Say No.
You are a wonderful youth worker and you accomplish more than most. But you aren’t Superman or Superwoman. You can’t do it all. So figure out your priorities, do as much as you can, and learn to politely and firmly say no to everything else.
5. Save Family Time.
Don’t put youth ministry above your family.
From: ABZ’s of Adventist Youth Ministry
© 2000 John Hancock Center for Youth&Family Ministry
Permission to copy for use in the local congregation or group.
