8 WAYS TO KILL THE BUNNY

Group, Jul/Aug 2005 by Tucker, Jason

Ah yes, the Achilles' heel of youth ministry. We're infamous for our disorganization, and we pay for it with a sullied reputation. More important, disorganization undermines trust in parents, church staffers, and your kids. You might be a powerfully effective youth leader, but a few big mistakes in your organizational behavior will make you look incompetent.

* After the weekend, always take your first 15 minutes back in your office to map out a prioritized "to do" list. Review your deadlines and scheduled commitments to refresh your memory.

* Create a skeletal plan for ministry activities over the next six to 12 months. Plug in holidays and important school events first, then target weekends for your retreats.

* Even if you chafe at the thought, run your meetings according to an agenda. It shows you're prepared and that you value your leaders' time.

* Let your office staff know where you are at all times. If you're unavailable, let them know why-otherwise, you leave yourself wide open to critics who see you as a "Chubby Bunny" leader. When people call looking for you and your office staff has no idea where you are, it underscores negative stereotypes.

7. MAKE SURE YOUR PASTOR AND OTHER CHURCH LEADERS ARE WELL-INFORMED.

Don't assume other leaders in your church know what's going on in your ministry. If you keep them in the loop, they'll stay your biggest supporters-they can play a crucial role in supporting "shift of perception" you're working toward.

* Reiterate your team's specific vision and goals for the ministry. Talk about your progress toward that vision, and be honest about your setbacks.

* Make sure there are no surprises-copy your ministry calendar and give it to other staffers. It's very uncomfortable for other church leaders when they're asked about a youth program and have no idea how to respond.

* Warn other leaders about potential problems or complaints in your ministry before the surface. You want to be the first person to explain the situation to them.

8. GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

It's amazing how you can change the perception of your church and its youth by simply extending your ministry into your surrounding community. It's not only a good outreach opportunity, it's also a good inreach opportunity-it helps validate your ministry inside your church walls.

* Hold a community dance. Show your neighbors that the church cares about what their teenagers do on a Saturday night. But make sure you aim high-hire a DJ, bring in some pizza, and make sure to have plenty of adults around to chaperone the kids and schmooze with the parents.

* Have your kids volunteer in local ministries. Many towns have "ministry coalitions" that include multiple outreach opportunities.

* Give presentations on your mission or service trips to local service organizations (Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club), school boards, and parent information organizations. Let everyone know what wonderful things your teenagers are doing.

Yes, communication is a miracle. But it's amazing how persistence can fuel the miraculous. So don't give up. Give your congregation a peek into your teenagers' transformed hearts, and you'll start to see doors opened to your ministry you never knew were there.