5 Time Killers of Student Ministry
FROM: NATE KINGSBURY'S BLOG - THE JOURNEY
Have you ever sat in your office and say, “what did I get accomplished today?” Time killers have taken over our schedule and caused us to lose focus on what is most important. Here are five tips to encourage you to gain back the control of your time in your ministry.
1. Lack of organization
Wow! Lack of organization is a huge time killer. Coming out of college I didn’t have an organized bone in my body, but now being in ministry it has been the key to keeping me sane. In my first year I was recruiting leaders - but needed a job description. Planning the upcoming series – but didn’t have enough time to plan for it. You name it - it all has to be organized in advance. A lack of organization caused stress and a feeling of never being ahead. I work a year in advance now. Planning the whole year by series and working a month in advance on each program we do on Wednesday nights. You want to talk about stress relief - be organized!
2. Administration
So many papers, phone calls, meetings! The list goes on and on. I find myself having so many reports, proposals, and e-mails to follow up on that I can’t focus on the main thing, investing in leaders and students. I could be spending every day thinking of new strategies, video ideas, and creative ways of preaching. Administration is important, but if we are really about developing laborers then we need to get away from the paper and into people’s lives. A common question I ask myself is, “who is the last person I’ve led to Christ?” Who is the one person I have as a leader that I can count on to take the ministry when I leave.” Administration is important, but let’s not forget the real reason for being a youth pastor, seeing students and leaders devoting themselves to Christ.
3. Pleasing All
I am a people pleaser. I hate to say it, but it’s true! I have learned that I need to quit worrying about pleasing people, but focus on pleasing God. Pleasing people takes your effort, time and all your energy. People will always have problems with you, even when everything has gone perfect. Don’t waste your time in making sure everyone is ok with you – spend your time investing in students that need Jesus in their hearts. Be a God pleaser, not a people pleaser.
4. Students
Students are my passion, and even though they are my favorite part of ministry they can become one of the biggest time takers in youth ministry. Students are always in my office and I love hanging out with them, but at times I find myself getting nothing done. Schedule time to get office work done in the mornings when students are in school. And allow your afternoons to be a time to invest in students. Because students are so important, put them in your schedule – but don’t allow them to run your schedule.
5. Not Delegating
Not delegating will steal your time, energy and your joy of ministry. Delegating is a hard lesson to learn – because this means you have to give something away that you use to own. This is very challenging, but a must in our ministry. If we do not delegate than we will die! From registration, parking, small groups, media, lights, sound, follow up, big events, program and much more. We cannot be all and do all. We need to learn to give things away! Delegate and trust someone to do one of your jobs – they might even do it better than you!
Many people leave the ministry each year. Many times it is because they were burned out. Don’t allow this to happen to you. Take control of your time now! Take control of your schedule and ask God to help you gain wisdom on these time takers. Thanks for allowing me to share my time takers.
>>ORIGINAL BLOG POST HERE
Have you ever sat in your office and say, “what did I get accomplished today?” Time killers have taken over our schedule and caused us to lose focus on what is most important. Here are five tips to encourage you to gain back the control of your time in your ministry.
1. Lack of organization
Wow! Lack of organization is a huge time killer. Coming out of college I didn’t have an organized bone in my body, but now being in ministry it has been the key to keeping me sane. In my first year I was recruiting leaders - but needed a job description. Planning the upcoming series – but didn’t have enough time to plan for it. You name it - it all has to be organized in advance. A lack of organization caused stress and a feeling of never being ahead. I work a year in advance now. Planning the whole year by series and working a month in advance on each program we do on Wednesday nights. You want to talk about stress relief - be organized!
2. Administration
So many papers, phone calls, meetings! The list goes on and on. I find myself having so many reports, proposals, and e-mails to follow up on that I can’t focus on the main thing, investing in leaders and students. I could be spending every day thinking of new strategies, video ideas, and creative ways of preaching. Administration is important, but if we are really about developing laborers then we need to get away from the paper and into people’s lives. A common question I ask myself is, “who is the last person I’ve led to Christ?” Who is the one person I have as a leader that I can count on to take the ministry when I leave.” Administration is important, but let’s not forget the real reason for being a youth pastor, seeing students and leaders devoting themselves to Christ.
3. Pleasing All
I am a people pleaser. I hate to say it, but it’s true! I have learned that I need to quit worrying about pleasing people, but focus on pleasing God. Pleasing people takes your effort, time and all your energy. People will always have problems with you, even when everything has gone perfect. Don’t waste your time in making sure everyone is ok with you – spend your time investing in students that need Jesus in their hearts. Be a God pleaser, not a people pleaser.
4. Students
Students are my passion, and even though they are my favorite part of ministry they can become one of the biggest time takers in youth ministry. Students are always in my office and I love hanging out with them, but at times I find myself getting nothing done. Schedule time to get office work done in the mornings when students are in school. And allow your afternoons to be a time to invest in students. Because students are so important, put them in your schedule – but don’t allow them to run your schedule.
5. Not Delegating
Not delegating will steal your time, energy and your joy of ministry. Delegating is a hard lesson to learn – because this means you have to give something away that you use to own. This is very challenging, but a must in our ministry. If we do not delegate than we will die! From registration, parking, small groups, media, lights, sound, follow up, big events, program and much more. We cannot be all and do all. We need to learn to give things away! Delegate and trust someone to do one of your jobs – they might even do it better than you!
Many people leave the ministry each year. Many times it is because they were burned out. Don’t allow this to happen to you. Take control of your time now! Take control of your schedule and ask God to help you gain wisdom on these time takers. Thanks for allowing me to share my time takers.
>>ORIGINAL BLOG POST HERE
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on Friday, March 17, 2006 at 1:32 p.m..
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