4 Tips For Small Church Youth Leader Success

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Written by Matt Ray

Youth leader success and being a great youth leader goes beyond leading events. This veteran youth leader shares four keys that youth leaders and student ministry leaders should take to heart. Understanding these principles will help you:

be successful in your student relationships
encourage your volunteers to keep their focus in the right direction
keep from falling into burnout

Matt’s Story

In September of 2005, I was asked by my friends Phil and Nick if I wanted to help them with the youth group at our church. I had just gotten to the church a few weeks prior because I’d just moved to town as a freshman at Wartburg College. I was only 18 and had no idea what I was getting myself into, and I had very little to offer the youth I was working with. Now, sixteen years later, I’m almost starting to get the hang of youth ministry.

Over the past 16 school years, I’ve matured as a youth leader and learned some skills for the position. I’ve met amazing kids and leaders, lost sleep from lock-ins and worries, and confronted kids about sex, drugs, alcohol, and the like. I’ve looked at students knowing I was looking at a future leader in the church. And I’ve looked at students and wondered if they were even listening. I’ve been the cool college kid leading youth, and slowly I’m becoming someone “so old” that I just couldn’t possibly imagine what it’s like to be a teen (or so I’ve been told, although I know I’m still young).

4 Tips All Youth Leaders Should Practice

Working with youth has given me some of the biggest highs and biggest lows of my life. I’m far from an expert and won’t pretend to be one, but I feel I can offer a few tips to my fellow youth leaders. And while this is applicable to any teacher/leader in the church, I will write specifically to youth leaders.

1. Don’t Assume The Students Know Something

Bible literacy appears to be low and getting lower. It’s not your students’ fault, but they might not get what you’re talking about if you don’t explain it well. You can’t just say, “It’s like the story of Gideon,” and simply move on to the next point. Many of the students you lead have never heard of Gideon, let alone know his story. So, don’t treat your students like they’re stupid, but don’t make them feel lost because you assume they know something they’ve never been taught.

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2. Don’t Assume Your Students Can’t Do Something

This may seem to contradict the previous tip, but it doesn’t. Don’t assume a student knows something, but by all means, believe they can do something. Often I’ve thought that a subject was too deep for teens. And often, I was wrong. We shouldn’t look down on students because they are young. We should be some of the first people in their lives to challenge them. When I haven’t underestimated the students I lead, I’ve been blown away by the things they can do and the thoughts they can think. Don’t underestimate your students.

3. Don’t Root Your Joy In Youth Leadership

There was a time when a youth was driving me to the point of breaking. I wanted something for her that she didn’t want for herself, and I was watching her do harm to her life. I was beyond the point of tears in frustration and sadness. My pastor pointed me to Luke chapter 10.

In that chapter, the disciples were having all sorts of success, and they came back to Jesus very excited at their wins in ministry. And Jesus tells them, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.” (Luke 10:20) I have gone back to that passage time and again. Youth ministry is “a” source of joy but it cannot be the root of my joy. It can’t be the root of my identity either. As Pastor Jason Meyer preached, “When ministry becomes identity it becomes idolatry.”

4. Don’t Neglect Praying For Your Students

This is by far the most convicting tip, mainly because I’ve had times when I’ve excelled at this and times when I’ve been lacking. Prayer is the youth leader’s most potent weapon. I’ll take the praying youth leader over the youth leader with the best games and lessons any day. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in youth ministry, it’s that I can’t make a kid love Jesus. I can’t make a young man or woman desire to obey. But I know someone who can. Take your concerns, hopes, and dreams for your students to the One who can do something about it. Don’t ever neglect to pray for your students.

Over the years, I’ve done well with those tips, and I’ve failed miserably too. I’m far from perfect, and sometimes I’m a long way from good, but God has blessed my efforts. Don’t get me wrong, I still worry about some of the students who seem to want nothing to do with Christ and His Church, but I trust that my work in Christ will not be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Youth ministry (and all ministry) is so rewarding; I have several current and former students, that I’m simply happy to be in their stories because they amaze me.

Youth leaders, keep plugging away. We don’t always get to see fruit in the lives of students, but trust that the Gardener does good work. Work hard in youth ministry and take those tips to heart today.