Chapter 1- Where do I Start?

In Youth Ministry it is like running a race, just like in the Christian life. We must train and gradually build up endurance and strength. We gain strength by developing our “faith, skills, leadership, experience, character, disciple, and passion.”
The first of the top ten “youth ministry commitments,” is to move slowly. We cannot change the world in one day, nor can we change every kid in our youth group in a day. We also cannot constantly make changes to our youth group as soon as we think things are not working. Fields suggest that we write down things that we need to change, or want to change and have them to refer back to rather than making immediate changes.
The second is to check motives and evaluate your heart. As youth ministers, or interns, we need to evaluate our motives for working with the youth. IF our motives are not pure, they will be exposed.
The third is to not get caught up in the numbers. Usually people will determine how effective your youth group is by the numbers but this is not a game to get caught up in. Field explains, “bigger isn’t better; healthier is better.”
The fourth is to steer clear of criticizing prior youth ministers or inters. Criticizing others just shows your lack of self-esteem.
The fifth is to avoid comparing. “When you compare you lose.” You cannot compare yourself to others, because then you will be holding yourself to human standards rather than God’s.
The sixth is to focus on priorities. Sometimes you have to say no to things. Doing more, is not always good, being too busy can cause you to lose the focus on the most important