Success in Youth Ministry...How to Know it When You See it

I got a great resource from my friend Tim over on his blog (www.timschmoyer.com) about judging success in youth ministry. I am just starting out in youth ministry and as a type - "a" personality, I like to know how I am doing all the time.

Defining success in youth ministry

2 04 2007

Colossians 4:5, “Make the most of every opportunity.”

There’s been a lot of buzz spinning around the blogosphere lately about defining success in youth ministry. What is successful youth ministry? What does it look like and how can we know if we ever get there?

I certainly do not have all the answers to this loaded question, but I tend to agree with Mark Batterson’s book, In a pit with a lion on a snowy day, when he says this:

Success is doing the best you can with what you have where you are. In a sense, success is relative. Success is as unique as your fingerprint. It looks different for different people depending on your circumstances and gifts. But there is one common denominator that I see in all successful people. They can spot an opportunity a mile away. And they seize the opportunity with both hands…. And that is what opportunity stewardship is all about. (page 131)

Mark Batterson points out that scripture doesn’t say how many opportunities there will be or how large or small they may be. Scripture simply tells us to make the most of every opportunity. We need to train ourselves to notice these opportunities as the Lord brings them our way and then be good stewards with what He provides.

This may look 10 different ways for 10 for different ministries, but, as I posted last year, I pray it characterizes my ministry in at least three ways:

• Students who are growing in depth and insight of God’s Word.
• Students who genuinely worship God both publicly and privately.
• Students who have a burden for lost souls around them.