A lot of me that really enjoys this process. It's a chance to dream with our leadership team about the upcoming year and what we hope will happen. It's not just about planning when the summer lock-in or how much money we'll need for snacks. I coordinate with our junior high pastor on youth leader trainings, anticipate how much we will spend on small group curriculum, and what kind of retreat fall we'll have. I love the dreaming part.
There's also something that seems almost un-spiritual about putting down on paper what I think will happen during the next year. How do I know in December what will be best for our students at our October retreat? Isn't it almost like telling God, "This is what I would like to happen in the next year, would you please offer your stamp of approval?"
Still, planning is an important part of ministry when done with a "God, I'm just trying to follow where you're leading" kind of attitude. Putting a plan down on paper doesn't just have to be about writing up a budget that you pray will be approved without too much scrutiny or a lot of questions. Here are four reasons why a six- or twelve-month ministry plan is useful in youth ministry:
Planning helps keep your focus on the right things.
What do you believe youth ministry should be about? In a perfect world, where--spiritually speaking--would you like to see God take the teenagers and families you serve? Are there a few specific changes you feel like God is calling your church to make when it comes to youth ministry? Planning helps you lay those goals out in a tangible way so that throughout the year, the what and how of your youth ministry will line up with the where, and your focus will stay on where God is leading, not on the details that can sometimes cloud our vision.
Planning helps you say "no" to good--but not great--things.
A lot of ideas for youth events come across my desk and email account. I believe that most of them come from people with the right intentions, and many are really good ideas. However, we can only do so many things in the span of a year. There are a lot of cool opportunities that come up, but if you know where your focus is, you'll realize that not all good ideas line up with where God is leading. Not only will this help you refrain from planning fun-but-not-so-meaningful events, but it will also give you the opportunity to share in a clear way the vision and values of your ministry. I've found that most people understand when I say, "Thanks for the great idea, but it just doesn't line up with where we think God is leading us this year." In addition, they often get even more excited when I share where I believe God is leading, and they come up with great ideas that fit the vision.
Planning helps you be faithful with your volunteers and monetary resources.
People give sacrificially of their time and financial resources to your church and youth ministry, and God has entrusted those resources to you. Planning and budgeting doesn't just keep youth pastors from running out of money by mid-October. Planning can help you make the biggest impact possible with the people and money God has given you to use. Every volunteer hour and every dollar should line up with the goals you have in mind. And when you have a clear plan, the financial powers that be at your church are probably more likely to support what's going on in the youth ministry, and volunteers and parents will be more likely to enthusiastically give of their time to be a part of what God's doing.
Planning keeps you accountable to following where God is leading.
Have you ever neglected your lesson or sermon prep and thrown together something at the last minute, only to come up with amazing ideas for that lesson in the couple of days after you taught it? The same thing can happen when you don't lay out in advance what you'd like to have happen in the next year of ministry. If God is leading you and your church in a particular direction in regards to youth ministry, writing up a plan that reflects that direction is a great first step. Of course, it doesn't work if you just put your plan in a drawer. But if you put some time into it and share it with your leaders, it will help you be faithful to God as a leader, because you've identified events and tangible goals that will help you go in the direction God is leading. Of course, things may change because of unforeseen events, but having a plan will give you a good idea at the end of the year whether you led your ministry in the direction you thought it should go.
Remember, planning and budgeting doesn't have to be a rigid process. As our executive pastor says, a budget is just a tool. However, planning can be a very powerful tool when done in the right way.
What are your thoughts on planning and budgeting? Does your church expect you to write up a "ministry plan" or a budget? How does that process usually go at your church? Do you think that process helps or hinders your ministry?
