What was my favorite moment from the past year? What was the most frustrating moment? Start off with some simple gut-level reactions from the past year. You might be surprised at your own answers and the answers of those you serve with.
What were the numbers? Listen, if you don't know how many people showed up, whether your small groups grew, or how many of your first-time guests are sticking around, you're missing an important part of the picture. Don't give numbers more weight than they deserve, but if twenty students were baptized in the past year, celebrate! If your small group ministry saw a numerical decline, ask "Why?" Those numbers matter because each one represents a person that matters to God.
What is the one event we have to keep, and the one event that has to go? Make sure you follow up each response with Why? This question not only provides feedback on the events your youth ministry has put on, but it also will tell you how to plan better events in the future that are more consistent with why your youth ministry exists.
Where did we best proclaim Jesus' love and grace? This is a great question to push your team to answer succinctly. If you and your team are willing to answer this honestly, you'll quickly see which aspects of your youth ministry really exist to help people know Jesus and grow in him, and which ones are fluff.
How well did I care for and lead the team? Invite your team to be honest with you and give you an forthright evaluation of your leadership. Decide if they'll be the most honest (and helpful) to your face, via email, or perhaps through an anonymous survey. Ask specific questions such as How well do I communicate with you so that you know what is expected of you as a leader? and Do you feel like you are valued as a part of this team? Sure, not everyone will give you straightforward responses, but the ones you do receive are gold--and probably from the leaders who really love you enough to be honest.
Where did God move? Though this question is the most important one on the list, I save it for last because you're likely to answer it more honestly after you've expressed everything that has encouraged you and frustrated you in the past year. Of course, this question is very subjective and requires an honest, spiritually sensitive person to answer it well. Take the time to think deeply and be vulnerable on this one. It may be that you had a frustrating year ministry-wise, but that you know God used that experience to grow you as a leader. Or perhaps you saw your leaders grow in their own relationship with Jesus in a way that just hasn't happened in years past. Just make sure you don't stay on the surface with this question or go for the easy answers. When God works, often times it's in ways we don't really notice at first.
What other questions would you add to this list?
