Survival in Youth Ministry

In 1994 Saint Mary's Press published a book called Survival in Youth Ministry, by Robert J. McCarty, executive director of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. As youth ministry continues to mature in the United States, we would like to offer some suggestions from Bob's book in the hopes that a new generation of youth ministry practitioners might find them helpful.

In chapter 5 of Survival in Youth Ministry, McCarty offers "Practical Strategies for Survival." Here is a thumbnail sketch of the strategies:

Be an advocate for your vision . . . and your job.

• Use the parish bulletin to highlight your program and what the young people in your community are doing.
• Place a youth ministry bulletin board in a conspicuous place in the parish and fill it with notices and invitations.
• Utilize a large calendar board in your office or youth meeting space. List all the meetings and evening and weekend activities. Folks who come into your office will notice the variety of times and events.
• Present monthly written reports to the parish staff or parish council. Include individual contacts with young people in the parish.
• Use time sheets to demonstrate where your time is spent. Even if not required, these will help you account for your hours and remind you to take some time for yourself.
• Use your youth ministry budget to educate the community. List and describe the various activities and expenses by using the youth ministry components as listed in Renewing the Vision.1
• Be visible to the faith community, to the young people, and to the young people's parents. Attend parish events, go to a different Eucharistic celebration each weekend, and attend appropriate parish meetings.
• Establish professional ties within the parish and in the wider community.
• Provide opportunities for significant people in your community (from both parish and the wider community) to meet your young people.
• Find ways to share your vision and how it relates to and benefits the faith community.

Develop working relationships with the staff.

• Get to know the parish secretary.
• Hold in-service training about youth ministry with staff and faculty.
• Offer workshops for parents.
• Share your vision.
• Minimize surprises.
• Communicate regularly.
• Ask good questions and ask for advice.
• Support your pastor.
• Recognize that the pastor is the boss.
• Find out the pastor's vision and situate your youth ministry within that vision.
• Involve the pastor to the extent of his interest and comfort.

Maintain a healthy balance in the use of your time.

• Nurture your important relationships.
• Understand yourself and your needs.
• Honor your time off.
• Pay attention to your spiritual practices.

Be in touch with your own gifts.

• Know your strengths and weaknesses, gifts and needs.
• Be patient with yourself.
• Assess your ministry regularly. Where is your focus? Are you energized by what your are doing? What pitfalls continue to surface? Where are you being challenged? How do you find support?

Develop an adult team that benefits the ministry.

• The "Lone Ranger" approach is not appropriate for youth ministry.
• Develop a clear mission statement for your community's youth ministry.
• Integrate time for prayer, sharing, and support into all team meetings.
• Develop a job description for the team that includes the team's purpose and when the team will meet.
• Develop job descriptions for particular leadership roles (coordinator, secretary, treasurer, sports coordinator, activities coordinator, publicity coordinator, retreat coordinator, catechist, service coordinator, chaperone, etc.)

Develop a support group that benefits you.

• Establish a group of youth ministry peers for prayer, sharing, networking, and professional development.
• Develop friendships with people outside the ministerial world so that you have people to talk to about personal concerns and topics other than young people, youth ministry, and church.

Set realistic goals.

• Recognize that it usually takes three years to establish an effective youth ministry program.
• Don't try to do everything in the first year.
• Plan for graduated successes.
• Do a few things well.
• Know that quantity will follow upon quality.
• Conduct periodic needs assessments to determine what changes might need to be made.

Develop the skills that count.

• Get training in the vision, methodology, and components of youth ministry.
• Increase your understanding of family perspective, social justice, multicultural and comprehensive pastoral care in your youth ministry.
• Learn how to do program development (planning, implementation, evaluation).
• Learn time and stress management.
• Practice delegation and enablement.
• Develop problem--solving, decision--making, and conflict--management skills.
• Become an expert in volunteer management (recruiting, training, supporting, evaluating).
• Become proficient in administration and budgeting.
• Further your education.

Shake the dust from your sandals.

• Prayer and discernment is essential.
• Are you continuing to grow personally, ministerially, and spiritually in your position?
• Are you happy in your role?
• Are you doing good work in your role?
• Are you running away from or toward something?
• Are you motivated by your fears or by your dreams?
• Are you seeing things clearly and realistically?
• Are you being honest with yourself?
• Are you blaming "them," making the situation someone else's fault or responsibility?
• Is your perception of your situation accurate?
• Are you open with your struggle? Do you have an objective person who knows you and the situation and is willing to give you honest feedback?
• Remind yourself that quitting is not failure and that leaving a ministry position does not make you a bad person.
• Be aware of God's presence throughout your discernment. Listen to God.

Take care of your relationship with God.

• Does your spirituality flow from your ministry? Does your relationship with God nourish your work?
• Does your ministry flow from your spirituality? Does your work nourish your relationship with God?
• Do you spend time with God each day?
• Do you regularly meet with a spiritual director or companion?
• Do you spend time with holy people?
• Where is your holy ground?
• Do you take advantage of the traditional spiritual practices of your faith community?