Have you ever gone to a conference and upon returning home realized that your best takeaway from the conference occurred away from the conference? The longer I attended conferences, the more I seemed to realize this might be the reality.

Whether it was at lunch, coffee, or in the hallways, the real genius was right next to me. My friends, their friends, peers, and mentors who all love students and feel called to lead them. As we shared a common purpose, we would listen and support one another in the hopes of becoming better at what we do.

Youth Ministry is challenging. In fact, we say that it is the most difficult position on a church staff. That is why some years ago we framed our ministry to Student Ministers with these words …

Horizon Youth Ministry exists to listen, encourage, and advocate for Youth Ministers everywhere.

Youth Minsters are our heroes plain and simple.

One thing that distinguishes Youth Ministry from other ministries on a church staff is the one question a Youth Minister will ask that no one else on church staff will have to ask.

That question?

“What’s next?”

When you are with students during your teaching time you never know what you are going to get. And yet, every time you teach you have the opportunity to bring students closer to God through scripture, story, and relationship.

And here lies the tension. How can you consistently teach students for life change?

Since March it seems like our world has been flipped upside down. Everything we had planned for our student ministries came to a screeching halt- end of the year celebrations and summer plans were canceled or reconstructed. Though we know this summer of slowness has been no sabbatical, it gives us the ability to reflect and view things from a different point of view. Now, as you prepare to take on ministry for the Fall semester, take some time to walk through these steps.

Everyone has a Launch even though they don’t use the word. In a Youth Ministry context, a Launch is a focused strategy to restarting a season in ministry. We typically look at the seasons of Youth Ministry as Fall, Spring and Summer. Each has distinct breaks in rhythm. A Launch will recognize those breaks and program to introduce each season with a strategy purpose, theme, and plan.