Another Term, Another Chance to Do Something That Matters
As we step into the start of a new youth ministry term next week, the BYM team would like to thank you for the faithful, creative, and consistent work you do in leading young people toward Jesus. Each term brings new opportunities and new challenges, but we are continually encouraged by how youth leaders in our movement show up with passion, flexibility, and deep care for their youth.
This term, our team is focusing on curating resources that support both discipleship and leader health. You’ll see new things coming out in the next few weeks. As you look ahead, I want to offer a few simple tips for starting the term well with your teams and young people.
Before you fill the calendar, pray first. Sit with your team and ask the question together: “Who do we want our young people to become in Christ by the end of this term?” Let that shape everything else.
Plan, then hold it loosely. Having a road map keeps you from scrambling. Sketch out your key teaching themes, events, and leaders for each week so you can be fully present with young people, while still holding plans loosely enough to respond to what God is doing and new opportunities.
Ask your young people what they need. Ask your group what questions they’re carrying, what topics they’d love to explore, and what spaces help them feel safe to share. Listen in a way that makes it easy for them to speak. Let their feedback shape some of your series and nights.
Bring Parents and the Whole Church into the Loop Early Send parents a simple heads up, what you’re teaching, key dates, and one specific way they can pray. When parents know the vision, they can champion it at home instead of competing with it. And while you’re at it, loop in your wider church too. A quick note in the bulletin or a word to your leadership costs you five minutes but can open doors to more prayer, more support, and more adults cheering your young people on. The more people who know what you’re doing, the less alone you’ll feel doing it.
Make Every Young Person Feel Seen Young people don’t primarily remember your best talk or your most epic event. They remember who knew their name, noticed when they were gone, and made time for them when nothing was on the program. So, this term, continue to invest in the simple stuff, prioritize consistent small groups, hallway conversations, and follow up of absentees, so every young person is known by name and noticed when they’re missing. These little moments aren’t the warmup to real ministry. They are the real ministry.
And please, look after yourself. You can’t pour from empty. Protect your time in the Word, get some rest, and find someone you can debrief with honestly. Lead from a full place, not a depleted one. You might like to choose one of these areas to focus on with your team at your next meeting, and then build on it across the rest of the term. You don’t have to do everything at once. We’re genuinely in your corner. If there’s anything you need, resources, a conversation, ideas just reach out. That’s what we’re here for.
So excited to see what God does through you this term.
