07 identify needs
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This document provides advice to youth ministry volunteers on identifying needs within the ministry and offering their strengths to help meet those needs. It suggests volunteers pay close attention to observe areas where the youth worker may be struggling or overburdened. Some potential needs mentioned are organizational issues, planning and preparation help for events, caring for parents, and providing emotional support. The document encourages volunteers to gently offer their assistance without being asked, as youth workers may not recognize all needs or feel comfortable delegating. It concludes by listing specific ways volunteers can offer their help, such as affirmation, teaching, mentoring, and various types of planning and administrative support.
07 identify needs
- 1. IDE N T IF Y NE E D S . . . OF F E R Y OUR S T RE NG T HS from Doug Fields FOR STARTERS What do you perceive as the TRAINING on the GO In a lot of churches, the youth ministry is small enough to be run by one three biggest needs in your person. However, no matter what size your youth ministry might be, it’s youth ministry? important to understand how important other team members (volunteers like you) are. They are crucial players in developing health beyond just what What about your students’ the lead youth worker can manage. In short: You’re essential! needs? List three. I’ve had many volunteers tell me they felt abandoned once they made the commitment to get involved in a youth ministry. The lead youth worker What about three personal was excited to have them join the team and quickly gave them a place to biggies—your own needs? serve. Then the youth worker checked that task off the list and moved on to the next demand, leaving the volunteers to fend for themselves and figure out their own role. I know this can be discouraging. IN T HE TRENCHE S Volunteers like you have the power to take the initiative and make ministry happen through your gifts. You increase the value of the ministry to the A couple of years ago, some of my students, church, and community. volunteers approached me about our monthly volunteer meetings. Increasing your value might require continually identifying your youth They were happy with the training ministry’s needs. And some needs may not even be known by the youth but felt some of the other aspects worker, but that’s OK. That’s why you’re part of a team. When you pay close of the meeting could be improved. attention to your youth ministry and become personally invested in seeing Some of their ideas revealed lives changed, you’ll begin to identify needs and then look for ways to meet issues I didn’t realize existed. For them, without specific instructions. instance, they saw a need to make the meetings more enjoyable and A first step toward identifying your ministry’s needs is asking questions—a lot encouraging for volunteers. I reluc- of them. Where is the youth ministry (or youth worker) struggling? Is there tantly agreed with their assessment a problem with organizational skills (such as event registration, messy youth (reluctantly, because it wounded room or office, outdated publicity)? Or is he or she too busy (first to arrive/last me a little—sometimes truth does to leave, has phone calls to make, needs help planning an event/scheduling a that). lobotomy, and so on)? Your offer to help in any of these areas can lift a heavy I was happy to have the input and burden that your youth worker may not know how to deal with. gladly accepted their offer to take over the planning of our volunteer You could also be a direct answer to prayers of desperation (most youth meetings. While I still continue pastors aren’t as organized as they would like to appear; I’ve known one to do the training, these leaders for a long time—me!). I’ve also known a lot of youth workers who aren’t infuse fun into each meeting; they prone to ask for help. Delegation can be a frightening option. And some are decorate to make a boring room simply afraid to impose on others. warmer and create an overall wel- Whatever the reason, if you’re willing and eager to help, your initiative is coming environment. And because these organizers also send creative needed and valued (even if it hasn’t been asked for). Be gentle and gracious reminders about the meeting by as you offer to surround a weakness with your strength. e-mail and follow up with phone Here’s a short list of ways you can offer help: calls, we’ve seen stronger atten- dance. All this because they took > Affirmation/appreciation > Preparation for > Team building the initiative! events or messages > Tech help: graphics, > Caring for parents > Promoting events Web site, e-mails, > Decorating and programs audio/video, and so on > Emotional support > Recreation > Transportation > Mentoring new leaders > Relational help > Troubleshooting > Mentoring students > Research > Vision > Planning > Teaching > Writing e-mails & notes YOUTH LEADER TRAINING ON THE GO
- 2. IDE N T IF Y NE E D S . . . OF F E R Y OUR S T RE NG T H S CONNECT to God’s Word T O T HE POINT • Observe your ministry with “We have different gifts, according to the grace a critical mind, not a critical given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him heart. use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; • Meet with the lead if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is youth worker, and share observations of needs you contributing to the needs of others, let him give believe you can meet. generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it • After permission, begin cheerfully.” —Romans 12:6-9 taking steps to meet the need. • Which gifts from these verses stand out to you most personally? Why? TRY I T • Thinking of your ministry to students, which of At your next youth group meeting, these characteristics are strong? Which are weak? set up a video camera in the corner of the room (be sure to get permission from your lead youth Write a response and prayer to God here… work first). Without drawing attention to the camera, record every part of the meeting. For example, capture how students arrive, how they interact with other students and volunteers, how new students occupy themselves, what volunteers do, and so on. After the meeting is over and all of the students are gone, watch the video as a leadership team. Look for needs that went unmet; you’ll be surprised at what you observe. Now, put together a plan to begin meeting the needs you observed. MA K E IT PER SONAL Permission to photocopy this handout granted for local church use. Copyright © Doug Fields. Published in Youth Leader Training on the Go by Group Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539. www.youthministry.com and www.simplyyouthministry.com