Let me ask you, how many excuses did you make last year?
Probably a lot, as did I,
Let me narrow it down, how many excuses did you make last year that kept you and your youth ministry from being successful?
I bet you can narrow it down to a few.
One more question, how many ministry books did you read last year that dealt with making excuses and how to kill them?
My guess is 0
That’s why the first book you should read this year is my book, 10 Excuses That Are Killing Your Youth Ministry
Excuses are assassins
They kill dreams and goals. Trust me, many of my dreams and goals got merced because I let them, I didn’t know how to beat any them. Everyone has excuses, I had 10 excuses not to make this video today but killed everyone of them because I knew you’d be watching today and needed to hear this.
I want to give you a snap shot of 3 excuses and how to kill them if you want to successful in life an ministry.
Excuse #1 It won’t matter (Apathy)
Look, let’s be real. If you wanna be a successful youth pastor, if You wanna actually impact your students, then stop with the excuses. Stop giving the least you have because you think your best isn’t going to pay off.
Every one of your students needs a mentor, a guide. You think their parents don’t want someone to help them help their kids navigate this crazy world? You think these kids don’t crave connection, a sense of purpose? Stop focusing on the noise and the negativity that’s mostly coming from inside your own head.
No one is saying your effort doesn’t matter, your programs don’t matter, that’s coming from you because you are judging yourself so harshly.
How To Kill This Excuse: Put A Value On It
Earlier I said, “I had 10 excuses not to make this episode” and that’s true, but I put a value on it, on you. I chose to believe that someone would hear this today and it would change their life.
You have to put a value on your students, your parents, you church and yourself, your gifts God has given you. I grew up hearing God don’t make no junk and I am not junk and neither are you. Put a value on yourself because you are a child of God, you have inherent value.
Bottom line, no one will care more about this ministry than you; not because you’re paid to care but because this youth group has your fingerprints on it, it’s yours. Care about it and others will, eventually, care with you.
Excuse # 2 ”I Don’t Have The Right Team/I’m All Alone”?
Stop waiting for the perfect volunteers to fall from the sky. Recruit, train, empower. Find the passionate parents, the gifted musicians, the kids who actually want to make a difference. Leverage their skills, their energy. This ain’t about you, it’s about the team.
How to kill this excuse: Patience
I’ve led my youth meetings solo for 3 years because we have a small church, not many young people who can climb down those stairs, but I have a team of people who help me with events and trips and I develop student leaders. I make my team of what God has given me and you can too, be patient, raise up your leaders over time.
Excuse #3 “I’m Not Good Enough, Smart Enough, etc.”?
Please. You think you need a theology degree to love kids? You think you need to be a perfect speaker to share your faith? This ain’t about your resume, it’s about your heart. Be authentic, be vulnerable, be you. These kids don’t need a polished preacher, they need someone real, someone who understands their struggles.
How to kill this excuse: Truth
Tell yourself the truth
Make a list of what you are positively not good at because you’ve tried and it turns out terrible every time (preaching, leading games, graphic design, promotions/marketing, etc.).
Now, is this skill on the list because you are unskilled, uneducated, or uninterested or all of the above?
If the answer is number 3, does it need to be done in the first place? If you have no one else who can do it, will it simply go undone? Are students, parents, and your boss ok with that? Or, could you do it, but in way that reflects your strengths and not the perfect image of what it should be while still being effective?
So ditch the excuses, youth pastors. Plan that event. Preach that message. Disciple that hard kid.Put in the work. Believe in yourself, build your team, and go make a difference. Don’t wait for permission, don’t wait for the perfect circumstances. Just do. The kids are waiting. God is waiting.
If you want to know the other 7 excuses and how to beat them, you can
1) Purchase the book and support my ministry to youth pastors or
2) Receive the book, free, for signing up for my newsletter.
Looking for other youth ministry books you should read this year? Check out my youth pastor recommended list.