Youth ministry is a calling, but that doesn't mean you can't get burned out from it. I know countless people who could tell you that. Maybe you think the summer is too long of a period to step back and refocus, and maybe it is for you and your ministry. Or, maybe you're the kind of person who has to be busy doing something in order to feel like your ministry is accomplishing anything. In my humble opinion, ministry is not as much about "doing" as much as it is about "being." Identity precedes function. Function flows from identity, not the other way around. I take time to focus in our identity for a season and let the function flow from it for the rest of the year.

If I didn't, then our jr. high ministry would still be struggling with about 20 kids involved, but two years ago we took a massive amount of time to evaluate, focus, and communicate. We totally changed almost everything about our Wednesday jr. high ministry and two years later we have 120 actively involved, most of which are passionate about their faith and will now make the transition into high school ministry. Before only about 25% of jr. highers made the transition. Now we're looking at about 75-80%. So was the season of a "time out" from jr. high ministry worth it for us? Absolutely. Lives are being changed exponentially because of it.

1. Although meeting at church may stop for the summer, meeting together does not. We still meet at my house (jr high) and at someone else's house (sr. high). The location has changed and the formality of our meetings, but we are still meeting to dig into God's Word and to build spiritually influential relationships.

2. I admire your commitment to youth services and if they are the most spiritually influential thing your church does for teenagers in your community, by all mean, you should continue to do it throughout the summer. However, in my context, our youth services had almost no spiritual influence at all, and we figured that out by taking the time to step back and evaluate. However, meeting together in homes in a more informal setting has been tremendously beneficial to life-change. (I blogged about that evaluation process here.) So, we're focusing on that this summer, as my post above indicates, as well as my follow-up post that's linked at the end of this post.

So, it's not true that we are stopping ministry, only certain programming for the purpose of focusing on what is most spiritually influential in the lives of our teenagers. That's why I felt like you misread the post.

All of a sudden there's a bunch of comments about how Tim's a sinner because he's stopping ministry.
Lame- If you expect Tim to read your thoughts, at least have the decency to read his. You can disagree with shutting down PROGRAMS (and I kinda do….) but nowhere is the insinuation of shutting down ministry.

During the summer it stays about the same because, although it's often just me and my wife leading a Bible study or something, the attendance is usually under 10 kids, so it still works out.

I'm glad you guys found a system that works for you! Going every-other-week sounds like a great plan that works for you guys.

As for your final comment, programs are significant, but not every meeting is equally significant for everyone, ya know? But we know that one-on-one relationship, Truth speaking times are almost always significant, so we do a combination of both. During the school year it's pretty balanced with both, although the emphasis is more on programs. During the summer the emphasis shifts to the one-on-one time, but the program aspect is still there, as well. I think they both work hand-in-hand because the individual times with kids is what helps build trust and respect for group teachings/programmed times.

A good friend and myself are lay-"youth pastors" of a group of about 20 leaders and 80-100 students. We decided that the best thing to do for our summer mid-week meetings was to meet every other week. The off-weeks give us more time to do informal things with the students, particularly ones who have shown a desire to get serious about growing. This gives our entire staff about a 50% break from the "normal" logistical rigors, and I have found it effective in recharging. If a leader needs to take one of our "on" weeks off (which is generally not a problem), then they end up having three weeks in a row "off"…that is significant.

We have found that the continuity of "regular" meetings is very important to the students. In fact, when we started doing this a few years ago, we announced to the students that we would be meeting every other week in the summer and they exploded into screaming and applause. They had no desire to "take the summer off". Like others have said, the summers can be the most challenging time of the year for the student's spiritual vitality.

One final comment. Tim said in #6, "Instead of trying to keep kids busy with programs that may or may not be spiritually influential, I’d rather focus on relationship building with individuals and in ways I know will be spiritually influential." If you have something that will consistently be spiritually influential with the students, than that is something that should be done year round. If the programs are hit or miss, but the relationship building times are consistent, than why not just scrap the programs altogether? Give yourselves a break year round and be involved in what works.

Maybe I'm just not as good at multitasking and keeping so many things a top priority all at once throughout the school year. If so, this is necessary for me and the ministry. If you can do it, more power to ya!

Maybe you and I are defining "programs" differently, because I don't think of relational ministry nor spontaneous connections as a program.

As a youth pastor/director/coordinator/etc., your job is more than just your kids–it's also the health of your program and the people that make it work. And I can't for the life of me see how driving your youth leaders into the ground through the summer months for 1 or 2 kids to show up is going to help your program in the long term. Of course the parents who see youth group as "free babysitting", or those who hold you personally responsible for their child's total spiritual development, would be all for it…

But I do want to challenge your comment:

"Stop looking for your next break and start working as if Jesus is coming tomorrow and there are still fish in the sea that need to know him! I promise that you wont be disappointed when you stretch yourself beyond your own ability into God's ability!"

I don't know how many times I have to repeat this, but I'll say it again: slowing programs is not the same as slowing ministry. I'm sure you would agree that programs are just tools of ministry, not the ministry itself. Ministry continues to thrive, but the calendar/schedule/task-driven/to-do lists all slow down so we can focus on the more dynamic growth times of just going out to be together. We are not taking a break from ministry, just the typical forms people see it as. Sorry if I miscommunicated that somehow. But even if we did take a complete break from ministry and did only the things I outlined in the post, I still feel it will enhance fall ministry exponentially.

First, go back and actually read this post. Then read my follow-up here.

First, go back and actually read this post. Then read my follow-up here. You've misunderstood this post.

A mentality of shutting down leads to small youth ministries that lack impact and influence in the community. It also sends a message to the young people that its "OK" to stop church. Which leads to many of them backsliding during the summer months when they need our influence the most. Most teens need the corporate gathering of believers to keep them on the right track. When they have no corporate structure to gather and be built up, they stumble and fall. That goes for all believers not just teens. (Paul Wrote, "do not neglect the gathering of yourselves together.")

Our summer attendance goes up every year. We have created a culture of summer growth, of honoring God and His house. Come on leaders, rise up and build this Generation. It's up to us, not the kids. We are the leaders, we are the ones God has placed in leadership. Lets use this opportunity to the fullest.

I didnt read all the replies here. I hope I am not the only one that feels this way.

Granted, the title of this post is a bit misleading with the "shutting down" language, but notice it says shutting down "programming," not shutting down youth ministry.

Thanks for the comment, pjsb_77!

Some of the differences…we don't have our Volunteer Staff Pre-Program Gathering meetings (UPLOAD), no weekly big band worship, no small groups, the teaching is done by an intern or volunteer, and we shorten the program by 30 minutes from 2 hours, to 1.5 hours. And within the Middle School, we have a every other week cycle of an on-site simple event with food.

These changes over the summer allow me time to rest, refresh, cast vision, prepare for the following school year, recruit and enjoy a more relaxed pace of ministry. It also gives me room to breathe and hit up all the summer trips and events we've got planned and not feel like I am running 100mph all the time.

It gives our leaders a break, and allows for smoother operation week to week…so their at liberty to go on vacation and not worry about their small group or other ministry responsibility. As well as the possibility of feeling guilty if they simply don't come or plan to do something else. Our ministry design over the summer is simplistic and can be run/staffed with many less volunteers.

It allows all of us to focus on relationships, especially with the new incoming 6th graders and freshmen. As well as with each other and our own families.

It gives the worship team a break, and allows a natural break if they want to stop being on the team in the fall. It also allows us time to audition some new people and rehearse for the fall in August without adding more nights out.

The worship scale back, different teacher and small group hiatus, creates a hunger making the students super excited for the Fall and having our ministry in FULL SWING again.

We stumbled upon this strategy after noticing that running our program at full intensity all year didn't work…and cutting it all together wasn't an option…so we met in the middle.

I htink it's very important to take a vacation (have an awesome one!), spend time with the family(make some great memories!), enjoy the summer thoroughly… but I'm not sure I agree with "shutting down" all youth ministry programs for the summer.

2 Cor 12:15 – I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

But I understand what you're saying about relationships with students and I totally agree. What I'm suggesting is that we slow down programs (we still have Bible studies at my house, Wake 'n Ski, CHIC, MUUUCE, and canoe trips) so we can can focus on the one-on-one times and be intentional about reaching individuals instead of mass groups. I'm in ministry today partly because an adult youth leader took a summer to spend one-on-one time with me when I was in high school. His passion for teenagers was contagious and I caught it. So I definitely agree and look forward to capitalizing on that this summer with others.
Thanks for the comment, Peter! I appreciate hearing your thoughts.

I'm just saying. Someone can have the most smooth running program, the best website out there, and the coolest environment, but without relationships with students, it is going no where. These students have souls and are going to heaven or hell. This could happen during the school year or in the summer.

Point 6 is great. I would really encourage you to get this one of one time. In my experience in both high school and college, one on one relational time has been most supporting and influential in my faith with Jesus Christ. It is amazing that God works through sinful human beings to reach people, but it is the truth.

I hope this has been somewhat helpful for you Tim. Keep pressing on in ministry man

Your statement about the YP is pretty aggressive. Even if this is true, perhaps posting it on the web isn't the best idea. I agree with Tim though. If it is true he needs to be fired.

One of the consistent threads throughout the Bible is that we need to live with rhythm, in seasons. Summer may not be the best time to take off for everyone but everyone needs to intentionally take some time off. Let the ground lay fallow, let the workers rest, and come back at it with everything when that season is over.

In my context, our community is 80% water. There's so many big, nice, clean lakes that it sounds "white collar" to say most people live in lake houses (including myself), but if you check it out on Google Maps, you'll see that there's almost nowhere else to build. There's just roads that go between lakes, basically. So a lot of our kids are out on lakes most of the summer water skiing, wake boarding, wake surfing, tubing, swimming, etc. It's really hard to pull them off the lakes, as you can imagine, so it's better for me to go join them instead.

It's a huge vacation and resort area since we're only 2 hours from Minneapolis. During the summer, our town's population easily doubles. On weekends, it probably triples. So that plays into it, as well, as kids have all the summer friends back in town and such.

It's a dynamic that's really not worth fighting here. Better to just join them, ya know? And I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

One of the main reasons why I think it works that way is because there are two natural transition periods in any year: January 1 and when school starts in the fall. If you're going to make big changes or introduce something new in your ministry, those are the two times to do it because people are expecting change at those times. Fall works best, though. So when you ask people to transition when everything else is naturally transitioning anyway, I don't think the "it will take a month to get it going again" philosophy holds true in that context. Probably only holds true after people are already settled in the schedules and routine.

I like your reasons, not the reason that students don't come.

If that were the reason maybe we should have "big church" ministry in the summer either. For some students the only interaction with God they get is through our ministry. So to take 2.5 to 3 months off from that is tough for me to swallow. But they should be involved in the life of the church but not all are.

Good thoughts.

As you said, it's also a great time for us as leaders/youth pastors to take a step back, focus on evaluation, and plan for the school year ahead.

Thanks for the great advice. Wish I had learned this 5 years ago instead of trial-and-error. Oh well. :)

I would add to the list:
8. It provide time for you to go on vacation with your family. : )

However not having a highly programmatic summer youth ministry will be hard for parents to digest. Especially if "other" churches in your area are having a lot of different activities. I would suggest that the youth pastor know how to effectively communicate to parents that you are really taking some time to rethink and evaluate YM and that you are NOT just taking a break. Because parents/staff will automatically assume you are just being lazy.

JUST had this convo with my SP the other day. I swear he thinks I'm from another planet. It went something like this;

him: so are you going to do day-activities now that the students have a lot more free time and it's easier to get together with them in the summer?

me: umm…nah. It's harder to get them together with jobs, sports, vacations, the lake calling.

him: really? that's interesting. you could get some really good attendance you know…

me: yeah last summer I put time and effort into planning things and had 2-3 kids show up. however when I called and did something spontaneous I would get more. I think I'll stick with the spontaneous hang out. is that alright?

him: we may need to talk about this more.

I agree and disagree at the same time. It's one of those 'uncomfortable' concepts for me at times. BUT I know what you're saying about it working where you are. I think that's the thing we have to remember – student ministry is different based on the culture of the area/ demographics we live in. What works for Mike Kell in CA may not work for me in IA or Tim in MN. The thing I like about what you're doing is you're not pulling all the way back. There is some give and take. Your CE department says no SS and you go with that – but you still do a bible study at your place. I think there's nothing wrong with scaling back for a time of refreshing.

At my last church we stopped youth group through the summer. Did it kill our attendance? No. In fact it made the kids hunger for it even more and every fall we had more kids right at the start than the end of the previous year because our students talked about youth group all summer and convinced their friends it was that cool and worth being at in the fall. Then again that's what worked for me in Nebraska.

This is a challenging post to think through on some different levels. I think the key thing is -What works in one place may not work in another. Tim thanks for a challenging post. I needed to hear this today.