In the previous post I wrote about the importance of setting goals in your Youth Ministry.  This is essential for lasting success and longevity in your Youth Ministry.

I cannot stress the importance of setting goals.  It has been one of, if not the most important aspects of my ministry over the years.

If you do not consistently and regularly set goals for you ministry, please start now.  What does goal setting in your ministry look like?  How should you do it?  Here are 5 steps to setting goals in your Youth Ministry:

1.  Start with the end in mind.

When you sit down to begin setting goals in your Youth Ministry, start with the end in mind.  Where do you want to be?  What do you want the ministry to look like?

I HIGHLY recommend starting at 5 years out and working backwards towards smaller benchmarks in your ministry.  I set goals at 5, 3, 1, and 6 month intervals.  Each year in January I sit down and revisit them and look forward at new goals I feel we need to accomplish.

Starting at the end allows you to see the steps needed to get there as you set the others.  It will help you immensely in making changes without getting fired.

2.  Focus on transformation

The transformation you want to see in your students should drive setting goals in your Youth Ministry.  If you know what characteristics you are wanting to build in your students, it is easier to set your goals.

The goals you set should ultimately drive you to accomplish more in the lives of your students.  Any goal you set that doesn’t help you build and influence the students you serve isn’t a goal worth setting.  It also is likely not what you have been called to do as the “Youth Pastor.”

3.  Be specific

You have to be able to measure the success you have when setting goals in your Youth Ministry.  If your goals are not specific you will never be able to tell if you are actually accomplishing them.

For example, do not set the goal of “growing the youth ministry.”  Number matter, and numbers don’t.  They may or may not give you an accurate picture of whether or not you are actually accomplishing your goals.

You may set the goal of launching a certain number of small groups by year three.  You may set the goal of launching a new mission trip by year five.  In each case these should be specific and be driven by the transformation you are trying to build.

4.  Be realistic

Being realistic when setting goals in your Youth Ministry is key.  If you are not realistic with your goals you will constantly find yourself discouraged and frustrated.

Be ambitious, but set goals that you can achieve.  You can accomplish much more than you think over the longer haul in your ministry.  You may just not be able to do it this year.

When setting your goals be realistic down the road and you will fend off much frustration.

5.  Reevaluate and revisit

Setting goals in your Youth Ministry is pointless if you don’t reevaluate and revisit them.  Again, I tend to do this every January.  I do this for a couple of reasons.

For one, January is a very natural time to evaluate.  Most of us seem to do so in many aspects of our lives.  Youth Ministry is no different.

Secondly, my start date where I serve was in January.  When I started that first January, I sat down and set goals.  So I revisit them a year after I set them.

In no way do goals have to be set in January.  It may be better for you to do in the fall at the beginning of the school year.  You may find that it works better for you at the end of the school year.  when doesn’t matter as much as actually just doing it.

Do you set goals for your Youth Ministry?  What are some of your goals?  What intervals do you set them?  Leave a comment below and share either one tip you have for setting goals, or one thing that is holding you back from setting goals.