I’ll confess. Right now, this post is 1 of 1. But here’s the truth – and if you watch Duck Dynasty, you know – that show is chock full of youth ministry wisdom, so I know there will be more!!
Last night was the season 4 premier of Duck Dynasty. The show centered around the celebration of Phil and Kay Robertson’s 50th wedding anniversary (I think…I’m not sure anyone but Kay ever mentioned the actual year — and she said 48.)
The Robertson children decided to give their parents a ‘real’ wedding, as their parents were married by a Justice of the Peace originally. As a complete surprise, this event would require lots of folks volunteering and playing their parts to pull off the momentous occasion. And as the daughters-in-law began to pull people into the process, one of the unsuspecting men came out with this pearl of youth ministry wisdom: “Never volunteer when you don’t know what you’re getting into.”
People who serve in youth ministry need to know what you’re asking of them. Many times, we’re in a hurry to fill the spot, grab any warm body, connect with someone we KNOW will make a great connection with students. And we put the cart before the horse, unsuspectingly. We enlist a potential leader without clearly communicating what they’ll be doing. Sure – they may know they’re volunteering to teach a class – but do they know what material they’ll be using, how many leadership meeting they’ll be expected to attend, what they need to be doing to prep for their teaching time, how they’ll be expected to connect with kids outside the class….do they know what they’re volunteering for?
Communicate well by having a job description for every adult you’ll enlist. Spell out everything. Then follow up as that potential leader begins serving. Continue to clearly communicate vision and expectation. You’ll create leaders for the long-haul.
“Never volunteer when you don’t know what you’re getting into.” If you’re church members are watching Duck Dynasty, they might just have a higher expectation now….and a beard.
Everyone's Called to Youth Ministry 