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    check in for your check up!
matt mccage
As summer is beginning to come to a close, camps are wrapping up and mission trips are beginning to wind down it is now time to think about the most important person in your ministry . . . you. The ironic fact of ministry is while it is all about God it is still about you and your spiritual connection with God.
While every year we are supposed to visit the doctor’s office to determine the level of our physical health, it is imperative to spend sometime annually with our Great Physician to determine our spiritual health. Since the summer months and those leading up to it, are often the most draining it just makes sense to visit The Doctor before the summer is completely gone and the school year is in full swing!
Following is a list of Biblically prescribed remedies to combat the diseases of burn-out and failure:
1. Have a day for evaluation and healing. (Psalm 39.23,24)
The summer has been extremely busy and no doubt you have been hurt and in-turn thought of yourself more highly than you should have. Take some time asking God to purify your heart ensuring it is fertile soil for Him to work through this fall.
2. Recommit to your daily Scripture reading (Matt 4.4 & Joshua 1.8)
One of the brightest red-flags in the life of a leader is when Scripture is no longer fresh in their lives. As the summer schedule grows more and more hectic Scripture is often the first thing to go. Just like Vitamin C, get it back in your system to strengthen your spiritual immune system.
3. Take a complete day of rest (Mark 6.31)
Here is a news flash…we get tired!!! When the disciples came back to Jesus so excited to tell them everything they saw, heard and done He had one agenda…He wanted them to rest. I have never met a pastor that pulled a youth worker aside and demanded they rest. No one is going to offer it so be sure you take it.
4. Spend quality time with your family (Eph 6.4 & Joshua 24.15)
If you are married or have children they have seriously been on the back burner this summer. We’re not sure what it is about us youth workers but we throw out all the rules when it comes to time management and our families during the summer months. Reconnect with them on a real level, doing what they want to do….and leave the cell phone in the glove box!
5. Journal for reflection (Acts 9.19)
As you hit different ministry lulls you will often wonder what type of impact you had on the students and families you have ministered to. Combat this by keeping a journal of the great things, decisions and memorable moments that took place this summer. Trust me, you will definitely go back to it…not just for memory sake but to encourage your own soul.
6. Recap with your senior staff (Luke 10.17 & Mark 6.30)
Your pastor will not only love to hear of the wonderful things that happened this summer, but they also need to know! Highlight the decisions, trips, budgets and issues…anything they need to know to be pastor. Then take this time to layout what you are now wanting to do for the school year based on those facts. Keep them in the know and celebrate with them!
7. Meet with a mentor or accountability partner (James 5.16 & Philippians 2.22)
The major benefit of this prescription is you are never alone. After you have recapped and given your vision, your mentor and/or accountability partner will help you stay focused in the journey. Plus, they will help you to see different angles of the summer’s events that you probably haven’t looked at yet. This helps keep you very well rounded.
8. Create a season of prayer (Matt 14.23)
I haven’t quit figured out why we think we are better than Jesus in that we don’t think we need to spend major time in prayer. Yet, the God-Man spent time with the Father specifically to pray and to pray alone. Ministry and life will always be fast paced with seemingly little time to breath. But remember prayer is to the believer what breathe is to the body. You cannot be spiritually healthy without it.
9. Revive your heart of worship (Psalm 146.2)
Reprioritize your affection and attention on what matters most: worshipping the Most High God! Maybe you put on your headphones or a CD. Maybe you sit to play an instrument. Regardless, reconnect your heart to His heart to make sure yours is beating in rhythm with His.
10. Attend the adult service…with an open heart (Heb 10.25)
Even though you might think the student service is better and more relevant, you still need to be fed. Not only that, but the students need to see you in “big church” as you are placing high value on the entire church body. It is not a “you versus them” scenario. You are one body of believers, a family if you would. Your soul needs to be fed, your heart needs to be strengthened and your testimony needs to have credibility.
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http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/community-articles-from-the-field.html
matt mccage
As summer is beginning to come to a close, camps are wrapping up and mission trips are beginning to wind down it is now time to think about the most important person in your ministry . . . you. The ironic fact of ministry is while it is all about God it is still about you and your spiritual connection with God.
While every year we are supposed to visit the doctor’s office to determine the level of our physical health, it is imperative to spend sometime annually with our Great Physician to determine our spiritual health. Since the summer months and those leading up to it, are often the most draining it just makes sense to visit The Doctor before the summer is completely gone and the school year is in full swing!
Following is a list of Biblically prescribed remedies to combat the diseases of burn-out and failure:
1. Have a day for evaluation and healing. (Psalm 39.23,24)
The summer has been extremely busy and no doubt you have been hurt and in-turn thought of yourself more highly than you should have. Take some time asking God to purify your heart ensuring it is fertile soil for Him to work through this fall.
2. Recommit to your daily Scripture reading (Matt 4.4 & Joshua 1.8)
One of the brightest red-flags in the life of a leader is when Scripture is no longer fresh in their lives. As the summer schedule grows more and more hectic Scripture is often the first thing to go. Just like Vitamin C, get it back in your system to strengthen your spiritual immune system.
3. Take a complete day of rest (Mark 6.31)
Here is a news flash…we get tired!!! When the disciples came back to Jesus so excited to tell them everything they saw, heard and done He had one agenda…He wanted them to rest. I have never met a pastor that pulled a youth worker aside and demanded they rest. No one is going to offer it so be sure you take it.
4. Spend quality time with your family (Eph 6.4 & Joshua 24.15)
If you are married or have children they have seriously been on the back burner this summer. We’re not sure what it is about us youth workers but we throw out all the rules when it comes to time management and our families during the summer months. Reconnect with them on a real level, doing what they want to do….and leave the cell phone in the glove box!
5. Journal for reflection (Acts 9.19)
As you hit different ministry lulls you will often wonder what type of impact you had on the students and families you have ministered to. Combat this by keeping a journal of the great things, decisions and memorable moments that took place this summer. Trust me, you will definitely go back to it…not just for memory sake but to encourage your own soul.
6. Recap with your senior staff (Luke 10.17 & Mark 6.30)
Your pastor will not only love to hear of the wonderful things that happened this summer, but they also need to know! Highlight the decisions, trips, budgets and issues…anything they need to know to be pastor. Then take this time to layout what you are now wanting to do for the school year based on those facts. Keep them in the know and celebrate with them!
7. Meet with a mentor or accountability partner (James 5.16 & Philippians 2.22)
The major benefit of this prescription is you are never alone. After you have recapped and given your vision, your mentor and/or accountability partner will help you stay focused in the journey. Plus, they will help you to see different angles of the summer’s events that you probably haven’t looked at yet. This helps keep you very well rounded.
8. Create a season of prayer (Matt 14.23)
I haven’t quit figured out why we think we are better than Jesus in that we don’t think we need to spend major time in prayer. Yet, the God-Man spent time with the Father specifically to pray and to pray alone. Ministry and life will always be fast paced with seemingly little time to breath. But remember prayer is to the believer what breathe is to the body. You cannot be spiritually healthy without it.
9. Revive your heart of worship (Psalm 146.2)
Reprioritize your affection and attention on what matters most: worshipping the Most High God! Maybe you put on your headphones or a CD. Maybe you sit to play an instrument. Regardless, reconnect your heart to His heart to make sure yours is beating in rhythm with His.
10. Attend the adult service…with an open heart (Heb 10.25)
Even though you might think the student service is better and more relevant, you still need to be fed. Not only that, but the students need to see you in “big church” as you are placing high value on the entire church body. It is not a “you versus them” scenario. You are one body of believers, a family if you would. Your soul needs to be fed, your heart needs to be strengthened and your testimony needs to have credibility.
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