What a way to start a new year when we should all be thinking positive thoughts, longing to get started after the Christmas break. The term’s programme is planned, all the rotas sorted, the team are briefed and you’re ready to go.
But some terms’ work is hard to start. Over Christmas, there were some discouragements and the response to the wonder of the Incarnation was less than lukewarm. The group still meets but there doesn’t seem to be a great deal of enthusiasm around the place. How do you deal with discouragement, because it is part of the youth ministry deal? You long for young people to be back in the group who have left for pastures new and are really getting involved in service away from their home church and you seem to have been left with all the half dead ones. This can really get you down because you can’t see a way to improve things.
A few pointers:
1 Pray
Sorry if that’s a bit obvious but it really is the first port of call. We are to ‘pray and not give up’ (Luke 18.1). We are action men and women and God really must struggle to get a word in edgeways to our busy lives. Give him the chance to speak.
