Can I be honest? My youth group is difficult to grow because my church is difficult to grow. I'm in a rural church with an older congregation.
For youth pastors, winning can, exclusively, look like numeric growth. It's often what validates us, our skills and even our calling, but I'm hear to tell you that is not true. Numeric growth is not the only indicator of "winning"
Do you have kids who show up? That's winning
Do you have kids who, at the least, like each other? That's winning
Do you have kids who are trying to follow Jesus? That's winning.
I had one of our students bring a friend to youth. I thanked the guest for coming and gave the student who brought them a hive and said, "Good job!"
She looked at me, with some surprise, and said, "Well you did say you wanted to expand the youth group, right?"
Yes, yes I did.
This is winning.
And you are winning.
Reply to this e-mail and tell me about a win, no matter how small, and I'll share it in next weeks newsletter.