4 ways to tell impactful ministry stories and 5 groups to tell them to

Ever thought about the power a story can have on your life?

Of course, as a Christian, you probably have. The Bible offers us anywhere from 600 to 800 narratives or tales of events (depending on which Biblical scholar you ask). Jesus told 30 to 50 stories and parables during his three-year ministry. And for many, the story of Jesus himself is the cornerstone on which a life of faith and ministry was built. It’s clear that stories inspire, uplift, and transform. What’s more, sharing tales of God at work in lives and faith communities is good and faithful work.

So why stop with stories from the 1^st century?

Why telling your youth ministry stories matters more than you think

While developing our FYI Report on Youth Leader Burnout & Wellbeing, our research team listened to more than 1,100 youth ministry leaders through surveys and in-depth interviews. We wanted to learn about common contributors to burnout among youth leaders, as well as top practices youth leaders recommend to prevent burnout and promote their wellbeing. What we heard was that feeling unseen or unappreciated and feeling that one’s ministry efforts have little impact are two of the biggest factors contributing to youth ministry burnout.

The FYI Report on Youth Leader Burnout & Wellbeing // fulleryouthinstitute.org/burnout

There’s no question that youth pastors and leaders work hard. Many told us that they frequently feel both fulfilled by the meaning of their work and overstretched at the same time. Thus, staying focused on the day-to-day tasks required to keep ministry momentum moving forward comes with a risk: losing sight of the big picture. One youth ministry leader we heard from confided, “I'm willing to work as hard as I possibly can if it matters at the end of the day—and I know internally it does, and with my students it does. But when you feel swallowed up by a larger [system], sometimes that can be tough.”

Neglecting to pause occasionally and reflect on the impact of your ministry efforts is a surefire way to burn out. Furthermore, the youth leaders we spoke with consistently expressed feelings of loneliness and disconnection from their church community. Youth ministry can often feel siloed off from the rest of the church. When people know what’s happening in your ministry, they’ll be far more likely to affirm and celebrate the faithful work you’re doing.

That’s why it’s crucial that youth leaders unashamedly share stories of God at work in their ministry.

We know you’re not fishing for compliments or looking to give self-congratulatory pats on the back. But our research findings raise the healthy reminder that everyone needs regular affirmation—including you. So youth leaders, youth pastors, and youth directors, for the sake of your wellbeing and a long and happy ministry, it’s vital that you shake off that shroud of self-deprecation from time to time and share your stories of God at work.

How to tell a story that makes an impact

Novelist John Steinbeck once shared, “…a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last. The strange and foreign is not interesting—only the deeply personal and familiar." In other words, good stories should center on something that is meaningful for both you and your listener. That ministry moment you find hilariously funny may be a hit with your volunteers or fellow youth leaders, but fall flat with a parent or church elder. When talking about what God is doing in your ministry, choose an example that connects with an interest or objective your listener shares, and you stand to gain a ministry supporter for life.

Here are four story topics most pastors, parents, and church members will get excited about hearing from you. Try having a ready-to-share example of each on hand:

1. Growth (and I don’t mean numbers!): “I’ve really seen Carla grow in leadership at youth group lately. It’s been so exciting to see her identify and use her gifts.”

2. Goals: “When our sixth graders formed a small group last fall, awkward silence was definitely the vibe. Our amazing volunteers set out to change that, and now these students are staying late after youth group to ask all their questions. Here’s how that happened…”

3. Good questions: “I know church members have been wondering why we switched our confirmation curriculum. Let me tell you about the great conversation students had last week because of this new approach…”

4. God moments: “Did you hear about the way God helped break through some cliques and bring our youth group closer together at last month’s youth retreat?”

Embrace ordinary opportunities to share your extraordinary ministry stories

When you intentionally look for ways to sprinkle more stories into your communications and conversations, you’ll find the opportunities are endless. And you don’t always have to do the telling! Make the most of these five ordinary opportunities to share your extraordinary ministry stories:

1. Fortify families: Recently, while in his usual rush to rehearsal, my daughter’s choir director quickly mentioned something he’d noticed she’d been working hard on lately and concluded with, “Kids like yours make my job easy.” I suspect he says that to every parent, but I realized I still needed to hear that he noticed and cared about my daughter’s growth in his program. When speaking with a parent or caregiver, even just a few encouraging words go a really long way.

2. Invigorate volunteers: Volunteers can tire quickly when they don’t see the impact of their time and efforts. What’s more, some don’t know what “success” looks like when it comes to ministering to teenagers. So tell them. Make it a goal to share a quick growth or God moment you’ve noticed in the ministry because of their efforts every time you speak with a volunteer. Then, boost your story collection by asking them what they’ve noticed or experienced in the ministry lately.

3. Maximize meetings: Shake things up a little by sending a couple of students to elder board or committee meetings. But don’t just let them listen or wait to be called on—send them with stories. Ask them to talk about an impactful recent youth ministry event or activity, something they’re currently learning, and a ministry need or two the church can support.

4. Revitalize reports: Do you (like many of us) dread writing church newsletter updates and annual reports? Make them more engaging for all by pairing every number or update you share with a story. You can also grow your circle of connection by asking readers to respond (don’t forget to include your email address) and tell you what encouraging stories they’ve been hearing from and about your ministry.

5. Leverage church leaders: Your leadership team, elders, and trustees spend a lot of time with people in your church who have authority, time, and resources that can make your ministry visions become reality. So empower church leaders to be your best advocates by dropping the story of a recent ministry win or need into every conversation you have with them. Not only will this help them understand how they can celebrate and support your work, it’ll also prompt them to connect you with others who can help achieve your vision.

Tell stories to refuel and revitalize your ministry

Perhaps one of the most important practices to fuel yourself for the ministry long haul is to regularly sit with those ministry stories that help you see the impact of your hard work and remind you of your calling. So make it a monthly practice to take time out for reflection—not to plan what’s next for your ministry, but rather to pay attention to what God is actively doing in you and through your ministry.

Youth leaders, your stories matter.

Healthier youth leaders = healthier youth ministries

The FYI Report on Youth Leader Burnout & Wellbeing offers fresh perspective on common contributors to burnout among youth leaders, partnered with practical recommendations to prevent burnout and promote their wellbeing. Download the FREE report today, and together let’s turn the tide on youth leader burnout.

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