Preparing for the Busy Season

Ministry is filled with busy and calm seasons. For youth ministries, busy seasons are found at the start of the school year, spring time, and the summer, with missions trips and retreats. At my ministry, our busy season is in the summer (Memorial Day to mid-September). How you handle the busy season is vital to longevity in ministry.

Here is some advice to help you prepare for the busy season, before it comes:

• Plan Ahead. The busy time is no time for advanced planning and preparation. Develop your schedule and plans beforehand.
• Rest Up. Finding breaks is difficult during the busy season. Make sure you fully rested and prepared prior to the busy season. Take your wife out for a weekend getaway. Spend quality time with your children. Relax and enjoy the calm before the storm.
• Clarify Your Goals. Don’t enter the busy season without clarifying your goals. Otherwise, you are just being busy for no reason. Figure out what you want accomplished during this season. Write it down. Make sure your entire team is behind it. That way, everyone knows what to expect.

(image by splorp)