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I came to a church in Florida as the new youth minister. The church had endured a split. Then, their beloved youth minister left to take another position in another city. I discovered that the volunteer team was a combination being burned out and being a clique. So, I prayed and listened for a year. This was a great test of my emotional intelligence. After a year, I clearly stated the vision for the ministry: helping teens become the salt and light of the earth.” Then, using strategic thinking, the lead pastor and I developed a youth volunteer application that gave expectations for adult leaders. It focused on time commitment, spiritual growth commitment, showing zero favoritism, and committing to follow me as their new leader. The application quickly caused two toxic volunteers to quit (praise God!). For those who filled out the applications, I set up individual meetings. Using effective communication and empathy, I was able to discern that many of our volunteers simply needed a break. So, I gave them an “out” and they took it.
Effective communication, strategic planning, and abundant prayer helped remove those who needed to be removed in the way that made it their decision to own. After that, God replaced the old leaders with passionate new leaders who were willing to go the direction God wanted the ministry to go.
God called me to another church. The ministry continues to thrive under a new youth minister. None of the new adult youth leaders left! The new youth minister called me the other day and informed me that this was the best adult youth team he had ever worked with.
All glory goes to God. Had the lead pastor and I not applied the leadership principles we had learned over years in ministry, the youth ministry would have continued on its path to deeper toxicity.