I didn't think of that but longevity does build trust. My Pastor would always say you don't even start a ministry until you are at a place for two years and you don't hit your stride until year 5! Wow! I can attest to that... the graphic was easy to create and fun... http://diy.despair.com/motivator.php here is the link!

Really helpful checklist.Good comments and discussion on the original post too.

Very good point David. Not only investing in their leaders, but their young people too! It can take time to see real fruit in ministry and the guys who change roles every couple of years must lead really frustrating lives. More should be written on this from those with exeperience.

Great advice Greg. Saw it first on your blog. Always appreciate your posts. Love the graphic :-)

After 28 years in youth ministry - slowing down a bit now though :-) they've worked pretty well for me.

Those are some great reminders!

Great bullet points! I think there is another piece to keeping volunteers for the long haul, don't go to another church. Youth Ministers need to stick around long enough to invest in their leaders. If leaders are having to adjust every two years to a new YM it can be frustrating and simply not worth it. As Youth Minister we need to stick around.

Looks like it was a lot of fun!

So, do you like mac's or are you just jealous. That was funny and I think it expresses the frustrations that many have in regards to choosing between a mac or pc. Great Job! (I have posted from my itouch, can't justify the iphone yet, and it works fine. I have also posted from my LG Voyager and have had no problems.)

I just checked this site in my iPod Touch. It's kinda rough to use. I should look into optimizing it for iPhone/iPod Touch.

Thanks, Rockin! That's quite the compliment (in my mind you mean it sounds like a pre-2005ish sketch, back when they were funnier). :) I did write it myself. It was originally for a now-abandoned Broadman-Holman website I used to write skits for (www.holmantv.com). It never aired, though, so I re-worked it for the blog using me and Teve, the name of which I did pilfer from the "Teve Torbes" SNL sketch from several years ago, which is one of my all-time favorites. I can't tell you how many times I've had that conversation with creative types, though. SERiously!

Buried as inaccurare. The iPhone is only $500...not $600. (this comment left via my iPhone)

Excellent! I'll be including this in the next round of "ym posts and links to check out" on my blog.

Nice! Did you write that yourself? Sounds like an SNL skit. (Oh, and this site was built with a Mac.) ;-)

Sorry, but I buried this, based on your first sentence above.

I agree that you don't stand in front and beg for volunteer help. However, you can ask for support for the ministry (like material things, money, and prayer). People will want to help out in this capacity. You can then see if any of theme have potential as a leader. It serves as a proving ground for the volunteers as you develop relationships with them.

Oh yeah, totally. We have lots of "off the record meetings" where I just pop in someone's office to figure something out or shoot out an email to run ideas by some people.

Please understand that what I was saying had nothing to do with the size of your church or the team that you work with. It is just that so many of us are having these meetings off record and just do not recognize it. I believe that what Lencioni has to share will help any organization to function well if they will adapt what he has written then we can become more effective, use our time well and have productive meetings.

check out david allen's books "ready for anything" and "getting things done" both very similar to what you said and helpful in organizing your life

finally a place to find decent articles without having to sift through my rss reader

That's exactly right. We get carried away thinking what can we do with this technology instead of how should we properly use it in the context that we are.

Really helpful weekly reflections. Recommended.

C'mon guys. Looking up nutrition facts.... If you want to stay healthy just eat less fast food! And be a role model for your kids at the same time.

Interesting post. Anyway, can you really love someone you don't know?

Thanks Tim. Good advice, so I'll take it :-)