I firmly believe that the kingdom of God grows by the proclamation of the Word. There is no salvation without the Gospel of “Christ and him crucified.” The truth of the Gospel builds and prepares the church for upheaval. That being said, there is another important reality for those who fulfill the “director,” “coordinator,” or “assistant” roles in the church: expectations.

In times of upheaval, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the men and women serving the church were asked to sustain the same level of effectiveness as they had previously achieved—which is a daunting and often under-appreciated request. Unfortunately, events like the pandemic (1) take a heavy toll on church leaders and (2) inevitably bring leadership weaknesses to the surface.  

Because of this, I have done much research regarding the characteristics of youth leaders who weathered the pandemic well. The following represents the findings from my surveys.

Youth Directors who weathered the pandemic well:

1. Were well-established in their churches pre-Covid. This might seem like an obvious characteristic, but it often goes unrecognized. Why does Sally, who seemed to work less over the pandemic, see her group return faster than Timmy, who has worked harder than before COVID? In most cases, it is because Timmy is only a short way into his tenure, and his relationships can’t withstand the shock of a national shut-down or in-person restrictions. On the other hand, Sally is benefitting greatly from her deep-rooted relationships. 
2. Creative Thinkers. This type of leader can think outside the youth ministry box and connect with his youth group despite the social and physical regulations. I have yet to take a seminary course that teaches how to minister via Zoom screens to teenagers. Creative thinkers find ways to interact in an appealing, engaging manner that non-creative thinkers often struggle to duplicate.
3. Intelligent Mimickers. I believe this to be the most under-appreciated and under-developed skill among youth ministry leaders. This person can see what someone else is doing well and import it into their own ministry context. They also recognize that just because something works across town (or the country) doesn’t necessarily mean it will work at their church.
4. Strong Disciplers. Event-focused ministries suffered greatly in the pandemic. However, small-group discipleship models thrived because, though the form may have changed, the content and expectations did not. Additionally, strong disciplers are more confident and comfortable in smaller settings and more equipped to interact in that environment.
5. Hard Workers. This is the final characteristic of youth directors who weathered the pandemic well. As the saying goes, hard work always pays off. In a time of unprecedented chaos, those who woke up ready to grind were able to overcome many of the hurdles set before them by the pandemic.

Upheaval and chaos are realities in our fallen world. As such, the church should expect these disruptions, both physical and spiritual. The pandemic has taught us that we cannot depend on “the norm” forever, and as such, much be equipped for storms when they arrive. The calling of ministry is to feed the flock, and the conditions will not always be ideal. 

What skills were you lacking when the pandemic arrived? What skills did you notice among ministry leaders who weathered the pandemic well? Is there anything you would add to this list?