Faith formation, social activities, community building opportunities, participation and education on the liturgical life of the community, leadership development of youth and adults, social justice education and opportunities, confirmation preparation, serving as an advocate for youth to the parish and community, pastoral care and evangelization…and the list could continue indefinitely.

Throughout my six years in parish ministry, I have learned one irrevocable truth—anyone who is successful in youth ministry and continues to thrive year after year must be a successful juggler! We move from one event to another, and frequently our closets, storage rooms, and even office floors are testaments to the “drop and run” that occurs during the most hectic times…drop supplies from one activity, only to grab and run with those necessary for the next.

For most of the youth ministers I know, the best part of our ministry is unquestionably found in those times we spend with youth. But the planning and evaluation of our programs is an essential part of the ministry, and unfortunately, the part that is easiest to brush aside. We plan for retreats, we plan for classes, we plan for liturgies, but do we take the time to lay out the larger vision? A vision that looks two, three, or four years into the future, rather than only at the next two or three weeks or months?

About three years ago, while having dinner with a group of youth ministers, someone commented how things were so hectic that he had learned “when push comes to shove, [he] could plan almost anything between 5 and 9 pm!” Reflective of the pace at which our entire society tends to move, his comment caused me to pause. All too often I find myself asking, “What’s next?” (What is the next activity or event that I need to focus on to make sure that it gets done?) While it would be ridiculous not to recognize that there are times that this will inevitably be the case, circumstances arise which means our planning time is not what we would like it to be. However, is this really the ideal? Is this the best way to make sure our time is productive and that our ministry is effective?

The majority of businesses and employees in corporate America would have no hesitation in pointing out the flaws in this attitude. In the professional business world it is not uncommon to have a formalized plan:

• to lay out specific goals, and to provide timeframes for the completion of these goals
• to outline the objectives and purposes for each project
• to create a system for evaluation and assessment

This process allows companies and individuals within corporate America to have a working plan, a map to provide guidance when things get hectic, and clarity when the hectic pace sometimes means that the end goal is no longer obvious.

The million dollar question: Do we as youth ministers take the time to create a similar plan? Are we able to pause and step out of the “here and now” mentality, and take time to consider where we and our programs should be in the coming years? As a national youth ministry community, we already have a set of goals and objectives. The U.S. bishops have provided us with a basic framework for planning and evaluation in the eight components of youth ministry. If we take the time to pause, the process of visioning and planning could easily begin with these basics.

For many of us the concept of writing and formalizing a three-year plan may seem nerve-racking. By starting with a simple evaluation of the components, possible goals and objectives present themselves. For instance, ask yourself the following questions about your program?

• In what way(s) is each component of youth ministry currently addressed in your program?
• What plans, if any, do you currently have to implement, or improve upon the manner in which each of the component areas of youth ministry is addressed in your program?
• If a specific component of youth ministry is not currently reflected in your program, what steps can be taken to address this component in the future?

When we plan specific events, we have a clear objective and we know our timeline. We are able to evaluate the specifics based on the response of our youth, the energy that is created at the parish, and the connection that youth make with the community. Creating a multi-year plan starts in much the same way: What are you doing now that serves as the foundation for your ministry? What could you do to strengthen that foundation?

Taking time to create a long-term plan is not easy, particularly given the numerous things that we constantly try to juggle. But as with most things, knowing where we are going and having a plan to get there, while identifying all of the pieces that we are trying to keep in the air, serves to ease some of the craziness. How many jugglers do you know that are unaware of how many bowling pins they have in the air at any given time?