I. SIGNALS FROM YOUR YOUTH GROUP
Common signs indicating future problems in your youth group. A youth worker is wise to learn early the sensitive art of reading the signs that indicate future problems and learn to place the proper significance to them.

Some common signs indicating poor "group health:"

1. Attendance dropping for no apparent reason. Your regulars leaving for other programs or Churches.

2. A growing percentage of your youth arriving late and unprepared for your activities.

3. Poor sign-ups for activities and outings.

4. Poor showing for activities and outings.

5. Staff often absent or late to your activities.

6. Staff arriving unprepared for their responsibilities.

7. Staff more interested/occupied with themselves than their kids.

8. Dutiful performance on the part of your leaders and staff.

9. Kids fighting over back row seats.

10. Group control becoming increasingly difficult. Growing lack of discipline. Hard to quiet the group down or move them into the meeting.

11. Cliques and couples developing and growing.

12. Group leaders unwilling to accept responsibilities and/or carry out responsibilities.

13. Kids unwilling to invite their friends to meetings and activities.

14. Your kids leave the meeting quickly after it's over.

15. Many of your regulars and leaders find new interests.

16. Gossip and comments about the youth program being a drag.

17. Kids won't volunteer for anything.

18. Regulars avoid you. Won't look you in the eye. Converse briefly with you. Don't introduce you to their friends and don't want to "ride" in your car.

NOTE: From time to time some of these signs, attitudes, and conditions will exist in your program. However, too many of these signs for too long may indicate critical problems building for the future. These conditions found in an unhealthy program have a way of building and compounding quickly.

1. Learn to read the signs and place a proper significance to them. Learn to read your group.

2. Quickly search out the source of the problem/problems. What is really wrong? What "vitamins" are missing? Who /what is causing problems and why? Do your research. Get all the facts you can.

3. Quickly design a solution. The longer the problems build, often the more radical the solution.

4. Implement your solution. Head into the problem.

NOTE: Don't let these things build up. If you are on "top of your program," you will "nip it in the bud." Preempt the problem or problems as soon as they occur. To build and maintain a healthy youth program takes constant vigilance.

II. SIGNALS FROM YOUR CHURCH & PASTOR
Being able to discern the political temperature of your Church. Watch for "signals" from the Pastor and/or board or the negative implications of coming changes that can help you anticipate the future and help you make any necessary corrections. The following are significant signals.

1. Parents approaching you indicating their dissatisfaction with the youth program.

2. Word that parents are dissatisfied with the youth program.

3. Distance growing between you and the Church leadership.

4. Increasing budgetary cuts, especially in youth program.

5. Treasurer/business administrator increasingly reluctant to allot you your funds.

6. New restrictive policies involving the youth department, more and more red tape from the bureaucracy.

7. Growing levels of accountability.

8. More than usual hassles with the custodian.

9. Pastor becoming hesitant about backing you up.

10. Increasing difficulty recruiting volunteers.

11. Pastor resigns. (Protocol: You resign too!)

12. Less and less platform exposure for you and/or your youth.

13. Hints on the part of leadership making you aware of certain weaknesses in your program.

14. Suggestions from leadership that you go back to school.

15. Suggestions from leadership that you go from full-time to part-time.

16. Leadership cutting back on your hours (part-time).

NOTE: In every church and in all ministries, some of these conditions and attitudes will exist. In a people ministry, there is bound to be dissatisfaction on the part of some. However, a growing number of these conditions and attitudes can signal trouble brewing. A wise youth worker must be sensitive to the support of his program on the part of the leadership and his church. It is essential that he reads the signals right. Ignoring the "trouble signs" and hoping they will just go away, generally brings an explosion in the future. (Often as not, this explosion will occur when you are on vacation or camping with your kids.)

1. Learn to read the signs and place a proper significance to them. Be tuned in to the political powers & weather..

2. Quickly search out the source of the problem or problems. What is really wrong? What is being said, by whom and why? Fact or fiction, personality or program? Ignorance, jealousy, whatever? Get all the factors you can. You will need them in finding a solution.

3. Quickly design a solution. Take some time and wisely think over the factors. Most problems have more than one solution. Consider your options. Create a solution.

4. Quickly implement your solution. With humility and grace, seeking God's will, head into the problem.

NOTE: Many good youth workers destroy themselves and their ministry simply because they and their program remain largely invisible to the Church and it’s leaders. Priority! Make yourself and your ministry visible and the progress you are making with your kids. The Church needs to see you and know you and be convinced that you are indeed involved in a viable ministry. If you have a Church newsletter be sure to take your space in reports and photos as to what you and the youth are doing. Those who are invisible are deemed unnecessary.