Youth Ministry road trips are great for community, and are a lot of fun. But I always burnout when we get about half way home. Here’s what I’ve found helps.
- 1) The co-piolet
- This is the number one key for me. I prefer an adult because they can take over and drive if necessary. If I don’t have an adult, I’m very selective about who sits in the co-pilot seat and when they sit there.
- I try to be subtle arranging this, but I make sure I have a student who needs more attention riding shotgun on the way to the event. That way I can focus all my ministerial skills on giving them the attention they need. Then, on the way home, when I’m exhausted I make sure I have an easy-to-get-along-with teen for a co-pilot. That help decrease the odds of me going insane.
- 2) Music
- I save my best stuff for last, because that’s when I need it the most. Right now David Crowder is about as good as it gets for me.
- 3) Lie
- I’m not above stopping for food and calling all my adults together to have a “meeting” that teenagers aren’t invited to. Sometimes, we all just need a break.
- 4) Hire a Bus Driver
- I know it’s expensive, and I prefer to be as cheap as possible, but I just took 40 teens to a Steubenville Youth Conference, and we decided to take bus. This was a first for us, and I have to admit, I loved it. Almost the entire ride home I got to hang out with the teens and chat about anything and everything. It was great, I wasn’t stressed, I didn’t want to throw anyone out a window, and I got some great relational ministry time it. If you can afford the expense, hiring a bus driver will make your ministry a lot easier.
