I don’t know about you, but youth ministry often feels like a wild rafting trip to me. Right now I’m still standing on the riverbank, recovering from the last wild ride. But the next trip is already coming up, and I’m trying to pack my gear and get my team ready for the next rafting trip.

But before we put on our life jackets and get our paddles within reach, there’s still plenty to do. Where do we actually want to go? What are the tricky rapids we need to navigate? Who’s coming along? What do we need to take? Where do we stop for a break? We can’t just pull a trip like this out of thin air. Even if we can’t plan every detail and have to be ready for surprises, good preparation is vital for everyone involved.

If you’re also still in the preparation phase for your youth ministry, I’ve put together a collection of articles to help you navigate the rapids of the coming school year. These articles are like our rafting gear: they prepare us for what lies ahead and help us work together as a team and ride out every wave safely.

Self-leadership and leadership

Self-care

Volunteers and team leadership

Group management and dynamics

Building relationships and trust

Vision

Program development and planning

Missing something on the list? Take a look at our full collection of articles.

English version: October 2026