Intentional Preteen Ministry Leader,
I’ve been here before. Summer is far enough away that I could wait until next week to do more planning, but it’s close enough that I’ve already started putting some things in place.
Camp is on the calendar. Summer dates are set. Maybe parents have already heard about what’s coming. So in one sense, the work has already started.
But there’s another part of this that’s harder to name. Because…there’s still a part of me that hasn’t fully committed yet.
It’s the part that knows what this season ahead is going to take. The hours, the preparation, the responsibility of leading this group of kids through the summer calendar. It’s the part that quietly asks, “Do I really want to step into all of that again this summer?”
That tension doesn’t mean something is wrong. It just means you understand what you’re signing up for.
But if that hesitation lingers too long, it starts to shape how you lead. You continue to move forward, but without clarity. You prepare for the events of summer, but without direction. You end up doing what needs to be done instead of leading the season with a driving purpose.
Scripture speaks pretty directly to this. “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4)
Waiting, watching, holding back - it feels reasonable in the moment, but it keeps you from stepping fully into what’s in front of you.
There’s certainly wisdom in stepping back and evaluating what you really want to do. But at some point, there’s a decision to make about whether you’re going to step fully into this season or keep holding part of yourself back from it.
Once you fully commit to the season ahead, things begin to move differently. Now…
- Planning has direction.
- Your energy isn’t tied up in avoiding the work.
- You’re not just getting through the summer - now you’re leading it.
If there’s a part of you that hasn’t committed to the season ahead, this might be the week to deal with that honestly and make the decision of what you’ll do.