Healthy Habits for NextGen Leaders: Foundations for Fruitful Leadership

By: Jeremy Carroll

Is it just me? Good personal and ministry habits tend to slip away in the rush of planning events, coordinating volunteers, ministry administration, and, of course, Bible teaching. Let’s pause for a moment to explore two foundational healthy habits for ministry leaders that could help you thrive as a NextGen leader, even when life and ministry get hectic.

Healthy Habit #1: Keep First Things First

The ground-level foundation for our ministries is our own personal relationship with Jesus. In Philippians 3, Paul seems to reflect on his “ministry résumé” and concludes that all of his own ministry efforts are considered as loss compared to personally knowing and pursuing Christ. This can be both encouraging and challenging for us as well. To maintain health as ministry leaders, we must prioritize loving God with all we are (Mark 12:30) through daily prayer and Bible study, as well as ongoing spiritual growth. Practically, this means strategically and intentionally making time for God before tackling ministry tasks. When we pursue Christ first, our ministries naturally reflect His love, grace, and truth.

One practical, and often neglected, way of putting first things first is to prioritize the habit of rest. Scripture consistently teaches the importance of stopping to recharge, refocus, then reenter life. After all, even Jesus withdrew to pray and rest. Practically, this may mean scheduling downtime not just for physical rest, but for spiritual renewal as well. Resist any feelings of equating scheduling rest to legalism. We frequently, if not always, schedule time for what is important to us. Spiritual rest should be no different. This foundational healthy habit for ministry leaders protects both your walk with God and your effectiveness in ministry.

Healthy Habit #2: Begin with the End in Mind

So much of our excitement for ministry may be found in creating amazing events and incredible weekend experiences, but jumping into these without considering ministry values can leave us with misaligned strategies and goals. We will find greater effectiveness when we first thoughtfully define ministry values in terms of what “success” looks like, then allow these values and goals to determine the strategies we choose. This relationship between ministry values and ministry strategy will bring clarity to your decision-making. For example, choosing a curriculum that aligns with ministry values brings clarity and buy-in.

An additional “win” to this approach of ministry is that every person on our teams will more clearly understand the ministry values and ministry “wins,” providing us a greater opportunity to help each person see how his or her role connects to the bigger picture. We can take regular opportunities to celebrate ministry “wins” with our team, and when we do, everyone feels like they contributed.

So, what would you consider to be a “win” in your ministry? Children trusting in Jesus? Baptism? Kids inviting their friends? All of these are good, and you may come up with additional ideas. Our ministries will be most effective when we begin by clarifying our values/purpose. Then set clear goals that align with these values, regularly evaluate and adjust your approach and strategy to maintain alignment with these values, and don’t forget to celebrate ministry “wins” with your team. This habit ensures that every effort is purposeful, and every “win” is meaningful.

Are your ministry values driving your decisions, or are you chasing trends and fads? Our core ministry values should inform our ministry strategy, then our values should inform our approach.

(Important consideration: Your NextGen ministry values should always align with your overall church values.)

These healthy habits for ministry leaders aren’t just good ideas—they’re the foundation for lasting impact in NextGen ministry. By keeping first things first and beginning with the end in mind, NextGen leaders can build ministries that are both sustainable and spiritually fruitful.

Jeremy Carroll is the Manager of Lifeway Kids Hyfi, VBS, and Kids Discipleship. He has a Bachelor’s from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master’s in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Having the opportunity to create and provide ministry leaders with high quality resources is Jeremy’s passion. In his free time, Jeremy loves spending time with his family and learning new tech skills. A Middle Tennessee native, he and his family live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.