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Vitals Playbook

Vitals Playbook

Building a Youth Ministry by the Vitals requires not only understanding the framework of vitals found in Acts 2:42-46 but also speaks to the task-related work we do in youth ministry on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.  The Vitals Playbook was developed to give you a plan and strategy for how you spend your time leading and building your youth ministry.  Playbook is like having a youth ministry coach give you practical tips and suggestions for prioritizing task management.  



Playbook was developed by the Vitals team at Lead the Generation, with significant contributions from Andy Lynn and Carrie Brooks. 

Rules:

#1 - The Daily Playbook should take 90 minutes max.

Most leaders using the playbook find that 45 minutes is ideal for doing the suggested daily tasks laid out. This is not meant to take up a significant portion of your time.

#2 - Each task is meant to be done by you as the main leader of your ministry, not by other team members.

We love delegating responsibilities to capable staff & volunteers, but that isn't the purpose for the playbook. The playbook is meant to be your personal coach to help you set the trajectory for your ministry in prayer, casting vision, leadership development, etc.

#3 - Each task must be measurable, and something that you can control.

Too often, we celebrate things outside of our control and start chasing success. But we quickly have trouble reproducing results when we spend too much time measuring results out of our control.  

Playbook is based on a student ministry of 50-60 students. We would encourage you to scale it or reduce it accordingly to a version that best represents not only the size of your ministry but also the time you have available if you are part-time, bi-vocational, or volunteer.  


For larger youth ministries, you may need to delegate some tasks to your team to be effective; however, you MUST personally model these tasks. Vision is most often caught, not taught.

Daily Rhythms

Weekly Rhythms

Monthly Rhythms

Daily Tasks According to the Vitals:

Biblical Truth

  • Post a scripture verse or thought from your devotional time or the current sermon series you are preaching through on a social media platform to encourage students to be in the word

Healthy Community

  • Pray for BIG Moves from God across your ministry, especially for a Healthy Community among your leaders and students. 


  • Encourage 1-2 of your leaders or students (phone call, text, etc.)

Leadership Development

  • Pray for two leaders by name, text each leader that you prayed for them, and ask if they have any particular needs.


  • Pray for workers and ask God for His blessing, direction, and wisdom to shepherd and lead effectively.


  • Set vision for the remainder of the day, how God’s spirit is leading, and what you want to accomplish.


  • Plan which weekly and monthly goals you want to work on the rest of the day

Spiritual Transformation

  • Pray for 7-8 students by name (every two weeks, text each student, communicating you prayed for them and ask if they have any specific needs).

Missional Living

  • Pray for 3-4 parents by name (once a month, text each parent that you prayed for them and ask if they have any specific needs)


  • Pray for unsaved students. 

Daily Rhythms

Weekly Rhythms

Monthly Rhythms

Daily Tasks According to the Vitals:

Biblical Truth

  • Post a scripture verse or thought from your devotional time or the current sermon series you are preaching through on a social media platform to encourage students to be in the word

Healthy Community

  • Pray for BIG Moves from God across your ministry, especially for a Healthy Community among your leaders and students. 


  • Encourage 1-2 of your leaders or students (phone call, text, etc.)

Leadership Development

  • Pray for two leaders by name, text each leader that you prayed for them, and ask if they have any particular needs.


  • Pray for workers and ask God for His blessing, direction, and wisdom to shepherd and lead effectively.


  • Set vision for the remainder of the day, how God’s spirit is leading, and what you want to accomplish.


  • Plan which weekly and monthly goals you want to work on the rest of the day

Spiritual Transformation

  • Pray for 7-8 students by name (every two weeks, text each student, communicating you prayed for them and ask if they have any specific needs).

Missional Living

  • Pray for 3-4 parents by name (once a month, text each parent that you prayed for them and ask if they have any specific needs)


  • Pray for unsaved students.