Evaluating Work

Click to download as a PDF

This Session

Is about helping young people do and then evaluate their own youth work session. It is one easy way for you to help them cover some of the basic principles involved, and also provides follow-up to assess effectiveness. 

For the actual info on the practical side of giving talks and testimonies, click on Training > Talks in the menu.

To download the evaluation sheet click here

This is filled in by those doing the session and can also be filled in by a friend, and/or the youth leader.

A good idea is to fill in an evaluation sheet after an exercise / activity, and then again the following week, after the ‘dust’ has settled. It is then good practice for both the youth leader and the young person to assess what they said in both evaluations, how they differed from each other (and between sheets), and why. 

Remember that evaluation in church life generally doesn’t exist so this is a real opportunity to invest in the future and the present, within the youth work and beyond. It is also a great tool to improve, assess and encourage. 

Not everyone evaluates by writing stuff down or by having evaluation sheets, or action plans. For example, I constantly evaluate things naturally & mentally – so be mindful of this and allow evaluative freedom! 

WORKING WITH and FOLLOW UP

By far the most effective way to empower, train and work with young people running a session is obviously to be directly involved. Over time (as with working with new or inexperienced leaders) you can gradually back off but keep an active interest in how things are going. Note – active interest – not inactive!

Some ways and means to do this..

1. Have a specific role for young person/people to play initially – give a testimony, be part of a sketch etc.

2. Work directly with the young person/people in the planning of something. You may get them to do a specific topic you have sorted. Over time maybe let them make their own inspirations a reality. Let them practice in front of you.

3. Meet up with them, have a coke or coffee, and look over their notes. Make helpful suggestions around the delivery of the content, practicalities. You may also need to check the spiritual content and read over sketches etc just in case! Pray together.

4. Get down early with the young people and be there actively involved in setting up. Pray together.

5. Be there during the session, helping where necessary with discipline or encouraging participation etc. If things get out of hand, be prepared to step in.

6. Be very encouraging afterwards but not falsely so obviously!

7. Discern when the best time is to look at what happened. Probably not that night. With some foresight, arrange a meeting about the session for after the session, before the session (?!@!?) if you see what I mean!

8. At the meeting, have a list of stuff you can go through written down if necessary. Your role is to encourage, inspire and give confidence while directing. What worked, what didn’t? Why? (See the sheet) It takes courage to do something and to set yourself up. Pray together. Encourage them in giftings you have seen. You may need to say some strong things if it got out of hand. Give them another opportunity there and then if possible, if they want it!!

9. Why are you evaluating? To be the best you can for God. This isn’t about perfection or being the best, or being better than others. This is about glorifying God by being the best you can be.

10. Don’t put pressure on the young person. This is between them and God. You as a leader or parent or friend are there to empower, encourage, guide, support in a real, honest and positive way.

IDEAS FOR INVOLVEMENT

1. Helping set up and down

2. Giving a testimony

3. Reading Bible verses, a story, a poem, rap etc.

4. Doing the worship

5. Giving part of the talk

6. Doing the PA, sound, lighting, technical

7. Performing in their gifts – worship, juggling, drama, singing, dance, rap, breakdancing, whatever!

8. Doing the songs, the laptop / video projector, handing out pens and paper etc.

9. Prayer before. Prayer ministry.

10. Welcoming people etc.