Your predecessor left you with a mess

Sometimes a well intentioned leader can have a program that is diametrically opposed to your philosophy of youth ministry – or even opposed to good sense. Changes are not only in order but necessary, as soon as possible.

• Again, you gain nothing by attacking your predecessor or even of the program itself.
  
• Look at the programs that are established and you will get resistance to if you change them too soon. One group I inherited was big on initiations and other humiliation “games” which I find offensive. But I didn't come in and self-righteously declare them bad. Over time, we just “forget” to do them and replaced them with better games.
• If you can invoke “health and safety” or other objective concerns, this helps. I retired “Fuzzy Bunnies” by saying how funny and disgusting the game was, but I had discovered that their was a real choking hazard.
• Make replacement programs better and more fun than what is being replaced
• Be sympathetic when people say “But we've never done it that way before.” Then wait it out.
• Give a positive, Biblical, theological reason for what you want to do. Again, don't put down or disparage the old program, just justify the replacement program.