During my undergraduate studies in kinesiology (a.k.a. sports medicine), we studied closely the importance of the follow-through in the biomechanics of an athlete.

Let me offer a simple definition of the follow-through: It is the completion of a movement without pauses. As I became familiar with the effectiveness of follow-through, I could watch an athlete swing a bat or golf club or shoot a basketball and be able to tell you without following the ball if it would be a great shot or not.

Now think about the idea of follow-through in ministry. Look again at my definition of follow-through (the completion of a movement without pause). As youth workers, we are not moving as do athletes, although we try during games with our students; but we need to perform our duties with follow-through.

Here are a couple of aspects in the light of some words from the Book of James.

First, we must follow-through with what we say. “Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your Yes be Yes and your No, No, or you will be condemned (James 5:12).”

When we tell a student we want to spend time with him or her, we need to follow through, set a time, and be there. Students who are aching for this time with you are hanging on to your words. When we disappoint them by not following through, we damage our relationship with them and could cause them to question if everything else we say is true.

Second, we must follow through with what we do. “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do” (James 2:14-18).

The best way to look at this is as setting goals and planning to achieve them. During my first year of youth ministry, I struggled with where to start; so I started a bazillion ideas, programs and ventures, but only finished a fraction of what I started. The remainder of unfinished projects quickly became eyesores and left a nasty taste in my mouth, as well as gave the leaders of my church a negative impression of my abilities. As youth workers, we come up with so many great ideas; but remember this phrase my grandpa always said to me: “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”It’s OK to take a risk and fail. We learn a lot from failures. (Trust me, I’ve learned mostly from failures). I am stressing the importance of following through in order for the ministry to maintain effectiveness and sustainability.

The next time you are watching a sport that involves a swing, shot or kick, look at the follow-through and for a stellar shot, and may you be reminded of the importance of following through in your ministry.