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In a recent episode, Ryne and Keith unpacked what’s really happening beneath the surface during slow seasons, and how youth pastors can respond with wisdom instead of worry.

1. Start by Anchoring Yourself in Gratitude

Gratitude reframes your perspective. Instead of obsessing over what’s missing, start by remembering what God has already done. Ryne shared how often he’s been discouraged—until he intentionally looked back and saw clear evidence of God’s faithfulness. Scripture constantly commands us to remember, because forgetting God’s works always leads to fear.

A practical step:

• Keep a gratitude journal with answered prayers, student stories, salvations, and moments of fruit.
• Practice gratitude in your personal life too. Ministry cannot be the place where you chase validation.

As Kerry Newhoff says: “The fastest way to lose joy in ministry is to forget what God has already done.”

2. Distinguish Between Fluctuations and Actual Trends

Not every dip is a crisis. Some weeks kids are sick. Or there’s a school concert. Or a random holiday. That doesn’t mean your ministry is dying. Craig Groeschel puts it this way: “Don’t make long-term decisions based on short-term emotions.”

Gather long-term data:

• Track attendance patterns month-to-month and year-to-year, not week-to-week.
• Make notes explaining odd weeks (weather, exams, holidays).
• Keep data centralized so the next leader isn’t guessing.

And yes—Ryne recommends uploading non-personal check-in numbers into AI for analysis. It can reveal trends you might miss.

3. Measure Fruit, Not Just Figures

Attendance matters, but it is not the only measure of ministry health. If you only count heads, you risk missing hearts. Some of the most impactful nights happen with small groups—like when Ryne spoke at a small club where only five kids showed up… and one girl trusted Christ. Heaven rejoiced, even with a tiny crowd.

Measure what actually matters:

• Gospel conversations
• Salvations
• Baptisms
• Spiritual commitments
• Discipleship steps

Then track those metrics historically. You may discover tremendous spiritual momentum even if attendance feels inconsistent.

4. Seek Feedback From Trusted Voices — Not Just Missing Ones

When growth stalls, our instinct is to chase down the kids who stopped coming and ask why. But the most reliable feedback often comes from the ones still engaged—leaders, parents, core students. Keith shared a story from a multisite ministry where students said they wanted to travel to the main campus—but when he ran buses, the ones who complained didn’t even show up. Meanwhile, new students were confused and just wanted local gatherings. The lesson: Ask the right people.

Practical steps:

• Anonymous leader surveys
• Honest conversations with volunteers
• Mentors outside your church
• A network of fellow youth pastors who can say, “Yeah, we’ve seen that too,” or, “Try adjusting this one thing.”

As Henry Cloud says: “You can’t grow without feedback.”

5. Adapt Systems, But Don’t Abandon the Mission

Methods have an expiration date. The gospel does not. Warren Wiersbe said it perfectly: “Methods are many, principles are few. Methods always change, principles never do.” If students aren’t engaging, it doesn’t always mean your mission is off—it might simply mean the method needs refreshing.

Tips:

• Evaluate every component of your ministry individually.
• Make small tweaks before tossing the whole system.
• Give changes time to work! Major adjustments (like night-of-week changes) may take a semester or a full year to evaluate.
• But small tweaks? If they’re clearly not working, pivot quickly.

Kids “vote with their feet,” so pay attention—but don’t panic.

6. Embrace Slow Seasons as God’s Strategic Preparation

Some of the strongest spiritual foundations are built underground before anything shows on the surface. Keith and Ryne compared it to construction: you can build a house in weeks, but skyscrapers sit for months with nothing visible while the foundation is being strengthened.

Slow seasons:

• Refine your identity
• Expose unhealthy motivations
• Deepen your walk with Jesus
• Create time to invest deeply in core students
• Prepare your ministry for future fruit

Henry Blackaby says, “God is preparing you for what He is preparing for you.”

Sometimes God prunes good fruit to make room for great fruit. Sometimes He shifts the people around you before He moves powerfully.

Slow seasons aren’t punishment—they’re preparation.

Final Encouragement

If you’re in a dip right now, you’re not alone. Every experienced youth leader has been there. What matters is not avoiding slow seasons, but choosing patience over panic and trusting that God is doing deep work beneath the surface.



Ryne and Keith ended by reminding listeners: you don’t have to walk through this season alone. Reach out, get support, and let others encourage you as you faithfully shepherd the students God has entrusted to you.