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All responses Most smiled responses
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Another great question showed up in my formspring last night. "Hey Chad, what seminary did you go to?" This maybe should have been an easy question to answer but before I hit that publish button I realized that the question has many possible reasons to be asked. What if someone is trying to decide if they should go to seminary or not... what if they are seeking to be validated in not going.... what if they didn't or don't need to go... what if I'm over thinking it.... So here we go.
; ]
When I think of this question I am so encouraged and excited with how much things have changed for young leaders. Up until about twenty to thirty years ago the standard form of practice for training pastors was for the church to send their "Timothy" to a seminary or Bible college. If you wanted to pastor or shepherd as a vocation you would apply for the position like any regular job. Among the list of requirements you would see for a position a Bible college degree or seminary degree would be right at the top.
For me, at 18 some 20 years ago, my church still held to this form of practice. When I sat down with my pastor to discuss what I felt drawn to do his advice pointed me in the direction of the Bible colleges that our church looked the most like. At the time I went to a very conservative church. For people who know me today and who observe my teaching style, methods, and musings about loving students the thought that I went to the school that I did seems completely insane to them. In fact the temptation that still remains for people in church ministry is to make determinations about a person because of where they came from as opposed to why they went and what they learned. "Oh... you went to that school? So you must think this way or want to do this in life." You get the picture. This doesn't mean that making the choice should be mindless but if you do feel that you must go think about the kind of church you feel you would be wired to serve in and what school looks most like that in preference, style, method, and thinking. You should also be going to a school that you do indeed share the same beliefs with but if you are like me when I was 18 you just thought you knew what you believed. College, any college, no wait scratch that, LIFE... with God's Word being your colors and community being your canvas are going to teach you many, many, things a classroom never will. I digress...
If you didn't have a degree another acceptable route was to apply for a role where the church would be less concerned with your training. Ironically youth ministry was one of the shepherding roles for the majority of churches that you could generally step right into. Lately there has been debate that the number of youth ministries and youth pastors are on the decline. Some would argue that the economy has a lot to do with this and others would point to ineffective methods being deployed. But when you think about it the term "youth ministry as a stepping stone" and it's implications may have just as much to do with it. Although I think this generally accepted practice of getting yourself in the door of church ministry has died off it was definitely very much a reality in the 80's and even the 90's. The aftermath of that form of entry has left the church with a red-headed stepchild mentality of both who and how the church will pass on to the next generation... I pause on that to absorb and deflect my bitter thoughts.
I am so glad that churches are deeply concerned today with what type of person they appoint to shepherd their kids. Your experience is important to them but even more important to them will be your motive and your intentions with their students.
Gone are the days where black and white lines were drawn in the invisible sand between what and who a church leader is. The focus of the church on the implications of what scripture teaches on the "priesthood of the believer" has really helped erode the mentality of "super-pastor and the league of co-workers." Now everyone is being pushed toward Jesus who never excluded any believer from taking personal responsibility to obey the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Anyone and everyone, regardless of education, is a viable candidate to do just about anything that a role in the church might require.
So what are churches looking for?
Faithfulness. Be faithful in the little things that are in your path. If you've been a greeter you've better been the best greeter that you're capable of being for Christ and not for men. There is a reward indeed for even that.
Connection. You can't lead without being connected to Christ, Biblical community, and his word. I'm not being legalistic here.
Decision. The times, as impulsive as they are, require church leaders to lead. People need you to not be afraid of change, anchored in reason and scripture, leading out of that reservoir rather than following trends and fads that have no place in your community's context.
Teachability and hunger. You will thirst after knowledge and wisdom all of your life. Nothing is to be left unturned in your desire to be the best possible steward of whatever is at your feet. If you go to school... study your butt off. When you finish... study your butt off. I read, everyday, posts from 172 blogs. That doesn't make me cool it just makes me intelligent enough to know that that's at least one way to "be all things to all people." Listen and seek spiritual mentors. Learn... take notes... "study to show yourself approved."
Vision. Churches are looking for leaders who know how to give vision to people in ways that they can own it for themselves and have concrete direction that enables and empowers them to reach their God potential. If you hold on to everything and are unwilling to let go you will rob everyone around you and they will perish. Nehemiah had vision to build the wall but he didn't do it by himself. He obeyed, cast the vision, let go and stepped in only to protect, serve, inspire, and redirect.
And last but not least, transparency and authenticity. The biggest complaints from non-believers about the church is that we are led by hypocrites, hate-mongers, and homophobes. In other words, we don't look anything like the Jesus we preach. Yes, the minority of high profile failures and drama fed media has created this monster but let's be honest we didn't do them any favors by hiding behind our cultural fears and protected communities. People today smell liars from miles away. They have incredibly high standards on you as a daughter of Christ or a son of the King. Let them know that as such His light shines in your darkness and that you are not afraid to confess it, confront it, or get help for it. If you hide it make no mistake it, "will be shouted from the rooftops." Be willing to admit failure, struggles, and need... I grow every step in this and have a long way to go.
All that being said, if you don't chase after Jesus and pursue those fundamental things listed above, it won't matter whether you went to your local community college, major University, dropped out of high school, never finished, or even went to seminary and obtained a masters . Talk with those who know you best. Weigh all of the options. Think about who you are, how you're wired, and where God is pointing you. Be humble and willing to listen to the multitude of counseling you hear. Pray and seek.
For the record, I graduated with a degree in Youth Ministry and a minor in Bible from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo. -
You straight gank them.
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15-17 years ago I was so jacked up for anything and everything to do with leading youth. Usually it's your first negative situation with a church leader, parent, or co-leader that knocks the energy down. Then you get back in the mix and see a small window of why it matters. Over the years I have learned to compartmentalize the issues from the people and events so that I don't feel the roller coaster ride. Focus your energy on the high percentage shots or constants... students need Christ, they need to be heard, loved, and connected with you, leaders, and each other. In other words, learn to see ministry best in the relationships. Reserve your energy for the things that make this happen the most. Try not to put so much stock in the low percentage shots such as events, programming, and day to day internal church operations. Stay connected with Christ as well and trust him with your reality. Your issues, pain, or struggles do not take him by surprise. Try to find out what he's teaching you or leading toward in the midst of the lows.
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asked by jtadams7490
I would say he's at a 7.2 right now. I have neither seen coffee nor greeting cards telling me how wonderful I am. DO this.... and he'll move up to an 8.
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For my personal life I choose the Most Interesting Man. For my public profile I will go with the Old Spice Guy.
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When I step out to love students and care for them enought to push them toward Jesus the complexities of their pain and pressure forces me to think before I open my mouth. I can't embrzce these students without seeing my theology challenged. This is all that I know.
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Love this question.
First, let me say that smoking weed is an outlet. It's not a sport or a hobby. We live experiences but don't collect them in a way you would with stamps or trading cards. So with that being said I'll go ahead and concede that there are other outlets like eating comfort foods, drinking, cutting, shopping, etc. There are outlets that without exception almost 99.9% of the world would say in unison, "That's just wrong." Then there are outlets that some say I'm not sure about this because it's different for different people. You probably know some people who tried weed and then said, "Eh it wasn't that big of a deal and I've not smoked it again. Who cares?" You may know some people who only get lit once year. But the experiences of other people can not be your means of justification for yourself.
When people talk about outlets they think in terms of freedom. I have freedom to do this or do that but freedom is not the same thing as "rights." I may have the freedom to do a lot of things but there are things that just because I can do them does not mean that I have "the right" to do it. Example, physically I have the freedom to punch you square in the face but do I have a right to do that? Not in your world and especially within the first five seconds after I dropped four knuckles into your grill. As freedoms go outlets are usually perceived as freedoms and both freedoms and outlets can be abused. For some they can control you and make you choose a course for your life that always winds up in ending in that outlet. Like if you have a bad day and food is a comfort for you then that is how you cope with your bad day. Or if you're a cutter then that's again how you're going to cope. The person who is a shopoholic buying things begins to control them and obviously drain them in many ways. The deal with all of these things is that it's not an end to the problem it's a means to manage it. It's very deceiving though because it's an allusion of control or managing the problem. The problem does not go away when I scrape a 3" slice of my skin or buy a $200 pair of shoes, or eat an entire bucket of chicken nuggets, or bury myself in a bottle of Jeremiah Weed.
It's sad really because society teaches people to avoid reality and instead live around it. To do this you have to create values that exclude you from accountability and self control. You didn't ask about cutting, I know, but what would you say to them? You would probably say, "Why are you doing that?" Cutters don't want to take themselves out they just want to manage their day. You and I would say, "Geesh look under sleeve. Why would you do that? Go widdle a stick but don't cut yourself." Right? Well a cutter would tell you, "I'm not hurting myself. It's not going to kill me." I have a right to do this. It's my freedom to do to my body what I want to. But what they won't say is that they are no longer hurting on the inside. If cutting could help you then there would come a point where you found relief and no longer did it. Instead it becomes your default every single stinking time.
A lot of people started smoking weed because they were introduced to it by a friend or experienced it through an event and some can walk away from it never smoking it again. Others once they've tried it see the release it created for them and now need that release to just deal.
I don't know who you are so I'm gonna make an assumption. I think you're a God follower. I think you want to live for God and please him with the way that you pursue him and others. At the same time you're trying to get rid of things that are dragging you down or keeping you from following God. So maybe you've let go of some friends who everytime when you are with them it's like you're not a God follower in that moment but instead a people pleaser or a renegade. This one area of your life... weed... you're really trying to figure it out. I get that. So let's ask ourselves, "Why is this an outlet for me?" When the crap hits the fan in your life and everything is blowing up around you how are you reacting in that moment? Are you thinking, "Man, I can't believe this happened! I got to forget about this and calm down for a while." Some have said to me the weed helps me calm down and clear my head but here's the problem... the weed is now a substitute for the very thing God offers us in Him. The difference between God and weed is that God takes you beyond coping to understanding and living in the midst of the pain with eternal perspective weed can not leave you with when it's run it's course through your mind. If it could then God would have sent weed to the cross to represent him. Seriously, I'm not trying to piss you off but the center of the Bible is not avoidance, escapism, and moralism. God is not trying to ask you to create your own terms and be comfortable. People who seek comfort in weed, alchohol, cutting, shopping, over eating, etc. won't find it. It's avoidance, distraction, and escape. I think for a lot of people it's not just one thing in their life that they use to cope. It can be a combination of things, friends, the opposite sex, weed, porn, fighting, arguing, controlling people, isolation, social networking, the list goes on.
At the end of the day who is in charge of that life? What's in charge is the god of deflection and distraction. The heart is distracted, cluttered, and desperate in that mode.
The Bible says in I Corinthians 6:12 "You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is good for you. And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything." The only thing God ever intended you to be tethered to is Him. Not because he is selfish, demanding, or a control freak but because he is the ultimate expression of good. He would be a horrible God to not draw us to him becasue he is perfection, fulfillment, completeness, peace, love, and all things that are right.
When I continually choose to turn to an outlet or a bunch of outlets to deal and navigate my way thru life I'm just fooling myself and substituting distractions from purpose, growing, learning, and moving toward God. In effect chasing comfort has become the "god" instead of God.
God also says in Ephesians 5:18 "And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;" He didn't say pot but also didn't say crack, lsd, poison ivy, cobra venom, or every known substance that can be extracted from creation and abused in it's intention just like wine.
Ask me more or come back at me with what you're thinking. I feel like this gives you enough to chew on for a while though. Also, I hope you understand that Ive wanted to speak truth with love here and that you don't feel cornered or abused. Maybe after this you could just call me. 954 643 5992. -
Hey thanks for aking this questions. I think this is a question that everyone has had to ask themselves at least two or three times with great intensity in their life.
We've all had seasons in our life where we struggle to follow God. This happens every year with me. If you're like me your spiritual life could be described as looking like a trip on a roller coaster. You have highs and lows and quick turns. It seems like there is a lot of unknowns and not very many times where you can get comfortable.
Take comfort in knowing you're not alone. We all have struggles. Even the people in the Bible struggled. Some of the men and women that God used to do incredible things were screw-ups when it came to following God. They made some great decisions but they also made some horrible ones as well.
This is not God's fault but instead a reflection of the way we live our lives. We have temptations, we think of ourselves a lot, and we are not God. Those three things are the perfect storm for us to have those hard days.
If you want to follow God better here are a few things to consider.
1. Get a running partner. You need someone in your life that is going to be right by your side to help you. It needs to be someone who you do life with in your town. They need to be a God follower and have complete access to you. You work together to encourage each other, confess sin, hold each other accountable, ask hard questions, read scripture, and pray with each other on at least a weekly basis.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (NIV)
Ephesians 4:25
“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” (NASB)
Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (NIV)
James 5:16
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (NASB)
2. Use a journal. As you read God's word write down in a journal what you've read and the things that stand out ot you about what you are reading. In the journal that you are using you also need to write down things that you are seeing God at work in whether it is in your life or in circumstances. Look to the conversations you are having with your running partner to help. You also need to write down your prayer requests, feelings, and anything else of signifigance. This will help you when you are in the lows of the coaster ride so that you can seperate fact from feelings. It's gonna help you to be able to go back and read all that God has done so that those momments will speak against the lies you are telling yourself. You will be able to say, "God has been with me and he has been doing these things." It will encourage you to see the past and know that a month or to of the lows is nothing compared to the year that you've seen better days.
The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. Proverbs 10:7
3. Don't keep going at it alone. The mentality of our fathers and grand-fathers has been engraved into our psyche. We believe that we have to be independently strong and that asking for help is a sign of weakness. This is not how God desigend the church or us. We crave relationship and in the ways that God desigend, our relationships are to be centered around God at work. You need people in your life who will build into you and that you can build into as well. -
When planning events we think about what we do with the event to create traction for the program overall. Usually events for fun and connectin gwith friends are done once a month in high school on a wednesday night. We make them a theme event or concert. We do not teach. We simply enjoy the night's acitivities and connect with students. Once a month we have an event within the Sunday morning services for middle school.
We mostly do theme based activities to build energy for our students to bring their friends to. We rarely go off campus because I want them to feel like they can come back to the campus just liek they did for the event the following week when we have our non/event night. -
We don't do too many activities off campus as a large group. When we do it is an overnighter or camp. We lease charter busses for those events. For small group events we ask parents to drop their child off. Our smaller events off campus are more often than not middle school small group activities organized by the leader.
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Book: Hurt, Chap Clark
Blogs:
http://www.ypulse.com/
http://www.mobileyouth.org/
http://millennialmarketing.com/
http://www.the4yablog.com/ -
Okay, so when I teach students I first sit down with co-teachers and prepare the teaching schedule for the upcoming season so that we have calendared at least five months in advance the topics. Doing this allows me to hold loosely the subjects and movements we take our students thru in my heart and head.
As the time to teach approaches I usually sit down about 2-3 days before the talk time and Google the topic or idea. I also call the othr teachers and bounce things off of them. I pray and I read passages on the topic. The other thing I do is utilize google reader. I have about 123 subscriptions and because I know what's coming up far in advance I always make a point to save content that I can use in an upcoming talk.
For high school students I tackle the topic by answering two questions and building the talk around the two questions.
Why does this matter or why is this a problem?
In this first part of the talk I want the students to go on a journey with me. I have invited them on the bus and we are headed toward a place they have not been to before. So when I open the door to the bus I'm saying, where the bus is headed and why they want to go there.
This is where the intro and story builds energy for them to say in their heart, "I see what you see and I want to go with you in your talk." They have to have motive and desire to take a potential step.
Next question... so, what do I do about it or what is my next step?
After building the case for why the journey is so important or why it's gonna matter I bring them to the point of awareness on the way things shouldn't be or the way things could be. People are motivate to change pretty much on two pivot points; pain in their life or the need to be loved or feel pleasure. By pleasure I mean fulfillment, happiness, peace. "This topic is important because this pain is not intended for you" or "this topic is important because taking steps toward it is where you will come to understand God's love or plan for you." Does this make sense?
Again, now that I have told them why the talk matters and what it is taking them away from or toward I then tell them the "So what" portion.
This is where there is application. It is pretty basic in the talk too. My transition is not very creative. "So what do I do about this?" or "So how do I take that step?" or "So, how do I quit or let go?" or "So what does God want me to do with this?"
When I answer this question I usually give two answers with clearly defined steps that they can actually do. The two answers are for two seperate people. It goes like this, "So if you're a student in here and you're not sure what you think about God or you're still processing you don't have to be a rocket scientist or even a God follower to agree with what I'm saying. This is just good common sense. So in your chair or there on the floor the next step for you is to consider 'fill in the blank.'" Then the next answer is for the believer, "If you're a student here and you have stepped over that line in your heart and made what Christ did on the cross count for you, God wants you to understand that the pain you feel is intended to help you turn to him so rather than take matters into your own hands you need to start sitting down and 'fill in the blank.'"
Even after we're done teaching, the lesson continues as we always have students come up afterward to talk about the topic and their pain or void. You need that environment as well.
Now, with middle school, I do all of those things above with the exception that the group, talk 8-10 minutes, deals with the first question, "Why does this matter?" The second question, "What do I do now?" Is handled in small groups by the leaders.
I have four teachers I am developing in our ministry. I have only taught three times this year so far as I am wanting to build into the future with the other teachers. All of the teachers have to type their talk out. I have one teacher who doesn't. He journals the talk. I have three guys who teach and one girl. I would have more girls but for now she is the only one who has raised her hand expressing the desire to do a talk.
I don't know how they use their notes but for me I read them over and over again to memorize the flow and then right before the talk I write next to content single words on the margin to turn to in the talk if I forget. The single word helps me associate real quick the content that has escaped my head.
I write out the scripture and read it from the lesson. It's always highlighted. I do not try to have a bunch of bookmars in a Bible that I have to thumb thru.
Thanks for the questions. I hope this helps. -
I don't know your community well but regardless of what they are like the best thing you can do for yourself is to bring your youth leaders in on your intentions and why you feel it will add to the program. Make sure your reason is clear. Ask them if they object, have any questions, or if they are even opposed. You can do this as a group of leaders or in one on one meetings. They have been there longer than you and their collective voice can help you in some instances like this. Parents if upset will always go to other parents, your youth leaders they have buy in with, or your boss. When they do it should not take your pastor by surprise and your youth leaders need to be able to represent you on your position to them.
We use secular music not just with the games but even in our worship sets. My filter for selection is based on language and provacitive suggestion. If a song contains both of them then we don't use it. For us we can instantly create energy with fast paced music. We can also convey a topic's distress or feel with a song they know. It helps us break down walls.
Express your filter.
Express your intent.
Bring key people on board.
Here is a list of recent songs we've used in games.
Be Somebody
Brick By Boring Brick
Don't You (Forget About Me)
Down
Evacuate The Dancefloor
Fireflies
Hey Ya!
I Would Die 4 U
I'm So Sick
It's Not Unusual 51 3/7/10 10:57 AM
Love Story
Major Tom
Meet Me Halfway
No One
Party In the U.S.A.
The Safety Dance
Viva La Vida
You Found Me -
First, God is not surprised nor did it catch him off guard that you are shepherding the students he has given you. So often we think that the condition of those around us are a direct reflection of our leadership but when we take things to an extreme it's very much the opposite of Matthew 11:30.
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
If everything in your student ministry was perfect would you take the credit for it? No, you would give God the glory. It would be ridiculous to assume it had to do with your prolific speaking ability, incredible team management skills, or your relevant frame of mind. It would be prideful for you to talk like that.
This is harder to absorb than to apply but it's the same way when you feel insufficient as a leader. In other words you are saying, "God, I don't like the circumstances around me or how things are with the program. This is not how I would have had things be." It's like we're expecting God to say, "You're right. You're a total failure at this. I can't work with you." Does that sound like your Lord God talking to you?
That's us talking for God believing that everything that happens is dependent on us. I am so familiar with this because I have to fight it in my own life all of the time.
The life of a teenager is a roller coaster on steroids. You have to trust God completely and have a frame of mind that understands the reality that he is in control. You are more like a pioneer than a developer. You are exploring new territory with them in their life and acting as a guide. You cannot make them do what they don't want to do. This is why the work of the Holy Spirit is so important. This is also the reason why relational ministry is the highest impacting style of ministry that you can endeavour to do. It is also the hardest style.
Some practical tips.
1. Do not think that every student in your group should want to grow. This is not plausible. Some are in process, some are committed, and some are unaware.
2. Never think about what you don't have. Think about what you do have. If you rministry has maybe only 2-3 students who are teachable, hungry, and faithful you grab those kids and help them be light to the others.
3. Don't leave the others behind. If 30% of the group is moving toward Jesus you can cultivate that but if the other 70% are not you still have a responsibility to love them where they are at and help them take that next step no matter how small.
4. Have you clearly defined the steps?
Example: Some of you in this room have crossed that line toward God. You came for awhile asking questions and thinking but now you are totally on board and have made what Christ did on the cross count for you. If you've done that your next step is to identify yourself with Christ in this community. So you've got to let one of us know so that we can get you plugged in.
*** Make that step easy.***
I will be in the back tonight to talk to anyone who has questions or who wants to talk about that line. If you don;t have time tonight you can email me.
5. Think about their next step.
Example: Savanah, I'm so proud of you. You're going to continue to have questions and things that will stretch you like this step did. You need to come to Julie's house on Tuesday night. Carol, Diane, Cody, and Christina go as well. All we do is have talks over dinner about our day, stuff we like, and faith. I'm gonna call you on Tuesday after school? Do you need a ride?
6. Environments. This is pretty much all we do in student ministry. We create environments for people to take that next step. Here's the deal aout environments.. you can't do several things in the same environment. Don't try to reach the non-believer and at the same time feed the believer. You're not going to do both at the same time very well. Creating seperate environments for this will help you with energy and expectations.
7. They are getting it. God is not a liar and he promised that his Word will not return void. It's extremely powerful. Seriously.
Isaiah 55:11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
I got a couple of books below that I'm reccomending to you. -
You should not be disappointed in the growth of the group numerically. Take a deep breath and think through the students you have. Where are they at in their faith? If you feel they are growing, what are the elements you are gauging their growth by? As much as you want them to reach out to their friends and influences you also want them to equally love God and love others.
At the purest form of numeric growth there is the basics. The basics are that Christ died for our sins and is risen. The Great Commandment is God's way of telling us that there is a mission and we get to be used in it. Are your students excited about that? Where are the gauges or evidence that this permeates their thoughts, words, and actions? How are they loving each other and pushing each other toward Jesus and how are they loving the lost and being a light that pushes back darkness?
If they are on mission in their spiritual growth and looking for where Jesus is working it may not mean that their friends will darken the door but it will probably mean that you will meet them and that your kids will speak of them when you ask.
Eventually you will want growing influence for the kids you lead and the kids they are trying to reach within your program. If your students begin to act indifferent or are not concerned with other people outside of the group, act exclusive, or become a clique then this is when you need to be upset. Indifferece is unacceptable and quite honestly a sign of spiritual immaturity. -
Great question! I will do my best to answer it.
First step... create your filter for the baggage. You refer to baggage and we all have it. It's going to be hard for you to completely dismiss previous scars. Depending on the depth of your baggage though you may need to talk someone outside of where you came from and where you are going. It can't be your spouse or family alone. Someone you trust and someone you know who is not going to tell you what you want to hear. They should also be someone who can be the go to each week for the first year of your tenure at your new church. That might sound overwhelming but you know how hard it is in ministry and pain usually comes in slow building layers that if left unchecked will demand to be unleashed and usually at the surprise of everyone around you. With the baggage outlet you hopefully will be able to give the new people in your life credit that the others took from you or that you took from yourself. It is not their fault nor have they been where you came from so those two points should speak loud and clearly to you as you buld relationships with them. When things surface from them that look a lot like where you came from and the pain you went through arises you will be able to have someone to bounce it off of until you feel more secure. Always consider yourself the source of your own fears in the way you receive people or new environments.
Second step...strip it down to the basics. Before you arrive you need to write down the top five things that matter the most with you in student ministry. It can be form, function, substance, or vision. When the list is finished you have to pick only three. These are the only three things you're going to try to accomplish, birth, or change in the first two years. Three is plenty. This is also the only three things you will talk about. Examples: relational ministry, big events, trainning. Now, don't act on them until you've spent your first six months worth of energy in step three.
Step three... listen to what they say and what they don't say. Bring your team together and let them know that you're only interested in knowing them as individuals in the beginning but that as a group there will be hanging out and coming together around what's already happening in student ministry. You want to meet with each person seperately at least 3 times within that first six months depending on how big the team is. If you can meet more great but have balance and give everyone equal distribution of your time and energy. What are you doing over a cup of coffee? Listening. Listen to what they say when they talk about their family, Christ, the church. ministry. Everyone is going to have a ton of ideas and some will be more excited than others to hear what you have to say but you don't know them and they really don't know you. When they answer a question you need to extract as much as you can out of them when it comes to passion and what they wish they could do. Pay paticular attention to people who talk about the three things you wrote on your list and to the people who didn't. You're not keeping score but instead identifying potential people to lead thru or cultivate more. Somewhere between 4-6 months you can start to make changes. Think also about the teams you want to have in the program and who is in the room that can lead them. You're going to find out these things as you talk to them.
*** Also, if people leave right before or right after you get there don't take it personal. A lot of times people use a change in leadership to go ahead and act on something they have already been thinking that they will do. Nobody if they come in listening and building community should deserve the blame if people bolt.
Here are some questions.
What you made you want to get involved in youth ministry?
What do you do? - This is probably the single most identifying question. Listen to this answer because it will be answered with emotional attachment and sense of worth or value to the team.
What do you wish you could do?
Who are some students you connect with?
What kind of student do you not connect well with?
Get them also to talk aout their family?
This is a question you need to ask as well... Tell me how you first started your journey toward God?
What do you think is the most important thing we do as a youth group?
Hey... if I didn't answer your question well let me know and tell me how I can help you more. Great question but I'm running out of blog. -
I have no restrictions. Camp is always a missional endeavour for us. Our retreats go deeper but even there we have no restrictions. I only put restrictions on a missions trip. We always have students who come to camp and have never been to our program before. This always amazes me. As long as they agree with the rules they are good to go.
On this note I do have one rule and that is that I never give a student a full ride. Ever. I can find work for a student or help them earn money. If they have worked hard we will pay the rest for what they owe but we have an application for scholarship and a cap on what we can distribute.
When they go for free and then whip out the wad of cash at Burger King on the way while sporting their brand new pair of kicks you always get this uneasy feeling.
Every year though I have that one kid who does deserve help and wants to work to get it. Usually that kid also doesn't want to ask for help. Hope this helps. Keep 'em coming. -
No One, Alicia Keys.... this was also the last song I danced to with my lady
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Our ministry is broken down into two environments. We have house churches that meet on Tuesday nights. They are student led and each house has anywhere from 20-25 students. We teach straight from the Bible in that venue going verse by verse thru a chapter.
Our second environment is on Wednesday night and it is seeker situated. We speak on hot topics as they are resolved by Biblical truth. We try to get the best of both worlds for our students realizing that not every student is ready to absorb the next step. -
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chad swanzy’s Bio
I'm blessed with an incredible bride and two awesome sons. I am the student ministry director at Gateway Community Church in Austin, Texas. I have been in youth ministry for 15 years.
