Tuesday, September 29, 2015

The Secret Sauce for Youth Ministry

I taught a youth ministry class at Grace College concerning foundational principles within youth ministry. The goal was to help the students understand practically and pragmatically how to run a youth ministry.

I had the opportunity to share with them the secret sauce to our youth ministry. We measure how well we are doing in our youth ministry against the 5 W's.

A youth ministry should focus on:
1. Welcoming others - This is the #1 reason why people remain at a church
2. Worship - Help others see that God is working daily in their lives
3. Witnessing to others - Focus on reaching out to unsaved people
4. Word - A time to study and be sharpened by God's Word
5. Walk - Accountability and sharpening by others

Practical Ways To Welcome

 Create a culture where people feel accepted!
 
- Adults sit with teenagers
- Teenagers positioned to greet first time guests
- Everyone has a voice or the ability to share during small group
- Must be modeled by the youth pastor. Things are caught rather than taught
- Never underestimate the attitude of complacency or being ok with the status quo within a youth ministry. You must lead people or they will naturally form cliques.


Practical Ways to Worship

Create experiences where teenagers connect and understand God is working

- Testimonies should happen regularly within your youth group
- Get them to see God is working every day
- Create moments that use imagery and symbolism to cement decisive youth group moments
- Make sure that you raise up teenagers in the youth band


Practical Ways to Witness

Create a sense of urgency within your youth ministry for lost people. Evangelism is the engine that drives your youth ministry.

- Youth pastors who evangelize have students who evangelize. Youth pastors’ who don’t evangelize have students who don’t. Visit teenagers on their turf.
- Provide practical training and give them something to hand to people
- Make sure they are trying to reach at least one person for Jesus
- Have outreaches to teenagers by teenagers and outreaches to the community by teenagers
- Take teenagers on mission trips. Send teams locally, regionally, and internationally.

 
Practical Ways to Word

Create ways in which students can learn and know God’s Word

- Give them devotional materials. Most teenagers won’t study God’s Word unless you give them something and challenge them. Hold them accountable
- Small Groups are discussions of the lesson and they use God’s Word
- Teach teenagers to pray on their own
- Give Bibles out to teenagers who get baptized or as gifts

 
Practical Ways to Walk

Teenagers are looking for people who will lovingly correct them. They will thank you for it.

- Every student needs to be paired up with a small group leader. Leader charts attendance and if students did their devotionals. Leader texts them/contacts them throughout the week to encourage them.
- Only allow teenagers up front who are walking the walk even if they are not as skilled.
- Focus attention on your student leadership. Hold them to a high standard!
- Mentor one student. Focus time on three aspects: Word, practical ministry, accountability
 Remember, do not be afraid to lovingly confront others. God calls us to do it (Matthew 18)

I find that within many youth ministries the focus is on a few of the 5 W's and they can become unbalanced. The goal is to become a balanced and holistic youth ministry that focuses on these 5 W's.

Where do you think your youth ministry or small group or church fits within the 5 W's paradigm?

Monday, September 28, 2015

The Nicest Compliment I've Ever Received After Officiating a Wedding!

I've officiated a number of weddings. I've received a number of compliments and remarks throughout the years. I will never though forget a compliment from a father of the bride given at my latest wedding.
 
As the reception was winding down I went over to the father of the bride to congratulate him and wish him well. He turned and stated that many members from his family had remarked that I had done a good job officiating the wedding and asked where the father of the bride found me.
 
He stated these words that were very meaningful to me: "I didn't find the pastor, I guess, He found us!"
 
I do not officiate weddings so I can wax eloquently or build myself up. I officiate weddings to be a blessing to others so that God's glory may be multiplied.
 
You see the bride of this wedding found Jesus through our youth ministry years ago. She told her family so that they in turn found Jesus.
 
I was intentional through the years at trying to be a blessing to this family and the father of the bride insinuated this through his remark.
 
His remark motivated me. Something you say or do can help set a young person's path for the rest of their lives. I want to help as many young people run hard after Jesus as possible.
 
Isn't that why Jesus came to earth in the first place: to seek and to save the lost?
 
This wedding will be a great reminder to me to continue to reach and invest into people. At the end of the day it's people that truly matter!
 
Some dear people whom I love are in this picture! Congrats again!

Friday, September 11, 2015

Hope for the Heart Broken!

When people lose a loved one or suffer from a "break-up" it causes grief, confusion, and hurt.
 
Having a broken heart hurts. I've been there as I've suffered through a broken engagement myself.
 
People really do hurt and feel pain when heart broken. In fact, recent research has shown that emotional pain and physical pain are closely connected. Both types of pain impact the same parts of the brain.
 
If you don't believe me read this article..

 
Therefore, emotional pain can hurt and feel just as real as physical pain. On top of that, while physical pain can quickly go away the memories of a broken heart can last longer.
 
 

As someone who has dealt with the pain and anguish of a broken heart here are a few suggestions:

 
1. Give yourself time to grieve. Be ok not understanding your emotions. You may cry and not really know why. You truly are hurting. Being open and vulnerable is a good part of the healing process.
 
2. Maintain a good balance of time with others and time alone. Some people will advocate that you need to stay busy after the tragic loss of a relationship. I would argue that you need to stay active with others, but do allow yourself some alone time to process, evaluate, and grieve. When you are alone, you are not truly alone, you can dialogue and connect with God. Balancing your time with yourself and with others is key after getting your heart broken.
 
3. Understand that God is allowing your pain for the good of others. In the future, you may have an opportunity to connect with someone who has gone through a similar situation. God, may also be refining within you certain qualities through a dark time in your life which He will use in the future. We individualize pain, but don't forget that there is a corporate element. This is why the Bible tells us to carry each others burdens (Galatians 6:2).
 
4. Verbalize and regurgitate your feelings to a trusted individual at appropriate times. Don't bottle up your pain. Talking out loud will help you process what you are feeling.
 
5. Cling to the promises of God. God will always hold up His end of the bargain. God will never leave your or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). God will give you comfort in your times of trouble (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). God will provide strength when we need it (Psalm 46:1).
 
There is a lot of heart break in the world. To all who read this blog, I just prayed for YOU!