I?m in no way a youth ministry ?guru? or veteran by any means. I?ve only been in full-time Youth Ministry for 5 years, but there is one piece of advice I?d like to offer for Youth Workers all over the world. STICK IT OUT! In my short time up here in Anchorage AK I?ve seen youth workers from come and go followed quickly by the mass exodus students that they were over! It breaks my heart to see a student connect with a guy or gal and get involved in church then within a couple of months the Youth Leaders up and leaves. The students often feel cheated out of a relationship and get a bad taste in their mouth about ?church?.
In my 5 years I?ve wanted to leave my job multiple times but after much thought and consideration I would find that my reasoning for wanting to leave was selfish. Going into my fifth season at this church I feel like I am just now hitting my stride with building relationships with the students and parents of our Church.
Now I understand that there are reasons to leave a church but all I?m asking is that you examine your reasoning before leaving your students in the dust. Often we just need to stick it out and work through our own issues!
Darryl Nelson is the Jr High Youth Pastor at Anchorage Baptist Temple in Anchorage, AK. He blogs and Twitters, like any good youth pastor should. Check him out!
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Doug, Matt, and Jake tackle some of the best questions we’ve ever had. But before that there’s a discussion of road trips and things guys do on them. Don’t worry it’s not that long. Matt also re-thinking rudeness. Once they get to the questions they discuss keeping pride in check, being under staffed, and pastors mentoring other pastors.
- After spending the better part of 3 days with middle school youth workers at SYMC, I am (once again) convinced that many of the sharpest minds in youth ministry are found in middle school ministry!
- At a conference like SYMC (or YS or any other large gathering of youth workers) you meet lots and lots of people. It’s always such a great reminder to me that God uses an amazingly vast array of people to pour into students. I’m so thankful that the stereotypical youth worker (young, cool, plays guitar, surfs, rides skateboards, has a tattoo….) is no longer the “norm”.
- We are starting a 3-week series this weekend called “STUFF”. We are using household stuff as object lessons to teach a biblical truth. It’s a series we have done once before with great success. This week’s lesson: Take Out The Trash!
- Quite a few people tracked me down at the conference to ask me about regional campuses (basically church plants that are still part of the mother ship). Questions about how we structure etc. My simple answer: “Treat them like a franchise with freedom” They are a franchise in that there are certainly some things that they have to do in line with the main campus because they are the same church. But there shouldn’t be an overly large amount of control…they need freedom to tweak the ministry to their context.
- Dear Denver Broncos, Please get rid of Brandon Marshall.
- Dear senate and house leadership, Please either sign [...]
Every church and organization has a mission statement. And, for the most part, every ministry leader has a mission statement for their specific ministry – especially in the church. Mission statements are important because they articulate (hopefully) what we’re about, what we stand for and what we’re seeking to accomplish. These are good.
But there is something I want to point out that causes confusion. Or, at least, can. And that is church-based ministries that have a different mission statement than the church they are a part of. I see this all the time. The junior high ministry has a mission. The high school ministry will have a different one. And the church yet another one. Now, the truth is when you boil mission statements down, most churches are basically saying the same thing…just worded differently. But different mission statements in the same church?
Really?
Are we really seeking an entirely different mission? Or, are we simply seeking to move people in an age-stage toward embracing the same mission? If we’re a part of a church, I hope it’s the latter. Sure, the vision of implementing and applying that mission should be unique for age stage ministries, but it’s not a different mission! Well, at least it shouldn’t be.
Here are 3 encouragements:
Please check out this great article from my friend Eric Iverson. Good thoughts to consider whenever you’re taking your group on a mission trip.
Fuller Youth Institute – Youth Missions Article
What do you think? Is Eric right?
Seriously shocked!!
I was wrong…not words u’ll hear me say a lot!
I thought everyone knew about Group Magazine…its not THE Bible but its like the youth worker’s best testament of all things youth ministry. Butrecently I ran across a few youth workers who hadn’t had the pleasure of being into’d to this handy guide.
Group Mag is worth every nickel and here’s why: you and I can’t possibly be SO cool that we track every latest youth culture trend. I don’t have time to know about each newly released current topic curriculum or resource. No way for me to listen or watch the buzz around hot media productions. If I had time for all this, I wouldn’t have time for youth.
If ur a small church youth worker, there’s even a column in the mag for u written by yours truly. I strongly urge u to get a copy for each volunteer. Its a cheap and quick way to train and resource ur people.
And…in a few days I’m going to request ur help in writing the next column for May/June. Keep ur eyes open…
Stephanie Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
I saw this and thought it was great. Someone took the beginning of the book of Hebrews and made it into an opening scroll from a Star Wars movie. So great. Could be a great intro next time you speak from Hebrews.
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That “someone” was me! Glad you liked it =D. I also run a blog, at http://TheologyAndCulture.wordpress.com