One of my good friends and co-workers announced that he is leaving his job the other day. The good news is that it was no big deal to the volunteers who he announced it to! Though, it probably would have been good for the ol? ego for there to be weeping and gnashing of teeth, the truth is, this response is an indicator that he did a great job! One of my biggest pet peeves in youth ministry is to see a young leader get a promotion and then watch that young leader?s program die. It has nothing to do with the fact that I think the leader shouldn?t have taken the promotion. It?s not that I think the only commitment you should ever have is to youth. Let?s face it.
Number one?this is tough work and there are few who can do it for years at a time.
Secondly?.Youth Pastors are often thought of as the minor leagues for ?The Big Show.? This is the way the system has developed. Student pastors are the future leadership of the church. But this is a topic for another time. So?back to my issue. Why do we see this pattern across the country? A new person coming in, a youth group growing, that person leaving, and the youth group dying?waiting for the next big personality? Come to think of it?why is that the pattern we see in the church in general? I think the problem is us! We can be pretty cool. We are relational, so people are attracted to us. We have vision, so people are inspired by us. We are creative and do a bunch of interesting and new stuff, so people like to come see what we do. People dig us. And therein lies the problem?right there in front of our eyes. It?s us.
In my world at North Point Xtreme, our anchor is the small group leader. The only thing consistent every week is the same small group leader with the same group of kids. When my friend, with an identical program, announced he was leaving today, it was not a big deal. When I leave, the show will go on the same way. (I?m not saying it will be easy on my ego.)
Great speakers (the hooks) come inside our student ministry and then go on to do great things on bigger stages. Great bands (also hooks) minister to our kids, are developed, and head on to ?Big Church.? They go to the ?Show!? I love it when that happens?and the ministry keeps growing and doesn?t miss a beat!
So?I hope you are incredibly talented, passionate, and an amazing vision caster?but the truth is, You may be a great hook?but?it?s not about you?it can?t be about you.
Is your ministry built around a hook or an anchor? What are you doing to make sure your ministry outlives you??Tom Shefchunas is the Multi-Campus Director of Middle School @ North Point Community Church. Hit up his blog in your Google Reader for sure!
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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?
I asked u to post ur 3 faves and 3 “not so much” aspects of the Simply Youth Ministry Conference. Now its my turn.
My three faves? 1) Not knowing (or caring) who’s who: Did u know the color of your name tag meant something? I didn’t care and neither did most other people. Sure there are always some who want to see and be seen with the right color tag but for me? Was SO good just to hang with new and old friends. Got to know some folks a lot better over a few meals. Maybe next year we should eliminate the colors and be color blind?
2) My Small Church Track Attendees: There are other people like me! Other folks who have the same joys and concerns in ministry. People who def aren’t doing it for the pay check but do it for the love of sharing the Gospel with teens. We don’t take ourselves too seriously; no cockiness or arrogance about who we are or how big our scope is. We are who we are and we can laugh at ourselves. I had SO much fun with these folks. (Hey track attendees: FB friend request me!)
3) The Inside Track Team: I love these people like my (extended) family. Its one of the gifts God gives us in the Body of Christ. They loved, served, laughed, shared, and served some more. They share all year long about the ministry of the conference. I [...]
For all you mac geeks out there, the rumored notebook event has been officially announced. Next Tues we’ll get to see what those apple engineers have cooked up for us. I’ve been waiting to replace my old 12in powerbook, I hope they have something smaller than 13in again.
What are you hoping for in a new notebook?
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i’ll take the 12 in off your hands when you get a new one, if you want.
I’m hoping they let you shake the macbook and shuffle your songs or your files – now that would be cool
I’m hoping to just be able to afford one…
I’m hoping for iSight built in. Three things I caught in the rumor mill: they are aiming for a price below $1000, use of aluminum cases, return of the 12″!
I’ve have my 12″ Powerbook for a few years and I think this is their way to convert us to a new notebook that will support the new OS.
By the way, I totally love the blog and think you’re doing a great service to your fellow Youth Ministry Geeks!