morethandodgeball.com

Great Small Group Questions

Thought Matt and Doug had a great series of questions for small group leaders to ask their students – getting to know your kids or getting to know them better. Head there for the whole list and some tips on how to use them, and if you’re not getting the daily email from YouthMinistry.com - sign up for it (it is FREEand awesome) right here.

35 trigger questions to spark conversation: 1. How are you involved at your school? (Clubs, cheer, band, sports?) 2. What was a highlight of your week? 3. What is something you did this summer that was fun? 4. What is your absolute favorite thing to do? 5. If you could have free tickets to any concert, where/who would it be? 6. What is your favorite subject at school? 7. Who is your favorite teacher and what do you like about him/her? 8. Are you the type who gets things done early or waits till the last minute? 9. What do you normally do when you have free time? 10. Where?s your favorite place to eat? 11. What?s the best Christmas gift you?ve ever received? 12. What?s the best thing that?s ever happened to you?

JG

simplyinsider.com

Episode 138: Josh & Matt + 13

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Summertime is in full swing, and Doug, Matt, and Josh are joined with week by Cathy Fields, sitting in for Katie. After recapping summer camp (and sharing some great ideas), the team discusses your questions. ;Topics include: not having enough leaders for camp,

juniorhighministry.com

Speaking In ?Big Church?

On Thursday afternoon of last week I got a phone call asking if I would be willing to speak in our adult services the upcoming weekend due to Pastor Rick having suffered an eye injury. The conversation went almost exactly like this:

voice on phone: Kurt, Pastor Rick is hoping you can teach this weekend…he is still in quite a bit of pain.

Kurt: Ummm….ummmm….sure. I would be happy to. Is there something specific for me to speak on?

Voice on phone: No….do you have something in your file you can use on short notice?

Kurt: Ummm….ummmm….I have only taught adults three times in my life so my file is pretty thin.

Voice on phone: Okay. Thanks a ton for being willing to help out…you will do a great job.

I love my Pastor, I love my church, I love that they felt comfortable making a last minute request, and I loved the opportunity to speak to the adult congregation at our church. Here are a few observations that struck me.

- Adults are a pretty easy audience. The pressure I felt was purely one of what I would call “content creation”….can’t give adults the same level of content you can give JH students….BUT adults are an easy audience! They all want to be there, they don’t send text messages or get up in large clumps to use the restroom. They don’t flick the ears of the kid in front of them and they don’t pass gas loud enough for the entire room to hear.

- Despite that….they really are just big teenagers. They have similar insecurities, similar struggles and similar hurts…..they are just packaged a little differently.

- Many of them have no clue about our youth ministry. I was shocked at how many parents introduced themselves to me saying things like, “we had no idea the youth ministry was in such capable hands” or, “we have never been down to the youth area…what else is going on for my teenager” etc. This was an eye opener for me and a reminder that no youth pastor can assume parents are as informed, connected, in the loop etc as we often think.

- I am glad to be a junior high pastor! In 14 years at Saddleback, I have spoken in the adult services two times. I would certainly welcome the opportunity again, but last weekend reminded me that my giftedness and my calling (funny how those two [...]

collegeministrythoughts.com

Why I?m Going Offline

Here’s just a few things I did in the last 2 years:

• Uprooted and moved my family 1000 miles north to Portland, Oregon
• Planted a church from scratch. To list details of what this takes would be completely ridiculous, but let’s just say I’m not bored.
• Written 2 books (and currently writing another), 9 articles, at least 5 other college ministry resources, and who knows how many blog posts
• Traveled to and taught in at least 18 states and 28 different cities (some more than once)

All this and my wife still likes me. That’s amazing. Well, I think that’s a testimony to the type of wife God has given me!

But the truth is my family and I need a break. I’m not burned out, but I don’t want to be either. I try (key word there is “try”) to keep up on email, Facebook messages, twitter mentions and DM’s, blog posts and comments, on and on. I think these things are ultimately helpful and I plan on continuing this part of my ministry. However, Sunday afternoon (after teaching at Colossae) I will be completely disconnecting from all these things for the next two weeks.

I’m going on vacation with my family. I’m not bringing my computer – I won’t even open it. I didn’t even want to bring my cell phone, but my wife talked me into that in case we happen to need to get a hold of one another. I’m sure it will take me 4-5 days before my brain shuts down, but I’m praying it will. I want to take naps, play with my kids, laugh as a family, and spend hours upon hours putting together Hello Kitty puzzles, building forts, and having tea parties with my girls. And I’m really looking forward to sitting outside, enjoying the beautiful Oregon summer weather, with my wife after our girls are asleep and just talking for hours with her – and not about ministry stuff.

I want and need to disconnect entirely. I have a lot to do before I get there, but I am looking forward to this time. See you August 2nd…

youthmissionsinsider.com

Sending an Adult Home

Our friend, Doug Franklin, had a great post on his blog the other day about this difficult but important aspect of the ministry of youth missions. When/if to send an adult home from a trip. Our ministry has some of it’s own processes and steps we take in the context of what we do, and Doug’s thoughts echo our sentiments…

Sending an Adult Home

What do you think? Is our ministry and Doug’s thoughts on the right track? Do you agree or disagree?

marriedtoayouthpastor.com

Cha-cha-cha-Changes

There are a lot of changes happening in our student ministries right now. In the midst of the crazy summer so many other components are moving in different directions. Many of the changes are great, and needed. And it will be exciting to see how God will unfold all that we have been praying for. But there are a few changes that I (as the wife) do not like so much and don’t understand. It is these changes that I don’t know what to say, and not say, and just what to do. My pride wants to shout at my husband, “Hey, did ya think it all through? Are ya real, REAL sure about that one?!” And my favorite, “Listen to me, listen to me, just listen to me!” BUT…..I know I shouldn’t.

I don’t know if I’m alone on this one, or what?? Anyone else fear change as much as me? I totally trust my husband and his call to this ministry. I do believe he is brilliant and gifted and a wonderful leader. Buuutttttt, what do you do when you don’t agree with it all?? Nothing? Pray? Vent, and visit this site?

I did take a big step (for me) this weekend. Our Pastor asked us to choose one area in which we would come to God daily for the summer and ask his guidance. I was certain that I was going to ask for wisdom concerning all these changes happening for us [...]

smallchurchyouthministry.com

How YM is like moving to Texas

Sometimes the pleasure of having a blog is just dumping whatever is inside your head or the refuse of what’s currently “on fire” on your to-do list. A trip into the recesses of my mind is scary for those that know me especially before coffee and a daily ADD pill.

In the bathroom this morning, it occurred to me that working students and their parents is a lot like moving from FL to TX…which I’m doing August 16th. How you say? Let me tell you:

1) Some things just don’t fit in a box: I have two large pictures that don’t fit into anything. They’re going to have to ride in the car with me, right behind the front seat. Same with students. The ones that don’t fit have to stay even closer to you.

2) Get rid of the junk before the trip: Before anything gets packed,its either beendusted, washed, fixed, or thrown away.Its a fresh start and I’m not dragging my junk with me. Good thought for any youth ministry trip or event: don’t take any emotional or relational junk.Clean it up before heading out.

3) Don’t wait till the last minute and expect things to go well: I hired my mover back in April, started packingboxes a fewat the same time and made reservations.Now I’have more head room for the last minute craziness that will pop up. Works the same for youth [...]