3.03.2009
3.02.2009
Junior High Youth Workers...
After spending three days with some really wonderful junior high/middle school youth workers, I am reminded of a few things. Generally, junior high youth workers...
- Are incredibly enthusiastic and passionate about this age group. This makes sense considering the fact that most of them are volunteer or part-time, that junior high ministry is still considered the place to "cut your teeth", and that junior high ministry still, in many churches, is almost a "purgatory" between children's ministry and high school ministry. There really aren't a whole lot of external reasons to be involved in this ministry which I think makes those who are a little more passionate about what they do.
- Are good thinkers. I had so many good conversations about young teen ministry with fellow youth workers who really want to do it right and make an impact. It truly felt like an "iron sharpening iron" weekend.
- Are staying involved longer. It felt like a larger-than-usual percentage of attendees were junior high ministry veterans. Because junior high ministry is often the entry point to youth ministry, the turn-over rate is really high. That trend feels like it is slowing down a bit and it seems that there are A) more full time junior high youth workers who feel called to stay in it longer, B) More part time positions at churches which allows the church to keep somebody involved longer, and C) more volunteers who have fallen in love with this age group and are simply refusing to move out!
- Are feeling more appreciated than ever before. Despite the lack of external motivators, it does seem like more and more junior high youth workers feel like they are valued and appreciated by the church they serve and the church leaders they serve with.
- Are so dang fun! I can't remember the last time I laughed as much, as hard, and as consistently as I did this weekend.
As usually happens when one goes somewhere to "minister to others", I ended up feeling like I got the most out of the weekend. God used this weekend to remind me of the importance of young teen ministry. I didn't really think I needed a reminder, but perhaps I did and I'm thankful for it.
- Are incredibly enthusiastic and passionate about this age group. This makes sense considering the fact that most of them are volunteer or part-time, that junior high ministry is still considered the place to "cut your teeth", and that junior high ministry still, in many churches, is almost a "purgatory" between children's ministry and high school ministry. There really aren't a whole lot of external reasons to be involved in this ministry which I think makes those who are a little more passionate about what they do.
- Are good thinkers. I had so many good conversations about young teen ministry with fellow youth workers who really want to do it right and make an impact. It truly felt like an "iron sharpening iron" weekend.
- Are staying involved longer. It felt like a larger-than-usual percentage of attendees were junior high ministry veterans. Because junior high ministry is often the entry point to youth ministry, the turn-over rate is really high. That trend feels like it is slowing down a bit and it seems that there are A) more full time junior high youth workers who feel called to stay in it longer, B) More part time positions at churches which allows the church to keep somebody involved longer, and C) more volunteers who have fallen in love with this age group and are simply refusing to move out!
- Are feeling more appreciated than ever before. Despite the lack of external motivators, it does seem like more and more junior high youth workers feel like they are valued and appreciated by the church they serve and the church leaders they serve with.
- Are so dang fun! I can't remember the last time I laughed as much, as hard, and as consistently as I did this weekend.
As usually happens when one goes somewhere to "minister to others", I ended up feeling like I got the most out of the weekend. God used this weekend to remind me of the importance of young teen ministry. I didn't really think I needed a reminder, but perhaps I did and I'm thankful for it.
2.27.2009
YSMARKO.COM
If you work with middle school kids and don't read Mark Ostreicher's blog, you really need to. His post yesterday was a great reminder of why I respect him so much and enjoy reading whatever he writes.
I'm thankful for the friendship we have forged over the years, and even more thankful that it isn't a "cookie-cutter" relationship of complete like-mindedness. We differ theologically and methodologically (not even sure he knows what a "method" is), and he is one of the sharpest minds in youth ministry while I am one of the more simple-minded guys out there. A conversation between us is likely to look like this:
Marko: "Dude, (he'll start with that word to make you think he isn't all that smart), what do you think about the emerging, post-emergent, incarnational, communal, ecclesiastical, eschatological and formational implications of the current state of young teen ministry?" Note: I'm not sure I spelled all those big words correctly.
Me: "Dude, (I also start with that word to make you think I'm not all that smart) you wanna play dodge ball and then eat stuff?
Now THAT is an iron-sharpening iron relationship! This morning I'm thankful for Mark Ostreicher. I'm thankful that God is using him to shake me up a little bit and make me think outside my box. I'm VERY thankful that God is using him to do the same thing to the youth ministry world at large.
My question to you is this: Who do you have in your life who challenges you, forces you to question things, shakes up your paradigms and your status quo?
I'm thankful for the friendship we have forged over the years, and even more thankful that it isn't a "cookie-cutter" relationship of complete like-mindedness. We differ theologically and methodologically (not even sure he knows what a "method" is), and he is one of the sharpest minds in youth ministry while I am one of the more simple-minded guys out there. A conversation between us is likely to look like this:
Marko: "Dude, (he'll start with that word to make you think he isn't all that smart), what do you think about the emerging, post-emergent, incarnational, communal, ecclesiastical, eschatological and formational implications of the current state of young teen ministry?" Note: I'm not sure I spelled all those big words correctly.
Me: "Dude, (I also start with that word to make you think I'm not all that smart) you wanna play dodge ball and then eat stuff?
Now THAT is an iron-sharpening iron relationship! This morning I'm thankful for Mark Ostreicher. I'm thankful that God is using him to shake me up a little bit and make me think outside my box. I'm VERY thankful that God is using him to do the same thing to the youth ministry world at large.
My question to you is this: Who do you have in your life who challenges you, forces you to question things, shakes up your paradigms and your status quo?
2.25.2009
Things I'm Thinking About
I have no answers, and I'm not even sure WHAT I think about these things, but this is stuff on my mind today:
- Where is youth ministry really headed? Does it have to be headed anywhere specific? Is it our role to try to figure that out and direct it that way?
- When does being pragmatic become a liability? To me, theology and doctrine without practical application is somewhat pointless but I wonder at what point pragmatism gets in the way?
- If Christ were to whisper into my ear his top 5 priorities for youth ministry, what would they be (pragmatism at it's finest!)?
- If I eat two chili dogs for lunch, what are the odds I will suffer from heart burn later?
- Where is youth ministry really headed? Does it have to be headed anywhere specific? Is it our role to try to figure that out and direct it that way?
- When does being pragmatic become a liability? To me, theology and doctrine without practical application is somewhat pointless but I wonder at what point pragmatism gets in the way?
- If Christ were to whisper into my ear his top 5 priorities for youth ministry, what would they be (pragmatism at it's finest!)?
- If I eat two chili dogs for lunch, what are the odds I will suffer from heart burn later?
2.24.2009
Random Randomness
- Last weekend was a fantastic one in our junior high program. We wrapped up our Three-week "Made" series with a lesson on 'becoming sheep'. The band did a fantastic job....led by a 9th grade guy who has one of the best/coolest/strongest/grungiest/ voices I've heard in a while. The only hic-up of the weekend occurred during our really large 6:30 service Saturday night. 6:30 on Saturday night is THE service to go to and is full of most of our highly connected and core kids plus a ton of community kids. Of course, it's our 'core' kids who can often be the rowdiest, not because they're punks, but because they are just so dang happy to be there, to see their friends etc. Anyway, I had to pause the program in the middle and give them a 5-minute "reminder" about appropriate behavior, respecting their peers who are leading the music, etc. IT WAS A TOTAL DRAG, but had to be done.
- I'm really excited about the GROUP conference this upcoming weekend! I think our 8-hour junior high ministry track is going to be super fun. Scott Rubin, Katie Edwards and I have planned some fun stuff.
- On a side note, Katie won't be able to join us which would be a TOTAL bummer if it weren't for the fact that she and her husband were given a foster child on Monday night so she needed to pull out of the conference.
- In two weeks, we start SCHOOL WARS which is our first-ever multi-week evangelistic push at our weekend program. We've put a ton of time and effort into the "series" and hopefully our students will respond by bringing their friends. The best way to describe it is a 3-week school-based competition (think American Gladiators meets Mad Max type atmosphere). The lesson each week will be a super short evangelistic message....same basic message all three weeks wrapped up a little differently.
- The latest SJH podcast is online now. You can watch it here.
- I'm really excited about the GROUP conference this upcoming weekend! I think our 8-hour junior high ministry track is going to be super fun. Scott Rubin, Katie Edwards and I have planned some fun stuff.
- On a side note, Katie won't be able to join us which would be a TOTAL bummer if it weren't for the fact that she and her husband were given a foster child on Monday night so she needed to pull out of the conference.
- In two weeks, we start SCHOOL WARS which is our first-ever multi-week evangelistic push at our weekend program. We've put a ton of time and effort into the "series" and hopefully our students will respond by bringing their friends. The best way to describe it is a 3-week school-based competition (think American Gladiators meets Mad Max type atmosphere). The lesson each week will be a super short evangelistic message....same basic message all three weeks wrapped up a little differently.
- The latest SJH podcast is online now. You can watch it here.
2.23.2009
Caption Winner...
Top 5 captions as judged by....well as judged solely by me:
FIRST PLACE:
"The coach said we were going to a 'bowl game', but this wasn't what I was expecting."
-Dusty
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Sounding much like his wife, the Defensive coordinator was heard yelling, "Who left the Toilet Seat wide open?"
-Ryan Stone
"When you're going for the hit but the toilet makes you slip, diarrhea, diarrhea."
-Puddles
Vigilante fan gets fed up with the "potty humor" during the half-time show.
-Anonymous
My mom always told me toilet training wasn't easy, but this is ridiculous....
-Jordan Lyons
congratulations! If the five of you will please email me at kurtj@saddleback.net with your mailing address, I will mail you your copy of the new HSM3 DVD compliments of Disney Studios.
FIRST PLACE:
"The coach said we were going to a 'bowl game', but this wasn't what I was expecting."
-Dusty
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Sounding much like his wife, the Defensive coordinator was heard yelling, "Who left the Toilet Seat wide open?"
-Ryan Stone
"When you're going for the hit but the toilet makes you slip, diarrhea, diarrhea."
-Puddles
Vigilante fan gets fed up with the "potty humor" during the half-time show.
-Anonymous
My mom always told me toilet training wasn't easy, but this is ridiculous....
-Jordan Lyons
congratulations! If the five of you will please email me at kurtj@saddleback.net with your mailing address, I will mail you your copy of the new HSM3 DVD compliments of Disney Studios.
2.19.2009
Caption Contest
The good folks at Disney sent me a handful of High School Musical 3 DVDs to give away. So, stealing a page from Marko, let's have a caption contest. The top 5 captions submitted for this picture will win.
2.17.2009
Back In The Saddle(back)
After a really great vacation, I'm feeling refreshed and excited to be back in the saddle. The last season of ministry (the last year or so...) has been an extremely busy and taxing one and I allowed myself to go far too long without taking care of myself physically, emotionally and, to some extent, spiritually.
I may have shared this before and if so, consider it a reminder that you may need as much as I have recently: "TIME OUTS" ARE A REALLY IMPORTANT THING!
Think about a football game. In each game, teams are given three timeouts per half, or a total of SIX per game. When used wisely, these timeouts help teams re-group, re-fresh, re-strategize and re-focus for the task at hand. I think the same is true in our personal lives....we all need to call Time Out once in a while. Admittedly, I'm not the best at taking my timeouts, but I do have a strategy I try to follow and it looks something like this:
Daily Time Out: Two or Three short, 20 minute breaks each day to clear my head and think about something....anything....other than the daily grind.
Weekly Time Out: A true sabbath every week. Not checking emails, not "dropping by" the office for an hour. A day to relax, refresh and re-coup.
Monthly Time Out: One day a month to escape from the office for a "mini-sabbatical". I read, pray, dream, journal etc.
Yearly Time Out: Actually, I try (but don't usually succeed) to take three weeks off per year: Two traditional vacation breaks with my family, and one that is "Kurt focused". This past vacation was an example of a Kurt-focused timeout. I went on two separate camping/dirt bike trips, laid around a lot, and took my wife on dates to restaurants of my choosing.
Your Time Out plan certainly doesn't need to look like mine, but I would encourage you to have one.
I may have shared this before and if so, consider it a reminder that you may need as much as I have recently: "TIME OUTS" ARE A REALLY IMPORTANT THING!
Think about a football game. In each game, teams are given three timeouts per half, or a total of SIX per game. When used wisely, these timeouts help teams re-group, re-fresh, re-strategize and re-focus for the task at hand. I think the same is true in our personal lives....we all need to call Time Out once in a while. Admittedly, I'm not the best at taking my timeouts, but I do have a strategy I try to follow and it looks something like this:
Daily Time Out: Two or Three short, 20 minute breaks each day to clear my head and think about something....anything....other than the daily grind.
Weekly Time Out: A true sabbath every week. Not checking emails, not "dropping by" the office for an hour. A day to relax, refresh and re-coup.
Monthly Time Out: One day a month to escape from the office for a "mini-sabbatical". I read, pray, dream, journal etc.
Yearly Time Out: Actually, I try (but don't usually succeed) to take three weeks off per year: Two traditional vacation breaks with my family, and one that is "Kurt focused". This past vacation was an example of a Kurt-focused timeout. I went on two separate camping/dirt bike trips, laid around a lot, and took my wife on dates to restaurants of my choosing.
Your Time Out plan certainly doesn't need to look like mine, but I would encourage you to have one.
2.11.2009
What? Josh Griffin Didn't Already Blog About This?!?!
Our leadership team has been asked by Pastor Rick to focus a great portion of our ministry energy this year in two key areas: "Connecting" and "Equipping". Josh Griffin, our high school pastor and blogger extraordinaire, and I have spent some time brainstorming creative new ways to connect students to each other and our ministry and to equip parents, students and leaders. Our goal was not to simply create new programs, but larger strategies that will stay in place as various programs come and go.
I'm almost certain Josh will post about this stuff in greater detail, but I thought I would steal some of his thunder and beat him to the punch! Of the eight or nine ideas we came up with, here are my three favorite:
- An Online "Campus" For Students: Our church has four physical campuses, but we want to create an online "campus" for students who have to miss a weekend due to travel, blended families, etc. Our hope is that students will be able to tune into a live feed of our JH and HS programs complete with an adult volunteer "pastor" to interact with. Stay tuned.
- Parent Campus Connections: Certainly some of you are already doing this and can give us some input. Our hope is to get parents of "Same grade/Same school" to form little prayer/support/school action/etc. groups.
- The Starting Five: We want to strategically partner-up brand new volunteers with a veteran volunteer for the first 5 weeks in our ministry.
There's much more to share, and I'm sure Josh will. But he will do so knowing I am the superior blog updater guy.
I'm almost certain Josh will post about this stuff in greater detail, but I thought I would steal some of his thunder and beat him to the punch! Of the eight or nine ideas we came up with, here are my three favorite:
- An Online "Campus" For Students: Our church has four physical campuses, but we want to create an online "campus" for students who have to miss a weekend due to travel, blended families, etc. Our hope is that students will be able to tune into a live feed of our JH and HS programs complete with an adult volunteer "pastor" to interact with. Stay tuned.
- Parent Campus Connections: Certainly some of you are already doing this and can give us some input. Our hope is to get parents of "Same grade/Same school" to form little prayer/support/school action/etc. groups.
- The Starting Five: We want to strategically partner-up brand new volunteers with a veteran volunteer for the first 5 weeks in our ministry.
There's much more to share, and I'm sure Josh will. But he will do so knowing I am the superior blog updater guy.
2.09.2009
Vacation; Day One
It's been well over a year since I've taken a true week-long vacation, so I decided now was a good time. Kayla is in Kenya, and Cole is in a cast due to a broken wrist (a wrist we waited about TWO months to have checked out by a doctor!) so we really don't have anything planned. Just some lazy days followed by a dirt bike trip with some buddies. Today was my first official vacation day and it was action packed (insert sarcasm).
- Woke up about 9:00 a.m. and laid around watching news and ESPN until Rachel got back from a morning coffee date with a friend.
- At 11:30 we went to Chick-Fil-A for our usual Monday morning date...I drank way too much sweet tea.
- Over lunch I began to warm her up to the idea of purchasing a used pick up truck to haul our bikes around. I had a truck for years and about three years ago I donated it to our church thinking I had outlived my need for a pickup. Of course, that was before we started dirt bike riding. Doh!
- This afternoon we picked Cole up from school and took him to get a cast on his broken wrist.
- A few minutes ago I got back from test-driving the truck I have my eye on. I highly doubt I will end up buying it (or any other one for that matter), but it was kinda fun. My environmentally-minded, global warming sensitive friends will be disappointed in my vehicular choice should I make a purchase.
- Now I'm getting ready to eat some chili, hang with the family and gear up for 24.
Dear vacation,
I think I love you.
- Woke up about 9:00 a.m. and laid around watching news and ESPN until Rachel got back from a morning coffee date with a friend.
- At 11:30 we went to Chick-Fil-A for our usual Monday morning date...I drank way too much sweet tea.
- Over lunch I began to warm her up to the idea of purchasing a used pick up truck to haul our bikes around. I had a truck for years and about three years ago I donated it to our church thinking I had outlived my need for a pickup. Of course, that was before we started dirt bike riding. Doh!
- This afternoon we picked Cole up from school and took him to get a cast on his broken wrist.
- A few minutes ago I got back from test-driving the truck I have my eye on. I highly doubt I will end up buying it (or any other one for that matter), but it was kinda fun. My environmentally-minded, global warming sensitive friends will be disappointed in my vehicular choice should I make a purchase.
- Now I'm getting ready to eat some chili, hang with the family and gear up for 24.
Dear vacation,
I think I love you.
2.06.2009
Opportunistic!
What happens when there are tons of homes in foreclosure in Southern California? According to this article, skaters from all across the country and even from overseas are staking out communities with lots of empty homes......with empty swimming pools.
(Thanks, Jason.)
(Thanks, Jason.)
2.05.2009
Gaining Trust
Three key tasks of a communicator are to convince the listeners you care about them, to convince them you know what you're talking about and to convince them that what you are saying is worth listening to.
The last two are easy....simply know what you're talking about and communicate in an engaging way!
But the first one is a tougher challenge. How do you let listeners know you really care about them? How do you, in essence, gain the trust of your audience? You can begin earning the trust of your students in a few fairly simple ways:
- Be yourself...students can smell a fake.
- Be consistent...students can smell a flake.
- Be vulnerable...students trust people who are willing to share failures and struggles.
- Be fair....life isn't fair, but young teenagers think it should be.
- Be involved long-term...students in 8th grade will more quickly trust leaders they've known since 7th grade.
As you begin to build more and more trust, your students will more easily believe you truly care for them, and they will be more likely to pay attention and put your bible studies and lessons into action.
The last two are easy....simply know what you're talking about and communicate in an engaging way!
But the first one is a tougher challenge. How do you let listeners know you really care about them? How do you, in essence, gain the trust of your audience? You can begin earning the trust of your students in a few fairly simple ways:
- Be yourself...students can smell a fake.
- Be consistent...students can smell a flake.
- Be vulnerable...students trust people who are willing to share failures and struggles.
- Be fair....life isn't fair, but young teenagers think it should be.
- Be involved long-term...students in 8th grade will more quickly trust leaders they've known since 7th grade.
As you begin to build more and more trust, your students will more easily believe you truly care for them, and they will be more likely to pay attention and put your bible studies and lessons into action.
2.04.2009
A Few E.Q.U.I.P.ing thoughts
If you are the leader of your ministry, one of your primary roles is to equip other godly men and women to share the ministry load. But what does it mean to "equip" somebody? Here are some thoughts:
Empower: Give them the freedom to minister and lead.
Quietly correct: When correction is needed, do so privately.
Unlimited support: Become their biggest cheerleader.
Invest time: Follow Christ's example...he invested time with those carrying out his ministry.
Provide tools: Make sure training, seminars and resources are available.
Empower: Give them the freedom to minister and lead.
Quietly correct: When correction is needed, do so privately.
Unlimited support: Become their biggest cheerleader.
Invest time: Follow Christ's example...he invested time with those carrying out his ministry.
Provide tools: Make sure training, seminars and resources are available.
2.03.2009
Investment VS Impact
Ever wonder whether something is worth the time and effort it takes? Is it really worth it to spend a full day making a 5 minute video that your students don't seem to care about? Is it worth it to spend two days making a 3 minute video that they absolutely love? How much time should be spent creating cool graphics? How much money should you spend on your summer calendar?
A few of us on our team recently made a commitment to try to run the vast majority of these types of decisions through this little grid. Basically, I want our team to avoid doing things that are high in investment and low on impact. However, I would love for us to focus on things that are low in investment and high on impact.
A few examples of things that might be high investment/low impact:
- A game that takes an hour ahead of time to set up, 10 minutes to explain but only TWO minutes to play!
- A 5 minute story/illustration that is funny but doesn't tie into lesson well.
- Running every aspect of your own camp instead of letting the camp do the programming (maybe the same impact but much different investment....)
A few examples of things that might be low investment/high impact:
- Borrowing ideas from our ministry friends.
- Repeating really good lessons and series from time to time.
- Buying pre-produced videos instead of creating our own.
- Less time spent creating promo and fliers and more time "talking it up" with students.
2.02.2009
Weekend Wrap Up
A pretty good weekend, especially considering the fact that things felt a little "cut N paste" together due to so much attention on our Believe retreat.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance was a little low. Again, I think this may have been due to lots of kids who went to the retreat may have skipped church upon their return.
FUN FACTOR: Pretty high. Our lesson was around the idea of learning to grow on your own and we did a good job of tying much of our program into the theme.
LESSON: David Hughes, one of our college-aged volunteers taught the bulk of the lesson after a short video set-up by me. He did an AMAZING job; one of the best JH lessons I've heard in a really long time.
MUSIC: Music was great! Probably a little mellower than usual, but the band was tight, the kids singing blended well together.
VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT: Very low. Because so many leaders went to Believe, most of them didn't show back up for the weekend program which made things a bit rough around the tables.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance was a little low. Again, I think this may have been due to lots of kids who went to the retreat may have skipped church upon their return.
FUN FACTOR: Pretty high. Our lesson was around the idea of learning to grow on your own and we did a good job of tying much of our program into the theme.
LESSON: David Hughes, one of our college-aged volunteers taught the bulk of the lesson after a short video set-up by me. He did an AMAZING job; one of the best JH lessons I've heard in a really long time.
MUSIC: Music was great! Probably a little mellower than usual, but the band was tight, the kids singing blended well together.
VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT: Very low. Because so many leaders went to Believe, most of them didn't show back up for the weekend program which made things a bit rough around the tables.
1.30.2009
Things That Bother Me
The truth is, I'm a pretty laid-back guy and really don't get too worked up over much. But there are a few things recently that have bothered me a little bit. For instance:
SHAVING: the whole process is such a bother which is why I choose to only shave once a week or for an important meeting. Electric razors don't work well and traditional blades are a hassle.
MY COMPUTER SCREEN: I have a brand new lap-top that seems to be pretty nice (I know nothing about computers so maybe it's really a turd), but whenever I am in battery mode, the screen flickers ever so slightly....not enough to be a major problem, just enough to bother me a bit.
850 BILLION DOLLARS: I'm no economist, and I really don't understand how we got into this mess or what the best way to get out of it is, but 850 BILLION Bucks maybe fix it? That bothers me.
FEET: Mine are gross, and I imagine most people feel the same way about theirs. The fact that I have to try to "un-gross" my feet bothers me.
MEETINGS: They usually don't accomplish much but everybody seems to think we need them which is why I have to stop this post short....I'm late for one. Meetings bother me and me being late for meetings bothers other people.
SHAVING: the whole process is such a bother which is why I choose to only shave once a week or for an important meeting. Electric razors don't work well and traditional blades are a hassle.
MY COMPUTER SCREEN: I have a brand new lap-top that seems to be pretty nice (I know nothing about computers so maybe it's really a turd), but whenever I am in battery mode, the screen flickers ever so slightly....not enough to be a major problem, just enough to bother me a bit.
850 BILLION DOLLARS: I'm no economist, and I really don't understand how we got into this mess or what the best way to get out of it is, but 850 BILLION Bucks maybe fix it? That bothers me.
FEET: Mine are gross, and I imagine most people feel the same way about theirs. The fact that I have to try to "un-gross" my feet bothers me.
MEETINGS: They usually don't accomplish much but everybody seems to think we need them which is why I have to stop this post short....I'm late for one. Meetings bother me and me being late for meetings bothers other people.
1.29.2009
Simply Junior High Podcast
About once a month or so (and by "or so" I mean once a month...once every-other month...once a quarter....whenever I get around to it!) I shoot a short, 10-15 minute, video podcast dealing with various topics related to junior high ministry. If you've never seen one, you can find the archive here. The goal for each podcast is to give a quick little bit of insight and share some of my learnings on any given topic.
Here's where I could use your help: What are some topics you think other JH youth workers are wrestling through? What do the paid "Point People" struggle with? How about their volunteers? What might a part-time youth worker in a mid-size church want some insight into? How about the "point person" who is also a volunteer in a small church?
Here's where I could use your help: What are some topics you think other JH youth workers are wrestling through? What do the paid "Point People" struggle with? How about their volunteers? What might a part-time youth worker in a mid-size church want some insight into? How about the "point person" who is also a volunteer in a small church?
1.28.2009
Random Randomness
Got up early to go riding on Monday and didn't have time to post, and yesterday was a full day and I simply forgot! So, some basic catching up here:
THE WEEKEND:
I twittered that last weekend was like the titanic....big, elaborate etc. that somehow hit an iceberg. It really wasn't any one single thing that went wrong, but more like several little ice bergs that slowly sank us!
- We forgot several things for the program and had to scramble to get them in place.
- The crowd was bigger than normal combined with fewer than normal adult leaders.
- The crowd was rowdier than normal.
- We had a 'guest' speaker who was GREAT, but was new to our stage.
- The fire alarm went off in the middle of the lesson causing a ton of confusion (false alarm).
- All in all, one of the tougher weekends....specifically our Saturday night service.
JR. HIGH BELIEVE:
I am super excited about this weekend's Believe event! For the first time, we are taking a group of students to this incredible conference. If you haven't heard of Believe, you really do need to consider taking your students when it comes to your area, which it will because they have something like 14 different tour stops. Believe is a 24-hour event designed specifically for junior highers.
SCOTT RUBIN:
On a selfish note, I may be most excited about Believe because my buddy, Scott Rubin is the speaker (I typically speak at a few Believe events each year and it would make sense for me to speak at the So. Cal event but since I'm bringing my own youth group the good folks at Believe agreed that it would be a drag for me to charge my students to hear me speak when they have to suffer through me for free every weekend!). Scott is the junior high Pastor at Willow Creek and what started out as a professional "iron sharpening iron" relationship has, over the past several years, developed into a great friendship. We even wrote a book together, which apparently nobody has purchased (want to be one of the few and the proud?). Scott is flying in a day early and we're going to do some "California" stuff which won't involve snow, ear muffs, or ice.
SMALL GROUPS:
For the past three weeks, our small groups have mixed it up a bit. Instead of meeting in homes as usual, we are all combined in The Refinery for a large group teaching time followed by some small group discussion. The purpose was twofold: first, to give our leaders and host homes a little bit of a break and second, to allow us to teach a few deeper topics that we normally don't cover in our small groups.
- Week One: Sex and Dating
- Week Two: Foundations of Faith (Christian doctrine 101, basically)
- Week Three: How to Grow On Your Own
Overall, things have gone fairly well but I REALLY miss being in the host home with my group of guys.
THE WEEKEND:
I twittered that last weekend was like the titanic....big, elaborate etc. that somehow hit an iceberg. It really wasn't any one single thing that went wrong, but more like several little ice bergs that slowly sank us!
- We forgot several things for the program and had to scramble to get them in place.
- The crowd was bigger than normal combined with fewer than normal adult leaders.
- The crowd was rowdier than normal.
- We had a 'guest' speaker who was GREAT, but was new to our stage.
- The fire alarm went off in the middle of the lesson causing a ton of confusion (false alarm).
- All in all, one of the tougher weekends....specifically our Saturday night service.
JR. HIGH BELIEVE:
I am super excited about this weekend's Believe event! For the first time, we are taking a group of students to this incredible conference. If you haven't heard of Believe, you really do need to consider taking your students when it comes to your area, which it will because they have something like 14 different tour stops. Believe is a 24-hour event designed specifically for junior highers.
SCOTT RUBIN:
On a selfish note, I may be most excited about Believe because my buddy, Scott Rubin is the speaker (I typically speak at a few Believe events each year and it would make sense for me to speak at the So. Cal event but since I'm bringing my own youth group the good folks at Believe agreed that it would be a drag for me to charge my students to hear me speak when they have to suffer through me for free every weekend!). Scott is the junior high Pastor at Willow Creek and what started out as a professional "iron sharpening iron" relationship has, over the past several years, developed into a great friendship. We even wrote a book together, which apparently nobody has purchased (want to be one of the few and the proud?). Scott is flying in a day early and we're going to do some "California" stuff which won't involve snow, ear muffs, or ice.
SMALL GROUPS:
For the past three weeks, our small groups have mixed it up a bit. Instead of meeting in homes as usual, we are all combined in The Refinery for a large group teaching time followed by some small group discussion. The purpose was twofold: first, to give our leaders and host homes a little bit of a break and second, to allow us to teach a few deeper topics that we normally don't cover in our small groups.
- Week One: Sex and Dating
- Week Two: Foundations of Faith (Christian doctrine 101, basically)
- Week Three: How to Grow On Your Own
Overall, things have gone fairly well but I REALLY miss being in the host home with my group of guys.
1.23.2009
Oh, Obama
Not sure why, but this little video made me giggle like a 3rd grader.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65I0HNvTDH4
p.s. sorry, but I'm having trouble embedding a video...thus a link.
(S.O. to Rhonda. I don't like the 'hat tip', so I use the shout out)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65I0HNvTDH4
p.s. sorry, but I'm having trouble embedding a video...thus a link.
(S.O. to Rhonda. I don't like the 'hat tip', so I use the shout out)
1.21.2009
On Playing Games
The playing of games in youth ministry has a long history, it also has a long history of being debated and questioned. Are they valid? What role do they really play? Should they always be tied into the lesson or bigger learning of some sort? Do they reinforce an already unhealthy atmosphere of competition in our culture? Those are great questions, and certainly worth considering. But for the sake of this post, I'm going to assume most junior high youth groups still engage in some sort of game playing in your ministry. And I'm going to assume that your game playing has resulted in frustration, confusion and chaos more than once. In Controlled Chaos, I wrote a little section on games. Here are some of my thoughts:
Be Energetic
If you’re excited about a game, students will be too. An excited leader can get a group of junior high students excited about virtually any game…even one as cheesy as the Life-Saver/Toothpick relay. It’s how a game’s played that makes it fun, not the game itself.
The bottom line: The energy of the staff will dictate the energy of the students.
Be Organized
Make sure you know how to play the game before you unleash it on your students. Be sure to gather the proper supplies ahead of time. If a student is going to get messy, bring a towel or change of clothes. If the rules of the game call for 50 balloons, make 75. If the game time is part of an on-going team competition be sure to correctly add points etc.
The bottom line: Know what you’re doing before you do it.
Be Clear
Simple, easy to understand games are the most effective. Games that take twenty minutes to explain, and five minutes to play aren’t much fun. When explaining rules of a game there are three good guidelines: Keep them short, keep them simple and keep students quiet until you’re finished.
The bottom line: Confusing games create chaos.
Be Fair
Don’t twist the scores so the 8th graders win. Don’t invent rules halfway through the game. Don’t give the 7th grade girls a few “secret” tips. Junior high students are notorious for yelling “That’s not fair!” When it comes to game time, they’re often right.
The bottom line: Keep it fun by keeping it fair.
Be Sensitive
Don’t use games to purposely embarrass students. Don’t ridicule their performance. Don’t humiliate one student to get a laugh from the others. Don’t force students to participate; they may actually have a good reason for not wanting to.
The bottom line: Use games to build up, not tear down.
Be Smart
Quit while you’re ahead. Always leave them wanting more. End each game on a high note. If a game is going poorly, quit before it turns disastrous! Tip: Don’t play a game that you would be uncomfortable playing in front of parents. If you think maybe you shouldn’t…you shouldn’t!
The bottom line: It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Be Willing To Mix It Up
Not every student likes every type of game. In addition, not every student is adept at every type of game. Because of this, be sure to mix up the types of games you play. Keep a balance between physical games, mental games, group games, individual games etc. If you limit the variety, you limit the interest and enthusiasm. Also, avoid the temptation to play students’ favorite games too often. Their favorite game can quickly become their least favorite game if you play it every week. In our ministry we try not to play the same game more than three times a year…no matter how popular it is.
The bottom line: Don’t get into a rut; even a good one.
Be Energetic
If you’re excited about a game, students will be too. An excited leader can get a group of junior high students excited about virtually any game…even one as cheesy as the Life-Saver/Toothpick relay. It’s how a game’s played that makes it fun, not the game itself.
The bottom line: The energy of the staff will dictate the energy of the students.
Be Organized
Make sure you know how to play the game before you unleash it on your students. Be sure to gather the proper supplies ahead of time. If a student is going to get messy, bring a towel or change of clothes. If the rules of the game call for 50 balloons, make 75. If the game time is part of an on-going team competition be sure to correctly add points etc.
The bottom line: Know what you’re doing before you do it.
Be Clear
Simple, easy to understand games are the most effective. Games that take twenty minutes to explain, and five minutes to play aren’t much fun. When explaining rules of a game there are three good guidelines: Keep them short, keep them simple and keep students quiet until you’re finished.
The bottom line: Confusing games create chaos.
Be Fair
Don’t twist the scores so the 8th graders win. Don’t invent rules halfway through the game. Don’t give the 7th grade girls a few “secret” tips. Junior high students are notorious for yelling “That’s not fair!” When it comes to game time, they’re often right.
The bottom line: Keep it fun by keeping it fair.
Be Sensitive
Don’t use games to purposely embarrass students. Don’t ridicule their performance. Don’t humiliate one student to get a laugh from the others. Don’t force students to participate; they may actually have a good reason for not wanting to.
The bottom line: Use games to build up, not tear down.
Be Smart
Quit while you’re ahead. Always leave them wanting more. End each game on a high note. If a game is going poorly, quit before it turns disastrous! Tip: Don’t play a game that you would be uncomfortable playing in front of parents. If you think maybe you shouldn’t…you shouldn’t!
The bottom line: It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Be Willing To Mix It Up
Not every student likes every type of game. In addition, not every student is adept at every type of game. Because of this, be sure to mix up the types of games you play. Keep a balance between physical games, mental games, group games, individual games etc. If you limit the variety, you limit the interest and enthusiasm. Also, avoid the temptation to play students’ favorite games too often. Their favorite game can quickly become their least favorite game if you play it every week. In our ministry we try not to play the same game more than three times a year…no matter how popular it is.
The bottom line: Don’t get into a rut; even a good one.
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