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It’s time for Summer Camp!

July 24, 2012 by 1 Comment

As you read this I’m at our High School Ministry’s Summer Camp! I love this week, it’s such an awesome opportunity to reach out to students, to meet new students and see God change lives right before your eyes. For me it’s also a chance for me to meet the majority of the guys that I’ll have in my small group in September.

I’ve spent a lot of time in prayer before camp this year. Very intentional prayer asking God for some very specific things for camp. First I’ve prayed for all of the students at camp. We’re taking 750 students this time, the largest summer camp we’ve ever had. Just the logistics of camp need prayer this year! Once I got the list of students who will be in my cabin I’ve been praying for them by name, asking God to use me in that student’s life as He needs me to work and that camp will be an amazing, life changing experience for them.

I’ve prayed for our high school staff. I love these guys, they do a ton of work in a short time and always manage to plan out and pull off amazing camps every year! I’ve prayed for our high school pastor, and for all of the volunteers that will be going to camp.

I’ll be back next week with some great posts about camp and the amazing things that happened this week. But for now I ask for your prayers. After you read this, say a prayer for Saddleback Church’s High School Ministry Camp and for the students and for me and keep us in prayer this week.

Filed Under: Summer Camp, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , ,

Evaluating your small group leadership

May 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Matt McGill has a great post on his blog from this week about self-evaluation. His team sent this out to all their leaders so they could reflect on what their ministry looks like and how they are living spiritually as a leader. A few of the questions are below, but head over to McGill’s blog to see the rest of the evaluation and go through some of the questions yourself.

Last week, we sent the following tool to our leaders to help them evaluate their personal ministry:

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP EVALUATION

It’s impossible to get better if we don’t evaluate! Here are a few questions to help you think about your ministry. I encourage you to take some time to reflect on each of the following:

  • Am I maintaining a passionate faith and living a lifestyle that is above reproach?
  • Who are the students with whom I’ve really made a strong connection?
  • Who isn’t showing up to my small group that should be? What kind of follow-up should I do this week?
Filed Under: Repost, Spriritual Life, Volunteer ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , ,

You Can’t Feed Students If You’re Not Getting Fed

February 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment

One of the amazing things I have noticed about teenagers is how perceptive they are, when they want to be. I make this point because I think as a leader of a high school small group, I can’t preach to them about doing the right thing if I’m not doing it myself, they see right through you. I don’t want to get preachy here but you can’t teach and lead students about living Godly, biblical lives if you’re not doing it yourself.  When we decided to be involved in student ministry, either as a paid worker or a volunteer, we all made a committment to live our lives as examples to students and not just go by the “do as I say, not as I do” rule.

I could give many examples of living your life in a way that’s a great example to to students but one that really comes to mind is in your own daily Bible study. Teens know when you’re faking it. We can’t tell them how important a quiet time and daily Bible study is if we are not getting fed by the Word ourselves every day. Getting in the Word keeps you connected to God, it helps you stay true to your morals and values, it helps you with problems that come up in your life and also when students come to you with a problem. 

It’s like someone who has never run a marathon deciding that tomorrow they are going to run a marathon. You might make it for the first mile or so, if your lucky, but you’re going to fall out of the race pretty fast compared to those who are committed to running. Same thing applies here. If I’m getting fed from the Bible on a regular basis, its easy for me to turn to the Bible in times of need and also to refer students there. The Bible is God’s love letter to us and for lack of a better term, it’s an “owner’s manual” for life. The more you know the Bible, the more you’re able to use it in life applications.

Question:  Are you getting in the Word on a regular basis?

Filed Under: Spriritual Life, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , ,

It’s Awesome When Students Minister to Each Other

January 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Last night after my high school small group met, I had a moment that made me sad at first and then the sadness turned into happiness and a prayer of thanks to God.

We’ve written in the past that often the best ministry happens AFTER your small group meeting is over and that’s exactly what happened to me last night. After our group was done and all the guys were standing in front of our student ministry building, one by one they begin to say goodbye and leave. However, three of them stayed behind and while I was saying goodbye to one of the other guys I noticed that the three of them had gone to a far corner of the building, off by themselves to talk. I started to head over there and then I thought to myself that since they took the time go way over there they probably wanted to talk without me being there.

At first that made me kind of wonder what was up that they didn’t want me in the conversation and a little bit sad…but then it was as if God hit me upside the head with a frying pan! They were ministering to each other! And isn’t that what we are suppose to be teaching them?? After they all left I got text messages from two of them and the message was basically the same, “the three of us just had one of the best talks I’ve ever had” “thanks for showing us how to be there for each other”.

The main concept of this website is, one generation teaching and mentoring the next generation. That’s what has happened in my small group. We as leaders can’t always be there for them, so it’s an amazing feeling knowing that they have learned to lean on each other as Christian brothers in a time of need. If being successful in this area makes me feel sad and left out from time to time, fine with me, bring it on! It means that my loving on them and showing, teaching and mentoring them has worked! Praise God!

Coming up soon, we’re going to post  about an example of a Generation to Generation to Generation to Generation teaching and mentoring that has occurred, watch for more details about that it’s something Steven and I are super proud of, and another example of what can happen when you let God use you.

 

Filed Under: Mentoring, Small Groups, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , ,

Summer Camp is Only Six Months Away

January 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Our high school ministry summer camp is six months away and I’m already thinking about this year’s camp and praying about it. For the past two years I’ve seen lives changed in that week at camp, I know how powerful it can be for students who meet Jesus for the first time at camp. I’m taking a freshman group this year, so I’m also praying for me and hoping I can find a good co-leader for camp this year.

I have a friend who I work with at Saddleback Church and he just got involved with being a student ministry volunteer this year and I want to con him…I mean convince him into coming to camp this year, I think it will grow him and be a great thing for students to have him there this year.

As a camp veteran now, there are some things I want to be sure I do. I want to make sure I make the most of cabin time at night with my group. Our camp is one week long so I have four chances (Friday we are on our way home and there is no cabin time) to share God with students and help them along in their walk. I look at it as each night 25% of my cabin time is going to take place and I need to make the most of it.

Activities during the day with students are super important. I learned that last year when I had a group that I hadn’t met until the day we left for camp. I made a concerted effort to spend as much time with them during the day and find some one-on-one time with each student during the week. It paid off; those guys are all in my small group now and I thank God every day for each of them. However I will stress here, it’s important to find some time during the day for a quick quiet time with God. Don’t get so wrapped up in serving God at summer camp that you forget to spend time with him yourself!

I also think it’s important to find some time during the day to slip away and have a quick few minutes with other leaders:

  • After about 24 hours of total immersion with students I need to have a conversation with someone that where every sentence does not start with the word “dude”.
  • I want to hear how other leaders are doing, how they are handing problems with their groups. I might be having the same issues or someone else might be dealing with what I am. Two are stronger than one; we need to help each other out.

I’m also praying for the students I’ll have a camp this year, who I don’t even know yet. I’d love to hear how you start preparing yourself for summer camp.

Filed Under: Summer Camp, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , ,

Cultural Relevancy and Youth Ministry

December 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I’m not 18 years old anymore…in fact I’m far from it. As a youth ministry leader and volunteer I need to be REAL and not try to be something I’m not. Teens see right through that. I’ve seen some student ministry volunteers try to look and act cool and well, to be honest, you just look like a fool. I want to be an “attraction” to God, not a “distraction” from God. However, you do need to keep up on the current culture trends with teens to be a successful leader. 

Andy Blanks over youthministry360.com has a great blog about this topic. Here’s a tease of the article, you can find the entire blog here.

Lately I’ve listened to a conversation going on in youth ministry circles on whether or not it’s valuable to be versed in youth culture . . . to be “culturally relevant.” I think this conversation is of vital importance to us as youth workers. Give me 4 minutes of your time to share my thoughts (and I welcome yours, as well).

I believe youth workers must strive to be experts in two things: Scripture and culture. Let me explain.

We know the truth of Scripture is timeless. It’s as effective today at spiritual transformation as it was hundreds and thousands of years ago.

However, culture is not timeless. Culture is fluid. It changes with time and geography. You would never attempt to reach a people group in another culture without considering that culture’s unique realities. You wouldn’t travel to rural Chongqing, China and teach the exact same lesson you would teach in Idaho Falls. While the underlying biblical truths have a universal application, the cultural “vehicle” through which your lesson is communicated would be wholly ineffective.

I believe as youth workers we should approach reaching our students with the same level of cultural awareness that we would take in approaching another people group in another culture.

Why? What are the benefits of a commitment to cultural relevancy? Glad you asked.

  • It’s strategic–Knowing youth culture helps you tailor your message in order to deliver Scripture’s un-changing truth in a way that is wrapped in the rhetoric of the society surrounding your students.
  • It Shows You Care–Whenever I travel internationally, I learn some basic conversational phrases in the native language. When I need something and engage someone in their native language (however clumsily), they are much more inclined to help. It shows that I value their culture. Knowing youth culture says the same thing to your students.

 

Filed Under: Repost, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , ,

Retro Friday // Lighten Up!

December 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Today is Retro Friday and we’re featuring a post we wrote for volunteeryouthministry.com. You can find a ton of good stuff over there including this post that is a reminder that sometimes you have to be a kid! You can find the original post here.

 

Matt: I look forward to Wednesday nights when I meet with my high school small group guys. I want them to look forward to Wednesday night as well. One thing we need to remember is that small group needs to be fun for students. We have a serious time for Bible study, but we also take time each week to give each guy a chance to talk about his week, how things are going, and about his life in general. It usually just takes one guy to start talking about a tough time he is going through, or a problem and that usually opens up the rest of the group to talking about a problem that he is having. We spend time towards the end of the night on prayer requests. One thing we try to do is have fun each week, and set aside a day every now and then for just fellowship, and fun. Fellowship helps bond your group together. If you have students that don’t attend the same school, they might only see each other on small group night. One important thing for leaders, on fun and fellowship night…be a kid!! Play dodge ball with them, play video games with them, whatever the game, join in! Participate, don’t just stand by and watch! Don’t bring your laptop and try to catch up on work from the office. This is a time for students and it shows your students that you were a kid once, that you’re not just some guy that wants to lead a Bible study, and it shows them you care. In short it helps bond you to them. With that bond comes trust, with trust comes the ability to open up to you and share what’s going on in their lives. And with that comes the opportunity to teach and show them how different their lives can be when they involve Jesus in every part of their life. When I’m having fun, playing some games or sport activity with my guys it also reminds me not to take myself too serious. Getting whacked in the head with a dodge ball helps keep you humble, trust me I know!

Steven: I’ll admit that I’m probably not the best person to be talking about this. So many times I find myself stressing over time restraints because we only have a set amount of time, and there’s so much Jesus I want to pump into my small group guys! I don’t want it to be wasted on useless games and un-constructive talking. The fact is, however, some of the best ministry moments happen when you’re not being intentionally Jesus-minded. The idea of simply showing your students that you’re a real person and not some Bible-thumping, never-stop-preaching small group leader is super important to making positive, trust-building relationships. THAT is where real ministry comes from. One of the best things I ever did with my 7th grade group is a sleepover (actually a misnomer – there’s usually no sleep involved) in our student building at Saddleback Church. 13 students and 2 leaders got to take over the entire building that night for an amazing time of fellowship, bonding and a ton of laughing. The best part of it was God’s great timing. It happened to work out that we were able to plan the sleepover only two months after the group came together, but after that night, no one could’ve known that the group had only known each other for two months because everyone became so close. There’s just something about staying up all night, throwing dodge balls at each other, having NERF gun wars and playing hide and seek that grow a group together, and not one time did we have to mention Jesus. It just worked. In all honesty, it probably doesn’t take a sleepover to make your small group bond and be more fun. Start small, like a game of ultimate Frisbee in the park, and see where God takes it.

Filed Under: Retro Friday, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Keep Fighting The Good Fight

December 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

What a week this has been…and it’s only Thursday! Last weekend one of the guys in my high school small group gave his testimony in our high school services and he did an awesome job. Several students going through what he has experienced in his life could relate to his testimony and came up to talk to him afterwards. It’s awesome to see God use one of my students in that way, it shows all of the guys in my group that God can and will use you when you open yourself up and tell Him you will do whatever it takes.

At the same time I’ve had four of the guys in my group come up to me this week and ask for some advice and help with some stuff going on in their lives. And while I love that they feel comfortable with me to talk to me about anything, it kills me to see the pain on their faces while they explain what’s going on.

This week Steven sent out a tweet that said in the past couple of weeks he has experienced the highest highs and lowest lows in four years of student ministry.

What’s the point of this post? I think I have several that are rattling around in my head but there are a couple of main ones. First up – Spiritual Warfare. Satan HATES when things go good in your ministry and you win more and more for Jesus. His tactic is to bring you down emotionally. Well sorry Satan but Steven and I aren’t falling for that one. We will not back down and we will not give you power over our minds or our ministries. We’ll keep plugging along and bringing students to Christ and helping them grow in their faith. The one thing that is always true: God is faithful.

Second one and I still have to remind myself about this one. It’s not my timing it’s God’s. I’m just a piece of the puzzle. I won’t back down, I’ll keep finding ways to grow and stretch the faith of my students to grow their relationship with God.

We all have good and bad seasons in student ministry. My hope today is that somewhere, someplace, sometime, other youth workers who have experienced what Steven and I have this past couple weeks will read this post and they won’t back down either.

We’d love to hear your experiences with this and how you fought back.

Filed Under: Encouragement, Spriritual Life, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Can You Give Me One Piece Of Advice?

October 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

in·ten·tion·al [in-ten-shuh-nl] adjective 1. done with intention or on purpose; intended. 2. of or pertaining to intention or purpose.

One of my goals this year is to be intentional with my small group guys. Tonight was our first meeting and to say that everything went great would be an understatement. I know all but three of the guys in my group, but I can already tell this is going to be an amazing year. We have already talked about some tough issues, and these guys really get into a good Bible study-discussion time.

Before our time with the students tonight, the high school small group leaders met for an hour training session. This year we have new leaders who literally signed up to be small group leaders two-weeks ago. I introduced myself to one tonight and during our conversation he asked me if I could give him one piece of advice what would that be?

My answer to him was “Be real, and be intentional with your group.” He asked what that meant and I described it this way:

Be real. Don’t try and to be something you’re not, don’t try to act cool, don’t try and impress them, just be yourself. Teenagers can see right through you if you’re not real with them. Quickest way for them to lose  respect for you is for you to be “fake” with them.

Be Intentional. Let them know you’re there for them and don’t just say it, mean it! Be a part of their lives not just someone they see for two hours a week at a Bible study. Text them, call them, meet them for lunch, go to one of their games, whatever it takes.

I think one of the most important feelings that we as humans crave is to know that “someone cares” It doesn’t have to be something big, the little things matter too! A random text during the week that you are thinking about them and praying for whatever problem you know they are having goes a long, long way.

If you had to give one piece of advice to a new leader what would it be?

Filed Under: Small Groups, Volunteer ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

What’s really bothering you? Tell Me Now!

September 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

After my high school small group met a couple of weeks ago, I got a text from one of my guys and later he and I talked on the phone for almost an hour. He had an issue and he didn’t know what to do and didn’t know who to turn to for some advice. I was able to answer his question and give him some advice and pray for him in about fifteen minutes and the rest of the conversation I realized that he had some other issues that is he is not quite ready to talk about, but I feel confident that when the time is right he will come  around for some spiritual guidance and help.

I had to fight back the urge to ask him, “What’s really bothering you? TELL ME NOW!” I came close but it dawned on me that he is not ready yet to talk about a big issue that is going on in his life with his family. If you push too hard you run the risk of a student not being comfortable in talking with you. If I had known him longer I probably would have pushed it. But this is a student that I’ve only known since July when he was in my cabin at high school camp.

However this is not to say, I just rolled over and didn’t say anything. I let him know that I can tell there is more on his mind than what we just talked about, and I let him know five simple words. “I’m here when you’re ready”.

I think for students going through a tough time, half the battle is just knowing that someone is there for you, someone cares and someone will be there to support them during turbulent times in their life.

As a student ministry leader, that’s what you need to be in a student’s life. Doug Fields just wrote an awesome post on his blog about small group leaders from a “Dad’s prospective”. (Check it out here) 

Sometimes you’re just the guy who is there for them when they need some extra help.

If you’re a small group leader, are you that person for your students?

Filed Under: Small Groups, Volunteer ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , ,
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