Leadership | Ministry Blackboard

18May/130

Chowtime – 5/18

Playing catch up from the week? Chew on these tid-bits of information...

Stat to Chew on...10% of teens state their parents have no clue about what type of music they listen to while 83% claim that their parents like all or some of their music. (source: StageOfLIfe.com)

Quote to Digest...“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” - Dr. Seuss

Student Ministry Blogs to bite into...

Kurt Johnston talks about how Ownership in his middle school program is a difference maker
Want to build parent partnerships? Ryan Reed outlines 5 Questions you need to ask in order to build those
Rachel Blom discusses how much older a youth leader should be than students
Michael Bayne shares about discovering that "win" for your volunteers
Jeremy Zach outlines 10 musts for leading a Youth Program
In this time of transitions, Joshua Griffin talks about Youth Ministry Transitions

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Tagged as: adults, communication, dr. seuss, Leadership, mentors, middle school, music, ownership, Parents, partnerships, stats, student ministry, transitions, vision, volunteers, win No Comments

6May/130

the Monday Morning Debrief: Eyeing New Leaders

If you have been following my blog for a while, you'll know that I'm a HUGE Penn State fan. Despite all that has happened there and to those poor children, my support for that University and Football program has never wavered. So it should come as no surprise that I found this article on ESPN.com this past week and was pumped for the future of the PSU football program.

But, this article also got me pumped for my own Student Ministry program. How you might ask? Because it got me thinking about my future leaders for next year. I know, I know. This year isn't even over yet and I know that. But, if I'm not looking for the next crop of student leaders to take over for the exiting seniors now, I'm going to up a creek without a paddle come fall. In fact, we should always be looking for the next set of leaders.

But what do they look like? Who are they? Here are some suggestions as you look for your own future leaders...

Students who possess that "it" quality that other students follow. For each ministry that "it" quality will be different but one thing is certain, you know that person when you see them. They have something that you are looking for and that other students want to follow.
Someone who is teachable. Never underestimate a student who has a passion to learn and want to do well. What they may lack in some areas, they make up for it in their teachability.
A student who is consistent and makes your program a priority. There may be better leader students out there, but if they don't have time and they consistently choose other things over what you all are doing, they are probably not the right person to be a student leader. You need students who are consistently showing up and choosing your group instead of other things.
Someone who is committed to actively pursuing a relationship with Christ. This is probably the most important. Wait, check that. It IS the most important because without a commitment to Christ, everything this student does is with the wrong motives and without the right purpose.

It's never too early to start preparing new leaders to take over. So, if you haven't started doing it already, now is the right time to begin that search. With Penn State and all the other major college football programs across the nation, they recognize the need to have new leaders step forward and provide guidance for the rest of the team. We need those types of leaders as well if we want our momentum in our student ministry programs to stay strong, develop even more students who are either beginning or growing in their relationship with Christ.

Thoughts? Experiences? Share your comments below so we can all learn from each other and benefit.

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Tagged as: football, leaders, Leadership, penn state, Students No Comments

29Apr/130

the Monday Morning Debrief: Processing OC ’13

I have to say that Orange '13 Conference was one of the best conferences I have ever been to. Why? Simply put, it was because I was more intentional than ever in my seminars and connections than I have ever been. I didn't just choose workshops based on the speaker, but on the topic. And I benefitted tremendously because of it.

While I'm still processing so much from the conference, here are a few things I'm taking away from it:

Networking matters and is helpful...great connections. I had a great time talking to other KidMin, StuMin and FamMin leaders and picking their brain. In years past I have had very superficial conversations. This time, I was more honest and inquisitive of how they do ministry. I love the conversations I had.
Make sure you clarify the win with your volunteers so they feel successful and you gain momentum with your leadership team. For each ministry the "win" will look different, but there should be a win. For more notes on this, click here.
We need to rethink how we share "history" with students. Focus them more on Jesus than anything else and lead them into the great story of Him. It all centers around our approach. To read more on Andy Stanley's message, click here.
Our legacy is not to be famous with many people (i.e. speakers, writers, etc)...Your legacy is going to be with the people you are with right now. Invest with the people close to you. To read more from Reggie Joiner's message, click here.
It was great to hear Doug Fields sit down and talk to Reggie about why Student Ministry needs to be a priority within the Church and what that can do for the church currently and the future. Click here for the notes.
As I work on creating a small group format with our group, Sue Miller's seminar on Leading Small was very helpful.
Tweens are area that I really want to be more aggressive about in reaching. That is why Dan Scott's seminar on reaching Tweens was very insightful and encouraging with understanding and ministering to them.

What about you? What are some things you learned and/or still processing through from Orange '13? Share them so that we can all learn from each other and benefit.

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Tagged as: andy stanley, conferences, curriculum, doug fields, families, family, Leadership, leading small, ministry, orange, orange 2013, reggie joiner, rethink, small groups, Students, sue miller, tweens, volunteers, youth No Comments

27Apr/130

Orange ’13: 2nd Friday Morning General Session Notes

Adam Duckworth shared on Tribes.

They saw a Parent (leader of home) and the Small Group leader (leader of Church group) that if they are leading the student/child, they need to meet.

Parents and Small Group leaders need to get to know each other so they can be working together. It raises the odds of success for the child/teen.

Heather Zempel also shared on Tribes.

Moses was the 1^st small group leader…leading people who complained and didn’t follow directions…sound familiar?

Jesus was a small group leader. 12 close people yet at the time of trial, 1 betrayed him and the other scattered.

Community is messy and always will be.

Small Groups are great, then people show up. They bring their hurts and habits to the table…community is messy. There are lots of messy issues we have to deal with.

Mess can be a catalyst to growth.

Ben Crawshaw also shared on Tribes.

He felt that everything rested on his shoulders as a student minister. Then, 2 things happened. 1. Walk in the freedom of the holy spirit. 2. He began to see that tribes really matter

Our ministry needs to be built around multiple leaders.

You platform isn’t the stage, it’s the circle. Give the credit away. Spend more time with your leaders.

When you plan and create, think, “does this build that” connection…not on 1 person, but on people.

If tribes really matter, then your ministry needs to be built on multiple leaders.

Doug Fields was then interviewed by Reggie.

You have a different kind of a relationship with the people when you stay at a ministry for a long time….Doug spent 20 years at Saddleback.

Doug had a treadmill mentality in ministry. Now, he has slowed down. He felt that sometimes he was building “my” kingdom to now trying to build God’s kingdom.

He sees Jesus and time differently. He lives at a different pace now.

Why is Student Ministry a priority in Churches?

The potential it has to impact the un-churched. If you care for someone’s kid, they will love you. It draws parents in.
It establishes a quality of adult leaders who is integral to the church. Youth group spawns good kids when they have adults who are investing in them.
It puts pressure on the rest of the church to stay culturally relevant. If we want to keep the younger generation of the church, we have to address them and keep them engaged.
It keeps relationships as the focus.
It develops leaders and talent the church needs now and the future. If we get them serving as young people, they stick in their faith longer.

Young people are attracted to Jesus, not Christians or the Church. We connect them to walk with Jesus. We need to create environments for them to do this.

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Tagged as: conferences, curriculum, doug fields, families, family, Leadership, ministry, orange, orange 2013, reggie joiner, rethink, Students, volunteers, youth No Comments

27Apr/130

Orange ’13: 1st Friday Morning General Session Notes

Bob Goff spoke at the 1^st morning session. He has a book called, “Love Does”.

People who follow Jesus leak Jesus (similar to walking with wet feet…wet feet leave footprints, leaking Jesus leaves footprints). You were made to leak Jesus.

Christ wants you to be you! We are afraid that if we leak Jesus as we were made to be, people will not respond.

Some of us are posers. We are just faking it. We are afraid to be who God made us to be.

Every time we do an act of kindness or share love, you answer the question, “I wonder if it is true”.

1 John 3:16 - "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

Paul says for us to live a life worthy of a calling you have received.

We are called to love the hurting.

What if we are the ones that lift people up? You won’t have to say you are praying for them, they will know it when you care for them.

Bring your “A” game to Jesus and your community as you lift people up.

Expect terrific things to happen, we are children of a King!

What if we are picky about what we say to each other? What if we greet people from now on with, “its good to see you”?

We are the aroma of Christ. Don’t put a Bible verse about it, be it! That is who you are.

If you want to know who you are, fix your eyes on Jesus. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus!

After worship, Kara Powell was then interviewed by Reggie.

Youth Group graduates tend to view the gospel as 2 list of behaviors. 1^st is a list of things they have to do…the 2^nd list (longer list) is the list of don’t and cant's.

When we do that, we offer a gospel of sin management. No wonder why they aren’t sticking with this gospel.

FYI is trying to help reclaim the gospel. We are created Good. God loves us. Guilt separates us. By God’s Grace, God sent Jesus. We serve and obey because we are so full of Gratitude.

Jesus is bigger than any mistake. If Jesus can’t handle kids partying, then we need a new Jesus. He is so much bigger than all of that.

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Tagged as: bob goff, conferences, curriculum, families, family, kara powell, Leadership, ministry, orange, orange 2013, reggie joiner, rethink, Students, volunteers, youth No Comments

25Apr/130

Orange ’13: “Managing Volunteers so They Thrive” Notes

Sue Miller lead this time.

How do we get leaders from "having" to follow us to "wanting" to follow us?

What do we need when managing volunteers is a clear game plan implemented over time so that volunteers will thrive.

1. Plan the Plan; work the Plan

Sometimes we are great at planning but not so good at working it.
We have to figure out how serving with you benefits the leader. We need to help them see the benefit of their time. Build relationships with them.
Do the Process of recruiting them well. Communicate regularly and make it a priority.
Pay attention to how they are wired. Place them were they excel.

2. Task vs. Family

Task ALWAYS gets trumped by family.
Leaders need a sense of belonging.
Community is essential.
Decide to value, respect, include and appreciate each volunteer. YOU are their biggest cheerleader!
Resolve conflict. Be available.

3. Make it a Faith adventure

Keep improving things to accomplish the mission.
Manage change well. Inform and communicate. Keep them informed always!
Tell lots of God stories. Life up your volunteers

4. Who is next, what's next

How are you replacing yourself?
Empowering others leads to more owners

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Tagged as: conferences, curriculum, families, family, Leadership, ministry, orange, orange 2013, rethink, Students, sue miller, volunteers, youth No Comments

24Apr/130

Orange ’13 Preconference: “Off the Couch! Developing a Student Leadership Culture” Notes

This seminar was led by Jamey Dickens who is the Director of High School Ministry at Buckhead Church in Atlanta, GA.

This generation thinks that Church is about getting something. That isn't just because of "this generation". It is also because of leadership. How do we get them from "church is about getting something" to "church is about being something"?

1. Lead with Vision. Students want to be apart of something big and a way to connect.

Make it God-sized. Bigger than what you currently are...bigger that only God can do
Get specific. What exactly does it look like for a student to get off the couch?
Stay on mission.
It has to start with you. You have to believe there is impact to be made.

2. Give Students a role in growing their own faith

Create steps, not just destinations. Focus on attainable goals.
Teach them the basics. Keep it simple, doable (gotta find a way to fit it into their schedules), and effective (they need to see fruit)

3. Connect students with Relationships

They should be walking with someone older. This is NOT a parent or a peer who spends time with them on their turf and really invests in that relationship.
They should be investing in someone younger where they feel connected to someone else and are held to a higher standard.

4. Give students leadership in your Program

Ask students for input (use as a resource, not a sole dictators of what happens in your program)
Get them on stage (if something great or funny happens, get them on social media and tag them...instant celebrity status)
Give them roles *if appropriate*. They can be hosts, worship leaders, game person, testimony giver)

5. Partner with them to reach their schools

Give them something to belong to
Train them in a process they can win at
Celebrate everything

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Tagged as: conferences, curriculum, families, family, Leadership, ministry, orange, orange 2013, rethink, small groups, Students, youth No Comments

22Mar/130

the BLACKBOARD: Student Ministry Team(s) Organization

As I'm looking at my Student Ministry Team and re-evaluating the effectiveness of it and how we can do better, I have some questions that I'm curious to hear what you all think about these questions below...

Do you break your Student Ministry Team up into separate teams (i.e. Music Team, Program Team, Sunday School Team) or are they all 1 united team held to 1 singular job description? Why or Why not?
What is 1 pro and 1 con about having creating ministry teams within your overall Student Ministry?
Where do student leaders fall into your ORG chart with your adult leaders? For instance, do they come to leaders meetings, involved in adult leader discussions, etc.? Or do they have a separate meeting designed strictly for them?

I would love to hear your thoughts on these questions and anything else you'd like to share in regards to Student Ministry Teams.

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Tagged as: Discipleship, high school, Leadership, servant leaders, sports, student leaders, Students, teams, volunteers No Comments

18Mar/130

the Monday Morning Debrief: the Pope and Leadership Selection

In case you missed it, this past week the Catholic Church has announced that Jorge Mario Bergoglio will be the new Pope of the Catholic Church. He will be known as Pope Francis.

As the world watched the Cardinals meet to discuss and elect a new Pope, it made me think of all that we do as ministry leaders to select new leaders that serve our students. See, when the Cardinals meet, they meet in a conclave. This is where the Cardinals lock themselves up, sort through all the candidates and ultimately come to a decision on who the next Pope should be (for more information on the conclave, check it out here).

What I appreciate about what the Cardinals do to elect a Pope, is that this a completely serious matter. It isn't handled lightly. In the same way, we shouldn't handle the recruitment and "election" of student ministry volunteers lightly. We should be completely thorough and diligent in our process to find the right leaders serving our students. There are too many mistakes that happen, too many predators our there and too many "buddy leaders" out there wanting to relive their high school experiences to take the selection of student ministry leaders lightly.

It begs the question, how are we selecting leaders? Specifically, what do you go through to bring in new leaders? Is it detailed or just thrown together? Are we being purposeful or just getting warm bodies so that you can have adult supervision?

TAKE A MINUTE right now and think through your selection process. What is right? What is wrong? What needs to be thought through better? What needs to be tweaked? No one student ministry is the exact same as another, so this has to be specific to your ministry, not the church down the street.

I believe that if we want real effectiveness and real leadership from our volunteer leaders, the process begins with us, Youth Pastors/Directors/Ministers.

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Tagged as: conclave, italy, leaders, Leadership, pope, rome, student ministry, vatican, volunteers, white smoke No Comments

16Mar/131

Chowtime – 3/16

Chew on these things for a bit...

Stat to Chew on...56% of teens feel that the media's advertisements are the main cause of low self-esteem (reference Stageoflife.com

Quote to Digest..."If you're going through hell, keep going." Winston Churchill

Student Ministry Blogs to bite into...

Benjamin Kerns on doing a March Madness Bracket with your students
Youth Leader's Academy discusses how high should we raise the bar with students
The Inclusive Church shares their breakout sessions and list of speakers for the upcoming Orange '13 conference
Michael Bayne compares Team Leadership vs. Serving in Isolation

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