the Monday Morning Debrief: Closing Shop
A month ago, Yahoo! Finance posted an article speculating about 8 Companies that would have to close the most stores this year in order to make it through the year. The reason being is because the 2012 holiday season was not so good to these companies. Therefore, companies like Best Buy, Sears, Office Max and Game Stop are possibly in trouble of closing many stores just to survive until next holiday season in hopes that 2013 will be better to them than 2012.
So how does this apply to ministry?
How many stores need to be closed so that your business can successful? By that I mean, what are you doing currently in ministry that isn't thriving that needs to closed so that the rest of your ministry can be successful? This is a tough question for sure because answering this requires you to take a hard look at your ministry in order to effectively evaluate what is successful and what is a dud.
Two criteria for me in evaluation success is that I've always said that I will do a program however long students continue to show up and it is meeting our core philosophy of ministry. I never (and I hope you feel the same way) want to be doing a ministry or program just to do it. And that means your "traditional youth group". If traditional youth group isn't working, meaning it's not drawing students and it's not in sync with your core philosophy of ministry, then you need to close the doors. Or, make the changes that need to be made for it to be successful.
I'm not gonna lie. My Sunday Night Group is NOT where I want it to be. In fact, there was a time earlier this year where I felt that I needed to close the doors of this program. But after serious evaluation and feedback, I realized it didn't need to be closed. It needed to be tweaked and changed so that it can line up better with our core philosophy of ministry. There are still things that I am looking to tweak and change, but it is more aligned with our overall vision than it has been before.
So what about you? How is your ministry doing and will it's current state last the year? TAKE A MINUTE right now to think through your ministry to see if you have any programs or activities that you need to close. It's never ideal to close programs or activities but if your student ministry is better able to thrive because you shut a program or 2 down, then prayerfully consider what needs to close, what needs to be tweaked and what needs more resources added to it.
Thoughts? Experiences? Post a comment so that we can all learn from each other and benefit.
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the BLACKBOARD: Student Ministry Trips
The New Life Student Ministry is getting ready to take our 1st trip of the year to PCTC. It's one of our annual trips. As I began to look back at past trips I've done with other ministries and churches, it made me wonder, what kind of trips do the rest of the Student Ministry world do and how many do you take?
For instance, at New Life, we have done 1 Weekend Discipleship trip, 1 week-long Mission Trip and we support the week-long Children's Ministry trip by serving there. Bu I know other churches that do 2 weekend trips a year along with a summer "Bible Camp" and an outreach camp.
So, TAKE A MINUTE and post:
- How many retreats and camps a year you take with students and...
- The good and the bad of that strategy
I would love to hear what other student ministries are doing.
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the Monday Morning Debrief: Changing the Rules of the Game
On Friday, MG Siegler from TechCrunch wrote about Apple and its gaming possibilities. As he weighed in on his opinion he made a comment that made me think a lot. He said, "Apple will not win this space by playing the game that Microsoft, Sony, and to some extent, Nintendo, are playing. They will win by changing the rules of the game."
Fascinating comment. Actually, it's more than fascinating. It was a brilliant observation because that is what Apple has always done. They have never played by the same rules as everyone else. They have always changed the rules. Beginning with linking the iPod to an actual music store (iTunes), the iPhone WITHOUT a keyboard and the whole new category they created with the iPad. Sure, Apple didn't create the 1st mp3 player or phone or tablet. They just changed the rules on how they would attack these products.
In the same way, I think we, Youth Ministers, need to change the rules of the game in reaching students. Students are different than they were 20 years ago (that's when I graduated...I know I'm an old man). That means, the ways we reach them needs to change. And, instead of being reactive to their changes, I believe we need to change the rules of the game and be proactive. We need to give these students something they want without them even knowing they want it. I know it sounds consumerism but hear me out.
Before Apple introduced the iPad, there were tablet computers out there. But not like the iPad. Tablets were used as a cross between notebooks and desktops. But what Apple did with the iPad was they created a whole new niche...a consumption machine. The iPad wasn't necessarily for profession or getting work done. Rather, it was more for consumption of information. No one ever though of it like that before. And the iPad was and continues to have a HUGE market share of the tablet market. They created something that we wanted but didn't even realize we wanted until they told us.
How can we present Christ in such a way that they are learning and growing in HIM and not even really realize what they are doing? I'm not saying we trick them but I think we get so fixated on doing things the way they have always done, that we forget how to innovate and create something that is so exciting that students can't wait to participate.
So what is that? I DON'T KNOW! Seriously, I have no idea but being apart of the nZone at New Life has caused me to think of what youth ministry rules I need to break to reach students for Christ. I've already tried a weight training Bible study last summer and I'm looking at doing some intramural type events this spring and fall. But I know there are more possibilities out there. What are they and how can we pull them off? It's exactly the kind of challenge that I'm sure companies like Apple ask themselves all the time. And we, as Youth Ministers, need to be doing the same.
So right now, TAKE A MINUTE and think through what are rules you need to change to win the game. What is it that you can offer that is so out of the box that students get sucked in and don't ever want to get out of? Each ministry is different as each can offer something unique. It's finding that "something" that can cause the Kingdom of heaven sing praises and praises because of all the young people that are meeting the Lord for hopefully the 1st time.
Thoughts? Experiences? Post a comment so that we can all be breaking the rules of the game for the sake of the Kingdom. I would love to hear your ideas.
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Orange Week: It’s Blogger Week
It happens twice a year and this week is one of those times. It's Orange Blogging week where Family, Student and Children's Ministers from around the nation share their thoughts and learnings that they got from previous Orange Conferences and get you pumped up for the upcoming Orange '13 Conference.
Here's the list of bloggers that are reporting this week about all things Orange. There are so many great children's, youth and family ministry bloggers out there that have tons of experiences and insight. I really enjoy reading these and I hope you take some time to check them out.
However, I do want to point out a few that I read regularly, especially if you are in youth ministry.
Ben Kerns - California dude who sent me a pair of Rainbow flip flops because he's just a cool guy. But what makes him even cooler is his thoughts and experiences in Youth Ministry. You need to check him out. He blogs here.
Michael Baynes - I met Michael 2 years ago at Orange '11. A Tennessee lover through and through who bleeds Orange and White (literally, you should see his tweets in the Fall on Saturdays about Tennessee Volunteer football). But what I really appreciate about him is his reflections on Family Ministry and engaging families in Christ. Check his blog out here.
Amy Fenton Lee - Just like Michael, Amy is another southern. And just like Michael, I really dig what Amy shares about inclusive ministry. Her heart and passion for teaching every student comes out in every post and seminar she leads. She'll be back at Orange '13 so if you happen to be going (which I hope you are), you need to check out her seminar. Until then, you can read her posts here.
Ben Gerald started YouthMin.org last year and has been a great source of Youth Ministry insight and thought that I regularly turn to. You can check out his site here.
Again, I love all the Orange Bloggers and I hope you read their material. But if nothing else, these 4 are definitely worth the read....HAPPY ORANGE WEEK! I've got more Orange related posts the rest of the week coming.
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the BLACKBOARD: best lock-in ideas
Yesterday some local para-church and church leaders got together to process and brainstorm about possibly doing a lock-in outreach opportunity at the nZone (the building our Church, New Life Christian Church owns). It was a great time as we got to really throw out some good ideas and think through how we could make it work logistically. In some ways, as a late 30s something guy, I feel like I must be insane (like this cartoon fella) to try to stay up all night with energetic teens. But in a lot of other ways, I feel like with a building like the nZone and all the youth ministry connections, why not do some big Kingdom work and have a kick-butt night in order for students around the area to hear about Christ for what could be the 1st time ever.
So, as we talked and discussed, it made me to wonder, what are the best lock-in ideas you have done in the past. What were...
- the best ideas you have had and done for a lock-in.
- ways that you kept the night "fresh"
- and for fun...your worst idea that totally bombed.
TAKE A MINUTE and post a comment, experience or idea that bombed so that we can all learn and benefit from each other.
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the Monday Morning Debrief: Easy Wins
I live in the DC Metro area. I am also a die-hard Dallas Cowboys game which is counter to most of the rest of the area. So, if you follow the NFL, you know that the Redskins played the Cowboys yesterday in a win-or-go-home regular season finale. The winner went the playoffs, the loser went home. Added to this pressure was the long history of the Redskins vs. Cowboys rivalry - one of the most storied ones of all-time. All this being said, I, like so many others in this area, was really looking forward to watching this game.
Well, our youth program had our traditional 2 weeks off over Christmas and New Years as so many people travel and it's a good family time together. But, when I saw this game was on and it was being shown at 8:30 pm on Sunday night, I had to put together an impromptu gathering for our students to watch it. I did this because the reality was, they were gonna watch it somewhere so why not watch it with their peers and volunteer youth leaders.
So I set up a Facebook event and started spreading the word. It would be informal, just a simple come and "watch the game with us" event. And, as luck turned out, between the middle and high school viewings, we had around 37 students come out.
Here is why I had a lot of fun with this...
- It was an easy win. Redskin football is important here. This rivalry is important and the playoffs are important. That meant, people were gonna watch it. And since I was gonna watch the game anyways with my girls, I figured, why not have some of our friends join us.
- Students got to connect with each other. We are trying to build community in our group - especially community with high schoolers interacting with high schoolers and middle schoolers interacting with middle schoolers. This provided that opportunity for friendships to be built and developed more. With around 20 high schoolers hanging together for 4 hours and 17 middle schoolers doing the same, relationships evolve. They played games together, slapped high-fives when teams scored, joked around. This wouldn't have happened if we didn't do this event.
- It was an outreach opportunity. Students that normally wouldn't come to Church definitely came to my house and began to build friendships with people who do go to Church. That is a bridge into our program and into a relationship with Christ.
- Leaders got another opportunity to interact with students and further those relationships. My leaders are busy with work, their own social lives and other things so to provide this opportunity for them was a winner as well.
Here's reality. This event took almost no time to organize and pull off. But my prayer is that this is one of those easy win opportunities that will help our program continue to build and develop.
The question I have for you is what are the "easy win opportunities" in your area that you can do and build upon? Football is a great one and if your area has a team in the playoffs, put together some opportunities together for you to watch the game together...maybe even change youth group around so you can watch it. But there are other opportunities out there as well. So, TAKE A MINUTE and think through easy wins and put them together. Your students will thank you and your program could be off to new heights because of it.
Thoughts? Questions? Experiences? Post a comment so that we can all benefit.
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DC Orange Tour Stop Highlights: Small Groups
God created us for community..Jesus illustrated community...the church practiced community
1. Be present - connect their faith to a community
- Show up predictably, Show up Consistency, Show up Randomly
- Lead the group, Respect the process (God is in charge! You may not see the fruit). Guard the heart
- Cue the parent, Honor the parent, Reinforce the family
- How the parents perceive the church could be how they and their child perceive you
- You live in community, You set priorities, You be real
- Goal is for them to own their own faith. You have to connect them to others beyond you.
- Move them to someone else, Move them to be the church, move them to what's next
- You should start packing a students bags the day he or she shows up
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the Monday Morning Debrief: Following up the Bang
Last week, on the 4th of July many, many fireworks happened. Some were very good and some, like the San Diego fireworks display, ended up being very bad (and quick).
The one thing I really enjoy about fireworks each year is the grand finale, where a plethora of fireworks go off all at once to wrap up the show. One after another, loud boom after loud bang, it is a huge marvel of pyrotechnics and everyone leaves excited and amazed. The only problem with ending with the Big bang and excitement, there is no follow up. You have to wait a whole other year for another round of fireworks that good.
So how does this apply to ministry?
In ministry, having a big bang event where lots of great things happened is always a winner. It get students excited and hearts could change for the Lord that day. But if all you do is a big event and then do not follow up from it, you are missing an opportunity to further the kingdom of Heaven.
So, here are 3 easy that you can be sure to follow up appropriately from a big event that you do with youth this year:
- Prep your "leader" students and your volunteers about what is expected before, during and AFTER the event. Meaning, in order to have good follow-up after, you "leader" students and volunteers need to know how to engage new students, what to do with current "regular" attenders and how to appropriately follow-up after the event is over. Having a meeting a few days before or even hours before the big event to cover this would be best.
- Make sure you have connection cards. That way if a new-comer comes, you will have all their information to be able to reach out to them and follow up with a note sharing what your program is all about and how they can get more connected (especially if they really enjoyed the program).
- Make sure you have promotional material out for the next Big Event or activity. When students leave a great event, they are inspired and motivated. That alone increases the possibility of them coming out to your next activity. But, if you don't have promotional material (i.e. fliers or calendars) out for them to take, they may never know what is next and therefore you may never see them again. So have plenty of printed material for students to take on the way home.
So, what do you think? TAKE A MINUTE right now and share your thoughts, questions or experiences about how to follow up from a successful youth event. What have you seen work and what hasn't?
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An Alternative to Traditional Sunday School
A few weeks ago I posted about New Life's KidZone option to do a sports and recreation centered Sunday school service.
So, after a few weeks, here is what I can report:
- kids are excited
- parents are excited
- the church is excited
And here is why I think are numbers have increased and so many people are excited about this...because it is not-traditional. Traditional Sunday School means classrooms, lectures, lessons, object activities and so forth. What this alternative is gives children the freedom to run around, exercise and learn something new about a sport. Not every child is "athletic" but every child can participate and can play. This provides them that opportunity. Then, after they have burned off a lot of energy, we teach them a lesson, centered around the sport or activity they just participated in.
Does this require extra work? You bet. Cindy our Children's Director is basically creating this curriculum on her own from various resources. But the reward of seeing all these children running around, having fun...all the while setting them up to hear about Christ maybe for the first time is well worth the extra time. Because this is drawing new children in. Because this is something new and different. Because God is at work.
So what about you? What can you do differently to reach the countless children in your neighborhoods that aren't quite up for going to "traditional" Sunday School? TAKE A MINUTE right now and brainstorm some ideas. Then, start putting the pieces together to begin something new and fresh so that more children and families can hear about Christ...maybe for the 1st time.
If you have an alternate Sunday School that you are doing at your church, post it here so we can all be encouraged by your stories. Even if you don't have one yet, but have questions, thoughts or comments, post them and hopefully a discussion that has begun here will inspire you and others to think of something outside the box that can further the kingdom.
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Connect:
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- We are hardwired to respond to grace when we see it because it is a reflection of God @NLCC #radicalfaith13 hours ago
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