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
Possibly Related Posts:
- Run Focused: What are you focused on?
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
- Chowtime – 5/11
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.
Possibly Related Posts:
- Run Focused: What are you focused on?
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
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 1st 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.
Possibly Related Posts:
- Run Focused: What are you focused on?
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
Orange ’13: 1st Friday Morning General Session Notes
Bob Goff spoke at the 1st 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. 1st is a list of things they have to do…the 2nd 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.
Possibly Related Posts:
- Run Focused: What are you focused on?
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
Orange ’13: “Casting the Vision Daily to Keep Everyone Aligned” Notes
Carey Nieuwhof led this time.
You can dream dreams and navigate change but if you don’t have alignment in the church, it will be all derailed.
Alignment isn’t Automatic
- In a perfect world, alignment is automatic
- A leader never has to work at getting a team unaligned. It naturally happens
- Organizations naturally go towards complexity, inner competition and confusion
- Over time, minor misalignments become major gaps and, as a result, the common mission is lost
Just because you start together doesn’t mean you end up together
How does Misalignment happen?
1. Misalignment rarely happens in a church on a mission or vision level
2. Misalignment almost always happens on a strategy level
3. In particular, strategically unaligned programs become divisive because what you’re involved in becomes the mission.
- what helps is that we are only going to do the things that support the mission.
4. Leaders forget to talk about why we do what we do.
- Why unites
- What and how divides
Your best friend as a leader is the “why”
5 Ways to build and keep alignment
1. Take personal ownership of the Strategy as a leader by:
- Gain clarity around that strategy
- eliminating all competing programming (do less for more)
- create a common language
2. Empower people who are already on board
- we all have an existing church and a future church. Some are already on your team and some are not. Look for like minded who leads with a proven track record (what they have done in the past, they will likely do in the future)
- focus on strategic alignment, not just mission alignment
- use financial records if necessary
- prioritized the “who” of team reduces friction and speeds alignment as you discuss the “what” of ministry
3. Build Trust
- trust is easiest relationally when people are aligned missionally
- there is a direct relationship between speed and trust
4. Eliminate Alignment Killers
- unclear wins. It turns you into people pleasers
- ministry clutter
- infrequent communications (never assume they know)
- infrequent relational deposits. Hare to stay aligned when you don’t talk
- infrequent follow through
5. Stick to your strategy long enough to see it work
- people who change the world don’t change ministries every 5 years
- people aren’t used to alignment
- people aren’t used to clarity
- people are used to getting their own way
Ultimately people gravitate to a clear and compelling mission, vision and strategy
Possibly Related Posts:
- Run Focused: What are you focused on?
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
Orange ’13: “Clarify the Win: Narrowing Down What is Most Important in Your Ministry” Notes
Jonathan Cliff lead this seminar.
Jonathan started off the seminar by recommending "Seven Practices for Highly Effective Ministry" by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner and Lane Jones.
Clarifying the win is developing a strategy for very aspect of the mission statement.
When a win is unclear, you force those who want to follow to guess what a win looks like. You also enable those who want to lead to define winning in their own terms. You also risk the havoc that misalignment can cause on the team.
When you clarify the win, you have real alignment with all areas going in the same direction. You also know where to spend the money.
When you win, it becomes contagious.
How does this happen?
4 Ways to clarify the win:
- Sum up the win in a simple phrase (EXAMPLE: Mission - We believe life change happens best in the context of small groups…the win is meaningful conversations in small groups)
- Keep it as specific as possible. You know you win when you get there.
- Build ways to restate the win in all our areas
- Continue to clarify the win at every level
When all is said and done, what is it that we want to look back on and celebrate?
Possibly Related Posts:
- Run Focused: What are you focused on?
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
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
Possibly Related Posts:
- Run Focused: What are you focused on?
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
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.
Possibly Related Posts:
- Run Focused: What are you focused on?
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
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.
Possibly Related Posts:
- Run Focused: What are you focused on?
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
Connect:
Tom’s Twitter Updates
- Is ur focus on what God wants u to b doing or r u getting sidetracked by what others are doing? http://t.co/LVeyOKVq5h #thinkorange33 minutes ago
- the Roundtable from 6-7 pm, then the Hangout from 7-9 pm...all at the nZone! Hope to see you there @NLCC_Students1 hour ago
- What is your focus in life and #ministry? Is it really what God wants u to b doing? http://t.co/olGJZkJu6D #thinkorange4 hours ago
Recent Comments
- Matt Norman on the Monday Morning Debrief: Prepping for Orange ’13
- Introducing your Student Ministry Minor League Team | Ministry Blackboard on The benefits of volunteering in the schools
- Rachel Blom on Chowtime – 3/16
- tapounder on the Monday Morning Debrief: Closing Shop
- Todd Bryant on the Monday Morning Debrief: Closing Shop