This youth leader started a new job last year that forces him to travel a lot, and one of the tensions has been the frequency with which he must miss our Wednesday night meetings. Anyone who spends even a little time doing youth ministry quickly realizes that “showing up” is the most important step in being a part of teenagers’ lives. Not being there can be devastating.

When the youth leader heard that the student would be speaking, he asked me if we could use FaceTime to let him be virtually present. So that’s what we did. Right before the speaking portion of the night, I called him on my iPad and one of the other leaders held it so he could watch this student he cares so much about share his story. I used to think the Apple commercials about FaceTime were corny, last night proved to me they have some truth to them.

This simple act proved to the students that they were valuable, that they were worth his time, and that his thoughts are with them even when he physically cannot be. It was a very simple, but very poignant example of a committed youth leader. And it was wonderful to watch it happen in our group.

What has one of your volunteers done to demonstrate they are committed?

Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions

Too often, we don’t know because we don’t ask. Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions. One of my favorite questions we ask is, “How often do you talk with your parents about spiritual stuff?” It would be hard to discover find that answer without simply asking, and the responses we get from students tell us a lot about family dynamics.

Don’t be afraid to take some time

Our survey is 10 pages long and takes around 20 minutes to complete. It’s worth it! We have rearrange the schedule to accomodate it, but doing that once a year is an easy trade-off for how helpful the information is.

Don’t attach your worth to it

When we open ourselves up to criticism, it is a very vulnerable feeling. You need to be prepared for honest answers, and the honest answer might be that a student didn’t like an event. There are lots of reasons that could be true that have nothing to do with you. Maybe they were stressing about homework, or felt sick, or were teased, or didn’t sleep well in the bed at the retreat center. One pattern we’ve seen over the years is that for every event, at least one student didn’t like it. We’ve also found that for every event, at least one student picked it as their favorite of the year. That’s just how group dynamics work. Don’t take it to heart when a student didn’t like a program or event, that is very different than saying they don’t like you or the youth group.

Don’t jump to conclusions

You are looking for trends and insight, but be careful not to extrapolate the information beyond it’s intended scope. What I mean is that if your first 4 or 5 surveys show that students didn’t like your fall retreat, you’ll start to think that fall retreat was bad. That thought will stick with you, even if the next 10 surveys say they LOVED fall retreat. We focus on negative feedback and give it undue priority in our decision making, try and be as objective as possible.

Don’t switch to a democracy

The survey is a tool to help you as you lead your student ministry, but you are still the leader. It is very important to try and understand what your students are experiencing and what, at least in their eyes, is working. But at the end of the day, you were hired/recruited/begged to be the one who sets the vision for the youth ministry. The survey isn’t about asking what you should do, the survey is about asking how are people responding to what you’ve done. If a program you feel is important doesn’t get high marks, that might mean you just need to spend more time championing it for the students. The survey should not trump your God-given passions and ideas.

Don’t re-invent the wheel

You are welcome to create a survey from scratch, but if you’re like me and appreciate someone else getting the ball rolling so you can tweak it, then go ahead and download the survey below. It’s a copy of what we gave to students last year. Enjoy!

But another trailer also caught my eye recently, it’s for the latest 3D/movie/concert experience which will treat viewers to the visual spectacle of a Katy Perry concert while telling the story of her success. If you watched Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never movie last year (full discloure: I didn’t), then you’ll be familiar with the format.

What caught my eye is that the trailer starts off with Katy talking about her church upbringing, saying, “the atmosphere I grew up in was 100% Christian.”  You can view the trailer here:

It would be hard to talk about Katy’s story without referencing her evangelist parents, or her first attempt at a music career as CCM artist Katy Hudson. What intrigues me is that it’s also the opening of the trailer, which would suggest that her religious background will be a key part of the storyline.

So while I don’t anticipate rushing out on opening day to see the movie, I must admit I’m intrigued and a little curious about what we could learn from someone who went from “Christian artist” to cultural sex symbol. The film could be a great catalyst for conversations about what’s right and wrong in student ministry, and some insight into why so many teenagers leave the church as they enter adulthood.

In short, I think Katy’s story will reveal some good points about our role as youth workers, and how we can help teens who grow up in the church develop a lasting faith. Or at least we’ll get some good tips on how to make a cupcake bra.

As with so many things in life and ministry, that is easier said than done. Aside from the routine logistics of any youth event, a Blue Like Jazz screening presents some unique challenges. The content of the film means you must be wise in how you promote the event among students and parents, and in how you discuss the film afterwards. This is my step-by-step guide for planning a youth group event to see Blue Like Jazz.

Step 1 – Pray

I know, I know… it’ s cliche. But hey, if you skip this step you might as well skip the others too. This event is going to require a lot of wisdom and perspective as you determine the best way to describe it in promotion, and the best way to tailor the conversation afterwards specficially to your group. Do yourself a favor and spend some time talking to the Big Guy about it.

Step 2 – Decide An Age Cutoff

Blue Like Jazz earns it’s PG-13 rating. It realitstically portrays a freshman year and Reed College, and everything that goes with it. That means there is foul language, drug and alcohol use, sexual innuendo and “mature thematic material” (whatever the MPAA means when they say that). In short, there is a certain level of maturity that will be required to view this film. You know your students, so you can decide what ages to invite. Personally, I am bringing my 10-12 grade students because I think they will resonate with the characters in the film in way I’m not sure my junior high students are prepared.

Step 3 – Write A Letter To Parents

Because this movie isn’t a Kirk Cameron-style flick, you’ll want to communicate to parents your intentions behind the event. If Mom and Dad think you are going to see the latest family-friendly film and their teen comes back talking about the scene where Don wakes up hungover in a porta-potty… well, you don’t want to have that meeting. The letter explain why you feel it is a worthwhile movie to have. Personally, I feel it will serve as a catalyst for discussions about:

1. Living out your faith in a broken world
2. Taking your faith with you after high school
3. The role of grace and forgiveness in life
4. Facing doubts about your beliefs
5. How to deal with hypocrisy among Christians.

Be honest about the content of the film, and acknowledge that some students may not be ready for such a film. Remind parents that they have permission to have their teenager not attend the event, and back them up if they make that decision. You may even want to invite parents to join you for the screening and the conversation afterwards. In short, let the parents know what’s happening, why it’s happening, and why it’s a good event.

You can read my letter to parents here.

Step 4 – Call The Theaters About Tickets

Blue Like Jazz opens nationwide on April 13. Chances are that if you live in a large metropolitan area, the film is coming to your city. You can view a list of the cities where the film will open here: http://www.bluelikejazzthemovie.com/tickets. Call your local theaters to inquire about group ticket sales, many theaters will offer a discount for larger groups.

Step 5 – Make A Facebook Event 

If you don’t already use Facebook Events for your youth ministry, you’re missing out on a great tool. This is the fastest way to invite the whole group and, if you want, encourage them to invite their friends. You can even snag an image to use for the event here: http://www.bluelikejazzthemovie.com/downloads

Be sure to include the necessary details including
Cost: This might be a good event to do a 2-for-1 or “bring a friend for free” option
Location: It’s probably simplest to meet at the theater, be sure to include address and showtime
Why: Explain why this event fits into your values as a youth group

Step 6 – Show the Trailer

At your next youth gathering(s) take the time to show the trailer to your students and promote the event. Be sure to explain why you’re going (i.e. it’s not just to go watch a movie, you’re going to have a discussion afterwards) and, if you want, encourage them to bring their friends. Be sure to make the trailer available on your website/Facebook page/etc.

Here is the official trailer for Blue Like Jazz”

Step 7 – Have A Discussion

The movie is great fodder for lots of important conversations. As you watch, look for moments in the film you feel will best resonate with your students so youc an ask about them later. Following the movie find a place to meet (most theaters will let you rent a room, otherwise you could find a patch of grass outside or head to a nearby Dairy Queen), and ask for student’s thoughts. Run with these ideas, as they will certainly be the parts that your students related to the most.

If you’re the type who does better with a discussion guide, don’t worry, I’ve got your back. You can use this one I made. It’s all about the love and free discussion guides here.

Download the Blue Like Jazz Discussion Guide

So there you have it, seven steps to a great night at the movies with your youth group. I truly believe this movie is one of the best media tools for youth pastors to come around a long time. It touches on so many of the topics we are discussing each week, and it does so in a way that shows “Christian movie” doesn’t have to mean low-budget, bad acting, and sanatized story. Have a great event, and enjoy the show!

I think this film can be a catalyst for some productive conversations about how our faith plays out in our lives, which is why I’m taking my students to see it on opening day. You should bring your students too. Check out the trailer below and then read on for my reasons why your youth group needs to see Blue Like Jazz.

Now, I loved the book by Donald Miller, and ever since I heard they were making a movie I’ve been eagerly awaiting  it’s release. I also joined the Kickstarter campaign to fund the project, because I felt this was a movie that the current generation needs to see. After viewing it, I can honestly say I think it’s one of the best media tools to come along for youth pastors this decade. Here is why:

1) It’s authentic

As you can tell from the trailer, this film earns it’s PG-13 rating. There is swearing and references to drugs and alcohol and sexual issues. While this is usually the type of thing that would cause a youth pastor to avoid a film, in this case it’s what makes it work. This film reflects the real world. The term “Christian movie” became synonmous with “sanitized” at some point. Blue Like Jazz breaks that mold, this is not a family film. It is not “wholesome entertainment.” What it is, is a very honest film portrayal of the real-life challenges that come with following God.

It is naive to think that anything in this movie would be new to a high school student. Far more explicit language and conversation can be found in the hallways of your average senior high. And that’s exactly why it works, it makes the story accessible. It makes it more real. It demonstrates that the principles in the movie can be lived in the real world, instead of the “happily ever after” world that most Christian movies create. This movie embraces the reality of a broken world, which means students will relate much more to real world shown in Blue Like Jazz than they will to the fictional world created in other Christian movies.

2) It asks tough questions

In the film, Don’s dad, referring to Don’s faith, says “You only believe that stuff because you’re afraid to hang out with people who don’t.” Christians are often accused of sticking their head in the stand to avoid the tough questions that a faith in Jesus demands we face. It’s easy to recite the golden rule, but it becomes very complicated once we start figuring out what that looks like in our life. Blue Like Jazz will challenge those who’ve been reluctant to dive deeper in their faith, and it will affirm those who have wresteled with these questions in secret, mistaking their doubt for sin. There is a great potential to have some very meaningful conversations based on the subject matter of this movie.

3) It’s redemptive

The characters in Blue Like Jazz are flawed, and (spolier alert!) they are still flawed at the end of the film. Nonetheless, as the story unfolds you see them wrestle with their own humanity and brokeness. The film does not try and create simple answers for complex issues, but instead gives one account of people working through their flaws in a search for objective truth. As “worldly” as the movie may seem, it rejects the postmodern perspective that truth is whatever you want to believe, and replaces it with the assertion that some things are true even when they are hard to believe. It demonstrates how God works all things together for his good, and that nobody is beyond the reach of grace.

Blue Like Jazz tells a story instead of prescribing a solution. It does not wrap up all the loose ends, and the protagonist is not neccesarily a great role model. Ironically, by acknowledging the messy reality of wrestling with faith, it provides far more hope and substance than any feel-good movie could hope to achieve. It is a breath of fresh air, and hopefully signals a trend of films that wrestle with real biblcial truths in a real-life kind of way.

Another great source for this style of video is the “True Beauty” campaign that Dove had a couple years back. You can some of those videos here and here.

“C’mon, you’re throwing like a bunch of Senior Pastors!”

There are thank you notes from students describing a trip that changed their lives. There’s the pieces of notebook paper where I wrote back and forth with a teenager about what Christianity is… and the final piece where he decided to become a Christ follower. There are cards from parents, and others in the church that offered spontaneous encouragement at one time or another.

Not everyting is so cheery. There’s the notes from students who felt they couldn’t go on. And lists of some of the things that our students face, depression, abuse, cutting, bullying, abandonment… it’s important to remember those things too.

Whenever I am having one of those days that makes me question if I have what it takes. Whenever I have on of those days where my plans fell apart, or a student walks away from God, or a parent is angry, or a youth leader bails, or I just feel like I’ve been spinning my wheels… those are the days I get out the little box in my office. I read through the notes at random. Each slip of paper tells me one of two things, why I do what I do, and how often it makes a difference despite all the bumps along the way.

I have a little box in my office. It sits in the corner, mostly unnoticed. And it works every time.

How do you stay encouraged? How do you remember the important milestones in your ministry?

It’s About Collaboration

Now it’s true, many of these things could be done using Microsoft Office, iWork, or other similar products. The real benefit of Google docs lies in the ability to collaborate. Documents can be shared with all of my team members, meaning each volunteer youth leader has 24/7 access to the most up-to-date information available. No forwarding and attachments and “file-version faux pas.” Everyone has everything all the time. That’s what makes it so useful.

So today we’ll look at how to get started, and in future posts I’ll share some of the custom documents we created to help manage our ministry.

Getting Started

Head on over to docs.google.com
The first thing you’ll need is a Google account. If you have a Gmail address, you already have an account and you can just login.

If you don’t have a Gmail account, click “Sign up for a new Google account” in the upper right hand corner (or click here), then follow the steps to login.

Now you’re at the Home screen, the dashboard for all you’ll do in Google Docs.

Along the left you’ll see plenty of self-explanatory tabs, at the top of which is a glaringly obvious “Create” button. Click it for a drop-down of  types of document you can create. For now, let’s select “Document,” which is like a Microsoft Word file.

Sharing A Document

You can use this document for anything you’d do in Word, such as a lesson plan. The toolbar across the top is fairly simple and intuitive, you should be able to find most of your favorite commands like Bold, Italics, •Bullet Points, etc. I don’t know that Google Docs is the right program to create a handout or design a newsletter, but for those tasks that require just text on a page with limited formatting (90% of what we write), you won’t find Docs to be lacking.

Once you’ve created your document, it’s time to finally do the one thing that Google Docs shines at above all others… share it with your team.  In the upper right hand corner you’ll see the “Share” button. Clicking that will bring up the share dialog, your new best friend.

Here you enter the email address of the person (or people) you want to share with. (If you use Gmail, your address book is already connected and you just have to start typing the name of the person you want to share with.) There are a few options you can select. You can choose if the recipient will be able to Edit (change anything), Comment (make notes for you to read), or just View (look with your eyes, not with your hands).

You will also want to make sure that the “Notify people via email” box is checked, this will send an email with the link to the team members you’ve selected. You can also add a message to the email with instructions about what it is or what you’d like them to do. They will be able to open the link in their own Google account (they will be prompted to create one if they don’t have one already). Once you’ve selected the options click “Share & save” and it will fire off the message to your recipients.

Getting the Team on board

When we first implemented this a couple years ago the biggest challenge was getting everyone on the team to sign up and start using it as well. At first, it can feel like just one more login to remember and one more thing to fit into an already busy schedule. But over time the team has grown to depend on this method. The secret is to make it worthwhile. If you just share attendance numbers in a spreadsheet, it won’t matter much. But when you start taking helpful information and giving volunteers access, the value becomes apparent and your youth leaders will begin to see how this can make them more effective and more efficient.

Our team consists of young adults, not-so-tech-savvy 40-somethings, and the leader affectionately known as Grandma, all of whom have become comfortable using Google Docs. It’s really that simple. Some of the things you can do to enable your youth leaders to excel would be:

• Teaching Schedule – leaders can see who is teaching this week or next month
• Student Contact Information – no more calling the youth pastor for a phone number or email address
• Event Sign-ups – see who’s going to be at the next retreat
• Student Contact Tracker – see which students have been contacted recently
• Plan A Lesson Together – when two people view the same document, you see the changes in real-time. You can work on a lesson together without having to find time in your schedule to meet at the office (aka Starbucks).

These are all things that we used to have to do during leader meetings, which took away valuable time that could be used for further training, prayer, or team-building. Using Google Docs for the logistical stuff can free you up to do the what you really gather together for, figure out how to help teenagers follow Jesus.

Do you use Google Docs in your ministry? How else do you keep your team on the same page?

I’m using it next week as we introduce our new series about having a consistent identity, and I love at around 1:45 when he talks about his own experience living two lives and pretending to be a Christian. It also has some wonderfully poignant reminders of our fallen state, and the grace that God extends. In other words, this guy talks good and says good things too. Enjoy.