I recently had the opportunity to share some insight regarding the function of Threesixty Student Ministries for a monthly resource Phoenix First sends to pastors all over the world.  I thought I would include some of the Q&A here.

Innovative Ideas Audio Resource

Please share your ministry background.

"I have been leading, developing, and pastoring students for the past 15 years.  Currently, I share pastoral responsibilities with a team of pastors for Threesixty, the student ministry of Phoenix First."

What is your main objective in the Threesixty program?

"Our main objective is to help students be complete in Christ.  This happens as a strategic process.  We want to reach students far from Christ, connect them with God and other Christ-followers, equip them to do the work of the ministry and mobilize them to reach their generation."

What is the best way in your opinion to reach a generation for Christ?

"A good friend of mine always says, 'Friendship is the highway the Holy Spirit most often travels on.' In one word, relationship.  Building relationships with students is priority one.  Paying dues relationally allows us opportunity to speak into the lives of young people. Whatever we use to attract students always becomes a novelty.  What keeps them coming is always relationship. Youth pastors who don't work on being relational experts typically don't last."

Any practical things you can share with us about leadership and keeping your team inspired?

"Two things we prioritize in leadership meetings are always vision and progress.  Casting vision in every meeting is essential because it paints a picture of where we are going. Vision alone is not enough however, a recent Harvard Business Review studies shows that the greatest motivating factor among employees isn't monetary, it isn't appreciation, it is progress. People want to experience progress with the work they put in.  

Recently, we casted vision for an outreach we would do and the goal was to have over 1000 young people in our services.  We created a plan and delegated responsibilities to our leaders.  That night was a huge win.  Not only had we reached our goal, but our leaders experienced progress which in return leads to powerful motivation. Vision + Progress = Inspired People"

We always ask during the ideas session for a few ideas to pass along to those listening to help them better grow their ministries.  Give us a few ideas to help the leader who may need to jump start their Student Ministry.

1.  After-Hours: We created this program out of necessity.  We had one hour to do service to accommodate a second service. So we had about 30 minutes to do something with our students before main service let out.  We decided to run this half hour like another service. A team was responsible for creating a specific activity each Wednesday. It could be a BBQ, a dance competition, a Wii tournament. Anything to create community. That is what students really want, an opportunity to hang out with each other. So, we use this time to purposefully build relationships with our students and leaders.  We saw quite an increase in our ministry simply because young people are looking for opportunities to spend time with each other.  After-Hours offers a safe environment for just that.

2.  Get students involved in the ministry: We allow students to participate in service through a number of avenues.  They may be on worship team, giving a testimony, taking offering or running various operations.  We utilize a segment every other week called 'On the Spot' where we ask a student to take 1 minute on stage to talk to their peers about what God is teaching them and then challenge their friends to also live that out. There is a strategy in using students.  Obviously it helps them develop their gifts, but even more than that, they bring their friends to come watch them!  Also, the impact made by a teenager talking to teenagers is something a youth pastor can never quite make happen.

3. Bus Ministry: Recently we held several outreaches in nearby neighborhoods to meet the needs of the community.  At this time we canvased the area with touch cards advertising a bus pick up to service.  I love the idea of going to get students and bring them to church. I would encourage all youth pastors to make something like this happen.  Don't let the fact that you may not have a bus be an excuse.  Use what you have and see if God doesn't bless your diligence!

Stretch yourself

Jesse

Starting a new series today at Threesixty.  Threesixty is the youth and young adult ministry of Phoenix First.  The ministry reaches over 1000 youth and young adults weekly.

Here is how First Date Kit will work:

Proverbs 4:23 says:  "Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

The biblical concept of the 'heart' refers to the mind, will and emotions.  Any healthy relationship requires us to use wisdom in each of these areas.  So offering biblical teaching into each of these areas is critical for our young people to understand God's plan for the significant relationships in thier lives.

Having a good understanding of what it means to 'guard' the mind, will and emotions will help students avoid the relational rejection and pain so many experience.

Wk1: Mind

Wk2: Will

Wk3: Emotions

Throughout each week, students will be able to write any question they have down on a slip of paper to be answered at some point in the series.  They will also have an opportunity to text questions in service.  It should be an interesting series.

First Date Kit

Stretch yourself

Jesse

Check out our Youth Leader's Conference here.  The Conference coincides with Pastor Tommy Barnett's 32nd annual Pastor's School. 

Our conference kicks of Sunday night, January 31st with Ed Young Jr.  After service we will host a meet and greet with Pastor Tommy Barnett and Ed Young Jr. for all youth pastors and youth leaders attending the conference.

Monday will be filled with workshops and general sessions to share with leaders how ministry is done at ThreeSixty.

Stretch Yourself

Jesse