Here are some random pictures from this past week.
Here are some random pictures from this past week.
If you have the opportunity to work in student ministry you will experience transition. During transition it is easy to get discouraged because students that you once depended on as student leaders move on to a different stage of life. This is the goal right? We are pouring our lives into students so that they can grow up and fulfill God's purpose for their lives. However, that still does not make the time of transition easy.
I want to give you some tips to the youth worker going through transition in Student Ministry.
1. Allow God to do a new thing
It is so easy to just try to keep doing what we have always done. Transition in student ministry may be a time where God is wanting to do a new thing. This may be a great time to start a new class/program. This may be a great time to make a change to the time of service, the format, or change an annual event. This may be a time for you to begin a new discipleship process...ect. Listen to what God says:
"Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert." - Isaiah 43:19
Don't just keep going about business as usual. What is Jesus saying to you? is God trying to birth a new thing through this time of transition in the students you are called to serve? Take some time to pray and talk to your Senior Pastor about what God is doing among the new students.
2. See the Potential
Undoubtedly if you are in a time of transition, some of the students you have depended on in the past have went on to a different stage of life. This can sometimes leave you really frustrated. Your guitar player is out of town at college, or your best cafe' worker has to work on youth service night now. This is a great opportunity to see the potential in the new students who you are now working with. They are who God has entrusted to you to raise up to fulfill His purpose in their lives. The greatest preachers, teachers, missionaries, professors, musicians, songwriters, authors, sunday school teachers, and future leaders are in front of you NOW!
Listen to what God does:
"...the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were" - Romans 4:17
You are called to speak to their potential and give them opportunities to put their hands to ministry! The possibilities are unlimited!
3. Build the team
This has been one of the most amazing things that I have experienced through transition. Even though there are many students who will move on to a different stage of life, there are some who God is calling to stay and help! During transition in student ministry keep your eyes open for those students who God's hand is upon for ministry in the student ministry you serve. Look for those who are already connecting with the younger students. Who are the students who have the heart of a leader? Transition is a great time to begin to bring those "former" students into a place of ministry to the next group of students!
Most of our team at revolution is made up of former students. This is a great dynamic because they believe in what is happening. They see the value because God did a work in their life during their teenage years! Don't do ministry alone. God is bringing up people around you to help carry the load of ministry.
4. Connect with Parents
It is important that as new students begin to come that are younger that you do your best to connect with their parents. Sometimes we just assume that the parents of the new students KNOW all the details of what happens in the youth ministry. They oftentimes do not know about the annual trips that you take or the specifics about youth services and other aspects of the student ministry.
Take time to connect with the parents so that they can feel comfortable about their kid(s) being a part! Also make sure that you keep these parents informed about upcoming events and trips. If you keep them in the know they will be your best supporters and chaperones!
These are just some practical tips about what to do when you find yourself in a place of transition. Remember, the best is yet to come. God wants to raise up a generation of passionate worshipers more than you do! God builds the church. We just have the privilege of working with Him. Don't be discouraged. Keep it up!
I would love to hear some of the things that has helped you through times of transition in student ministry. Please leave a comment and join the conversation.
This is a post that I have been meaning to write for the past couple months...this is a topic that I have not much discussion about. So. I'll give it a try.
The average life-span of a youth worker is two years. I have been blessed to work with students at GLPC for the past six years. The great thing is that I have been able to see an entire group of students grow up. I have been able to watch many of them grow up to be faithful contributors and leaders in the church. It was an incredible season when I first started working with students. I had no clue what to do. I was just trying my best to raise up students who loved God under the vision and direction of my Senior Pastor. That first group of students grew with it all!
Now when I walk into a youth service I look and see a room filled with new students. Students who were not part of that original group. These students do not know what it feels like to work together to renovate a youth room. This group was not there during those defining moments that I shared with the students on those mission trips years ago.
So in many ways I feel like we are starting a student ministry all over again.
When I began student ministry with that first group of students I realized it was a blank slate. It is still a blank slate today! The possibilities are still unlimited!
The reality is that God is going to do more through this group than any other group before because he goes from GLORY TO GLORY! The best is yet to come. There are middle-schoolers to be mentored. There are new students to learn how to lead worship. There are Bible Studies to be taught in their schools. There are students who will experience the freedom of worshiping Jesus past their intimidation. There are students who are going to respond to the Scriptures and be pure in their lives. Greater things are yet to come!
The next couple posts are going to specifically deal with this idea of transition in student ministry. I do not speak as an expert. I just speak as a youth worker who is in the middle of it. Recently I was able to have some great conversations with a couple Youth Ministry Veterans (Shay Mann, Brad Fain) that I have high respect for who encouraged me about this stage of Student Ministry!
I want to encourage a youth worker who is there now just like they encouraged me. The best is yet to come!
Anyone know where I'm coming from?
I don't want ANYTHING to get in the way of my time with God. I know it is so easy when I have a free moment to just stop and check twitter/facebook/email/txt to see what is going on with everyone. It is easy to find myself checking in with everyone all day long. Don't get me wrong, I do not think anything is wrong with social media/tech itself. I just think we can allow ourselves to become too attached to it.
I am talking to myself. It seems when I stay too connected that I have trouble with jealously. When I am forever checking on what is going on with others I am forever comparing myself to others. It is so important that we spend time with God so that we can hear God's voice of direction and affirmation in our lives. I gain great insight from things my friends post many times, but for me, I have to remember that my ultimate approval must come from Jesus Christ. We can not judge God's approval of us by how many replies, comments, or followers we get.
Sometimes we need to get "LOG OFF" so we can "LOGIN" to God's voice in our lives. Maybe you are reading this right now and you just need to shut off your iphone or log off facebook and just spend some time with God.
Go Ahead. You have time.
At Revolution we just finished a series called "TXT_MSG" dealing with the importance of the Bible in our everyday lives. Then last week we issued the "31-day Challenge" where we are challenging students to make the Bible part of their life each day for the next 31 days. Simple.
One of the greatest resources that I have found to teach students how to start small and read the scripture is the "One Minute Bible for Students." It has a passage of scripture for each day and the pieces are small enough to finish in a minute or so.
You may say, "But I want our students to read the Bible more than just a minute." I understand. We would all love our students to read a book of the Bible a day. However, the reality is that just handing a student the whole Bible and saying, "READ IT." is a daunting task.
This book makes it very simple for students to get bite-size pieces of the scripture on a daily basis. The cool thing is that after students begin to make God's word part of their daily lives, regardless of how large or small the way, they will hunger for more. After the Word gets in student's lives, they will be reading for more than just a minute. The Scripture will truly become daily bread to them.
I just wanted to share this resource with Parents, Student Pastors, Youth Workers, and Students. Pick one up and check it out!
Saturday we finished our "TXT_MSG" series at revolution. It was a great time of focusing on the importance of the Word of God in our lives. Week 1 we looked at Hebrews 4:12 how the Word of God is powerful and sharper than a sword with two edges. Then Saturday we concluded by looking at the story that Jesus told in Luke 6:46-49 about the EPIC FAIL that happens when you don't build your life on the foundation of the Word of God.
Our Series concluded by a 31 day challenge being issued. The challenge is simple. Take time each day to read the Bible everyday for the next 31 days. Then each day after you read write in your "TXT_MSG Journal" what God is teaching you through the scriptures you read.
If you need a journal feel free to come by the Youth office and we will give you a journal. Also we will be posting the journal online this week.
Check out www.revolutionyouth.net for updates and more info about the 31 day challenge.
Revolution, did I mention that if you complete the challenge your name will be entered to win a $100 Wal-Mart gift card. Just saying.
Hard to decide.... I would have to say John & Philippians. (I know that is two and not one) I guess I would have to say these are my favorites because they are the first books of the Bible that I really got into as a teenager. Now that I think about it I love me some 1 & 2 Samuel...Proverbs...Joshua....wow....It's hard to decide.
What about you?
Lately I have been running. And the crazy thing is that I have actually been enjoying it. Three days a week I have been going out, many times in the cold, and running. Each time I have been going farther and farther. Each run I build up more and more endurance. I started out running only a minute at a time. And just yesterday I finished running 3.5 miles without stopping. That is something that I could not have done a month ago without a tank of oxygen and a gallon of red bull! I am enjoying the little bit of progress each time I go out. I pushed past my limits each time. Some days I come home feeling dead tired. Some days I come home feeling great. But every day I feel accomplishment for going the distance.
I used to just listen to a podcast or a mix of songs while I ran. However, for the last month I have been listening to something different. I listen to audio tracks from personal running trainer. The tracks are guided workouts that help build endurance and stamina so that you can run further and faster. You are guided by a voice and you run to the beat of the music that is on the track. At first it was strange, but I got used to the techno music and this guy telling me what to do. It has has been the thing that has helped me to keep making progress for the past month!
It is simple...I listen to the voice. When it says walk...I walk. When it says run...I run. When it says stop...I stop. Each time it is different. Each time my body feels different. Each time the weather is different. Each time the day is different. However, when it says walk...I walk. When it says run...I run. When it says stop...I stop. It's simple.
I can't help each time I run to be reminded that this is how my journey with Jesus is supposed to be. IN MY HEAD.
I don't mean that it is some creation of my mind. Or even that it is like a guy's voice spoken over pumping techno music. What I mean is that the voice of God is speaking to me everyday and each day I make a choice to either obey or ignore that voice speaking into my life. The little things like inviting someone to church with me, or giving a couple bucks to a stranger. You know, those intuitions that you have that you know are not from yourself. Those nudges you get. Call me crazy, but when I listen past the noise I hear a voice in my head calling me sometimes to walk and sometimes to run.
It's funny. When I am running people can see me, but they don't know what I'm listening to. At times I will stop running and begin to walk. Those around me don't know what's going on. However, I am obeying what's in my head. I am training for a race. I am training to go beyond where I am now. I have to stay in the training. I have to continue to allow myself to be pushed past former limits.
Don't let those around you stop you from obeying the voice of Jesus in your life today! Don't allow the circumstances that surround you to stop you from obeying the voice of Jesus in your life today. If you will read His word and listen for His voice...you will hear the voice of Jesus Christ pushing you past your limits into the place called FAITH where he can perform the miraculous.
Don't take it from me. Take it from Jesus' Mom:
"His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it.""
(John 2:5)
So if you see me running this race and it looks like I am not paying attention to my surroundings...it's because I have my attention focused on the voice that's IN MY HEAD.
I want to obey. I want to follow!
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
- Jesus (John 10:27)