morethandodgeball.com

How to Ask for a Raise

Last week Group published their annual salary survey results for youth workers across the country. Don?t worry, they made sure that Kurt ?money-bags? Johnston wasn?t included because it would have skewed things a lot higher (Josh, ?I?m a little bitter? Griffin wrote that intro). The truth of the matter is most youth workers who are fortunate enough to get paid probably don?t get paid enough. And as a result, at some point you may feel the time has come to ask for a raise. Here are some thoughts on the subject:

Pray It all starts with prayer. Take your requests to God and ask Him for guidance in what to say and how to prepare. It would be unwise to go into this challenging environment without having talked to God over a significant period of time. Ask Him for contentment no matter what the outcome. And while praying, ask God (and be okay with his answer) if your timing and motives are appropriate.

Get your facts straight If you?re going to talk numbers, it is beyond important to make sure your numbers match up. What is average household income in your area? What do other youth workers in similar settings earn? On what merits does your church grant pay increases, and how are you meeting those?

Prep a few critical people Be prepared for this meeting and take the time to prepare a few others, too! Chances are there is some sort of budget chairman or someone who acts as a treasurer or CFO in your church. Speak with them ahead of time to get an idea of the budget climate you?re heading into and give them a heads up on your plan. Having a few champions around the table can?t be a bad thing. And, ?floating? the idea past an insider beforehand can be a great place to practice your presentation?and a great place to hear a potential voice of reason ahead of time.

Present the need A great time to ask for a raise is when your lifestyle changes. Show them the needs of your growing family. Help them see the gap between what you make and what you need to make it work.

Show the opportunity Connect the request to longevity. Offer a commitment of time if they give you a commitment of money. Show them what the future holds in your ministry and what you believe God will do.

Serve like you?re getting paid millions Did you get the raise? No? It doesn?t matter. Drop the subject of money and give it over to God in your prayer time for this next season. Is He helping you prepare for a new direction? Is He teaching you contentment?

This isn?t going to be easy ? so be strong and most importantly, be faithful.

NOTE: In complete honesty, this article was very difficult for us to write together. Kurt has never asked for a raise, and feels like God has blessed his family because of it. Josh has asked for a few raises during his youth ministry career and feels like God has blessed him for his willingness to put family first and make sure their needs are always met. Which is the best approach? It isn?t the approach that is ?right? or ?wrong?, but the attitude of our hearts.

This post was written by Josh Griffin and Kurt Johnston and originally appeared as part of Simply Youth Ministry Today free newsletter.Subscribe to SYM Today right here.

simplyinsider.com

Why I?m Pumped for SYMC 2012?

In just about 30 days, early March, I’ll be making the trek down to Louisville Kentucky with 3000 or so other youth ministers, youth leaders, adult volunteers, college students and those committed to student ministry to participate in SYMC 2012. This is my 4th SYMC, and I’m pumped. Yep, Francis Chan will be there. So will Jonathon Acuff. The Skit Guys. But I’m not going to here Chan offer what will be an excellent message, or for Acuff to make me chuckle, then think. SYMC is my conference for just 2 reasons:

DISCOUNTED REGISTRATION ends February 1, 2012 and SAVE 20

SYMC is by youth workers. I know this, because I’m a member of the Inside Track Team. I don’t say that as a point of pride, by as a point of humility. Why? Our church has about 100 people, we have 2 full time pastoral staff and 1 part time secretary (she loves our middle school kids!). If everyone shows up, we will have 30 kids per week. And yet, for the last two years, I’ve gone to Colorado in late Fall with 75 other people just like me and planned the conference. You read that right…me, a 6 year youth ministry veteran from a small church in eastern Iowa has input into a conference that teaches, equips and encourages thousands of youth workers just like me. I’ve gotten to know the people at Group personally; they [...]

juniorhighministry.com

Keys To Longevity #4: MAKE PEOPLE THE PRIORITY

Posted By Kurt Johnston

I once heard an respected Christian leader joke, “I’d love being a Pastor, if it wasn’t for all the people!” Pretty funny joke, actually.

Yet in the often fast-paced, performance-driven, growth-oriented, program-dominated ministries many youth workers find themselves in it can be very difficult to find the time to, or even the value of, keeping people as the primary focus of our energy. I feel like I could write an entire book on the importance of keeping people the priority in youth ministry…but I actually couldn’t because it hasn’t been one of my strengths. While I’m not qualified to write an entire book on the subject, I can share a few things I’ve managed to get right over the years; things that have helped me stick around.

PEOPLE ARE MESSY: It’s tempting to avoid building true community with people in the congregation because people are messy! Ministry is stressful enough without purposely diving into any messes our jobs don’t already require. But here’s something I’ve learned: Nothing builds trust and loyalty in people like their leader’s willingness to share life….the good, the bad and the ugly.

PEOPLE TAKE TIME: It really is easier to do something yourself than to empower and equip somebody else to do it. It’s easier, but it isn’t better! I’ve met youth workers who are genuinely afraid to equip the body for kingdom work because they fear the old “working yourself out of a job” cliche will come true. And it [...]

marriedtoayouthpastor.com

In regards to a comment?

You are right, there are far more dangerous jobs than youth ministry. I am extremely thankful that my husband does not stare down the barrel of a gun. I cannot imagine the kind of strength a wife would need for that. No matter what the job each one of us, including myself, has and will face great tragedies. Just in each day there are so many ups and downs. Our lives are sprinkled with many different feelings and emotions from happiness to thankfulness, to frustration to sorrow. My hope is that not one of us would deny ourselves the right to feel validated in each and every feeling that we have that gets mixed up inside of us. I hope that in some small way this blog may be a place for someone in ministry to feel heard, connected, and uplifted through a comment, a funny story, or a serious post. And what I love so much about this community of women is the honesty shared about their lives, and the tone that we all take loving God and our husbands seriously but don’t take ourselves too seriously.

I write this in no way with a defensive voice, but with so much concern that many pastor’s wives are told that their feelings are silly or not important. Whether from someone at church or their own inner dialogue. Our “perspective” should be to accept and embrace our feelings whatever they may be and then with God [...]

simplyurbanministry.com

You need VISION

q Jeremiah 1:4 ?The Word of God came to me saying, before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.?

q God had a vision a plan for you. Do you have one for the assignment He has given you?

q Vision: The picture of God?s potential, purpose, and possibilities for your life.

q Show me a person without vision, and I will show you a person who is at a standstill in life.

q Proverbs 29:18 ?Where there is no vision the people perish.?

q Life Point: The key element to getting out of my present state is the vision that I have for myself.

q Jeremiah 29:11 ?For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope,

q True vision goes beyond what I can accomplish on my own.

q True vision adds value to others.

q True vision attracts vision.

q True vision must have God in it.

q Acts 2:17 ?And it shall come to pass in the last days says God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams.?

1. Not knowing who you are. If you don?t know who you [...]

morethangossip.com

Book Review: Glorious Mess

Mike Howerton, My pastor, boss and friend has recently released a book titled Glorious Mess. (Well, it comes out this week but we got it early at Overlake). I am really proud to call Mike my friend and pastor. Glorious Mess examines the messy life of Jonah and the surprising ways in which God was glorified in his life. There are a so many great quotes that can inspire you and your students. Since he’s a pastor and has a pastor’s heart, Mike has created small group resources to go alongside the book…they are included right in the book. We are actually using it with our students now in our youth ministry! It’s really good stuff and the students are getting some solid teaching.

“Orthodoxy or ‘right belief’ is important.But it must be accompanied by orthopraxy- right living! Jonah says he worships the one true God of the universe while he is actively trying to escape God’s call.”

“Recognizing our mutual need of God’s unbelievable grace is what allows God to use our glorious mess for his glorious kingdom! His love for imperfect people is unending”

Great book! You should definitely check it out!!

smallchurchyouthministry.com

#6-Top Twelve Ideas for a GREAT YM Year

#6 is “Buy some buy-in.”

The youth ministry isn’t yours. It belongs to God and is played out through your church. If you constantly find yourself with too many ideas from others but not enough help, I suspect your buy-in tank is on E.

Here are 3 ways to fill increase support: 1) Don’t tell the church your plans. Ask them their plans and work the youth ministry into their vision. Much easier to get help from people you’d never expect when they’re excited. 2) Recruit intentional cheerleaders. Find people with influence in other areas of the church. Ask them to champion the cause of YM with the people in their spheres. Ask them to listen for ways the YM can do the same in return. 3) Communicate! You’d be surprised how little those people outside the YM know about what’s happening. People in churches get weird when they think they’re in the dark or out of the loop. Especially staff.

OK, my plane is about to land so I gotta scoot. More tomorrow.

Stephanie

holysoup.com

6 Keys to Power Up Your Message With Video