Hardest part of getting youth to commit

on February 3rd, 2012

A couple weeks ago we had about 40 youth leaders at our office for several days of meeting and dreaming about the future of mission trips.  At one point during that time, we focused on getting students to commit to go on a mission trip.  The youth leaders came up with this list:

  • Sending your kid on a mission trip is not important to parents
  • Students have conflicts and schedules that won’t allow participation (other events, family vacations, band camp, sports camp, etc.)
  • So many youth now have summer jobs
  • Other “things” are a higher priority (this can be anything…)
  • Their friends are not going on the trip
  • Parents not letting go (safety, never been away from home before, etc.)

Is your list different?  Do you face some of the same obstacles to getting the students in your ministry to commit to a mission trip?

Discuss

I hated short-term missions…

on February 1st, 2012

Please check out this article from my friend Eric Iverson.  Good thoughts to consider whenever you’re taking your group on a mission trip.

Fuller Youth Institute – Youth Missions Article

What do you think?  Is Eric right?

Discuss

Simply Youth Ministry Conference – last day for registration discount

on January 31st, 2012

Simply Youth Ministry Conference is an amazing youth ministry event.  It’s created by youth workers for youth workers.  It’s in Louisville, KY this year – March 2-5.  Today is the last day you can register at a discount.

If you need a couple days away to refresh; If you need some great days of getting new ideas and training; If you you just want to spend time with other people who “understand”; then this conference is for you.
SYMC

We will be there!  Leading workshops.  Hosting a Late Night Option.  Hangin’ out.  Looking forward to seeing many of you there.  Please stop by our booth and say “hello!”

Discuss

One of the Greatest Weeks of My Life

on January 30th, 2012

A great story of how a mission trip changed a teenager’s life…

One week fully connected with God has done so many positive things to my life.  Connecting with so many young people of faith from around the United States and from our church was for sure the highlight of my week.  Everyone had such open hearts and open minds, it was awesome!  Back at home, I know I personally get caught up in all the distractions life brings you, but on a mission trip, all these distractions seem to fade.  Throughout this week God has worked in so many amazing ways.  On our project or just sitting at the school, I could feel His presence everywhere.  This was my second mission trip and I have grown even farther in my faith.  I feel as though this year brought me closer to my faith.  I now know I have a TRUE relationship with God.  I have learned to put Him in the highest priority.  God will never let me down and I know he is always there to love me when all else fails.  Through God, I can do anything.  The mission staff and the worship times help me understand that connected to God you can do anything, but  without God in your life it is very hard and there are a lot of struggles.  I really liked that idea because without God I would be lost.  I can honestly say, I have no idea where I would be without God in my life.  To sum up the whole week a little shorter, it was one of the greatest weeks of my life and I cannot wait to serve again.  I know it will bring me even closer to my faith and be so much fun!

—Sara

Mission trips work to change lives.  The lives of those that are served.  But also (and just as important) the lives of the students in your youth ministry.

Discuss

Mission Trips a Waste of Time… REALLY?!?!?!?!

on January 26th, 2012

This is an article with the title “Why Most Mission Trips are a Waste of Time.”

I’ve met the author of this article, Noel Becchetti.  I like him.  I believe he’s passionate about mission trips.  I know he’s planned, organized, and led youth mission trips.   I also believe he’s genuinely trying to help.  But I just don’t agree with the basic premise of the article.

I encounter this type of thinking all the time now.  Mission trips are doing more harm than good.  Why do we even do missions?  Shouldn’t we just send money?

My problem with this type of thinking is that it completely discounts those attending a mission trip.  It feels like the participants are simply ignored.  But I can’t ignore them.  The work that God does in the lives of youth that attend mission trips is life altering.  It can change the course of eternity.  The relationship a student can form with Jesus in the context of a mission trip simply cannot be cast aside.

I believe that a youth mission trip is Both/And.  It is about who we are serving.  Each of us that organize, plan and take kids on mission trips need to ensure that the service we “do” on any trip genuinely helps those in need.  But you need to plan and organize the spiritual growth opportunities as well.  When will you worship during the trip?  How much time can you dedicate to devotional thoughts?  Do you give opportunity to debrief/examine the events of a day in context of the work God is doing?

Are youth mission trips a waste of time?  I’d say almost never.  As long as you prepare just as much for your student’s growth in their relationship with Jesus as you prepare for the service.

 

Discuss

Serve Together Before You Serve Together

on January 25th, 2012

We’re almost a month into the new year.  This is the perfect time to start focusing on stuff that will be happening in your ministry this year.  For many of us, that means starting all the preparations for a summer mission trip.  By now you’ve selected the date and location of your trip.  If you haven’t already, you’ll be finalizing the youth and adults that will be going on the trip.  All of these those are important steps in the process.  Once these are done, you can begin the pre-trip process.

Depending on your mission provider or if you are organizing your own trip, there should be pre-trip meetings that help to get everyone going on the trip get ready and be prepared for serving those in need.  But… you still won’t know how everyone will come together.  Will everyone “gel”?  Will they learn to work together?  Will something difficult or unforeseen derail the trip?  Will your adults lead and be, well, adults?  These are incredibly important questions. Questions that often can’t be answered until you’re on your trip.

But, what if you could get a glimpse of how these questions will be answered?  What if you could know how your group will work together?  What if you knew that your adults would lead?  What if you could get a preview of how the team will come together?

Well… you can.

Get your group involved in a service experience before your trip.  A one-day service event is a great time to help everyone in your group gain a little experience before your trip.  Witnessing your group serve others, even for just 6 to 8 hours, will give you great insight into how the group is coming together.  You’ll be able to get a great idea about areas you can help your group improve in before your trip.  You’ll know some coaching you can give your adults so they are ready for the trip this summer.

Just one day of serving together and you’ll have a great preview of this summer.  There’s still time to plan a day like this and add it to your pre-trip preparations.

Discuss

We Love Our Youth Worker

on January 23rd, 2012

We’re partnering with an awesome new ministry – We Love Our Youth Worker.   WLOYW is dedicated to helping churches better serve and love their youth leader(s).  They believe that “encouraged, inspired, enthusiastic and spiritually-alive youth workers do better youth work. And young people need as much of that as possible!”  I love that!

This idea/ministry started in England in 2007.  You can check out their story here.  The idea had spread to the US and now launching across the country.  Please check it out and encourage your church leadership to look at some of the info also.

Here are some important details about the launch of We Love Our Youth Worker in the US:

1. You can find WLOYW on Twitter @wloyw_us, Facebook @weloveoutyouthworkerus and on our website www.weloveouryouthworker.us.
3.    There are a large group of youth ministry folks that have endorsed this new ministry.  Check them out here.
4.    There is also a great group of other youth ministry organizations (including Group Mission Trips) that are partnering with WLOYW to spread the word.  That group can be seen here.
5.    The booklet of information that covers all the details, including how your church can become a We Love Our Youth Worker church, is ready and can be downloaded here.  They’ll be ready to accept applications from church in little over a month.

I hope you take the time to check out this important new ministry.

Discuss (2)

NYWC 2011 – Atlanta

on November 22nd, 2011

Just attended the National Youth Workers Convention in Atlanta.  What a great time with great youth workers from all over the country.  Also had an awesome time connecting with good friends in the youth missions and youth ministry world.  These are people I love and respect in ministry.  Folks like Eric Iverson from Youthworks/Youth Specialties, Doug Franklin from LeaderTreks, Mark Orr from NNYM,  Jake Kircher from We Love Our Youth Worker.  These folks are simply some of the best people supporting youth leaders out there.  Each with their own gifts and roles to play.  Some are national and some very specific.  Some of these guys work directly in the youth mission world and some just love youth leaders and try to support you in your ministry.  What a great couple days…

These events are awesome for this kind of interaction.  I love how many ministries are represented here.  Showing how much support a youth leader truly has.  Just look at the names of the ministries represented above.  Youthworks/Youth Specialties – dedicated to getting students serving and supporting youth workers with a convention and resources.  LeaderTreks – completely about helping youth leaders develop leadership skills in students.  National Network of Youth Ministry (NNYM) – they just want to network youth workers so they know that are not alone.  We Love Our Youth Worker – a brand new ministry that helps churches better serve and support their youth leader.  How cool is that.  4 different ministries.  4 different purposes.  All about youth ministry.  I love these relationships.  I love these four people.  And there were dozens of other ministries there that I don’t even know.

I hope you know that if you serve the students of your church.  You are loved and supported.  And if you ever get a chance to attend a conference like NWYC or Simply Youth Ministry Conference, please go.  You are not alone…  You need to know that.

Discuss

Some great stuff from Simply Youth Ministry!

on October 26th, 2011

Discuss (1)

Short-Term Missions A Waste?

on October 25th, 2011

Our good friend (and founder) Thom Schultz has an interesting take on one of the ongoing debates in youth missions – Are they really worth it?

Short-Term Missions A Waste?

What do you think?  Did Thom get it right?

Discuss (2)

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