Youth Ministry | Youth Missions Insider

Jeff ThompsonMore Posts Mission Trips a Waste of Time… REALLY?!?!?!?!

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.

Add Comment January 26, 2012

Jeff ThompsonMore Posts Serve Together Before You Serve Together

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.

Add Comment January 25, 2012

Jeff ThompsonMore Posts We Love Our Youth Worker

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.

2 View Comments January 23, 2012

Jeff ThompsonMore Posts NYWC 2011 – Atlanta

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.

Add Comment November 22, 2011

Jeff ThompsonMore Posts Some great stuff from Simply Youth Ministry!

Our friends and partners at Simply Youth Ministry have 2 great things for you to check out! A super great deal on some resources and an early-bird deadline for Simply Youth Ministry Conference.

The Spooky Awesome Bundle is an amazing deal on some resources you’ll love to have in your library. And they’ll help you work with your teenagers. Check it out!

I love Simply Youth Ministry Conference! I know you will too. It’s a youth conference “by and for” youth workers. The early-bird deadline is next Monday – October 31. If you register by Monday, you save $40!

Click here for more info!

We love working with these guys! SYM is a great ministry that exists to help you with what matters most.

1 View Comments October 26, 2011

Jeff ThompsonMore Posts Short-Term Missions A Waste?

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?

2 View Comments October 25, 2011

Jeff ThompsonMore Posts The Big Day of Serving – Bloomsburg, PA Disaster Recovery

As a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, the Susquehanna River flooded to levels around 30 feet – destroying roads and bridges, inundating entire communities and washing away the first 2 floors of many homes. We’re partnering with the people of Bloomsburg, PA, one of the communities devastated by this flood, to bring help and hope to the people of that community.

For 4 consecutive Saturdays in October you have the opportunity to make a real difference. The dates are October 8, 15, 22, and 29. You can find more information here. We’re making this event a little different than most The Big Day of Serving. We want anyone and everyone 12 years old and older to come serve – not just your youth group. You can invite the men’s ministry, women’s ministry, adult small groups, Sunday school classes, pastoral staff, etc. to come with you to help. We’ll take everyone who can help.

Please consider bringing your youth group!

The Big Day of Serving – Bloomsburg, PA Disaster Recovery

1 View Comments September 30, 2011

Jeff ThompsonMore Posts What to do when parents get upset?

Parents can be upset by any number of things. Mission trips are definitely one of them. “Why did you put my son in that situation?” “My daughter didn’t feel safe.” “Why are you an hour late returning home?”

Kurt Johnston and Josh Griffin share some great thoughts on this topic in the Simply Youth Ministry Today and at youthministry.com.

Please join the conversation. What do you think?

Add Comment September 27, 2011

Jeff ThompsonMore Posts Attention: Middle School & Jr Hi Youth Workers

Check out this post at SimplyInsider.

Mark Oestreicher and some friends are organizing this event just for you – if you work with Middle School students. It’s gonna be a great time. Let’s be honest about this: it’s not every adult who wakes up thinking, “How can I spend some time with 13 year-olds today, and influence them for Jesus?”

That calling, that wiring, is extremely unique and wonderful. And our wise and wonderful God, who cares so passionately about the young teens in your church, chose YOU! You are truly one of the few, one of the unique; and you are God’s plan for showing love to middle schoolers.

But this ministry is difficult, and sometimes lonely. You need to be surrounded by others who understand you, who share your calling. That’s why we created the Middle School Ministry Campference.

Check here for more info. Toby and I will be there as well…

If you work with junior high or middle school students, you owe it to your self to at least check out this event.

http://middleschoolministrycampference.com/