As student minister?s one thing we have to always strive for is to be a perpetual student of our craft. We can never know too much about youth ministry. This is one thing that I defiantly do not have a problem with. No matter what I have done in my life I always threw myself into it full force. When I played drums in band in high school I studied, not only in school, but on my own. I listen to instructional by well known drummers at the time, I went to drum clinics, and dissected drums solos by popular drummers. When I joined the Army as a Military Police officer, I took baton instructor classes, correspondence courses, and unarmed self defense training. As youth ministers we must constantly be students of our own art. How do we do that? Here are some quick sources for training!
1: The Bible: I know I know, you?ve heard it a million times but that doesn?t make it any less true. The better your relationship with God the better off your ministry is.
2: Blogs: The cheapest form of training out there! Find a youth ministry mentor such as Josh Griffin at morethandodgeball.com, Doug Fields? Blog, Stephanie Caro?s blog, or even my own at lifeintheymfishbowl.com. Want find great ideas to try? Read a blog. Want training on ideas to help grow your youth group? Read a Blog. Also there are non blog websites out there that are great. One I love is youthministry.com. Great articles and great ideas.
3: Certificates: Many colleges offer online youth minister training for a small price. Plus you get a handy certificate to hang up on the wall. Another place to check out is youthsphere.tv. This site offers a great certificate and great training under the giants of youth ministry.
4: Group Magazine: Some of the best youth ministry ideas delivered to your door once every two months. Nuff said!
5: Other youth ministers: Your local youth minister?s network is a great source of training. You can pick up great life lessons while sitting down for a cup of coffee.
6: Youth Minister?s support networks: many denominations offer great youth minister support networks who can offer great advice and ideas.
7: Conferences: I?ve often heard conferences called the poor man?s seminary. That?s about the truth. With SYMC coming up you have the option of the large conference and it?s many options but also don?t over look the smaller local conferences that are out there, if money is an issue.
8: College: This option is not for everyone, but if you feel like God is calling you for a deeper commitment this is a great option. I?m currently enrolled online for a degree with a Student Ministry emphasis. There are many great colleges that offer Youth Ministry Masters degrees also many Seminaries that offer degrees with youth ministry minors.
9: Books: Some of the best training I?ve ever received was through two books, ?Purpose Driven Youth Ministry? and ?My First Two Years in Youth Ministry? both by Doug Fields. Books are the best way to glean ideas from well renowned youth ministers. Not just Doug but many giants of youth ministry have published books that are great training resources.
10: Last but not least: This one may strike you as odd?..your senior pastor. I know your thinking ?He did not just say I could get training from the old man/woman? Yep I went there! Some of our senior pastors were youth ministers once. They can be great resources for ideas and wonderful sounding blocks. I was thinking about revamping our ?Sunday School? class and asked our senior pastor what he thought. Low and behold we had the same idea and he had many small details that I hadn?t pondered.
If you look around there are many great resources out there for youth ministers to learn from. We really have no excuse to not stay on top of our game. You owe it to you church, your kids, and yourself to be the most well trained youth minister you can be.
Kevin Patterson is the youth pastor at Dawson Springs First Baptist Church in Dawson Spring, KY. Be sure to check out http://www.lifeintheymfishbowl.blogspot.com/ to regularly get in on his learnings, too!
I, Jon Batch, am apart of the SYMC team and have been helping with the conference for several reasons allow me to explain.
DISCOUNTED REGISTRATIONS are still AVAILABLE
DISCOUNTED REGISTRATIONS are still AVAILABLE
My prayer is that this conference helps you feel inspired, challenged, loved, equipped, supported and a part of the family. Then you can return to the trenches and help students and their families to Christ.
Jon Batch Director of Student Ministries Dearborn Hills UMC jbatch@dhumc.com twitter: @jonbatch
Posted by Kurt Johnston
This is the 5th in a little series about some of the things that have helped me last for almost 25 years. There is no silver bullet here, just a little insight about things that have seemed to make a difference in my journey as a youth worker.
BLEED IT, BUT DON’T BLEED TO DEATH!
Every now and then, a young youth worker will say something like this, “Youth ministry is my life!”. To which I always reply internally, and upon occasion even blurt out, “Really? That’s too bad.”
I think youth ministry, or any ministry endeavor for that matter, deserves some extra effort. Youth ministry isn’t for folks who are clock-watchers, who only want to do the minimum job requirements. I actually think it deserves to be led by men and women who aren’t afraid to “bleed” it a little bit. But we should NEVER bleed to death!
- When you consistently sacrifice your family for the sake of your youth ministry…you are bleeding to death. - When your friendships suffer because you spend too much time at youth ministry events…you are bleeding to death. - When you have no outside hobbies because you spend your free time with teenagers or planning events for teenagers…you are bleeding to death. - When you fail to take your day off, or you skimp on vacation time due to the demands of youth ministry…you are bleeding to death. - When you spend time in the word out of the need to [...]
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 [...]
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,
Vision Truthsq 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.?
5 Road Blocks to Vision FailureI’ve noticed something lately about the way the church and youth ministries tend to talk to girls. We (unfortunately at times I would include myself) communicate that the end game for a girl is getting the right kind of guy. Even though we don’t mean to it just happens. Books sold to teen girls about how to get the right kind of guy (a christian book nonetheless…and I haven’t read it but I am assuming the title is meant to mislead by promising to help girls snag a guy.) A youtube video for Christian girls on how to attract a godly guy. And than we are surprised and frustrated that all girls care about is boys. Oh the irony.
We need to change the end game.
The end game for every girl we encounter should be a radical life following after Jesus. That life may include an occupation in the public circles, a life of full time ministry, marriage, kids or all of the above.
When we begin to believe in a bigger or more radical end game for girls it changes how we communicate to them. We tell their stories better. And in my heart I believe we help girls move their attention from dating to bigger dreams…from drama to radical living. Don’t we all really want that for our girls?
What do you think? What are your thoughts about changing the end game?
Don’t sell Jesus short.
I spent the weekend with a church in a faith tradition I am fairly new to. They have a rich heritage of liturgical worship. But if one made the mistake of thinking this church’s denom is bereft of showing feelings of faith or the goodness of God, one would be wrong.
The YP of this church had a similar epiphany today. She has a deep love for Jesus but thought her diverse international students would be uncomfortable with referencing anyone but “God.” After all, they don’t declare an emotional faith and “Jesus” is just too intimate, right?
After she had a discussion with my ministry partner, Adam DeVries, she told her students she was going to unashamedly call Jesus by his name. How shocked and delighted she was when they were happy for her AND them. They cheered.
My point? Don’t sell Jesus short in your youth ministry. Kids KNOW when they come near you that there’s a good chance they’re going to hear about God. They’re even disappointed when they don’t.
Remember: Jesus is the name of the one to whom everyone will bow. It’s just a matter of when.
S
Check out this cool blog post by Mike about the experience of his youth group while on a mission trip.
What’s God doing in our lives….
Awesome stuff! How about your group? What God been doing through your ministry so far this summer?
We’re doing a quick survey to see what name is best for a “day of service” event for youth groups. The survey is only one question…so please help us out and tell us what name resonates most with you!
Thanks!
There is so much going on right now and for the last several years when it comes to finances. The crash, recession, budget crisis, unemployment – the list goes on. It has had an effect on everyone. Those of us who do missions certainly have been affected. For our ministry it’s been on multiple fronts.
We work with local partners in all the communities (domestic and international) where we serve. It’s core to our philosophy of ministry. We’re based in Colorado. How could we possibly know the needs in Racine, WI or Manassas, VA or Pucallpa, Peru? So we look for local “experts” who live, work and minister in those communities to help us organize the service. These partners also provide funding for the projects and ministry done when we are in that community. Nearly all of these partners are supported by donations, grants, government funds, foundations, etc. They’re struggling, just like everyone, to get funds.
The youth groups and church groups that attend our mission trips are another “funding” source for us. And as any of us that are part of a church know, there are budget issues for many, many churches. Attending a mission trip is a big deal. Costs a lot of money. Whether it’s to Haiti or Appalachia or just downtown. We hear story and story of groups struggling to raise the necessary funds to go on their trip.
In all of this, however, there is one interesting truth…
We get the money for things we believe in. We just do…
Our best local partners always come up with the necessary funds. Churches and youth group that really believe in, are committed to, and passionate about missions always make it on their trip. When we need to we find the money. When it comes to what we believe in. Money isn’t an issue. Our heart is in it.
We know this is true in so many other places. I’ll give a very personal example. I have a son who loves soccer. He’s only twelve but he plays on a local club team. For those of you who have kids who play clubs sports, you know what I’m about to say. It costs hundreds and hundreds of dollars to play. Fees, away games, uniforms, equipment, tournaments. You add it up and it’s real money. But I wouldn’t deny my son that opportunity. My heart is in it.
So…
How about your mission trip? Is “your” heart in it? When I write “your” I mean you, your group’s, the parents, your whole church? Are all of you “heart-connected” and passionate about what your doing and who you are serving?
In our experience – where your heart is, the money will follow.
Doug Fields has a good post about 1 By Youth and the St. Louis event. Check it out.
Doug has been a great friend and supporter of our ministry (He was right there in the room with us as the dream of 1 By Youth came together). His blog is full of great ideas and insights about life and ministry. Be sure to visit his site often!
It’s getting pretty late in the mission trip prep timeline and for many of you there is a big issue still looming out there: fundraising.
We’d like to introduce you to two great organizations that are all about helping you raise money for mission trips…and all about helping make a difference around the world.
Get Green To Get Green – I met one of the guys who leads Get Green at a youth conference several years ago. He’s a former youth leader who feels called to help other youth leaders pay for mission trips. Get Green is based on a simple idea: recycling old cell phones. There are many uses for a used cell phone. Instead of just tossing them, they can be almost completely recycled. And you get paid for every phone. Check out who Get Green is and how it all works.
More Than Coffee – Who doesn’t drink coffee? That’s exactly what the founders of More Than Coffee thought. And on one of their own mission trips they got a chance to meet some Christian coffee farmers. It changed the course of their ministry. Now, by selling coffee, they support people in countries around the world and help churches send people on mission trips. Check out who More Than Coffee is and how it all works.
These two fundraising companies are ministries at their core. They are led by people who’ve been in youth ministry and view their current role as ministry. If you’ve not finished your fundraising for this year and are looking to jump start your process, give these two fundraising organizations a look.
What a great day on Saturday! Over 500 people served in the College Hill neighborhood. Here’s some highlights…
We started the day at Imagine Academy – a local school that generously allowed us the use of their building beginning Friday night.
This is what greeted 1 By Youth as they arrived.
Everyone gathered in the gym at Imagine Academy on Saturday morning. This is what almost 500 people waiting for an amazing day of service to start looks like…
Waiting for the Kick-Off Rally to begin...
It was really a great day of service. We cleaned empty lots, cleared sidewalks, painted buildings, improved parks – whatever we could to help the people of College Hill. One of the most meaningful projects was planting a landscape garden at the base of one of the original water towers in the neighborhood. This is the last picture I took as I was leaving College Hill at the end of the day.
Bringing beaty to one of the most important places in all of College Hill.
Thanks again to everyone who served. You made a real difference. The residents of College Hill are very appreciative and hope we come back next year. See you in 2012!
I love reading what others write and think about mission trips. There is a lot of good thought out there. I came across the following article on youthministry.com. Click below for a pretty good, quick read.
These are good thoughts. Definitely ideas to consider before your next trip.
Over the next several weeks, I’m going to go over aspects of what we call our “Approach.” These are ideas that are essentially our core values. What makes us who we are as an organization, as a ministry…
In our mission trips we’ve take that old saying to heart. One aspect of our Approach that we teach all our staff is “We Assume Nothing.” This idea may seem very simple but it is a very important idea.
When we talk about not assuming things it’s more than just making sure we understand what is said or asking good questions. It is a deep desire to make sure everything associated with our mission tips is known as excellent. So we just don’t assume that things are organized. We double-check. Sometimes, for our ministry partners and new staff, this is hard to get used to. We follow-up with each other. We double-check each others work. And we don’t get offended when someone double-checks our work. That takes some getting used to. And occasionally it’s just too hard for people…
I want to be sure and clarify something. This can sound arrogant. Maybe sound like bragging. Please know that it is not. It’s a lot of hard work. It flows from our desire to serve our God and those God gives us to partner with in ministry. I had professor in college who taught us that “good is better than great.” My professor took that idea from the creation account in Genesis. God said His work was good. I’ve taken that to heart and see that idea at work in our desire to not assume things are good. We make sure and double-check…
How might this apply in your ministry? You can make sure that you don’t assume things are ready for your mid-week meeting, for your week-end retreat, for your mission trip. Let’s face it. Many of us in ministry aren’t exactly rock stars when it comes to details. Find someone who will double-check your work. They can become your biggest asset. Just don’t get offended when they do what you asked them to do…
I just started reading Dave Livermore’s book “Cultural Intelligence” (well… ok, I just read the introduction so far) and I’ll post a review of the whole book here later. But in the introduction one of the footnotes directs you to an article about Bruce Wilkinson’s failed work in Swaziland about 6 or 7 years ago. So I went to the article and then found a commentary on the situation from a South African professor (wow, that sounds more involved that it really was). It was in that commentary that I found the following quote:
“In terms of the Great Commission, evangelistic work and discipleship must always take precedence over humanitarian aid and social welfare….”
I immediately felt uncomfortable. I read it again. Just to make sure I understood. And sure enough… I did. This statement means that if we’re not trying to save people’s souls or help them grow in their relationship with Jesus – we probably shouldn’t serve them. Really? Can that possibly be true? I don’t agree with that. I just don”t…
If we take this literally, we shouldn’t be lending aid or even going to help the people of Japan in this incredible time of need. Because if we can’t share the message of Jesus, why should we go. The needs in Sudan, Rwanda, the gulf after Katrina and Rita, southeast Asia after the tsunami. Because responding and serving in those situations, to those needs, aren’t nearly as important as making sure people in those areas hear that they need Jesus. Really?
What if we fed and clothed and cared for and built relationships with the people in those areas? And as part of that process we get to share why we’re there. Who it is that we serve. Who it is that drives and motivates us. That feels more natural. More caring.
Understand, I work for a ministry whose mission it is to see people grow in their relationship with Jesus. We fulfill that mission by organizing mission trips for youth groups. So I believe in evangelism and discipleship. I believe that people growing in their relationship with God is of utmost importance. But I also know that there are needs that need to be met. And we can meet them. Whether or not we ever get to share the message of Jesus with them.
And that is still Christians missions.
Several weeks ago I had the chance, along with Thom Schultz, to go to Conroe, TX and join St. James Episcopal Church in their celebration of 30 consecutive years of mission trips. 30 years… Statistically that’s longer than most people’s careers and even marriages. The coolest part of this church’s story is that there is a man that has been on all 30 trips. Wow…
As I sat there that night and listened to the tributes and stories, watched the slide shows, and talked to members of the church – I became aware of this under-current of grace that permeated this church’s ministry. The stories were about lives touched, the ministry to those in need, and God’s working in each and every person. They are a youth ministry and so there were stories of jokes and laughter and pranks but those didn’t dominate the conversation. The work of God and Grace was the dominant theme.
How I wish that for each of our ministries. Stories of grace…
There is a lasting image in my mind from that night. After the dinner and the speeches and the large group photo – small groups of people began to gather together. I could tell by dress and age that they must have been in youth group together at the same time. I saw a young single mom talking to friends. I saw married couples laughing together and remembering. I saw older adults, who must have been adult chaperones, congratulating each other for surviving. I saw Grace… 30 years of Grace.
30 Years of Saint James Youth Mission Trips
Youth Missions Trip | Youth Mission Trips | Youth Missions Insider Our stories, helpful tips, tricks, dos and don\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'ts of mission trips.
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