by Chase | Ministry
October is Pastor Appreciation month and student pastors deserve our encouragement and appreciation. The majority of student pastors around the country are bi-vocational and are juggling two jobs, their family responsibilities, AND are serving your family.
Read: 4 Encouragements For Bi-Vocational Youth Pastors
While they deserve our unending appreciation for their service to our churches and families, student pastors and youth workers hear criticisms from time-to-time. I know that it is hard to believe that people in our culture would be openly critical of others!
Below are 7 things you should never say to a student pastor.
And by the off chance that you forget that these statements are inappropriate I have included some comeback responses for student pastors to respond with.
7 Things You Should Never Say To A Youth Pastor
It is your responsibility to keep my kids inline.
Sounds good to me! The average babysitter charges $25 an hour. I’ll send you an invoice for last month.
When are you going to become a real pastor?
Wait, I’m not a real pastor? Does that mean that my student debt is fake too?
I bet you just woke up! (Said before the second service.)
I bet you never learned funny jokes!
You are young; can you help me with my iPhone?
Why yes I can! Here is the number for the local Apple Store! The mall opens at 9:00am sharp!
You are great at spending other people’s money.
Your husband said the same thing about your spending habits last week.
How did you enjoy your vacation? (Said after a summer camp.)
It was great! I only caught your grandson sneaking off with two different girls this year instead of the three from last year!
Don’t get too good at your calling, someone else will steal you from us!
Glad you mentioned this. I have a celebrity death-match scheduled in January between our congregation and the churches that are trying to steal me. You have an opportunity to fight for me with your weapon of choice.
Now What?
Working with students and families is an extremely rewarding calling. Student pastors think about your family’s needs, they pray for your children, and give their own time and money to ensure that students hear the Gospel of Jesus.
Make sure to thank the student pastor at your church!
by Chase | Leadership, Ministry
Ministry is tough. There, I said it.
If you are about to jump into ministry, and no one has told you that…well, I’m sorry. Ministry is a tough calling, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.
At this point of the year, many new pastors are getting settled into their new positions. Especially for us student pastors, the fall (typically) marks the onset of your regular programming.
As a young pastor, you will be overcome with tons of thoughts, emotions, and you may even cry out of frustration (I know I did) because you have no idea what to do other than write sermons and develop small group curriculum.
Let me start by saying this: You will get the hang of things and figure out the flow of your week. So don’t fret, things won’t always seem too hectic. Here’s the other thing: As the new guy, you’re going to run into some issues and problems as you try to develop as a pastor, leader, communicator, and employee. There will be many ups and downs – and the downs seem to pile together at times – but, if you grind it out, the other side is worthwhile.
So, what’s the goal? Don’t screw things up too badly along the way!
Here’s my advice to those of you starting fresh (or again) in a ministry role.
5 Tips For Those Starting (Or Re-Starting) In Ministry
1. Stay Mentally Sharp
If you’re fresh out of college, you probably just finished four (or more!) years of the most reading you’ve done in your life. Don’t stop now. Keep your mind fresh and sharp by reading as much as you can. Read blogs (Hey, you’re doing that now!), articles, and books – and never stop.
2. Keep Your Mouth Shut
This is one piece of advice I wish I learned sooner. When you’re in meetings of all sorts, you may feel the passion within you to do more, reach more, go deeper, and so forth. However, I wish I had kept my mouth shut more when I first started in ministry (actually, still learning this trait!). Most of the conflicts I’ve been involved in were because I spoke too quickly without considering tone and context. Instead of blurting out and challenging everything being discussed, sit back and just listen. Learn who has the sway in the room, find out how people think, understand the culture of your people and church and always wait five minutes before speaking. If after five minutes you still want to say whatever you were thinking, you’ve had time to word it in an appropriate manner.
3. Get Out of Debt
It’s pretty difficult to leave college without any debt. Maybe you did your homework before going off to school and made the fiscally responsible choice. Or, you may be like me and didn’t get the call to ministry until after you had started college. Regardless of your circumstances, get out of debt as soon as you can. We never want to make decisions based on monetary reasons, and being financially free is the best way to avoid that. So, make a frugal budget and stick to it until your debt is gone. Besides, you’re probably not going to be making much money anyways (you’re in ministry), so develop the habit from the get-go.
4. Stay Physically Fit
Ministry, especially student ministry, is full of reasons and excuses to let yourself go. I currently serve with a senior minister who is 69 years old! The dude has been in ministry almost as long as I’ve been alive. Aside from his high devotion to God’s word and incredible character, what’s enabled him to have the tenure he’s reached traces to remaining physically fit. I know this because I see him at the gym almost every day. At the age and in the profession where most people give up trying, he’s remained active, which has kept his body, mind, and soul in shape.
5. Get Organized
Student pastors are notorious for being sloppy, lazy, and unorganized. So, break the trend and stereotype! Learn to organize your workweek and your ministry. I use the BASICS Notebook (which is fully customizable) because it breaks down not just monthly and weekly, but also hourly. Further, develop and organize your ministry to run smoothly and effectively. Plan out your process of discipleship, your systems for students (check-in, joining a group, etc.), and your strategies for attaining your ministry goals.
These are just a handful of things I wish I knew sooner as I started ministry.
What do you wish someone shared with you when you started?
by Chase | Ministry
The first time a new guest visits your church happens online before they show up in person.
What does your student ministry website (or webpage on the church’s website) say about your student ministry?
Most likely your students will not head to your student ministry page. Your site should be geared for parents to gather information and for guest to catch a glimpse of who you are.
Our student ministry has decided to have a separate student ministry website that is linked on our church’s website. This makes it easier for us to promote individual events that are coming up. I’m not advocating that your team must create your own student site, but there are key bits of information that need to be communicated on your church’s page.
Here are three quick thoughts about what you should add and refresh on your student ministry website.
3 Crucial Concepts That Must Be On Your Student Ministry Website
Student Will Have Fun
Your site must communicate that middle and high school students enjoy their time with you. Guest families want to know that students enjoy being in your church and your church enjoys hanging out with students. The last thing they want to do is to head back to school atmosphere for a couple more hours on a Wednesday evening. Sharing pictures, videos, and social media feeds is a great first step to communicating the fun parts of your student ministry.
Your Events Are Current
Do you still have the permission form posted from last year’s beach camp? You need to monitor your website more frequently! Upcoming events must be clearly listed on your student ministry page with clear information and a call to action button. Parents need assurance that you are administrative and will communicate what is coming up. An out-of-date website communicates that you are out-of-touch with parents.
Communicate A Place To Belong
Most sites are so focused on communicating information that they fail to communicate the transformation that God is doing. Add a video, about us tab, or social account feeds to give a glimpse that students are building gospel-centered community. If a guest parent or student thinks that your ministry isn’t relational they will not visit.
Now What?
What additions need to go live on your website this afternoon?
by Chase | Ministry
If you search the web long enough there are thousands of ideas for you to grow your student ministry.
- Big events
- Retreats
- New Programming
- Switching Worship Times
Chances are you have tried a variety of the “boost your attendance” methods only to find that the growth didn’t last and the numbers started to slip.
As ministry leaders we must remember that Jesus is the head of the church. Every revival and spiritual awakening in human history began with a God’s Spirit.
Obviously I am not against change in the church or altering your student ministry, but I do know that we can become obsessed with the processes and fail to rely on Jesus for vision casting, transformation, and spiritual growth.
If you are in a funk and are trying to stop the slow decline in your student ministry here are two steps for you.
2 Steps To Stop The Decline In Student Ministry
Cultivate a Culture of Prayer
Is your student ministry a ministry of prayer? I’m not talking about an initiative or a sermon series that highlighted prayer. Is your leadership actually praying for and with people? You need to develop a culture of prayer by sending texts, call them, emails, and scheduling prayer meetings with key leaders over coffee. People need to know that you are praying for them. Prayer transforms our hearts, minds, and student ministries.
Cultivate a Culture of Finding
Being “seeker friendly” is alright to a certain extent, but as I read the scriptures I see that the seeker is Jesus not humanity. He didn’t wait for people to return to Him, He went after individual’s hearts. Our student ministries must be intentionally seeking after students. We can’t sit around and wonder why someone isn’t showing up. Your team must be intentional to make sure students are known by you and by Jesus. Who are you finding this week? Which students are on the verge of falling away and need to be found?
Now What?
Leading a ministry is difficult but we must continue to love God and others in everything that we do.
How can you begin to create a culture of prayer and finding in your student ministry this week?
by Chase | Discipleship, Ministry
What would your answer be if I asked you what the win is for small groups? What are the essentials that must happen each week to ensure that people are growing closer to Jesus?
With my vantage point as a pastor I continually hear about what we “need” to do for kids and families.
One of the best ones in recent conversation was when I was told that I need to teach teenagers how to drive in the parking lots using the golf carts!
It is easy for us to lose focus on the main essentials in ministry, especially when we have been leading groups for a few years.
At the end of the day here are the three essentials for the small groups.
3 Small Group Essentials
1. Introduce them to Jesus.
Every disciple has a responsibility to share the gospel of Jesus with everyone they come in contact with. How often are we presenting the gospel in our Sunday school classes, small groups, and weekly worship services? This must be a foundational aspect of our weekly preparation and prayer.
2. Teach them how to use the Bible.
Notice I didn’t say “Teach them the Bible.” Teaching the Bible is a foundational part of a church’s makeup, but teaching people how to use the Bible on their own is of utmost importance. Every Christian needs to know how the Bible applies to their life, how to open the book, memorize Scriptures, and know the God who is moving in the biblical stories. If we fail at this, high schoolers and college students will walk away from the church.
3. Teach them how to pray.
Hebrews teaches us the “Priesthood of all Believers” which means that ALL Christians have the same access to God, through Jesus, as the rest of us do. Pastors are not priest. Our small groups must focus on teaching prayer. When life happens our small group leaders are not sitting in our living rooms 24/7 to comfort us, but Jesus is. It is our responsibility to encourage students and families to develop a personal practice of prayer.
Now What?
As you prepare for your lesson how can you make sure that you are connecting kids to Jesus, teaching them how to use the Bible and teaching them how to pray?
When every teacher and leader in our churches focus on these three areas our kids, students and families will grow deeper in Jesus!
by Chase | Leadership, Ministry
It seems like everyone either has a blog themselves or has a strong opinion about blogging!
Blogging has become a standard for sharing thoughts, ideas, and content with people all over the web. Even clicking to read this article shows that you take time to read blog posts occasionally.
Blogging (and writing in general) can greatly further your ministry! That simple fact means blogging needs to become a habit for student pastors.
Now, when I say “blogging,” I am using it in the general sense of posting written content online. Many of you don’t want to maintain a rigid online presence, run a self-hosted blog, or stress yourselves with the daily tasks of a professional blogger, and I completely understand! I’m not advocating that you launch a side job as a blogger, but I am advocating for the discipline of written communication.
Regardless of the platform, the discipline of blogging is extremely beneficial to student pastors pastorally and professionally.
Here are three reasons why student pastors should be blogging.
3 Reasons Why Student Pastors Should Blog
Blogging Strengthens Your Communication
The primary responsibility of student pastors (and all Christians) is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Most church leaders tend to share primarily through verbal communication, so practicing written communication may seem counterintuitive. But when you’re communicating verbally, you need to be able to present your ideas clearly. Preparing blog posts forces you to rearrange content and communicate with clear and concise points. Practicing this skill often will clarify your overall communication.
Blogging Limits Miscommunication
People cannot access your 15-minute speech about the importance of small groups once the meeting ends. Blogging enables you to write down the most important ideas and distribute them to your team members so they can reference the content at a later time. Your written word limits miscommunications because people have a point of reference to check when there is doubt.
Blogging Expands Your Ministry Reach
As family ministry leaders, we are all called to share the Gospel of Jesus and develop leaders that engage the community. Blogging expands your ministry reach because of the shareablity of social content. Your post may not go viral, but it may influence a community leader who is outside of your church’s reach.
Now What?
You do not have to self-host your own website to be a blogger. There are plenty of ministry websites who are looking for contributors to post content and other options to lend your voice.
Another accessible platform would be your church’s website. Talk with your church administration about getting you on the rotation to write some content for the church.
Do any of you blog? I’d love to connect with you! Comment with your blog address or connect with me via Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
