by Chase | Ministry
Student ministry seem to be filled with all sorts of things.
If you head into a student worship area you will find everything from old worship CDs to rubber chickens! This is the world we live in as student leaders.
We understand the occasional clutter in the small group rooms and student center, but the clutter can extend into other core areas of the way that we operate on a day-to-day basis.
2 Areas To Declutter Your Student Ministry
Programming
100 years ago there was no such thing as teen specific programming in churches. Teenagers worshipped and studied alongside their parents. In the mid 20th century a wave started to change that. Churches across the country began to have programming that specifically targeted teenagers. Student ministry was born! I believe whole heartedly in student ministry, so don’t misunderstand this statement: We have too much student ministry and not enough Church. Teenagers will never become the Church of tomorrow if they are not the Church of today. Too often I hear teenagers referred to as the future of the Church. But, to be honest… It’s our fault. We have created so much programming in our student ministries that we have basically created our own little churches. We have our own small groups, our own worship services, our own mission trips, our own sermon series, our own leadership teams.
Don’t get me wrong, all of these are good things! They become bad things when they replace involvement in the Church. If it is our goal in student ministry to raise up a generation to know and follow Jesus, we must raise up a generation that loves and is committed to the Church. Just because teenagers are committed to your student ministry doesn’t mean they are committed to the Church. Don’t let too much programming in your ministry keep students from falling in love with the Church. Remember, they will never fall in love with something they are not a part of.
Messages
A few years ago I did some counting. In our ministry on a weekly basis we had these things going on: Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, “big church”, and student leadership. In a nut shell that’s 5 different messages that our ministry was trying to get across to our students each week. That isn’t counting the 5 classes they have at school. Plus, their sports practice. Plus, their instrument practice. Plus, their jobs. Plus, what their parents are trying to teach them. Our teenagers are getting bombarded with messages that they are expected to apply. We are surprised when they forget what we taught them in Sunday school the week before? We are surprised when that incredible sermon from Wednesday night isn’t immediately applied to their lives? What if we streamlined our student ministries? What if ALL your programming for an entire semester had one common thread. I like to say, “beat the same drum for 15-20 weeks.” What we’ve learned at Franklin Christian is that after 5 weeks students can repeat concepts. After 10 it starts to be visible in their actions. After 15 it starts to become a part of who they are.
What if instead of having 6 different series in your ministry this semester, you just had 1? Get creative on how to put different lenses on the same idea. Maybe your small groups discuss questions based on the main program. Maybe your Sunday school unpacks some of the deeper issues of the text you don’t have time to tackle. Maybe your student leadership team highlights specific characters in the text they want to imitate. If nothing else, streamline it! Generally speaking, our students don’t need to know more; they need to do more with what they know.
by Chase | Discipleship, Ministry
Your lesson is prepared. The environment is inviting. Food has been set out.
Now, it’s time to get your students to talk during small group…
Building a culture of dialogue during small groups can be one of the most frustrating parts of leading a small group of teenagers.
It seems that the students you want to talk aren’t talking and the ones that need to stop talking continue to talk!
Every week, you must be intentional about asking quality questions that will engage YOUR students. Remember, Bible study curriculum has been written to engage teenagers in general — not your group specifically.
The most well-written Bible study can still feel stilted, impersonal, and distant if a small group leader doesn’t prepare for his or her specific group.
Here are a few questions that are specific enough to drive home a point but open enough to spark conversations.
4 Engaging Questions Small Group Leaders Must Ask Each Week
“What Is Happening In YOUR Life This Week?”
In my opinion, this is a better question than asking for prayer requests. When you ask for prayer requests, people give impersonal responses about everyone else’s problems. Students need a space to talk about the highs and lows of their week. If you ask students what is happening in their lives this week you will know how you can pray for and encourage your students … without the requests to pray for their granny’s pet cat. After they talk about what is happening, offer to pray for that situation, event, or opportunity.
“What Questions Came Up As You Read The Bible Last Week?”
People struggle with spending time reading their Bibles, and asking about their devotional lives can come off as condescending. To most people, there is an extremely fine line between being concerned and condescending. Remember to be encouraging and full of grace as you disciple your students. Trust me, students feel like failures when they don’t read their Bibles. Encourage them to share what questions and frustrations they have as they approach God’s Word.
“How Can We Help You Live Out The Truth Of This Passage This Week?”
Sunday Bible study should transform Monday morning conversations. As a small group leader, you must help students bridge the gap between merely listening to lessons on Sunday morning and doing what has been taught. (For more about creating a student ministry of doers, head here: Create A Student Ministry Of Doers.) Use the last few minutes of your time tossing around ideas to get students engaged in God’s mission. Some of the ideas presented will be ones you can help your students plan and organize, while other ideas will only need your affirmation that the students are gifted enough to accomplish them.
“Are You Ready To Start Following Jesus?”
Small groups and Sunday School both started because of an emphasis to share the Gospel of Jesus to those outside the church. You don’t have to be pushy in your invitation, but the question needs to be asked each week. All Scripture (and most curriculums) point to Jesus. Make sure that you are connecting students to Him. Don’t rely only on midweek worship services to extend an invitation to follow Jesus. Many students who attend small groups are unable to attend midweek services.
What Questions Do You Ask?
Some of you seasoned youth veterans have incredible questions you ask on a weekly basis. I would love to hear some of them!
What questions do you ask during Bible study groups?
by Chase | Leadership, Ministry
Coming up with fresh event ideas is a daunting task.
Your student ministry calendar only offers a handful of spots that you can add in great events and I know that you want to make sure that your events are home runs.
There is some value in keeping annual events, but I suggest that you mix up your camps, events, and calendaring ever so often to build momentum and guard against creating a stagnant student ministry (more on this read: Fight Against Stagnant Student Ministry).
Events and theme nights are awesome ways to create excitement, start a discipleship focus, and get students to invite their friends.
So to help you as you plan for the upcoming season of student ministry here are a few fresh ideas to connect with students. These are simply raw ideas that you can develop a spiritual emphasis around to connect with your community.
6 Fresh Student Ministry Event Ideas
Christmas Silent Disco
Have you ever heard of a silent disco? The concept is that each attendee gets a wireless set of LED headphones that they use to tune into 3 music stations that are ran from your computer or they can be used with a live band. This could be used with a fun twist on your Christmas party in December. If you search for “silent disco” there are several companies that offer rentals and shipping.
Coffee House Takeover
Send out a text blast to your students, leaders, and parents and have everyone meet at a local coffee shop to hang out and play games. Getting your leaders and parents sitting around the table with students will relationally strengthen your student ministry. In addition to building your ministry you are also promoting local business in your community.
A great game you need to purchase is Pharisees by Kenny and Elle Campbell. Pharisees is the Bible version of the party game Mafia. This is a MUST for your student ministry! Check it out on their website: https://phariseesgame.com/
Weekenders
Students and family schedules are busier than ever. Student pastors are starting to notice a drop in retreat numbers because students can’t carve out a weekend away from sports, school assignments, and work to attend you retreat. Another option is to host a “weekender.” A weekender is a Friday evening and Saturday morning conference centered on a specific topic (like biblical dating) that is open to parents and students to attend. The event is hosted at your church with worship and breakouts sessions but is not an over-night event. A weekender offers the structure of a retreat but cuts down on the cost since meals and housing isn’t in the schedule.
Lumberjack Games
What is better than flannel shirt, pancakes, and outdoor games? You can mix this theme up for a “Highland Games” feel for lumberjacks. This would be an easy event to host at a local park and invite other student ministries to join in as you battle against one another. Run with your creativity on this one!
Mascot Airsoft/Laser Tag Battle
Our crew loves playing airsoft and laser tag with their small groups. You can add a new twist on the traditional setup and get your adult small group leaders to dress in local high school or college mascots suits and have the students play airsoft against them. If you have a hard time finding mascot suits you could always open it up as a costume battle for everyone to come in character.
Film Festival
Your students LOVE making vines, SnapChat stories, and YouTube videos. Why not host a film festival at your church with different categories (comedy, commercials, drama, etc.) for your students to create. Get them to use their phones and some free apps (check out the videoing apps I found this summer: 8 Essential Apps For Student Ministry) and let them create! Just make sure that everyone submits their video prior to the event so you can screen them and keep your job!
Now What
What other fresh student ministry event ideas have you come up with?
by Chase | Ministry
How much space does your child need?
As parents, this is a question we wrestle with as our kids grow up. When our kids are young they love spending time with us as we work, watch movies, and eat meals around the table but one day everything seems to switch and they become independent kids!
When this independent stage begins parents are often confused if they should serve in the kids ministry while their child is in elementary school.
I fully understand that there are parents who selfishly hover over their children (post to come soon with reasons that you should not serve in the kids ministry with your child). But for this post I am going to offer two reasons that a humble parent should consider serving in the kids ministry at their local church.
2 Reasons Parents Should Serve In Kids Ministry
Your Child Will See You Follow Jesus
Parents are the biggest influence in a child’s life. Now, this influence will either be positive or negative. If you are able to serve I would suggest that you start talking to your kids ministry leadership about where you can get plugged in. Why? So that you will start to positively influence your child’s life. When you serve in the kids ministry your child begins to see that you are a Jesus worshipper and that you follow him in your day-to-day life. This can create a powerful and positive influence as your child matures into the teenage years.
You Will Influence Your Kids’ Friends With The Gospel
The biggest influences in a kid’s life is the parent, but their friends are often the second biggest influencer. Serving in the kids ministry allows you to build biblical community with other parents who are walking through the same phase of life as you are. Investing in other families will begin to shape a healthy community of Jesus worshippers that will influence your family in the years to come.
Now What?
Before you commit to a ministry you need to prayerfully consider your heart, your spiritual giftedness, and your schedule. If you feel as if the kids ministry would be an area that you need to invest in, send your family pastor an email and schedule a meeting to start the conversation about what your next steps will be!
by Chase | Ministry
“As Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
Leading a ministry can feel like a lonely calling.
Whether it’s volunteers not connecting with our vision, a senior pastor stifling our creativity, or a congregation that doesn’t seem to “get it” we can become discouraged and disconnected from the life of the church.
At one time or another we have all felt the sting of loneliness in ministry. So what’s the cure?
I’ve found that networking with other church leaders, in your church and in the community, is vital for you to lead a healthy ministry.
Here are some of the lessons I have learned as I have begun networking with other kid ministry leaders.
4 Lessons Learned From Creating A Kid Ministry Network
Don’t Be Afraid To Start
When I first started at my current church I felt so disconnected from the community I had just moved to and knew very little about. With a few Google searches, I was able to compile a list of other churches in our area who had kid’s ministers on staff. I quickly emailed them to gauge interest and set up a monthly meeting time and place and watched it blossom. After being part of a group in Indianapolis with 25+ members, I was intimidated to start something like that. However, when you start small, its surprisingly easy, and well worth while to develop deep connections with people who are battling in the trenches alongside of you.
Share Ideas, Don’t Hide Ideas
We’re all ministering with the same goal of making Jesus known in our communities. Some of my most memorable events were helped formed by ministry networks. I personally struggle with this, because, let’s face it, my ideas are typically phenomenal and I don’t want others to steal them! Does this false-thought pop into your head from time-to-time as well? More accurately, I’m terrified to share because it could be my stupidest idea yet! Creating an atmosphere of grace is important and being vulnerable before our peers is essential. Plus, our weaknesses are often others strengths!
Talk It Out
Ministry is messy. Relationships are messy. Forming groups where we can talk openly about issues with volunteers, co-workers, kids, gives us insight into how to handle them.
Do we always agree on how they should be handled? Absolutely not! But, we challenge each other to be better, and work harder. Our group, and another group I used to be a part of when I ministered in Indianapolis, had a wide variety of people. It included, men, women, Baptists, charismatic, and non-denominational churches. Our different views helped more than we could imagine. When we work together God wins, our kids win, and our ministry wins.
Have Fun!
In our group we share struggles. But, we also make time to celebrate the good going on in our personal lives, as well as our ministry. I know about their kids, their baby on the way, their engagement and wedding plans. We laugh together. Sharing embarrassments and blunders from our weekends and funny things kids say help us to remember we are not perfect, but instead, being used by a perfect God. Knowing them, makes me feel part of something bigger than just my church. We are a community, working together to reach our community.
by Chase | Leadership, Ministry
Before I came on staff to be the full-time family pastor at our church I served here as a bi-vocational youth pastor.
For several years I worked in 2 different ministries (a camp and a church) and my family has experienced first-hand the challenges of serving bi-vocationally. Working two jobs is difficult enough, but when one of those is a ministry it seems nearly impossible to lead your job, ministry, family, and community well.
Bi-vocational youth pastors, I am encouraged by your drive for ministry and students! Your meetings happen during the evenings when you should be home with your families, your weekends are covered with events, your vacation time is used for mission trips and camps, and you are not paid nearly enough to do what you do.
In our area of the city the majority of youth pastors are bi-vocational or simply volunteers. They are men and women who love students and have stepped up in their churches to make sure that students are growing up with a knowledge and relationship with Jesus.
I know the highs and lows you are experiencing in ministry. While I was serving in two ministries I had to remind myself that my current role was completely different from someone who was serving full-time as a student pastor. Your role may look different but part-time pastors can fully impact their communities.
It is out of my deep respect for you all I would love to voice a few encouragements that I had to be reminded of as I served bi-vocationally.
4 Encouragements For Bi-Vocational Youth Pastors
Student Ministry Is About Depth, Not Size
It is easy to get caught up in hoping for someone else’s ministry, budget, number of volunteers, facilities, and worship band. But we must remember (even for us full-time guys) that ministry is about depth, not drawing crowds. For our area the bi-vocational leaders excel at relational ministry. They have been in the community for years and they are not leaving! Keep serving Jesus faithfully and developing disciples who are growing deep spiritual roots!
Part-Time Pastors Are Real Pastors
The students don’t notice that you are part-time. You know how I know? Because they never preface talking about you by saying “Hey, there is my ‘part-time’ youth pastor.” They see you as their pastor, because that is exactly what you are. Whether part or full-time, we are equipping and encouraging students for the glory of Jesus. You are just as much a pastor as the guy across the street with the full-time student ministry.
Being Full-Time Will Not Make Your More Qualified
Remember, God calls you into ministry. If your sense of qualification and success rests on your job status then your ministry will be shaky at best. Our joy, calling, power, and direction all come from Jesus. If you are dealing with those insecurities now, they won’t disappear if you become a full-time student pastor.
You Need To Set Boundaries
Don’t be afraid to set boundaries that protect your time, family, and other place of employment. If the church wants you go serve 40 hours a week then they need to make you full-time. Until that happens, do what needs to be done, serve how you know you should serve, and keep an open line of communication between you and your elders.
Now What?
Bi-vocational ministry is tough but God is doing incredible work in your churches because you are being faithful and obedient to Jesus.
Keep serving him faithful!
