Youth Ministry News - Resources

From Youth Specialties on Thursday, March 14, 2013 @ 2:08 PM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
Last weekend I had a great time with Doug Fields, Mark Matlock and Megan Hutchinson training 700 youth workers at YSPalooza in Chicago! One of the sessions I taught was “How to Lead a Small Group without Losing Your Mind.” This was a fun session where I offered 5 tools that help small group leaders (one of them was duct tape). Before the session, I went around with my phone and filmed people in the lobby, asking them, “What advice would you give a newbie small group leader.” I synced my phone with my laptop really quick, threw the responses together using iMovie (gotta love Mac) and showed the crowd what advice they had to give to newbie small group leaders. Here’s that video: (Click here if you don’t see the embedded video) I think Doug was the most profound… don’t you? He said a mouthful! This whole weekend of training was a lot of fun. Those who follow me on Twitter saw some of the highlights of the weekend, including the picture I shot of the crowd… and of course, my lunch at Giordano’s Pizza! We received really positive feedback from the trainings as well as all the current resources YS offered in their YSPalooza store. My book CONNECT actually sold out at the event, and my books 10-Minute Talks and More 10-Minute Talks were rapidly disappearing (maybe people liked those small group questions at the end of each of those talks). I can’t wait to teach again with Duffy, Kara and Mark at YSPalooza Philly! Taken from the original post on JonathanMckeeWrites.com Read More...

114. When The Youth Ministry Grass Isn't Always Greener

From youthministry360 on Thursday, March 14, 2013 @ 8:42 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
Image courtesy of shutterstock.com / (c) Serg64 I was sick. I didn't realize how badly I was infected until recently. I had tried every cure I could think of but I just couldn't kick the disease. It was eating me alive. I'd been going from place to place for the past 10 years trying to get healed. It just wasn't working. What malady infected me? I had a case "Grass is always greener-itis."Chances are, many of you may be infected as well. It's a chronic disease that causes you to continually look at other churches, ministries, and youth pastors and say, "If only…" You'll be hard pressed to find two words as harmful as these! Over the years they've caused a ton of heartache and frustration for youth workers. They build on the feeling that our present circumstances are untenable and add an unreal vision of "what could be." "If only I had "X" I'd be happy." In ministry, we often face struggles in our ministries. Maybe our Senior Pastor came down on us for no reason. Or a parent we thought was our friend went behind our backs gossiping or complaining. Maybe the star student we'd been mentoring for graduated from high school and his or her faith. When we get rocked with these types of struggles, we then look at our paltry paychecks, our office in the corner of the basement with the computer from 1995, or whatever else is eating at us that particular day and we think, "Its GOT to be better somewhere else!" Let me tell you friends, from a recovering "grass is greener-it is" sufferer, the grass isn't always greener. I know from experience.I thought in my first ministry, a part time ministry where I got little pay and less respect, that IF ONLY I got a full-time ministry things would be great. I got that full time ministry, but I ran into some fairly significant issues with an individual leader. I remember thinking that IF ONLY I found a place where the leadership was all on the same page things would be great. After a couple of more stops where things weren't perfect, my illness would kick in. I would hear the "if only's" in my head, and my neck would begin to crane looking for the next patch of greener grass. The problem is that I missed a lot of what was right in front of me looking for the next perfect fit.Each stop along the road I thought that I would find true ministry happiness somewhere else. The cliché holds true: The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Just because you see all the smiles, and hear all the good things about another church or ministry doesn't mean its all sunshine, and rainbows, and puppies. You are where you are, for better and for worse. If we really believe in God's sovereignty, we have to believe that God knew you'd be where you are. He didn't stop you. He allowed you to be in your specific context. Our goal should be to grow where God has planted us, even though it might be a challenge. Let your roots grow deep in his love and grace. These strong roots will nourish you in times of famine, protect you when the wind blows, and connect you to others to gain their strength as well. And these deep roots are a sure-fire cure for "grass is greener-it is." Read More...

115. Game Time With Les Christie: Episode 2

From Youth Specialties on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 10:15 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
When picking games you want to : Pick games that are fun to watch, Like Flamingo Football: guys hopping around on 1 foot, watching girls tackling them. Its super fun to watch. Pick games that are fun to describe. Get the students involved, engaged and ready for fun! Pick games that are fun to PLAY. If the people playing are having fun, the audience will have fun with them! Have some tips or tricks of your own? We are always looking for online contributors, send any program, game, or other related content to Trending@youthspecialties.com. Les Christie has spent more than forty years in youth ministry, including more than twenty years in the same church. An energetic speaker, Les also chairs the youth ministry department at William Jessup University. He's the author of more than a dozen books and lives in California with his wife, Gretchen, where he no longer has to discipline his two grown sons, Brent and David. You can find some of his resources in the YS Shop Read More...

116. Game Time With Les Christie: Episode 2

From Youth Specialties on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 10:15 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
When picking games you want to : Pick games that are fun to watch - Like Flamingo Football, guys hopping around on 1 foot, watching girls tackling them, its super fun to watch Pick games that are fun to describe, it gets the students involved, engaged and ready for fun! Pick games that are fun to PLAY, if the people playing are having fun, the audience will have fun with them! Have some tips or tricks of your own? We are always looking for online contributors, send any program, game, or other related content to Trending@youthspecialties.com. Les Christie has spent more than forty years in youth ministry, including more than twenty years in the same church. An energetic speaker, Les also chairs the youth ministry department at William Jessup University. He's the author of more than a dozen books and lives in California with his wife, Gretchen, where he no longer has to discipline his two grown sons, Brent and David. You can find some of his resources in the YS Shop Read More...

117. The 3 Foundations to Small Groups You Must Know

From Youth Specialties on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 10:05 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
The following is an excerpt from the first chapter of "Small Group Strategies" by Laurie Polich Small groups are not the end of ministry; they are the beginning. Many youth workers believe that if they can get kids into small groups, their job is done. But the real job has just begun. Ministry is about life change, and for this to happen, there needs to be an intentional ap- proach to HOW small groups will nurture and shape students’ lives. Often in youth ministry, success is measured by attendance. But having good attendance isn’t what makes your small group ministry successful. It’s what happens to your students once they get there. If we don’t take the time to answer key questions like, Why are we using this ministry strategy? or What are we hoping to accomplish? we can find ourselves with frustrated leaders, directionless students, and very little life-change. In one small group, after weeks of meeting together, a student asked his leader, “Why are we here anyway?” A question like that—though typical of adolescence—is a sign that something may need to change. Small groups can be exciting, challenging, and spiritually trans- forming. But again, they are the starting point of ministry—not the end. Each group needs to have an intentional goal and vision that is embraced by every member. Before we dig into what that all means, here are three founda- tional principles every small group leader should understand: 1. SMALL GROUP MEETINGS ARE VALUE-DRIVEN, NOT CURRICULUM- DRIVEN. The significance of getting kids to connect is always greater than the goal of finishing a lesson. Therefore, a successful small-group experience is defined by whether or not kids participated in a mean- ingful discussion, not whether or not the lesson was completed. How many times have you heard from a small group leader who came equipped with a lesson plan and was ready to fire away—only to leave discouraged because her students didn’t “get into” the meeting? (This is especially frustrating when that leader is you.) All it takes is a long sigh, a distracting comment, or the notorious “nap jerk” to realize you just aren’t reaching your audience. And therein lies the problem: Your students have become an audience. Sometimes a leader is unintentionally more committed to the lesson plan than the spiritual growth of the students. This happens when spiritual growth is understood as the transmission of informa- tion rather than the understanding of biblical truth. This basic differ- ence can make a group curriculum-driven rather than values driven. As a small group leader, it’s important to evaluate your group on the basis of your values. This takes some honest thought about what is happening—and what you want to happen—in your small group. That’s what this book is about. Your values, whether stated or unstated, will drive your small group ministry. If you don’t take the time to explore those values, your small group may reflect values you don’t really have. This book will help you develop clearly stated values that make small groups worth leading—and give you ideas and activities for how to experi- ence those values in your group. 2. SMALL GROUP RELATIONSHIPS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN SMALL GROUP ATTENDANCE. The core of small group ministry is relation- ships, not attendance. In his book, God at the Mall, Pete Ward says, “Relationships are the fuel on which youth work travels. To be en- gaged in building relationships with young people is an intentional activity.” Leanne loved the other girls in her small group and loved shar- ing life with them, but when her life fell apart, she pulled back. Leanne didn’t want to talk about the mess at home, so she withdrew. Leanne’s leader would see her every couple of months at church, but when she asked her to stick around for small group, Leanne always found an ex- cuse to duck out. Two years passed before Leanne was finally willing to come on a trip with her small group. It was then that she recommit- ted her life to Christ. Her telling comment was, “I can’t believe you let me come back. You always let me come back.” “GOOD LEADERS ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WAYS TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH KIDS OUTSIDE THE MEETING” Small group attendance doesn’t guarantee a good relationship be- tween leader and student anymore than a lack of attendance guaran- tees a lack of relationship. A student can meet with his small group religiously but fail to bring himself to the table. In contrast, a student may have poor attendance, but have a vital connection with the group. Good small group leaders develop relationships with students not only by leading them during the meeting, but also by pursuing them out- side of the meeting. Remember Jesus’ strategy with his sheep. When 99 showed up, he went looking for the one who didn’t. Jesus lived out this strategy with his disciples in a more pro- found way. Mark 3:14 says, “He appointed 12—designating them apostles—that they might be with him” (emphasis ours). Being with Jesus was the first and most important goal for this renegade small group. The unbelievable invitation of Jesus is that he calls us to a min- istry of inviting kids to be with us—so that they can be with him! 3. SMALL GROUP MINISTRY GOES BEYOND THE SMALL GROUP MEETING. Our impact on the lives of kids is not limited to the 70 minutes we have their attention. (Let’s make that seven minutes for those who work with junior high.) Good leaders are always on the lookout for ways to make connections with kids outside the meeting. If there is a spiritual understanding within the meeting, look for how it can be experienced in the real world of the students. If there is a spiritual or relational deadlock, look for avenues outside the gathering to over- come these obstacles. “THE MISSION OF A SMALL GROUP LEADER IS TO DEVELOP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS AND TO HELP SHAPE THEM INTO THE PEOPLE GOD DESIGNED THEM TO BE.” Small group leaders should look for ways to foster spiritual discovery with their students beyond “once-a-week.” This requires taking the ministry beyond the four walls of the meeting and placing it in the field where kids live, eat, play, and breathe the stresses of everyday life. This isn’t to say that the safety and intimacy of the meeting is not important. Transforming leaders simply look for ways to springboard faith connections into the real world. Conversations with kids during an afternoon of cookie baking can make a bigger impact on them than three weeks of carefully planned curriculum. It’s all about having the willingness to move beyond the usual confines into everyday life. YOUR MISSION The mission of a small group leader is to develop meaningful relationships with students and to help shape them into the people God designed them to be. Small group meetings, and the activities and ideas that go along with them, are not the mission. They are the vehicles we use to accomplish the mission—namely, spiritual transformation in the lives of our kids. In the following chapters, you will find strategic change to approaches to small group ministry that will help you accomplish this mission. You will learn how to run a small group meeting in such a way so that your students will be ministered to personally and effec- tively. You will learn not only how to nurture your students’ spiritual development by evaluating where they are, but also how to encour- age them toward the next step. Finally, you will be equipped with meaningful ideas and activities that are specifically designed to help students live out their faith at every level of spiritual growth. The goal is clear—your students will discover who Jesus is and embrace the relationship he has for them. While you can’t control their spiritual journeys, you can provide a nurturing context for growth to take place. This book will help you do just that. Get your copy of "Small Group Strategies" by Laurie Polich today. Read More...

118. The 3 Foundations to Small Groups You Must Know

From Youth Specialties on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 10:04 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
The following is an excerpt from the first chapter of "Small Group Strategies" by Laurie Polich Small groups are not the end of ministry; they are the beginning. Many youth workers believe that if they can get kids into small groups, their job is done. But the real job has just begun. Ministry is about life change, and for this to happen, there needs to be an intentional ap- proach to HOW small groups will nurture and shape students’ lives. Often in youth ministry, success is measured by attendance. But having good attendance isn’t what makes your small group ministry successful. It’s what happens to your students once they get there. If we don’t take the time to answer key questions like, Why are we using this ministry strategy? or What are we hoping to accomplish? we can find ourselves with frustrated leaders, directionless students, and very little life-change. In one small group, after weeks of meeting together, a student asked his leader, “Why are we here anyway?” A question like that—though typical of adolescence—is a sign that something may need to change. Small groups can be exciting, challenging, and spiritually trans- forming. But again, they are the starting point of ministry—not the end. Each group needs to have an intentional goal and vision that is embraced by every member. Before we dig into what that all means, here are three founda- tional principles every small group leader should understand: 1. SMALL GROUP MEETINGS ARE VALUE-DRIVEN, NOT CURRICULUM- DRIVEN. The significance of getting kids to connect is always greater than the goal of finishing a lesson. Therefore, a successful small-group experience is defined by whether or not kids participated in a mean- ingful discussion, not whether or not the lesson was completed. How many times have you heard from a small group leader who came equipped with a lesson plan and was ready to fire away— 8 SMALL GROUP STRATEGIES only to leave discouraged because her students didn’t “get into” the meeting? (This is especially frustrating when that leader is you.) All it takes is a long sigh, a distracting comment, or the notorious “nap jerk” to realize you just aren’t reaching your audience. And therein lies the problem: Your students have become an audience. Sometimes a leader is unintentionally more committed to the lesson plan than the spiritual growth of the students. This happens when spiritual growth is understood as the transmission of informa- tion rather than the understanding of biblical truth. This basic differ- ence can make a group curriculum-driven rather than values driven. As a small group leader, it’s important to evaluate your group on the basis of your values. This takes some honest thought about what is happening—and what you want to happen—in your small group. That’s what this book is about. Your values, whether stated or unstated, will drive your small group ministry. If you don’t take the time to explore those values, your small group may reflect values you don’t really have. This book will help you develop clearly stated values that make small groups worth leading—and give you ideas and activities for how to experi- ence those values in your group. 2. SMALL GROUP RELATIONSHIPS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN SMALL GROUP ATTENDANCE. The core of small group ministry is relation- ships, not attendance. In his book, God at the Mall, Pete Ward says, “Relationships are the fuel on which youth work travels. To be en- gaged in building relationships with young people is an intentional activity.” A FEW IMPORTANT WORDS ABOUT SMALL GROUPS 9 Leanne loved the other girls in her small group and loved shar- ing life with them, but when her life fell apart, she pulled back. Leanne didn’t want to talk about the mess at home, so she withdrew. Leanne’s leader would see her every couple of months at church, but when she asked her to stick around for small group, Leanne always found an ex- cuse to duck out. Two years passed before Leanne was finally willing to come on a trip with her small group. It was then that she recommit- ted her life to Christ. Her telling comment was, “I can’t believe you let me come back. You always let me come back.” “GOOD LEADERS ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WAYS TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH KIDS OUTSIDE THE MEETING” Small group attendance doesn’t guarantee a good relationship be- tween leader and student anymore than a lack of attendance guaran- tees a lack of relationship. A student can meet with his small group religiously but fail to bring himself to the table. In contrast, a student may have poor attendance, but have a vital connection with the group. Good small group leaders develop relationships with students not only by leading them during the meeting, but also by pursuing them out- side of the meeting. Remember Jesus’ strategy with his sheep. When 99 showed up, he went looking for the one who didn’t. Jesus lived out this strategy with his disciples in a more pro- found way. Mark 3:14 says, “He appointed 12—designating them apostles—that they might be with him” (emphasis ours). Being with Jesus was the first and most important goal for this renegade small group. The unbelievable invitation of Jesus is that he calls us to a min- istry of inviting kids to be with us—so that they can be with him! 10 SMALL GROUP STRATEGIES 3. SMALL GROUP MINISTRY GOES BEYOND THE SMALL GROUP MEETING. Our impact on the lives of kids is not limited to the 70 minutes we have their attention. (Let’s make that seven minutes for those who work with junior high.) Good leaders are always on the lookout for ways to make connections with kids outside the meeting. If there is a spiritual understanding within the meeting, look for how it can be experienced in the real world of the students. If there is a spiritual or relational deadlock, look for avenues outside the gathering to over- come these obstacles. “THE MISSION OF A SMALL GROUP LEADER IS TO DEVELOP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS AND TO HELP SHAPE THEM INTO THE PEOPLE GOD DESIGNED THEM TO BE.” Small group leaders should look for ways to foster spiritual discovery with their students beyond “once-a-week.” This requires taking the ministry beyond the four walls of the meeting and placing it in the field where kids live, eat, play, and breathe the stresses of everyday life. This isn’t to say that the safety and intimacy of the meeting is not important. Transforming leaders simply look for ways to springboard faith connections into the real world. Conversations with kids during an afternoon of cookie baking can make a bigger impact on them than three weeks of carefully planned curriculum. It’s all about having the willingness to move beyond the usual confines into everyday life. YOUR MISSION The mission of a small group leader is to develop meaningful relationships with students and to help shape them into the people God designed them to be. Small group meetings, and the activities and ideas that go along with A FEW IMPORTANT WORDS ABOUT SMALL GROUPS 11 them, are not the mission. They are the vehicles we use to accomplish the mission—namely, spiritual transformation in the lives of our kids. In the following chapters, you will find strategic change to approaches to small group ministry that will help you accomplish this mission. You will learn how to run a small group meeting in such a way so that your students will be ministered to personally and effec- tively. You will learn not only how to nurture your students’ spiritual development by evaluating where they are, but also how to encour- age them toward the next step. Finally, you will be equipped with meaningful ideas and activities that are specifically designed to help students live out their faith at every level of spiritual growth. The goal is clear—your students will discover who Jesus is and embrace the relationship he has for them. While you can’t control their spiritual journeys, you can provide a nurturing context for growth to take place. This book will help you do just that. Read More...

From Youth Specialties on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 8:33 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
This week in youth ministry: How Letters from a Stranger Saved a Teenager's Life - CBS News PlanetWisdom 2013 Recap - Matthew McNutt Unedited Advice to Teen Guys - Jonathan McKee Lent Ideas for Youth Ministry - ReThink Youth Ministry 4 Principals for Raising Your Kids, While Doing Youth Ministry - Doug Fields Video of the Week: World's Most Insane Rope Swing Read More...

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