Life of a youth pastor .

Marketing, have you lost the touch?

by Leave a Comment

Marketing

When it comes to marketing, know your audience. The same rule applies in ministry. If you are trying to get gobs of students or kids to sign up for a camp, don’t let them know about it just a few weeks before. If you want to specifically target students you shouldn’t write them an email and expect them to read it. It’s 2014 people, reach people where they are already at, or go the extra mile and make an effort to reach them personally.

I’ve mailed out postcards, created a Facebook page, post regularly on Instagram, email mom and dad, and the list goes on and on. Which one works the best for marketing a program, event, or just getting information out? I don’t know. I do know that the more you balance personally reaching out with social media, emails, newsletters, etc. the more responsive an individual will be to that piece of information.

Unfortunately, I believe we are relying far too much on the computer and the multiple platforms of social media. No longer do we meet the parents face to face, tell them about the awesome camp we would love Johnny or Suzie to sign up for, we expect a fun graphic and a few words hitting their inbox to do the trick. This can lend to a very corporate feeling ministry along with all the other competition you face in getting their attention. This week I’ve asked all my small group leaders to call the phone numbers of the parents on their roster and cast vision for our mission trip sign ups. I know it can only help, I believe in the personal touch…and yes, I’m calling students too!

Before you write another email to parents, leaders, or even reach out to a student via social media for marketing reasons, try one of these things:

  • Snail mail a handwritten letter.
  • Make a phone call.
  • Invite that student/parent/leader to have coffee.

What would you say is the most effective way to market your audience?

Your best small group leader.

by Leave a Comment

time-and-calendar

One of the best things that happened to me as a young teenager growing up in the church was getting a small group leader. One of the most unfortunate things that happened to me growing up in the church was losing that small group leader and getting a new one the next year, and then another new one the following year.

Not intentionally I’m sure, but we were a tough group of guys. We goofed off, wanted to have fun, couldn’t sit still and it was a miracle if we actually read through a Bible passage together in small group. Whether it was the leaders schedule, or we were just a tough group of guys, we didn’t have a continued connection with the same leader throughout our high school years.

If there is one thing you can always help cast vision for in your ministry, it’s COMMITMENT.

Not because the leaders have to be there every Sunday, but they understand it’s a privilege and they want to be there! Trust is built over time, leaders wonder why small group stays surface level or they don’t see fruit from their labor. Commitment is made over time, week after week, year after year.

I currently have every leader that wants to volunteer in our ministry sign a one-year commitment. I know of some churches that ask for 3 year commitments! It’s just part of their culture, I’m so grateful for this kind of mentality. The best small group leader is a committed one, they show up and keep showing up for their group.

What kind of commitment do you get from your leaders?

The priority is reconciliation.

by 2 Comments

Legend_Fighting_Championship_3

Have trouble letting something go? Do you have a hard time looking someone in the eyes? Are you holding a grudge?

If you get anything right in ministry or life for that matter, get this… reconciliation is THE priority. If you don’t practice this on a regular basis then you are not demonstrating what God has done for you. Unfortunately, the enemy has you right where he wants you too.

Jesus gives us grace. Just as we are, he accepts us in our mess. So, if we are to imitate Christ in our life, why do we sulk and drag our feet when it comes to making amends after someone wrongs us or we know we have wronged someone else. Jesus himself when being crucified said, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” Luke 23:24

In ministry you can choose to emphasize or run away from reconciliation. Often you will find those you lead in these situations. After some pretty brutal storms of my own, I now look at these hard times as an opportunity to display what Christ has displayed for us and lead others through it.

Having been wronged or wronging others, my experience has been deep and wide. I’ve had reconciling moments with my wife, senior pastors, direct supervisors, my peers, and even those I lead.

It’s the access to a beautiful gospel that allows this reconciliation.

I love how the Message puts it: “Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” Colossians 3:13

I have never been shot down in an attempt of reconciliation when wearing my all-purpose garment. People can smell love a mile away. Likewise, they can smell a forced apology.

  • Keep short, quick accounts.
  • Be genuine.
  • Listen to the other party without interrupting.
  • Follow up with an email, phone call, or text thanking them for hearing you out.

The LEGO connection.

by Leave a Comment

the_lego_movie-wide

I loved playing with LEGOs as a kid so I was up for the movie. I went to the LEGO movie last night and didn’t fully appreciate the clip until the very end. The last 10 minutes of the movie makes an astounding statement about our society, processes, worldview and yes…even your ministry.

The ministry your designing and working day after day to build, one day will be picked apart and put back together in a different way. How does that make you feel? Are you okay with that? Is it worth it?

In the LEGO movie we see two different approaches to building, one follows instructions on the diagram given to them because they know it will work. The other type of builder sees a bunch of random pieces and somehow makes something magnificent out of it. While both builders make something great, there are two completely different approaches here and one sometimes will work better than the other.

I don’t believe we need to change our approach to truth, doctrine or the gospel but we need to be innovators in ministry. We need to bring change to our processes in an ever changing culture. We need to use our imagination to look at our current pieces differently, our budgets, our leaders, our students. Your ministry could have the potential of being something MUCH different, reaching those perhaps you never reached before. This will require picking apart your ministry LEGO pieces you have already put in place, or pieces that have been put in place before you.

Be open to change, it’s not always a bad thing.

Your blueprint for student ministry.

by Leave a Comment

blueprint

By no means do I have the perfect student ministry, nor do I believe it exists. Each and every student pastor that is honest will say, “We have strengths and weaknesses.” I do believe there is a difference between an average operation and one that is really firing on all cylinders. The reason being is because the ministry leaders are working off a blueprint that has been set before them.

Whether you are in student ministry or not, I hope you are working off some kind of blueprint or plan in the project you have ahead of you. A blueprint keeps you on task, the must have factors, measurements, desired outcomes, it’s all there. If you are ever lost, just check the blueprint.

At Gateway Church we have a fairly simple blueprint in place for our student ministry. I believe a ministry designed the way we have it can work fairly well, we just need to stay committed to it and see it come to fruition. Like many other larger student ministries, we are somewhat of a small church plant. We have 3 programs to execute every week, a student band to improve, budgets to run, camps to plan, mission trips, volunteers to recruit, families to partner with… and the list goes on. But what does all of this amount to? How can we physically see it happening year in and out? What are we building?

We are building up a generation of students who will own their faith and make it known to others wherever they go in life. I have faith, that through this blueprint, we are equipping the next generation of both the churched and unchurched in what it means to accept God’s love on a daily basis. Not only identifying that relationship but also accepting the challenge to take it into their world and share it with others.

Here’s my blueprint:

Large Group. The weekly hangout. This involves a somewhat non-threatening environment to bring a friend to play some games, hear some music, listen to some funny stories, hear from the Word of God.

Small Groups. This happens every week directly following large group. Everything we do points back to connecting our students faith to an authentic community of peers around them. Students and adults they can explore doubts, ask questions, be real.

Winter Camp. Camp is full weekend of small group time. Long retreat time into teaching, personal reflection, worship…but also tons of FUN. Camp makes memories for our students, we get to help them make positive memories of their relationship with God and the church. A weekend camp vs. a summer camp allows more student participation (it’s cheaper) and more adult leader participation (don’t have to take off work).

GO! Teams. Our mission trips can be life changing moments for our students. Both those near and far from God come back from GO! Teams with new world views and a better understanding of how God’s love permeates the most unimaginable lifestyles and deepest needs.

All of this may sound familiar, because many churches take this same blueprint or concept and add a few tweaks to make it their own. What does your blueprint look like? What works well for you?

Forward thinking.

by 1 Comment

october-calendar

Does your family calendar look like this? If it doesn’t there are 10 students in your ministry that it does represent. We are way too busy, and if you can’t slow people down you need to get ahead of their schedule.

Many times, those young bucks in charge of the kiddos are known as the last-minute man. Simply, don’t be that person. I had a parent approach me earlier this week telling me how impressed they were, being that they got a calendar for the entire school year last fall. This allowed them to plan family vacations around special dates, like camps and mission trips. It simply took me a few days to look at the school calendars and block out the times I needed from families to run special activities for our students and make a calendar.

I guarantee that forward thinking and planning will only increase your participation rate. It’s worth the investment.

When using forward thinking and calendaring out 6 plus months in advance respects the family and partners with parents to provide an experience for their child. With a game plan in hand, they will walk away aware of two things when you schedule a camp, mission trips, or a special event.

  1. Save the date. Most parents would say, “I want my kid at this church activity.” They are  more responsible than the student and will mark it on the calendar making sure nothing gets scheduled on top of it.
  2. Save the money. They know this will cost money. (Even if they don’t, now you don’t have to feel bad announcing the price tag that is attached… they knew the $150 retreat was coming 6 months ago)

Now that I have done this for the past year, my job is simply to be consistent. Get the calendar in the hands of the parents late in the summer and do my best to stick to the same dates of camp/trips of the previous year. Consistency is your best momentum builder, this investment over time yields big rewards for your ministry as the years go on.

Do you have a plan for the next 6 months? 12 months? How will you communicate that plan to parents?

My first funeral. Things you should and shouldn’t say…

by 3 Comments

funeral

A few weeks ago I officiated my first funeral. Though an honor to be asked to officiate such a ceremony, this was a tragedy for family, friends and the church. I struggled my way through it in the best way I knew how, grabbing sermons from others and crafting something of my own, which you can find attached at the end of this post. Fighting back tears and doing my best to deliver a message, this was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in ministry yet.

The funeral wasn’t for one person, but two. One of my students lost both of her parents to a drunk driver. Just like that…gone. Unfair. Unjust. Unable to comprehend and explain. I had many family and their friends approach me with “why’s?”

I became comfortable in responding this way, the only way I knew how…

We weren’t created to understand death, we weren’t made to fathom separation from others. We were created for life, life with God and life with each other. When we see life taken from us whether young or old, it never feels right nor should it. We can’t seem to accept death, but we should accept that God has a reassuring hope for us. Through the person of Jesus, He gives us access to life with God and a future-Eden to look forward to in this most desperate time.

Things I recommend you should NOT say to someone that just lost a loved one:

  • “I know what you are going through right now.” You probably don’t. Everyone has their own experience, their own relationships, and their own emotions.
  • “Are you okay?” No they aren’t! That may sound reassuring but it’s tough right now, and “okay” is a long way away.
  • “This is the best thing that could have happened to them.” Perhaps, if the person was suffering. But let the loved one state that, it’s not your place.

Simply state you are sorry for what they are having to endure and ask if they have any needs that you can help meet during this time. Delivering meals, house cleaning, yard work, etc. These small things can really help out a family during the loss of a loved one.

Attached here is my manuscript (names have been altered to respect the family), feel free to use it as a resource as you serve others. Funeral_Manuscript_Parker

Hillsong United makes history with “Oceans”

by 1 Comment

billboardtop100

Where do you find an amazing worship song? Among other well known artists…consisting of Beyonce, Jason Derulo, Imagine Dragons, etc. “Oceans” simple yet profound lyrics have drawn a HUGE following of both churches but perhaps even the unchurched in helping it snag a spot in the Billboard Hot 100. What a great achievement to celebrate in making God’s name known among our highly competitive music industry.

“The earth will be filled with knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the ocean.” Habakkuk 2:14

God has used this song, at this time, to unite His people worldwide, while also delivering a message of hope for those without.

My favorite verse of the song is, “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the water, wherever you would call me.” I believe we all have a border of trust… deep down we have some sort of boundary of what we will give over to God. No one has a perfect trust. How often do we stop to ask the Holy Spirit for help?

Ask the Spirit to expand your trust, that you would continually transform into the willing vessel of a servant found displayed in the person of Jesus.

Click here to read more about Hillsong United’s achievement.

Can two baptize one?

by 1 Comment

baptism

Last night was awesome.

As stated in my previous post about Young Life and my desire to partner with them… I had texted a few of their leaders yesterday and one responded by saying he was attending our churches baptism last night. Arriving at church I was introduced by one of my students to the local high school’s YL leader. We chatted for a bit and then discovered that we together were baptizing the same student! It was beautiful picture of the church and campus ministry partnering together to invest in the life of the next generation.

Our students need more than one positive influence and voice in their life. How can you cheer on those other positive voices that are outside your own independent church.

I hope to see this happen many more times in “our” ministry together reaching students for Jesus. What’s holding you back? How can you partner with your local school’s campus ministries. Do you have similar experiences to share?

Partner with a campus ministry.

by Leave a Comment

YL_9251_Logo_PrimaryALT

I am super excited about something that happened last week. I sat down with a a former youth worker from my church who also participated on staff with young life. As we chowed down on breakfast tacos I confessed my envy of young life and their fantastic contact work/ministry they do with high school students. I also confessed my frustrations of feeling like I had to compete with this ministry, wanting to see more of these kids plug into the local church, selfishly my local youth group and not just attend a YL club.

After feeling like I revealed my deepest and honest feelings, I then proceeded to share what God had been doing in my heart. I know at the end of the day I will have to give an account to my maker for what I have done with the time given to me, the resources entrusted to me, and the people put in my path. For this season, God has placed almost 2,500 students right down the road not only in the churches path but also young life. We will both stand side by side one day to give an account for the students on that campus. We serve the same God and are both trying to reach students with truth in a relevant way.

So, what is the best thing a local church can do for a campus ministry like young life, FCA, Cru? Find those who are doing the ministry and simply ask the questions, “How can I partner with you?” “How can I serve you?” “What do you need?”

I began this conversation today and already something amazing happened tonight… more to come.