Life of a youth pastor .

My Breakouts for OC 2014!

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I’m super excited about Orange Conference this year! I always appreciate the main sessions but LOVE the breakouts. I like hearing about the niche things in ministry, but love seeing the dozens of others in ministry struggling through the same things. It’s places like this that a mere conversation can totally alter the state of your ministry or vision. I’m not completely sure what I will walk away with this year but ready to find out.

Here are the breakouts I have chosen to attend. Hope to see you there!

  • MEASURING WHAT’S IMPORTANT IN FAMILY MINISTRY (Next Gen)
  • UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON KIDS AND STUDENTS
  • LEADING THROUGH CRISIS, TRAGEDY AND TRAUMA (STUDENTS)
  • ORANGE STRATEGY TO BUILD AND ALIGN MULTI-SITE CAMPUSES
  • STARTING A CHURCH FOR UNCHURCHED FAMILIES
  • ORANGE INTERACTIVE: STUDENT MINISTRY

And the winner is…

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winner

In my last post I posed this question, “If you had to choose between large group or small groups, which one would you choose, and why?”

The reality is so many times we do in fact choose one over the other. We give more resources, time, thought, planning, and staff toward one rather than the other.

It is easier to staff, budget and run a weekly large group program… and there are some fantastic large group programs out there for both students and adults. The large group has become a formula that we plug people into and expect a certain outcome. During the 60 minutes they sit in that seat we hope to present and accomplish church for them. We hope to provide the opportunity of what could seem to many like a one stop shop for Jesus. I know this isn’t the heart intention of our churches or youth groups, but it’s the way it comes across to many. How did I come to that conclusion? Because they show up for the large group but won’t get involved in a small group or take next steps to serve in the church.

If I had to choose, and I do… the winner in my book is small groups. I will not deny that large group has a very important role and without it many would not attend church, hear truth, or perhaps even be challenged to get more involved by plugging into a small group or serving. I have a feeling this is backwards, we have detoured from how the church initially expanded–through smaller groups, church planting, the sending out of disciples.

There needs to be a healthier relationship between the large group and small group planning. For me and my ministry, the large group exists to support our small groups. My actual “large group time” is cut in half… half of the program time is actually given to small groups and their small group leaders to connect, have conversations, ask questions, and enjoy relationships with the students they meet with every week.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

Large Group vs. Small Group

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tug of war

Let’s play out a mock scenario. You are alone in ministry and are presented with the option to provide a dynamic large group program that dozens of students enjoy attending OR recruit and equip other leaders to provide small groups for the same group of students.

Large Group or Small Groups? And you can only choose one.

This may not be the current reality of your leadership position or church, but depending which one you choose in this mock scenario says a lot about your ministry philosophy and how you will execute that philosophy.

Perhaps you do offer both the large group program and the small group model. One of these will receive more planning this week than the other. One of these has a larger budget. One of gets more time and attention.

Why did I create a mock scenario for you? Because it’s easier to think that this is a pretend situation rather than a reality that happens every single week. Every week you will choose as the ministry leader whether large group or small group is more important. You will program for one better than the other, you will put more time and effort into one rather than the other. It may be time for you to re-evaluate your priority of large group vs. small group.

I’ve got more to say about this in my next post and announce the winner.

Naming your ministry…

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hello

Starting a ministry? Did you change the name of your ministry? Do you want to?

Ministry names are important. A ministry name will even identify you as a ministry leader alongside your ministry, both your successes and your failures. There is so much that can be communicated in a mere word. This word isn’t the only thing that will define your program or ministry but it will be used a whole heck of a lot.

My current situation is unique in that I inherited a ministry with a particular name, but it’s not sticking. Sure, that’s partially my own fault and I will take the brunt of that. I don’t call the ministry what it used to be called but also don’t make a big deal out of calling it something new. I simply didn’t want my current ministry to be tied to something of the past. We operate and function in a different way now and I don’t want the current ministry to be confused with the way things used to be.

I think the idea of naming my ministry something new is furthest from importance right now, we are still trying to learn process, programs and procedures. Sometimes it is easier to name or re-name a ministry once it really starts establishing itself rather than putting a name to something that doesn’t really exist yet.

Let your passion, desires and goals drive you to a name…don’t let just a cool or catchy name drive you to your passion or the kind of ministry you desire for yourself and others.

XP3 – Free 3 week series!

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xp3

One of the first questions I get when hanging out with another student pastor is, “What curriculum do you use?” I have gone a few different routes in the past, but have been using XP3 for about a year now. Here’s what I love most…they give you EVERYTHING you would ever need for a series and then some more. For every series you get small group questions, large group manuscript, access to bumper videos, logos, leader email templates, etc. The content seems to always be relevant, I take the manuscript and make it my own. XP3 gives both the young and well seasoned youth pastor a great platform to engage students with God’s word.

Take a quick look at this for your group, and try a free 3 week series!

The art of teaching yourself.

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learn-to-code

I usually get the question… “Where did you learn how to do that?” Here are a few examples…

  • Pro Presenter
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Premier Pro
  • Adobe Lightroom
  • WordPress CSS
  • How to raise chickens…

You get the idea. Sure, someone led me to the stream, but I had to learn how to drink on my own. When it comes to any kind of foreign territory that would advance my knowledge or add skills to my tool belt, I am intrigued to learn. I love learning new things! Having a smorgasbord knowledge of “how to’s” is critical in so many situations, not just in ministry but life too. Here are some of my more unusual learnings in life and things that I have become a student in…

  • Yes, raising chickens.
  • Being a chimney sweep.
  • Juggling sticks.
  • Playing the tuba.
  • The Weber Grill.

Find something that intrigues you and take it to the next level. Read a book on the subject, watch a video online or ask an expert in that field. The rest is up to you.

What’s one area in your ministry that you need to become a student?

  1. Visitor follow up?
  2. Games?
  3. Recruiting?

The guest group. WIN! WIN! WIN!

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guestgroup

The picture you see here was our guest group last week.  At our program we always start as a large group and then break out into small groups.

When everyone breaks for small groups, we invite all guests and the friend that brought them to hang around for the guest group. We make it special, offering ice cream… what would you do for a Klondike bar? Go to guest group!

After the guest attends the guest group at least twice, and they want to continue showing up to the program, I transition them into a small group. This will eliminate those who just visit once or are unsure if they want to participate in your church program. It is difficult for the small group leaders to gain traction when new students are popping in all the time. Here’s the other really cool part, I encourage the student pastor to host the guest group. I get to meet every student that comes through the door this way, they hear our vision for them being here, and they don’t feel invisible or glanced over! WIN! WIN! WIN!

I host the guest group in the large group space. This eliminates transition time or having your guest adjust to another room or setting. Asking easy generic questions is the way to go. Keep things surface level, share the vision of your ministry and what you hope to offer them, perhaps ask one or two questions pertaining to the message.

What do you offer your guests?

Marketing, have you lost the touch?

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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.

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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?