Resources I Live By

Here are some resources that I couldn't imagine NOT having in student ministry:

• Dropbox - a web-based file hosting service that you can get up to 4GB for free
• Polleverywhere - it is the best way to create stylish real-time experiences using mobile devices
• Evernote - Capture anything and access it anywhere and share it with anyone.  Seriously awesome!
• Planning Center - Plan everything and have everyone on the same page.  

All of these are free!  I couldn't do youth ministry without them.

What resources do you lean on?

Blocking Distractions

It is hard enough to hook and maintain students' attention already, but now it can be near impossible with phone, web, and text always in hand.  Here is some ways we fight and incorporate this distraction in ministry.

1. Small group leaders collect all phones (including their own) and put them in a Cell Block until the we have finished.  This demonstrates that I, as a leader, care about you; and you, as a student, should respect others' time.
2. In large group settings, we actually help them use it and get it out of their system.  We will use something like polleverywhere.com and you ask a question and get real-time responses as they text in their answer.  After the poll, it is an easy transition to have everyone put the phone away.
3. We use Zone Coverage in large group settings.  This means I have a leader or volunteer spread out in the seating area (no leader sits within ten feet of one another).  This helps students connect to leaders as they interact during the service and helps police distractions in a subtle way.
4. We tell core students to help by being the example and enforce our rules to their friends, but not strangers.  We prefer new comers to feel welcomed, not oppressed by their fellow students,

What are some ways you prevent distractions in your ministry?

Reading List

What books are you reading and living out?  Besides the Bible here are books that are shaping and growing my life:

Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson
Soul Detox by Craig Groeschel
Lead Small by Reggie Joiner

Fantastic books for me and while I am in the middle of two of these, I strongly suggest these resources.  Game changers for me.

My team of volunteers are challenged with this: "Leaders are readers."  Simple, but true.  Whether book or Kindle, don't forget your own spiritual growth.

What are you reading?  What should I be reading?

Thank you, youth ministers

Here is a video for all of you youth workers!  You make such a huge difference.  Watch, be encouraged, be inspired.  The best is yet to come.

Thanks Youth Specialties for this great video.

Messiness of ministry

There isn't a week that goes by that a student "blows it" and feels like they can't show their face for awhile.  A key student stops coming or a teen becomes a teen mom.  Your ministry is dependent on two things: God and people.  One is perfect and the other is definitely not.

How you respond to the imperfect students will speak volumes compared to your messages.  Jesus spoke on many occasions, but was remembered for few sermons and more messy disciples.  You are calling the broken and hurt to follow Christ.  Some may walk away (I pray against that everyday) and others may run.  

If it wasn't for a great friend (and youth pastor) to be there when I hit rock bottom, I would not be in ministry today.  In all the hustle and bustle of ministry, don't forget that Jesus hung out with many, but poured into 12. Even one of those didn't work out. 

Do for a few, what you wish you could do for all.  Discipleship is messy, but isn't it worth it?  

Teaching out of the box

This is my second year of leading a youth ministry.  While there are thousands of things I have learned in the past year, I have had to look at how I communicate my messages in two different settings.  We have services and life groups (cell, small, discipleship...you get the idea).  I have loved trying to discover what style works best for me and my students.  Everyone will have to find their own, but I want to encourage you that there is not just one way.

One of my best friends is completely anti-curriculum, and another buddy of mine is fully reliant on curriculum.  Neither are wrong, but it could be wrong for you and your students.  I tend to go both ways.  I plan six months out if possible so sometimes I write my own and others I adapt curriculum to our crowd.

Currently, we are doing a Zombie theme for the month of October and we grabbed the inspiration of the theme from someone else (thanks Josh Griffin) but completely wrote the content ourselves.  Our service went great as we keyed in on "The One Thing".  Zombies love one thing and will not stop until they get it.  The idea is explaining what the one thing students need (Jesus) compared to other things they make number one in their life.  

This Sunday is our discipleship group is focusing on a Zombie like hunger, but not for brains.  The main idea is that we sometimes starve ourselves spiritually but our we need bread and meat (exodus 16, matthew 5:6). I can't wait to see what God is going to do!

So, don't feel bad if you lean one way or another when it comes to curriculum.  If you think about it, the Bible is curriculum and we all use that!  Think outside the box when teaching, and if you run out of ideas, use others' ideas.

Which way do you lean?  Where do you get most of your subject matter?