Posts filed under 'Leadership'
Soul Care of the Youth Worker
One of the biggest failures in youth ministry today is that lack of soul care of the average youth worker. One of my first lessons in soul care was when I was part of a guys small group in university. The professor who was leading this group opened himself up by sharing this intimate story with us;
I have been doing this guys bible study each week for the past number of years and each year it has grown in size and in impact. Last night my wife asked me, “when are you going to care for the spirirtual shape of our marriage like you do with the guys in your bible study?”
I was astonished at his honesty but it also caused me to think, as a single university student, who is caring for my soul? Who is caring for my spiritual growth? Who is responsible for the daily relationship I have with God? It’s not my pastor, not my small group leader, not my friend, etc… It is completely up to me!
Now that I’m married and have a family I realize that being in youth ministry that their are many distractions that can keep me from my own personal soul care.
Distractions from Soul Care
- Personal: my hobbies, TV, movies, internet, iPhone, etc…
- Family: schedules, after school activities, meal time, sickness, hospital visits, driving everywhere, etc…
- Work/Orginizational: performance pressure, commute, eating out, leadership, changes, etc…
- Cultural: where you live, your friends, family culture, finances, books you read, etc…
- Ministry: paid/not-paid volunteer, church politics, budget, vision direction, etc…
What distractions most threaten you? Why?
The bigger problem is even with all those distractions listed above preventing you from caring for your soul is the biggest distraction of them all. EXPECTATION! This one transcends into every possible distraction that you have in your life.
I now the verse, “Be still…” Psalm 46:10 and there are many things in this world that cause me to take a pause in my life. One of those things is any two-stroke motorcycles. Especially any Harley Davidson that is driving down the road or parked. They bring instant pause in my life. But do you take pause in your life for your relationship with God. How can we expect to introduce students to a personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit if you don’t have one?
So What’s the Answer?
- Time Management: family, work, etc…
- Eating: eat healthy, put a menu plan together for your family, stop eating so much fast food! (Why are youth pastors seen as overweight?)
- Exercise: this needs to be in your weekly schedule 3-5 times a week for 30minutes max.
Pain that Heals
Here are a few things you should have in your life as a youth worker if your are paid or volunteer:
- Journaling
- Sabbath Rest
- Lectio Divina
Make room in your life by looking at what needs be removed from your life. If you are not willing to go through the pain that these things may bring in to your life, I will guarantee you one thing: burnout!
Youth ministry is not hard, if you continue in your current pattern you will not be in youth ministry much longer.
2 comments January 27, 2010
Perception Questions
Evaluations can be the best of times or the worst of times of any youth worker. Who evaluates you and based on what criteria? It’s usually your supervisor depending on church size and experience of those in leadership above you.
Have you ever consider having those who you lead evaluate you? They would give you the most honest feedback depending on your relationship with them.
This is a resource that I picked up from Saddleback Church a few years ago. There are times I wish I used it and other time I wish I didn’t.
Perception Questions
Name: ____________________________________
Thank you for considering to fill in this evaluation. I desire to use these questions to seek the help and input of the friends that I work with, know and trust. I need and will really value your thoughts. You are the most qualified to assist me in seeing my blind spots. I sincerely want to be what God wants me to be. And do what He wants me to do. So love me enough to be honest.
Proverbs 17:10: A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than one hundred lashes a fool.
Proverbs 9:9: Instruct a wise man; he will be wiser still. Teach a righteous man; he will add to his learning
Proverbs 13:10: Wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Proverbs 19:20: Listen to advice and accept instruction and in the end you will be wise.
Please help me through your discernment so that I may gain a better self-understanding that God will be able to use to draw me closer to Him.
Please return this evaluation to me as soon as you can, thanks!
1. How do I come across? How do people perceive me?
2. Over the years, what did you feel you had to be careful about when approaching me?
3. What attitudes do I express that you feel are a problem or in your opinion, issues of sin?
4. Within our ministry team (or when we have been in ministry), how do I rub people the wrong way?
5. What characteristics bother people about my personality or disposition?
6. If I could work on something, what would be your first suggestion?
7. Based on your understanding, where am I likely to go wrong?
a) Personally
b) Interpersonally with work associates
c) Relationally within my marriage and family
d) Professionally in ministry
e) Spiritually
8. What caution or warning would you have for me about my moving into a new ministry position of leadership?
9. Any other comments or recommendations?
10. Any specific Scripture that I should hold on to?
Add comment January 11, 2010
Ontario Lieutenant Governor’s 2009 Holiday Message
The Lieutenant Governor’s 2009 Holiday Message
TORONTO, Dec. 23 /CNW/ – On this Christmas Day 2009, I want to wish you all the very best of the season. This is a time of family, celebration, reflection and renewal. It is also an opportunity to assist the less fortunate among us.
As I look back on the year, my thoughts turn to a warm day in July when I visited several groups who help the homeless including Youth Unlimited, the Salvation Army Gateway, Sanctuary and the Yonge Street Mission.
I was also deeply moved when I participated in the Scott Mission’s Remembrance Day Ceremony for homeless veterans who, having served Canada, fell on hard times and now live on the streets. They and other homeless people are helped by the Mission.
At this time of year it is important to remember those in need and do what we can to help them. Let us remember as well, those serving as peacekeepers around the world or in harm’s way in Afghanistan.
May I also take this time to extend a warm invitation for you to join us at the Lieutenant Governor’s New Year’s Levee. The Levee will be held in Toronto, in the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite at Queen’s Park on Friday January 1st between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. We look forward to meeting you there.
As The Queen’s representative in Ontario, I wish you all Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad, and a very Merry Christmas!
For further information: Nanda Casucci-Byrne, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, (416) 325-7780, www.lt.gov.on.ca
Add comment December 25, 2009
The Common
One of the biggest issues that churches face is how do you meet the needs of those around you. Both in your faith community and outside your faith community. Who would have the right skill set to match that specific need? How would ever know all the needs that exist with out relationships? The Common is helping people match their gifts with needs of those around them.
My church started using TheCommon in August and it has revolutionized the needs that exist with the skills to help.
If you tell your Sr. Pastor that it was your idea, we won’t say anything.
ht to thecommon.org
Add comment December 8, 2009
Free Audio Download: December
Each month christianaudio gives away a premium audiobook download for free. How does it work? Well, they give away one audiobook download (that they have published or that a partner has allowed them to give away) absolutely free; available only during that month and only once, ever.
Instructions: Add the download to your cart and use the coupon code DEC2009 when prompted to receive this month’s free download! You must use the code to receive the download for free.
The Brothers Karamazov (Abridged) by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky’s crowning life work, The Brothers Karamazov, stands among the greatest novels in world literature. His exploration of faith, doubt, morality, and the place of suffering in life are equaled in no other work of literature, save the Bible.
The book explores the possible role of four brothers in the unresolved murder of their father, Fyodor Karamazov. At the same, it carefully explores the personalities and inclinations of the brothers themselves. Their psyches together represent the full spectrum of human nature, and continuum of faith and doubt. Ultimately this novel seeks to understand the real meaning of existence and includes much beneficial philosophical and spiritual discussion that moves the reader towards faith.
This new abridgment done exclusively for Hovel Audio by Russian Studies scholar Thomas Beyer keeps the important religious themes of the novel intact. It is an excellent way for the admirer of Dostoevsky to refresh himself, or to introduce Dostoevsky to a friend who has yet to experience the joy of reading his works.
Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) writes with a passion and keen insight of biblical grace like no other modern novelist. His works Crime and Punishment and The Idiot testify to his great skill. The Brothers Karamazov has been hailed by readers for over a century as one of the finest achievements in all of western literature.
Thomas R. Beyer is Professor of Russian at Middlebury College in Vermont. He holds three degrees in Slavic Literature including a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. In his decades of teaching, Tom Beyer has read The Brothers Karamazov dozens of times. His abridgment of the novel for Hovel Audio shows his thorough knowledge of his subject.
Add comment December 2, 2009
Free Audio Download
Desiring God (Unabridged) by John Piper
Scripture reveals that the great business of life is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. In this paradigm-shattering classic, newly revised and expanded, John Piper reveals that the debate between duty and delight doesn’t truly exist: Delight is our duty. Join him as he unveils stunning, life impacting truths you saw in the Bible but never dared to believe.
Each month christianaudio gives away a premium audiobook download for free. How does it work? Well, they give away one audiobook download (that they have published or that a partner has allowed them to give away) absolutely free; available only during that month and only once, ever.
Instructions: Add the download to your cart and use the coupon code NOV2009 when prompted to receive this month’s free download! You must use the code to receive the download for free.
ht to our friends at christianaudio
Add comment November 2, 2009
$5 Ministry Training AMAZING!!!
Add comment October 19, 2009
$5 Youth Ministry Training
Youth Ministry Training for only $5? Seriously!?!
What You’ll Get: Over 3 hours of focused youth ministry training by Matt Wilks (resident Canadian youth guru) and Chris Folmsbee (author of A New Kind of Youth Ministry & of course a wanna-be Canadian).
- You’ll also receive interaction with other youth workers like you
- Outlines and notes for each seminar
- Flash drive with all the content from the seminar
- Seminar Outlines for: Discipleship: Shaping Students for the Mission of God, Leadership 101: 10 Essentials for Developing Healthy Teams, Engaging Parents: Keys to Helping Students Develop an Authentic Faith (.doc and .pdf)
- Seminar Presentation Slides (.ppt, .pdf, .key)
- Barefoot Catalog with hundreds of resources
- Free Product from Barefoot Ministries including a 30 day trial to barefootministries.com
- All for only $5!
Seminars: (1) Spiritual Formation for the Mission of God, (2) Dynamics and practices of healthy volunteer teams, (3) Collaborating with parents to spiritually influence their kids
1 comment October 14, 2009
3 Truths and NO Lie!
by Clay Imoo
I had the pleasure of speaking at my home parish of St. Paul’s this past Friday night as the SPIRIT Pre-Teen Youth Ministry held its kick-off event for the year. It was also the start of SPIRIT’s 10th year of ministry, so in recognition of the impressive milestone the night featured a few special presentations among the prayer, games, and of course, good food.
Knowing I only had 3 or 4 minutes to speak (the short time-frame was intentional given both the students’ short attention span and my penchant for liking the sound of my own voice…haha), I wanted to come up with something that was easy to remember and could be referred to throughout the year.
So after a quick introduction, I shared with them these 3 truths:
1. God LOVES you. This is the one constant you can count on amidst all the chaos and changes that will happen in your life. God’s love is unconditional and is ever-lasting. As believers, you are called to love as He loves. No matter how bad things may seem, you can take solace knowing that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing: God is love. He loves you, and He always will. After all, He made you in His image and likeness.
2. The Church NEEDS you. Anytime I hear someone say that the youth are the future of the church or the church of tomorrow, I politely suggest a slight revision to that statement: youth are important RIGHT NOW and you are the church of TODAY. You are just as important as the adults, the seniors, and the children. We need your voice, your energy, your gifts, and your child-like (not childish) faith. The more that our parish engages the young people, the stronger it will be. Us “older folk” can learn a lot from you!
3. The Leaders will PRAY for you. Believe that when a leader asks you what he or she can pray for, that they will! You may not fully understand right now what it means when someone says that he or she will pray for you, but it’s the most powerful and genuine thing someone can do. That’s what unites us as Christians: our belief in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, and the fact that we can go to Him whenever we want to. In times of joy or in times of pain. In happiness or in sadness. In times of need or in times of thanksgiving. Never underestimate the power of prayer.
I had the young people repeat these 3 truths back to me a few times to ensure they got it. As I returned to my seat, I reflected upon these truths and realized that they apply not only to 11 and 12 year-olds, but to Christians of all ages.
But for those few minutes, the focus was on those beautiful and precious pre-teens. All of us involved in youth ministry need to continue to share with them the truth without any lies.
Jesus is the Way, the TRUTH and the Life.
And once we all know the TRUTH, the TRUTH will set us free.
Add comment September 28, 2009
Youth Ministry:Fair Trade
Do you believe that people in developing nations are no different than we are in that they desire dignity, the opportunity to work, provide for their families, and invest in their communities. They are different in that they face significant challenges socially, economically, geographically, and politically that make it impossible for them to break the cycle of poverty without strategic and respectful support and intervention.
As a youth ministry leader, you should be involved personally in fair trade but also infecting change within the youth ministry that God has blessed you to lead.
ht to ZoeAlliance
1 comment September 15, 2009
