Posts filed under ‘Leadership’
The Elephant Room [youth ministry]
It’s back! The Elephant Room Round 2 explores many things about the church that seems to be causing a great divide among many church leaders that we look up too. This got me thinking about youth ministry.
What youth ministry people, approaches, programs, ministries, etc… are out there that we know there is a big fat hairy elephant in the room? I know a few of the issues because many of you have told me.
So what is The Elephant Room [Youth Ministry] that you have right now? Share your thoughts.
Out of Leaders
The Church is ONE Generation from Being OUT OF LEADERS
I was selected (voted) to be on the Elder Selection Committee for the church I attend. So far it has been a very powerful experience for me spiritually. I have been praying more, more deliberately studying leadership passages from the Bible. I’m thinking and seeing things on a different level from within the church.
As a committee we were voted on by the members of the congregation and we had our first formal meeting. Two of our existing elders joined us, giving us some much needed guidance, direction and prayer. After the elders left our meeting we discussed process over the next several months before the selection process would wrap up with our recommendations to the elders for their consideration.
Yet I was surprised at one major flaw in the process. There is a lack of a leadership development process of potential elders. There is no plan, no process, no mentoring, no equipping, no intentional leadership development of leaders who could be potential elders.
Now I’m a huge sports fan and there are many profesional leagues that have farm systems. Why doesn’t the church have a farm system of developing leaders for specific areas of ministry based on their spiritual gifts? Why?
So what does your church do or your youth ministry do to help develop people based on their identified spiritual gifts for the next generation to replace the current generation?
The NEW ThinkYouthMinistry.ca
Think Youth Ministry has joined forces with Jesus Canada to create WorldsApart.org
Think Youth Ministry blog is now under the CONNECT banner of the main page of WorldsApart.org
You can Sign-In by clicking the Login/JoinUs! in the top right. You can leave questions and suggestions regarding youth ministry and the church as a whole in the Empower section.
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.
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?
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
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
