by David Hanson | Nov 20, 2014 | The Youth Ministry Blog
Because I’m so excited to be at The National Youth Workers Convention this year, I thought I’d live blog the event to share what God is teaching me.
Session One: Mark Matlock
5 Reasons the Church Needs Youth Ministry:
1. Youth Ministry is vital to helping teens integrate into the larger intergenerational community of the church.
The church must look to intentionally integrate, target, and speak to the life of teenagers.
2. Youth Ministry resists the status quo, helping a church stay relevant in a changing culture.
Youth are always on the cutting edge. What is relevant to them needs to be relevant to the church because they are the direction we are headed!
3. Youth Ministry focuses on inviting those who are not already part of the church into the deeper narrative of God’s plan for humankind.
So many come to faith during teenage years, so we must be intentional.
4. Youth Ministry reminds the church that teens are not marginalized members of the body but are co-creators and conspirators in the divine work of the church, restoring life on earth as it is in heaven.
The church must understand that teens are a part of the body that cannot function as a body unless ALL the parts are looked after and utilized.
5. Youth Ministry helps the church focus on the way of Jesus, which goes beyond tradition, dogma, and ritual.
Unless someone is around asking why, then tradition will die. Students keep life in the body by questioning everything. In these times we can breath life into the teens and reveal the meaning and purpose behind our liturgy.
by David Hanson | Nov 17, 2014 | The Youth Ministry Blog, Youth Ministry Videos
I’ve come across so many good videos recently so I thought I would share some of them with you over the next few Mondays! Some of them are worship songs/videos, some of them are sermons or sermon jams you need to hear, and some of them are creative works that will get your synapses firing.
In our second addition of Video Monday, I want to share a video we used at a recent retreat before we entered a time of prayer and reflection. This video is great to help students understand the role that prayer plays in our relationship with God. It also ends with the words “let us pray.” So think about using it next time you are preparing to transition into prayer and reflection.
Just take a watch. Be encouraged.
Have a great Monday!
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David Hanson: Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava & Ben, Student Pastor at LifePoint Church in Plano, Tx, table tennis (ping-pong) extraordinaire, addicted to coffee. For anything else…you’ll just have to ask.
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by David Hanson | Nov 11, 2014 | The Youth Ministry Blog
During my time in Youth Ministry I have seen leader trainings done many different ways. In different seasons of ministry, and for different events, different styles of training are necessary.
Furthermore, I have discovered that sticking to one style of training while excluding others is detrimental to the growth of the leaders in your ministry. So as you read about the different ways you can train leaders, pray about how you will implement them in your ministry.
3 Ways to Train Leaders:
1. Large Group Trainings
Large Group Trainings are best way to cast a consistent message to the masses. In addition, large group trainings stir camaraderie among the volunteers in your ministry. There’s just something special about having your whole volunteer base together to think, dream, and pray in the same direction! But here’s the kicker: What you provide better be good. The worst thing in the world is a long, boring, low quality group training where leaders are wondering why they stuck around after church when they could be at lunch or on the couch watching football!
Pros:
- Same vision cast to a large group
- Time efficient.
- Camaraderie.
Cons:
- Content better be high quality and engaging.
- Hard to get 100% attendance.
- Not overly relational.
2. Small Group Trainings
I love Small Group Trainings! Our Small Groups are divided by grades and we recently moved away from large group trainings for our small group leaders and moved toward…wait for it…small group trainings for small group leaders! Poof! (That was your mind.)
Small group trainings allow for great content to be distributed with a personal touch. Not only can you make sure that all your leaders understand the direction and vision of the ministry, but you can get specific on how everything applies to the ministry/group they lead.
Pros:
- Vision and instruction cast directly.
- Mission can be localized to specific groups.
- You can hear back from your leaders directly.
Cons:
- Multiple meetings over multiple weeks to reach everyone.
- Vision must be cast over time rather than instantly.
3. One-on-One Trainings
These are by far my favorite! There is nothing more fulfilling than meeting with one of your leaders, having a heart-to-heart, pouring into them, and having them pour into you. The depth of conversation and connection that happen when you meet with each of your leaders cannot be replicated in larger gatherings!
Pros:
- Deep conversation & deep connection.
- Relationship builders.
- Personal & ministry development.
Cons:
- Takes FOREVER in larger ministries.
- Calendar nightmare.
Final Thoughts:
How are you training your leaders? What’s working for you? How are you implementing each of these types of trainings? The goal of this post was not to reveal something new and groundbreaking, but rather to get you thinking about how intentional you are with your leader trainings.
I’d love to hear what’s working for you! Comment below!
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David Hanson: Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava & Ben, Student Pastor at LifePoint Church in Plano, Tx, table tennis (ping-pong) extraordinaire, addicted to coffee. For anything else…you’ll just have to ask.
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by David Hanson | Nov 10, 2014 | The Youth Ministry Blog, Youth Ministry Videos
I’ve come across so many good videos recently so I thought I would share some of them with you over the next few Mondays! Some of them are worship songs/videos, some of them are sermons or sermon jams you need to hear, and some of them are creative works that will get your synapses firing.
The first video I want to share with you is a worship song I can’t get out of my head! What I love about this song is that it speaks to God’s identity as our Heavenly Father and our identity as a Child of God. It’s called “Good Good Father” by Housefires II.
Watch. Listen. Think. Worship.
Have a great Monday!
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David Hanson: Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava & Ben, Student Pastor at LifePoint Church in Plano, Tx, table tennis (ping-pong) extraordinaire, addicted to coffee. For anything else…you’ll just have to ask.
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by David Hanson | Oct 31, 2014 | Uncategorized
David Hanson wrote a fantastic rant post, “5 Things Youth Pastors Need to Stop”. Hopefully, you have stopped doing those 5 things by now but if not, there is still time. And if you have stopped those things or are planning to stop, here are 5 things Youth Pastors need to start!
1. Start Communicating the GOSPEL Dynamically
Entertainment can’t be the KING of your youth ministry and yet sadly it is for many churches. The KING has a throne and the KING’s name is Jesus. He needs to be the MAIN focus; the biblical story, his story, the gospel needs to be presented at every gathering or you’ve missed an important opportunity.
However, if you are going to push the gospel you need to learn to communicate it in a way that is engaging and dynamic. Primarily, because the gospel IS engaging and dynamic! So when you bore it all up, create a slumber party in your sermon, and cause people to leave scratching their head saying, “What?!” – it’s time to adjust the way you present the most life-changing, exciting news of ALL-TIME! If you don’t know how or where to start on that, stayed tuned for a followup post to this point.
2. Start Making it About Fruitfulness
Numbers can’t be your focus. When numbers are the focus, you lose sight on what Jesus thought was important. Jesus wasn’t anti-crowd or anti-big groups, however, he did push crowds away if they didn’t seem to get it. (John 6:60-66) Through Jesus’ teachings we learn that his primary goal was not MORE butts in seats but those that are growing the right fruit.
If God has entrusted you with 10 teens, disciple them so they are bearing good fruit! And they will then begin to disciple others. If God has entrusted your ministry with a 1,000 teens then find ways to make sure they are bearing good fruit so they also begin to share it with others! Both are HUGE tasks that need lots of prayer and all of the Holy Spirit.
3. Start Being You
If slang, trendy clothes, and knowing the lyrics to a Taylor Swift song is you. BE YOU and the teens will love it even if they pretend to hate it. If wearing New Balance shoes, cargo shorts, and saying things like “Aw Shucks!” is you, then BE YOU.
Don’t try to be a teen, cause you aren’t one. Don’t try to be considered “cool” by them because that actually will stunt their spiritual growth. What they really need is a Youth Pastor that is confident in who God has them to be! That’s what they want to become! I’ve seen very effective Youth Pastors on both ends of the “cool” spectrum but the defining quality was they were themselves, they weren’t faking it. Just be you, and lead your teens.
4. Start Creating a Long-Term Plan
You simply can’t allow anymore throw-away nights. Off-nights? Maybe. But don’t throw-away anymore nights. Create a plan for your gatherings and a goal/vision behind the gatherings! Pray that God gives you vision for these students for the six years (academics pending) you get to invest in their lives.
5. Start Implementing Healthy Margins In Your Life
Margins are what allow you to do youth ministry or any ministry for more than a few years. Burnout is real and you can’t do everything. Maybe this is a reminder to say “No” to a few things and “Yes” to a few days off. The reality is, inside ministry there is always something else that you can do so it’s important to find healthy margins.
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Mark Knight is a Children’s and Youth Pastor in Tacoma, WA. He leads a team of directors that cover ministry from birth through young adults. He graduated from Northwest University with a double-major in Youth Ministry and Biblical Studies. Mark is married to his amazing wife, Lindsay, and they are expecting their first child in December.
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