by David Hanson | Sep 2, 2013 | Podcast, The Youth Ministry Blog
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Welcome to the 2nd Youth Ministry Blog Podcast!
Summary:
1. Do a Back to School Event:
- Prayer Time
- Focused Small Group
- “Launch” Event – Send them into school equipped to start a bible study or prayer time.
We have seen so many students impacted and encouraged by sending students out to do a Bible Study, get this, IN THEIR SCHOOL! Jesus cannot be taken out of schools if our students, who bear the image and spirit of Christ, are IN those schools! What would it look like for you to empower your students to DO ministry on their mission field?
2. Encourage Students in their gifting:
Teach your students that ministry is not just a small group or prayer time! What do your students like to do? Where are their giftings? How can they use them to glorify Christ? I have a student who started rapping for Jesus, check out Adrian Stresow below! He’s only a sophomore! What?!
Call to Action:
1. Comment below: How are you equipping your students to share and live the gospel in their schools?
2. Follow The Youth Ministry Blog on Twitter to stay up to date on what we have going on!
3. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST!
by David Hanson | Sep 2, 2013 | Podcast, The Youth Ministry Blog
[powerpress url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/theyouthministryblog/01_TYMB_001__Introduction_and_Remembering_Your_Graduated_Students.mp3″]
Welcome to The Youth Ministry Blog Podcast!
Summary:
1. Call your recently graduated students & challenge them to plug in. You students need to feel that they can come to you with anything. By contacting them after they have gone off to college or work, you are taking the first step in continuing that line of communication. When you talk to them, ask them if they have found a church community to plug into. Encourage them to be actively seeking a place where they can get in community and grow.
2. Find a church that you would want to go to and swap information between the church and your grad. I am actively looking for a church for one of my students who is attending Cal Berkeley. I’m looking for a church and a community that is passionate about discipling students and within a 5-10 mile radius of her dorm. Make a list and do this for your departed students!
3. Send a care package to your recently graduated students. Who wouldn’t love to get ramen noodles in the mail? Send you graduated students some that says, you are not forgotten and you need to do your laundry!
Calls To Action:
1. Subscribe to the Podcast. Now up on iTunes!
2. Comment below on what you would like to see me cover in the podcast.
Praying for you,
David
by David Hanson | Aug 28, 2013 | The Youth Ministry Blog
My wife and I are in a unique situation. We both work at our church. I am the middle school pastor and she works for our communications department. This presents us with some blessings (I get to see her during the day) and some challenges (her busy season is often my down season). One of the things I love about her working at the church is that I get to experience what it’s like to be married to someone in ministry. It helps me appreciate how much she has sacrificed for my ministry over the years.
Last Saturday she had a big project that required her to be up at the church all day, on her day off, painting and building some cool display pieces. Coincidently, I had taken the weekend off and was looking forward to some time away from the church. At some point in the morning I realized that the project was going to take longer than she expected and she would be needing my help to get the job done. We spent a good 7 hours to finish the project and in the end It looked awesome. I am so proud of her department’s creativity and hard work. Even though it was my day off, I am so glad I got to help her out.
It got me thinking about the three things my wife did that made it easy for me to help her out. These are three things that we can all do to help our spouses as they serve alongside us in our ministry.
First, she gave me a purpose. Because it was important to her and her department, she took the time to make sure I knew why we were working so hard. She talked about how important the project was to get people excited about our big fall teaching series. When I was tempted to daydream about watching the Texas Rangers game on my couch, I remembered how my work was going to bless her and the church. In the same way, we need to help our spouses see that their service to you and the church has a purpose.
Second, she gave me permission. At several points during the day she told me that it would be ok if I went home. I didn’t take her up on the offer but it was nice to know that I had freedom to leave if it wanted to. Often our spouses feel obligated to serve or to be up at the church with us. This can lead to bitterness and frustration. If we simply give them permission to take a break then they feel that they have a choice to be there. When your spouse is there by choice they will be more present and have more passion for the ministry. I encourage you to regularly make it clear to your spouse that they are NOT obligated to be up at the church 24/7 with you.
Third, she gave me appreciation. What ultimately kept me going was that I knew my wife appreciated my hard work. I am surprised how many pastors fail to acknowledge how much their spouses sacrifice for the sake of the ministry. We can take for granted that they are going to show up and support us every week. We will go out of our way to make a volunteer feel loved and supported, but do we do that for our spouses? Many spouses suffer from neglect for our ministry without so much as a word of thanks. Make sure you regularly communicate appreciation and gratitude for their sacrifice and support. A small gift or note can mean the world to an under appreciated spouse.
I am so thankful that my wife models to me how to be a better ministry spouse. So, what about you? Does your spouse need purpose, permission or appreciation? If so, go do that today!
Kevin Libick is a Middle School Pastor living in Fort Worth, TX with his wife Kara and her two cats. He is a novice banjo picker and expert Hawaiian food eater. Kevin loves to connect with other youth workers and equip them to live out their calling in God’s Kingdom. Connect with Kevin on Twitter: @kevinlibick
by David Hanson | Aug 28, 2013 | The Youth Ministry Blog
Today represents the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. 250,000+ gathered to stand for racial equality and the overthrow of Jim Crowe laws that propelled racial segregation. Watch and listen to this clip:
“I Have A Dream, that my 4 little children will one day live in a nation, where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I Have A Dream Today!”
Youth Ministry Spin:
Character. It sometimes feels that character and integrity are lost in adolescents. Seeking to be popular, athletic, and well dressed take a much higher priority than the content of one’s character. In fact, character is often sacrificed on the alter of acceptance.
As Youth Pastors, we must continually help students examine two things:
1. How am I seeking to know, love, and worship Jesus?
2. Does my character reflect Jesus?
May we dream BIG about what God can do through our students as we seek “to be conformed to the image of his Son.” (Romans 8:29)
by David Hanson | Aug 21, 2013 | The Youth Ministry Blog
Every year around this time, youth ministries welcome new members to the ministry while at the same time saying goodbye to graduated seniors as they take off for college. It’s a strange dynamic of saying goodbye to students who you have developed strong relationships with and meeting baby-faced middle schoolers who seem culture shocked.
So the question becomes: How do we get new students integrated into the life of the ministry so that they, like our departing seniors, are set up for a lifetime of following Jesus.
May I suggest 3 starting points:
1. Do a 6th Grade Student/Parent/Staff Meet-n-Greet!
It’s important that students come to know and love you as the youth pastor. It’s equally important that parents come to know and TRUST you. Plan a time to meet parents, cast vision, and answer questions.
2. Give extra focus on getting the 6th Graders into a Small Group.
Before just asking students to show up at a Small Group on a Wednesday or Sunday night, let your 6th Graders meet their leaders on a Sunday morning. Create some buzz and excitement. Show your new students this is a place the can be known, have a blast, and pursue Jesus.
3. Get your upperclassmen passionate about integration.
This last week, our incoming 6th Graders visited our Sunday service for the first time. Next week they promote. After I dismissed the 6th Graders, I challenged my upperclassmen to be family. I challenged them to be spiritual big brothers and sisters who take care of each other. More specifically, I pushed them to reach out to our new family members over the next few Sundays as get settled in our ministry.
How do you help make this transition smooth? Comment below!
