by David Hanson | Nov 29, 2013 | The Youth Ministry Blog
(I wanted to share this post by my Teaching Pastor, Doug Hankins.)
If you are like my wife, then you woke up this morning around 2am, braved the cold weather and long lines, and entered a slew of department stores to find the most valuable items and the cheapest prices. Along the way, you may have boxed out a senior citizen to get the last water hose storage container, stepped over a fallen customer to scoop up a digital camera, or haggled with a kid over one of the last remaining DVD box sets of Jake and The Neverland Pirates (shout out to TV editor, and my best friend, Brad Rozman).
Congratulations. And good job on the loot in your car trunk. I hope it blesses your family and your checkbook come Christmas time.
I want to remind readers of seven amazing spiritual deals that God has made available on Black Friday, as well as on every other day of the year:
- For all the promises of God find their Yes in him (Jesus Christ). That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20
- Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29
CONTINUE READING
by David Hanson | Nov 28, 2013 | The Youth Ministry Blog
This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the cloud of witnesses who have tread the youth ministry path before me. Specifically, I am thankful for the youth workers who have encouraged, exhorted and prepared me to faithfully minister to teenagers. Here are three youth ministry giants I am thankful for:
Bradley Maybin – FBC Amarillo
Bradley, I cannot even begin to describe the impact you have had on my life and ministry. You were not a youth pastor who prepared me for a lifetime of trusting in Christ, but you also prepared me to work in youth ministry. Thank you for giving me a crash course in student ministry! I still remember calling you two days after discerning my call as a sophomore in college. You opened to me a summer of learning what it means to minister faithfully to students. Thank you for setting the example of longevity in student ministry. The impact you have had on parents and students cannot be measured!
Ronny Higgins – Highland Baptist Church, Waco, Tx.
Ronny, thank you for giving me a chance as your Associate! The time I spent with you prepared me to run a ministry. You entrusted me with responsibility. You allowed me to succeed, you allowed me to fail, and you walked me through both. Working with you while in seminary was instrumental. You helped me discern how to balance high theology with practical implementation. Thank you for being a mentor and friend.
Amy Jacober – Professor of Student Ministry
Amy, thank you for challenging me to think deeper and harder about why we do anything in student ministry! You taught me the why to the what of student ministry. You challenged me to be intentional, thoughtful, and practical. You taught me how to balance theology, adolescent development, discipleship, and fun. What I learned from you in 4 years will be implemented in a lifetime of ministry.
Who are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? Who has prepared you for ministry? Send them a word gratitude today!
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,
Email David.
by David Hanson | Nov 27, 2013 | The Youth Ministry Blog
Pastors deal with some pretty serious stuff: being entrusted to care for people’s souls, walking them through painful situations, speaking the Word, etc etc. There’s no doubt that most are underpaid and overworked. Also, there’s no arguing that what we do has eternal significance. But let’s be honest, pastors have this way of being over dramatic about some things too. We can take ourselves WAY too seriously. This seriousness is not just limited to the pastors of the adults, it’s a problem for student pastors as well. Our world is filled with drama, just look at the magazines next time you check out at the grocery story. Pastors are not immune to our world’s insatiable desire for drama. We have to guard ourselves from getting sucked in. Here’s a few things to watch out for:
1. Stop telling everyone how busy you are. We are busy, but so are the people in your congregation. They do not want to spend five minutes listening to you talk about how tired and busy you are. If you need rest or a break, go through the right channels and get it, but nobody wants to listen to you complain.
2. Speak life. This is a tough one for me. I get on the negative roller coaster and just can’t seem to get out of the seat. That stinking bar just won’t let me get out. Everything becomes negative. I complain about all kinds of stuff. When I find myself on that roller coaster I need to stop, take a breath, and choose to be thankful. At this point I know that I need to stop fixating on my problems and be intentional to find people to encourage.I text, email, write or call someone I haven’t encouraged in a while. Also, it’s good to keep a Kingdom perspective. What’s really important?
3. Quit over-worrying about the details of the service. If the sound bothers you so bad that God can’t move through it, then either fire your sound person (good luck with that) or talk with them about about it and move on. Most people barely notice the things we get so hung up on. I can find myself dwelling too long on a mistake in the service, while the service is still going on…yeah that’s not good.
4. Stay out of high school and middle school drama. If you find yourself getting caught up in gossip or constantly worrying about your students then find a way to separate yourself. Maybe you don’t need to follow your students on Twitter and Instagram. You are called to love them, even when it’s difficult. If something is keeping you from doing this then back off. You are called to pastor them, not get mixed up in their drama.
5. Think about the One you serve. We are finite. Our pastoring is finite. God is infinite. Trust that He’s in control and then act like it. Getting too stressed about every detail, or the drama that surrounds us, are two quick ways to burn out in ministry. Stay humble and realize that it isn’t all about you. It is a privilege to serve the King of Kings, so give Him your best. We learn from the Sermon on the Mount that your best is not just your actions, but it’s about your heart. Untangle yourself from any drama that is holding you back and recognize the freedom that comes from living soley for Him.
Brandon Weir is the Student Pastor at The Fellowship Round Rock near Austin, TX. What does Brandon love? “I love my wife Jules, my dog Ranger, Texas Tech, being outdoors, the Texas Rangers, camping, hiking, reading, Torchy’s Tacos and I love me some Jesus.”
by David Hanson | Nov 26, 2013 | Podcast, The Youth Ministry Blog, Theology
[powerpress url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/theyouthministryblog/06_TYMB_006__Theology_and_Youth_Ministry.mp3″]
CLICK HERE to listen in iTunes!
In this session of the podcast I discuss theology and the role of theology in youth ministry.
While your listening, read this post by Josh Robinson that sparked this discussion.
A Couple of Points:
- Theology divides
- Division without love is dangerous
- Theology in important
- Theology without action is harmful.
- We are called to worship God with our minds.
- Our theology should lead us to further love God and love others.
The Role of Theology in Youth Ministry:
Read this post on How I am training Small Group Leaders in theology and doctrine.
We must transform the way we are training our leaders and volunteers! Don’t just teach them how to “fit in.” Teach them how and what to teach. Here are some good resources to get the ball rolling…
1. Christian Belief: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know by Wayne Grudem – 9 bucks & streamlined
2. Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem – more robust but $32 bucks
3. Taking Theology to Youth Ministry by Andrew Root – youth centered & $11 bucks
(Complete Transparency – The above links are affiliate links, which means I get a few cents if you buy a book. This goes toward keeping The Youth Ministry Blog awesome, so thanks in advance if you chose to get one! I only offer resources I believe will be helpful for you.)
Action Items:
1. Give the podcast a Rating and Review on iTunes so that other Youth Pastors can find us!
2. Examine your recent preaching and curriculum. What theology or doctrine have you hit? What have you NEVER addressed? How can you become intentional in your theological approach to youth ministry?
by David Hanson | Nov 25, 2013 | The Youth Ministry Blog
Influence the Parents to have a BIGGER impact on the Students!
Students will most likely become their parents.
Parents have the BIGGEST influence on their students.
What are we doing right now to encourage the parents? What are we doing to help the single parent or the uncle or grandparent with their student? These are questions we need to ask ourselves.
The average church only has 40 hours in a given year to influence a life.
The average parent has 3,000 hours per year to influence a life. (Think Orange)
“The greatest gift a church can give parents is the CONFIDENCE and COURAGE to do what GOD has wired them to DO.” –Reggie Joiner
For the longest time, I never thought about this. I only thought about the students but never realized how much a student could change if their mom or dad loved Jesus more.
Send your parents not only weekly emails about what’s going on in the Student Ministry but send emails encouraging them to continue to love and disciple their students.
Send your parents a mass text each week with an encouraging Bible verse or something that keeps them going!
Do you have a parent resource page on your website where parents can go to know of some websites that might help them disciple their student? Here is a sample one that we are still working on: http://teamchurch.com/pursuitparents/
Have a Facebook group for your parents where you can encourage them daily!
We must realize that if we impact the parents they in return can change their student’s life!
A student might not worship because they never see their dad get excited about worshipping but if you get that dad to see how important worship is then the student will see how important worship is.
We should want the parents to teach their student how to tithe, worship, read the Bible, pray, share their faith, and live for Jesus.
Find ways to constantly encourage your parents. It starts in the home. Students are born into the home not church.
How are you influencing your parents in your Student Ministry? Would love to hear your thoughts!
Michael Hux is the Student Pastor of Team Church in Matthews, NC.
Connect with Michael on Twitter or Instagram: @_Hux
by David Hanson | Nov 23, 2013 | The Youth Ministry Blog
I don’t do anything.
Most people assume that youth ministers truly don’t do anything. My favorite is when an eighth-grader asks me over lunch, “So what do you do all day? Play video games?”
Well sometimes my job does actually require that I play video games, that’s not really what it’s all about. But the other day a friend told me literally I don’t do anything.
I had a bit of concern for him and the future of his job when he finished his statement: I don’t do anything that I can ask a student to do instead.
That is brilliant!
So often youth ministers get bogged down in details and little tasks that they forget that part of their ministry is empowering students to do ministry!
What are the next five things you have to do for your ministry today? Are any of them things that you could ask a student to do instead?
Now don’t hear me incorrectly. I’m not saying that you should get a student to sort through your junk email box, or deal with an upset secretary, or even make that phone call you’ve been putting off for the last four days.
Don’t give students jobs that you don’t want to do. Instead ask yourself “can a student truly do what I am trying to?”
For a while, don’t have any limits on this. Ask yourself, “Could a student do my next Wednesday night talk? Could a student come with me on this hospital visit I need to make? Could a student write some of the devotional material for our next retreat?”
Don’t hog all the ministry yourself. Instead try to have the attitude of not doing anything.
Don’t do anything that you could ask a student to do instead and empower them for ministry!
Ronald is a follower of Jesus who’s married to Bekah, father to two beautiful girls and a chronic writer. He blogs at ronaldlong.org and tweets from @ronald_long. When’s he has free time, he plays with his kids, goes for a run, or plays video games. If you’re interested in some of his bible study material, check out
128ministries.org.
