Create A Watchtower Ministry

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

Make your ministry a Watchtower ministry. That can be a scary statement if you have ever had the Jehovah’s Witness pay you a house-call to leave their flagship flier the Watchtower. Of course, I am not talking about a little pamphlet stuffed with well-disguised lies. I am talking about peering into the lives of students and observing their circumstances, their high times and their lows. If you have a large group, you will need to cultivate your leadership team and small group leaders to be the primary watchmen. If your group is smaller you may be the only one manning the tower at first.

My Literal Time in a Watchtower

Before seminary, I wanted to save some start-up money for married life. Since my degree was in Criminology, I took a job in the Florida penal system at Union Correctional facility. As an engaged single guy I signed up for every hour of overtime I could get – double shifts, holiday pay, and close-custody compensation. However, there was one drawback; my extra shift was usually on tower-duty. With a standard issue 12guage shotgun and an AR15 rifle, I sat in a concrete tower overlooking the recreation yard occupied by a thousand inmates each day. The visual vantage point from a tower is tremendous. You can see trouble brewing and direct help to various areas as needed. One vigilant watchman can respond to a variety of situations.

Watchtower Ministry

Likewise, one committed ministry watchman can provide a tremendous amount of support to a student ministry. Give your volunteers the advantage of noticing students who might be struggling with life issues. Train volunteers not to assume struggling youth will be okay or that someone is speaking encouragement and truth into his or her situation. Train volunteers to pursue relational investment with students and engage them with genuine care and concern. Don’t get so busy that fraught students slip through the cracks or get lost in the masses.

“Then the lookout called, “O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationed every night at my guard post.”  Isaiah 21:8

“But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’” Ezekiel 33:6

Pro Tip: Be Careful with Media

Tuesday, May 6th, 2014

When using video from a movie trailer make sure you watch the WHOLE clip before incorporating it into your lesson. There are few glitches more embarrassing than a surprise on the big screen. Never use media imaging just to appear relevant or cool. On the other hand, don’t hesitate to illustrate a message point using video or some other media source.

Modern media capability is a wonderful teaching enhancement tool but it can also make you the joke at Tuesday’s staff meeting as well as a question mark in the minds of parents. Our standard in the way we teach, preach, present, counsel and function is to live up to Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.“

1 Corinthians 10:31 – “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

For more helpful tips go check out more of our blogs here!

Be Wary of the Silo Effect

Friday, May 2nd, 2014

Be careful about what you are constructing at the student ministry construction site. Without deliberate effort, you may accidentally be building a silo rather than a production plant. Some construction looks awesome and spectacular on the outside but turns out to be more of a monument than a manufacturing plant. While all silo building isn’t necessarily bad, it can become a real detriment in time. I don’t know of any credible student pastor who would deliberately choose to construct a student ministry storage facility over an adolescent Christian production plant. Without balance and purpose however, an adolescent disciple-making and manufacturing plant can accidentally be reduced to a silo or storehouse ministry.

What is a Silo Ministry?

A silo ministry operates more from an independent framework than from underneath the umbrella of the church as a whole. How you lead and implement your ministry in this regard is a major factor in evaluating healthy student ministry. A silo or tower style ministry does not look at itself as a slice of the pie. Silo leaders see their ministry as THE whole pie. But remember, you are not the whole pie, but only a slice of it. Albeit a very important slice and a slice which the church’s future success depends upon, but still only a slice.

The Positives

To be fair, let me offer a few strengths of a ministry that has a stitch of silo fiber woven into the fabric. First, a silo ministry encourages people to remain focused on a particular ministry. Second, it tends to bring people who are passionate about a particular ministry together. Third, a silo ministry ensures that a particular group is strong and thoroughly looked after. Fourth, a silo ministry leader knows precisely who he is to encourage, train, support, and supply.

The Negatives

Interestingly, the weaknesses of silo ministry emerge from extreme versions of its strength characteristics applied over time. For example, silo ministry can create an environment where the ministry and its leader is so busy looking after its own interest and building itself up that it loses touch with the pastor’s vision for the whole church. Also, if each individual ministry is determined to secure the best resources, recruit the best people, and secure its desired finances without equal concern for the greater body, then the whole church will eventually suffer. Rather than the church body working together in sync towards a church-wide vision, it dissolves into a dysfunctional organization with little to no conversation across ministry lines.

Another problem with silo style leadership is that the team you lead becomes more important than the team you are on. In this system, volunteers can become valued only for their ability and willingness to serve your particular ministry silo. This promotes a recruiting competition that becomes more concerned with bagging the best volunteer leaders rather than helping people find their best ministry match per gift and skill set.

Patrick Lencioni the author of the “silo” concept shares the following negative results from allowing such a ministry style to take root.

• Unhealthy competition emerges
• Jealousy creeps in
• Hurt feelings pile up
• Pride increases
• Lack of trust grows
• Fighting over limited resources
• Foot-dragging on collaborative ideas
• Politics establish priorities

How to Detect Silo Ministry

How can you tell if you are accidentally constructing a silo ministry rather than a disciple factory? Ask yourself these questions:

1. Is filling a position more important to you than helping people discover their passion?
2. Do you assign more value to volunteers in your ministry?
3. Are you lobbying for resources that will only benefit your ministry area?
4. Do invite input from other ministry staff to determine how your ministry event can also benefit their area of expertise.
5. Are you collaborating with other ministers in planning, promoting, and executing a ministry happening?
6. Do you involve the entire church by seeking and sharing prayer request when possible? If you do, the church receives the privilege of prayer, you get the credit for thinking of the senior adults and the youth ministry wins through supernatural prayer and practical promotion of ministry. Nothing can help your efforts more than an army of senior citizens who have time to pray for you, your students and your family. Also, they will likely spread the word of how “awesome” and thoughtful you are.

If you want to change, minimize or remove silos from your ministry, remember to build from the bottom up. Base your ministry foundation on unity, remembering that unity does not mean uniformity.

 “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1)

“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Avoid Using “Christianese”

Thursday, April 24th, 2014

Ditch the “Christianese” It is a bit comical but mostly sad to hear any minister use abstruse theology or diffuse biblical concepts. They sound smart and well trained as a polymath in Christian living. However, our intent should be to expose people to the Gospel rather than leaving them confused or impressed by our prolix of verbosity. While student pastors are not the leaders of the pack in this matter compared to those serving as senior pastor, it can be a challenging aspect of student ministry. We want to challenge students without watering down the non-negotiable truths, yet we also want them “get it”. Better to err on the side of simplicity than arcane pleonasm.

Use Language They Understand

Use language teenagers understand. This is not the same as using language that sounds like a teenager is the one talking.  Rather it is using words that convey concrete concepts and leave little room for misunderstanding. Christianese says: The third part of the triune God spilled His blood as the propitiation for our transgressions. Speaker to an adolescent audience says: Jesus is the payment for our sin debt. Deep theological lessons and countless hours of preparation mean nothing if they don’t know what you’re talking about. And while I am on a verbal rant, please make a deliberate effort to use words like I, we, and us when preaching rather than you, they, and them. Too often preaching assumes everyone in the room is a believer. The implied idea is that everyone needs what is being preached but the one doing the preaching.

Speak Truth in Love

They may never know how much time you spend preparing to deliver a theological masterpiece understood by your adolescent audience. It’s possible they may never appreciate your dedication to crafting Gods word into understandable concepts. They may not realize the challenge in delivering bite-sized truths that capture the attention span of a middle school student with Attention Deficit Disorder. But if you speak the truth in love and commit to the task of building a sermon with the learning style and developmental stage of your target audience in mind, you will find more students responding to the truth of the Gospel.

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:6

To read more tips and tricks for youth ministry, go to our blog or buy my book Equip.

Understanding These Tech-y Times

Thursday, April 17th, 2014

The adolescent community and those who lead them in ministry appreciate and celebrate technology. Often times it is the appreciation of new technology that creates a special bond between the music ministry and student ministry. Teen culture championed technology but the life-span of an electronic item seems to get shorter each year. My first ministry electronics purchase was a VHS player that would connect to our 300lb youth room TV.

Youth and Technology

The first projection unit I acquired was in 1986. A re-purposed overhead mounted projector from a defunct PanAm aircraft thrilled us. The unit cost $6000 and could be focused only at 12-foot increments after lining up the color grids. It was an incredible piece of equipment and one-of-a-kind among the Panama City Florida church community. In a few short years, we saw projection units shrink into portables models. They were only 1/5 the size with major resolution improvements. Soon we would embrace the emerging technology of cassette tapes, V8mm, and Hi8 recording. Personal recording and duplication gave rise to youth music libraries. By 1988 we were training interns and students how to shoot and edit video with our youth editing suite.

When the AG 1970 linear editing decks gave way to the new AG1980 decks we had to have a pair. In a few short years, we would swap our $1,700 editing decks for $300 computer software. That software could not only edit but retain a digital copy – wow! From the mobile bag-phone that cost $2 per minute to the excitement of the Palm 100 PDA the trend continues. Imagine youth group games using an affordable pair of google glasses and 3D printing promotional items.

Embrace the Tech-y Stuff

Yes, embrace the technology of the day. However, remember you don’t have to have the latest tech toy to impresses leaders. You do, however, need to stay current, as in  . . . what your college-age volunteer Geek Squad thinks is current. Any technology that helps communicate the Gospel message, your ministry vision and ministry event information can be a blessing and well worth the effort and cost to remain relevant. Conversely, if you are spending an inordinate amount of time tinkering with and trying out the newest release, then maybe you should back the throttle down a bit and rethink the benefit and priority of relational ministry. Know the times in which you live and exercise wisdom towards the vast availability and access to the electronic “things” and “stuff” at your disposal.

“And the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” (1 Chronicles 12:32)

“Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Communication With Staff

Monday, February 17th, 2014

.The number one complaint from pastors regarding their student minister is lack of communication. You think it would be skating off the hand rails in front of the sanctuary or backing the church van into the parking stop at BeefObradys wing house. But no, the top complaint from pastors or supervisors is the lack of information. Few things frustrate a senior pastor or administrator more than being unaware of what is going on, especially when it is exceptionally great or potentially problematic.

Make it a priority to update the staff, shoot an email or drop a flier their way prior to a ministry event. It takes a bit more planning and time but communicating well will pay future dividends to you and the ministry. When your butt is in a sling, about to get chewed on or a black eye is headed your way, communication can be your biggest ally. And just in case you doubt it; one day you are going to get a black eye and your butt is going to get in somebody’s sling – so just communicate; better yet, over-communicate, super-saturate the staff, parents, and youth. I have never heard of a parent or staff member in ANY student ministry anywhere say: “You know, our student pastor is excessive in keeping us in the loop. I wish he would lighten up on the communication a bit.”

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” Ephesians 4:25

Seeing Parents As Teammates

Tuesday, February 11th, 2014

Student Ministry is not a game of “us” against “them”. The “us” being the students and their illustrious captain and leader and “them”  being the parents and gray hairs. Younger youth leaders have to fight the urge to view questioning parents as “them”. Sometimes even older leaders tend to overlook them in favor of a more compliant manpower source such as intern staff. Learn to see parents and other adults as part of the ministry team. They each have a gift and talent to contribute. The more comfortable, inclusive, and informative you become with parents, the more likely they are to sing your praises all over town. And since they are going to sing something, it might as well be your praises!

“From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:16)

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)

The Importance Of Knowing Names

Tuesday, February 4th, 2014

Strive to learn every student’s name as soon as possible, especially in small groups. In larger groups this can be a challenge but doable. In huge groups, this may be impractical or nearly impossible. It should always be someone’s responsibility to KNOW the students’ names. So according to the size of ministry, if it is not you, make certain someone on the team is on top of it – like small group leaders. Nothing breaks down barriers with students, especially peripheral or visiting youth like calling them by name. It communicates to students that you take a personal interest in serving them. Also, try to avoid the habit of using generic camouflage names like sport, buddy, man, girl, or friend. Students will only give you a “pass” for so long. In most cases, the use of generics simply increases the suspicion that you don’t know who you are speaking to. Students hearing their names will greatly enhance your ministry. A survey was conducted among elementary kids and the question was asked: What is love? Billy, age 4 said, “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” 

Remember:

“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” (Proverbs 17:28)

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)

For more resources or to assess your ministry go smeonline.net/excel.

Admitting Your Imperfections

Tuesday, January 21st, 2014

Staff, students, and parents will all endear themselves to you much more readily if you can become comfortable with admitting failure and imperfections. Your job does not demand perfection and you can not deliver it. People love to pull a perfectionist down, but they tend to root for the one they can relate to . . .  the flawed with imperfections, in need of forgiveness type. I’m not talking about self-depreciation or washing your ministry laundry in front of the parents or leadership. I am referring to the benefit in finding greater comfort with saying – I need your help, I may have rushed that a bit, I wish I had done that differently, and that did not turn out as I envisioned it. Really it is about the admitting and acceptance of the fact that you have nothing to offer if Christ is not your benefactor of grace and strength. Remember…

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

For more resources or to assess your student ministry go to smeonline.net/excel

How to Survive and Thrive in Student Ministry

Thursday, January 2nd, 2014

Prayer and daily time with the Father are the only way to survive beyond the beginner stage of Student Ministry. The beginner stage is usually 3 years. The only way to survive beyond the veteran status is prayer, daily time and volunteer leadership. This is usually around the five years mark. Becoming an equipper of the saints is the only hope of passing the seven-year mark. People consider you exceptionally tenured if you make it this far. Every young youth minister dreams of making a huge impact. They want to see loads of students come to know Christ as savior. The best gift you can give yourself is alone time with the Father, time in the word, and commitment to developing volunteer leadership.

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

(Eph. 4:11-16)

For more resources or to assess your student ministry, go to smeonline.net/excel.