Youth Ministry is hard enough without having to think about your ministry growing.  Believe me, I know.  There are several things about youth ministry that make it hard.  Conflict with parents.  Working with volunteer leaders.  Middle school students.  Small budgets.  High expectations.  Low salaries.  Low totem-pole mentalities.  Etc.  Yes, there are several amazing things about working with young people and their families but when you are busting your tail as a youth pastor and not seeing growth happen in your youth ministry (for now on YM) then it is time to re-evaluate your YM priorities, your vision for your YM, and where you are spending your time.

Here are 4 questions to think through if you find that your YM is not growing.  They are practical in nature and lean toward common-sense.  However, I have talked with several youth pastors over the past couple of months that are struggling with numerical growth in their ministries and have not really thought through some of these things.  I pray they help.

This is often the hardest thing to do in YM.  Good leaders are hard to come by and they are even harder to keep.  Who are you recruiting to be leaders.  Our YM has been in existence for a little over a year, and we have 15 adult volunteer leaders on my YM team. From college students to adults, our leaders are the back-bone of everything we do in our YM.  They are discipling students, helping me with events, leading small groups, and are consistent in their ministry to young people.

Don’t spend your time in public schools that are far away from your church.  Many youth pastors I talk to find themselves driving 20-30 minutes to speak at FCA’s and other school events that are not close to their churches.  In my opinion, I think ones time could be spent better elsewhere.  Target the schools that are in a 5-10 mile radius of your church.  If you find yourself driving outside of this radius for functions and events then ask yourself why you are doing it.  Is it for the benefit of your church and YM?

Many youth ministries do not have a philosophy for equipping parents.  This is, however, a growing vision in YMs across the country.  Ask yourself — are parents connected to your YM?  Do they know your vision for championing the home and equipping parents?  Do they understand that they are the primary disciple-makers of their own children?  Are they behind your vision for your YM?  When parents are on board and connected to the life of your YM then I guarantee you will begin to see growth.

What is your vision for growth in your YM?  At Foothills Church, we have grown tremendously lately.  One area of growth we have seen is found in our YM.  In the past 10 months, we have grown from about 30 students to over 100 students.  And we saw 170+ people at a relational/evangelistic YM event we did in November.  I have a goal to see 250 students at our Wednesday Doxa Service by the end of 2012.  I have a lot of work to do to see this happen, because we are still 150 students from my goal.  The vision, however, is there.  It is solid.  The plan has been put in place, and we are going forth on our knees with much prayer.

How are you doing with these questions in your YM?

INTRODUCTION:

Over the past year or so, I have been plagued with this question–Is youth ministry killing the church?  This has bled from another important question that is being asked all over the world–Why are so many young people leaving the church after high school?

Over the past couple of months, God has been teaching me several things about this up-and-coming generation.  Many of the things I am learning is simply having them — young people — as my teacher.  I am learning by talking with them.  I am learning by hanging out them.  I am learning by hearing their stories.  I am learning by watching what they do.  I am learning about their family backgrounds.  I am learning what it is they want to talk about, what they desire, and what types of questions they are asking.  Because of this, the pendulum swing in my philosophy of ministry has been tilting over to the relational side as of late.  And in all honesty, this is more of a let’s explore this idea together than for it to be a this is how it supposed to be type of post – RESOURCE: A helpful resource for finding classes that pertain to religion is Guide to Online Schools.

I have titled this post as Exploring the Relational Bandwagon because I want it to do just that — EXPLORE.   There is so much being said about relational evangelism and relational discipleship that many philosophies of ministry are changing to reflect this type of thinking.  I know mine has.  I definitely find myself leaning toward a relational and missional philosophy than a big program/event-driven and big evangelistic sermon type of philosophy.  The former reflects small groups in homes.  Authentic relational environments.  Using the word mission as adjective.  And probably wearing jeans on Sunday morning.  We use phrases like wanting to meet people where they are at and other phrases of the same nature.  The latter likes big programs, big events, big crowds, big heavy evangelistic sermons, alter calls, and probably Sunday School — that stuff.  I am not saying one is better than they other.  I am saying, however, that one definitely seems more effective than the other, especially as it relates to this generation.

In fact, the church I currently serve at as the Student Pastor and Missions Pastor heavily falls into the former category.  Our mission statement reflects this.  We desire to develop mature disciples of Christ in relational environments.  Obviously this type of mission statement champions relational evangelism and relational discipleship over the big events and programs, again, which I think is more effective for reaching this generation.  Why?  Because it is what they want.  It is what they crave.  It is how they operate.

I want to share two things that I think this generation is craving and one thing they don’t really want — with the purpose of exploring how we can best facilitate this as the church.  Remember, my purpose in this article isn’t to bash or be dogmatic.  If you think big programs and events are the way to go then I am happy to hear your reasons and I would love to learn from you as well.  But for the purpose of this article though, here are three thoughts I am currently having:

1.  This generation is craving real and authentic relationships.  

This concept, at first, seems to be mere common sense.  We know that young people desire to be in relational environments with other young people.  That is why ministries like Young Life here in East Tennessee are so big.  The weekday school experience is pretty much reduplicated into a Tuesday night hangout time with all of their friends.  As a student pastor, I constantly battling the non-profits who do well at recreating these weekday school types of relational environments.  There are 12+ schools that feed into my student ministry.  That means there are 12 FCAs, 12 Campaigners, and 12 Young Lifes that are taking our students time.  What’s more, that means there are 36+ ministries (not including other churches) outside of mine that are providing these relational environments as well.

HERE IS MY DILEMMA:  When it comes to a Wednesday night youth service, how are we creating a relational environment for them that is different from what they are getting at these 36+ ministries that they are getting throughout the week?  Are our Wednesday night programs merely functioning as programs?

HERE IS WHAT I AM LEARNING:  The Wednesday night experience for young people will only be a good experience if they have friends who already attend.  I could bring in David Platt or Mark Driscoll to preach the best sermon East Tennessee has ever heard but if that kid doesn’t have friends who already attend than they probably will not enjoy their time and they probably will not want to come back.

2.  This generation does not want to be around their parents.  

Yes, I am firm believer in family driven and family equipping philosophies of ministry.  I lean more toward a family equipping type of model myself; however, I am learning that no matter how you try to facilitate this, young people just don’t want to be around their parents in those types of environments.  Again, that is why these types of ministries — Young Life, FCA, Campaigners, YOKE, etc. — are all booming.  Now we can always ask how effective they are being once the students are actually there, however, we have to be honest with ourselves as well — they are doing a great job of providing these relational environments that kids want to be in.

HERE IS MY DILEMMA:  How do we couple relational environments that young people are craving and want to be a part of with intentional family equipping philosophies?  Are our philosophies of ministry actually driving students away?

HERE IS WHAT I AM LEARNING:  I am learning that you can equip the family without the student having to be a part of those family-equipping environments.  Think about it this way — you can be family driven or family equipping without having to take away relational environments for students.  You can have Wednesday night services, small groups in homes, camps and retreats, etc., all while equipping the family.

3.  This generation really wants to take part in loving their neighbor.

I am learning more and more everyday that this generation wants to be a part of change.  They want to make a difference in the world.  They want to be a part of something bigger than themselves.  In the analogy of the body of Christ, they want to be the hands and feet.  It is no different for middle school and high schoolers today.  They desire to take part in mercy ministries and things that allow them to love their neighbor.

HERE IS MY DILEMMA:  How do we begin to facilitate this for our students alongside of the relational and family driven stuff?  Do we maximize our efforts at all three or do we champion one over the other?

HERE IS WHAT I AM LEARNING:  I am learning to let students dream big.  I am asking thought-provoking questions, such as:  What do you want to do for Christ NOW?  If you could anything for Jesus right now then what would you do?  What are the top 3 things you want to do for Christ in your schools before you graduate high school?  And when they come to me with answers, I am learning to champion those dreams, help them think through them, equip them, and allow them to be the catalysts for making it happen.

One last thought…

I am sure that student pastors, much like myself, all over the country are asking some of these questions.  There has been so much stuff written on championing the family these days that stuff like relational environments and missional, love your neighbor stuff is kind of being put on the back burner.  Kids are desiring the relational and missional stuff more than ever today.  So, as we think through the development of youth culture and where it is continuing to evolve, let us not forsake what they are passionate about to the detriment of championing one philosophy of ministry over another.  Let us continue to explore, develop, and engage… for the gospel of Jesus Christ and his glory alone.

-GRG

After every Wednesday night Doxa service, I will begin to put my sermon notes online for the parents of my student ministry.  Doxa is the Greek word for ‘glory.’  At Doxa, we’re all about making much of Jesus.  What’s more, we desire to do 4 main things that encompasses our philosophy of student ministry.  These things are:  1. Equip the Family;  2. Create authentic community;  3. Teach Theology;  4. Teach Apologetics.

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Recap of last week:  Defined worship, two big words, and how both God’s immanence & his transcendence lead us to worship.

We often find ourselves in two different positions as it relates to God.

1. We are full and filled up; we are experiencing him; and we are walking close to him.
2. We are dry.  We are dry like a desert.  God feels so far away.

It usually takes a mighty act of God to fill us up.  The problem with this way of thinking is that it is centered around the word “I.”  I don’t feel close to God.  Why do I fill this way?  What is happening to me?

1 Samuel 7 – Israel was experiencing the same thing… 20 years of captivity to the Philistines.  Talk about being dried up and feeling far from God.

Short background of Israel – Calling of Abraham (Gen 12); Moses; Joshua takes them into the Promised Land; the period of the Judges; 1 Samuel begins with Israel in slavery to the Philistines.

There was 1 guy amidst all this dryness that was walking close to God – his name was Samuel.

[...]

After every Wednesday night Doxa service, I will begin to put my sermon notes online for the parents of my student ministry.  Doxa is the Greek word for ‘glory.’  At Doxa, we’re all about making much of Jesus.  What’s more, we desire to do 4 main things that encompasses our philosophy of student ministry.  These things are:  1. Equip the Family;  2. Create authentic community;  3. Teach Theology;  4. Teach Apologetics.

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Þ   Introduction to the Series / Doxa means glory (Hebrews 1:1-3) / Doxology is a play off that but it literally is a hymn of praise in a worship gathering.

Þ   Number 1 – Here at Doxa, we’re all about King Jesus.

Þ   Number 2 – We’re all about worshipping King Jesus.

Þ   Worship is… our response to what we value the most.

• Explain this… we are all worshippers
• Worship is what we were designed to do
• Illustration:  Sponge soaks up water b/c it is designed to do so.
• We were created by God to worship / Genesis 1-3

Read Psalm 150 / First part is what God does – Second part is our response to what he does.

Content:

Þ   Verse 1:  Praise the LORD

Þ   2 words to learn tonight:

• God’s Immanence
• God’s Transcendence

Þ   Immanence is… God is with us / he is personal

• Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me… I once was lost but now I’m found was blind but now I see.

Þ   Transcendence is… God is above us / he is ruler

• Glory to God – Before the world was made, before you spoke it to be, you were the King of Kings, yeah you were.

• PICTURE OF UNIVERSE = Transcendence
  • 100,000 lights years across – about 587,000 trillion miles –
  • Light travels 187,000 miles per second
  • Light travels 6 trillion miles in one year
  • one of about a million galaxies
  • 200 billion stars just in our galaxy
  • The sun is just one of them

• Sanctuary = I & T
  • Church / Home / Car / Nature
• Mighty heavens = T
  • Sits above

Þ   Verse 2:

• Mighty deeds = I & T
  • I = Saves, heals, restores, redeems, rescues, makes new, etc.
  • T = Creates, Reigns, Conquers, Warrior, Plans, Predestines, etc.

Þ   Verse 3-5:

• Read Verses
• Let everything that has breath praise the LORD
• Worship is our response to what?  What we value the most?
• What do you value the most?

Þ   John Newton Bio – Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
 That saved a wretch like me.
 I once was lost but now am found,
 Was blind, but now I see.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
 And Grace, my fears relieved. 
How precious did that Grace appear
, The hour I first believed.

The Lord has promised good to me.
 His word my hope secures.
 He will my shield and portion be,
 As long as life endures.

When we’ve been here ten thousand years
, Bright shining as the sun.
 We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
, Than when we’ve first begun.

Last night at Foothills Church, we had our first student event of the year — The Summit.

The Summit is designed specifically for our upcoming 9th graders — and this time it was just for guys.  This is a leadership event (level 4/5 if you know David Adam’s 5 Levels of Programming) where we talk about biblical manhood, discuss purity, and talk about what I expect from them over the next 4 years as the leaders of our student ministry.  Last night, specifically, we talked about servant leadership, drank a gazillion IBC Root Beers, and I gave them each a belt to signify the importance of purity and the challenge of keeping their pants on as they go throughout high school.

We had 12 guys there last night. Not bad for a student ministry that started a little over a year ago.  Remember, this specific event is for 9th graders only.

We started off playing the game ZOOM.  It’s a great little leadership game.  The object of the game is for the group to put a story together in 30 minutes.  Each person has a card in his hand telling part of the story.  They cannot show the card.  They can only describe it, act it out, etc.  Within the 30 minute timeline, they must put the story together from beginning to end the best they can.  After the game is over, you sit your group down and debrief their personalities, who emerged as the leader of the group, who influenced the group the most negatively, who got lost in the shuffle (and why) — all those types of things.  It’s a blast and it tells you a ton about the leadership qualities of the people in your group.

You can find the game HERE.

Secondly, when we debriefed the game, we described the characteristics of the main leader that emerged from the game.

Here is what my guys came up with for the leader who emerged:

After we finished debriefing the game, we went directly into what they thought a leader looked like within our student ministry.  Here is what they also came up with — complete with the top four they thought a leader in our student ministry should look like.  And by the way, B.M.B / L.P.P stands for biblical manhood Boaz (Leader, Provider, Protector).

Next week, we are talking about courage, shooting some guns, and talking more about my expectations for them as leaders in our student ministry.

Should be a blast!

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a bill into law Wednesday that requires public schools to teach kids about the historical contributions of gays and lesbians. Local school districts will be adopting new social studies curriculum as early as the 2013-14 school year.

Supporters say it’s a triumph that makes history books “more honest” and will help curb bullying by making kids more understanding of their classmates.

Opponents equate it with brainwashing, saying it will sanction, normalize and exalt an immoral lifestyle.

So what’s a Christian parent to do? Is it time for a mass exodus toward home schooling?

I’d argue that it’s a time for parents to sit down and think hard about their children’s education — specifically, how they as parents are going to teach gay history.

Christians shouldn’t simply retreat from the topic of the gay rights movement, in the same way we shouldn’t retreat from sex education. While my parents didn’t pull me out of my 9th grade health, public school health class during lessons about birth control and STDs, they also made sure I got a much more comprehensive lesson on the issues from them and my church.

I remember annual True Love Waits all-nighters in the church gym. There were hours of frank — sometimes cringe-worthy — discussions about sex so we teenagers understood about this wonderful, God-given gift and the pitfalls of abusing it.

Combine it with regular Wednesday night youth group sermons on the topic, and it was almost to the point of overkill. But I began to recognize the church as an honest, open source of information on the scientific and biblical facts about sex. The church just covered the issue so much better than the awkward, one-hour lesson in my freshman health class, and I felt equipped to discuss my perspective on sex with people who felt differently about it.

Churches should look at this new California law as an opportunity to do one better. Rather than ignoring history, Christian parents should educate themselves about the key developments in the gay rights movement so we’re not blindly lashing out at a nebulous “cultural shift.” They should be prepared to take the lessons their children are learning, and parlay them into meaningful discussions about the biblical perspective on homosexuality.

Perhaps churches can teach gay history, in the same way churches host lectures about Mormonism or Jehovah’s Witnesses — so important developments aren’t missing.

But before that, parents should take an active role in how this curriculum takes shape. Local districts will be deciding over the next year or two which textbooks end up in classrooms. Parents should talk to teachers, school board members and administrators and take an active role in reviewing the curriculum. How will the lessons be framed? In which grade will they be introduced? What dates are the lessons taking place? All these are still open questions under the new law.

I think pulling kids out of public school should be a last resort, not a first resort. The first resort should be preparing kids who can respond to the mixed messages they’ll face for the rest of their life from peers and the media. Some parents might decide one or all of their children aren’t mature enough to sort out those mixed messages just yet; I respect their choice to keep their children in a private school or at home until that changes.

I hope Christians seize this new law as an opportunity to better understand and biblically, graciously respond to the cultural changes of the gay rights movement. I hope it doesn’t become a public school exodus, because Christian parents and students have something vital to add to this conversation. They have relationships to build within school communities; they have the Gospel to share with fellow moms, dads and classmates.

They have lights to shine.

With the progression of youth culture, young people face challenges today that we did not 10, or even, 5 years ago.  As parents, student pastors, teachers, and others who rub shoulders with today’s youth, what do you all see as the hardest issues facing today’s youth culture?

Be specific.  This conversation could be beneficial for many people.

Paul Washer, thought by many to be one of the greater prophetic voices of our generation, has been and continues to be used to impact the world for the Gospel. You may have already come across Washer’s video below. This sermon, which initially took the internet by storm, has come to be known as his “Shocking Youth Message.” It doesn’t take the listener long to understand why. I don’t want to present this video as a blanket judgment of the Western church, since there are good and Gospel-centered churches and student ministries to be found in America. However, I do think that a large percentage of churches, pastors, student pastors, and students would be benefited if they would take heed to the message presented here.

Washer has received a great deal of criticism for this message. In the following video, he provides some helpful context for the environment in which it was delivered.