build a strong youth ministry team (part 3)
Today, we finish up our conversation about our ideas for building a strong youth ministry team.
WORSHIP TOGETHER
It’s important to take some time to worship together when you meet with your team. This time will serve to focus your hearts on what matters most and remind your leaders that worshipping God is more important than doing the work of God. Your team meetings don’t need to replace your normal church worship service, (just like your leadership community isn’t a church within your church), but it can become an important time to do something significant within an sacred community.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ever wanted to see The Skit Guys, Louie Giglio, Doug Fields, Gungor,
Matt Maher and Shane & Shane all in one place? Check out SYMC 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SHARE SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORT
It’s a dangerous myth to think and act as if the point person ought to have all the answers to the issues revolving around your youth ministry. This type of leadership will severely limit a ministry. Actually, it’s our observation that it’s the number one fatal flaw appearing in unhealthy ministries. Build your team by creating “space” for everyone to be able to help one another. Brainstorm solutions together, ask for feedback, and appeal to and rely on the wisdom of others. If the leader of a ministry has to care for everyone on the team, it’ll be a small team because one person can only care for a few people.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ever wanted to see The Skit Guys, Louie Giglio, Doug Fields, Gungor,
Matt Maher and Shane & Shane all in one place? Check out SYMC 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HAVE FUN TOGETHER
There are times when the best thing for a youth ministry team is to simply play together. Eat food together, watch the Super Bowl or Grammies or Emmys (or any “important” yearly show) together, play a game of softball or bunko, or if you’ve got some nerdy types on your (like Matt), play some video games together. Your ministry doesn’t exist for everyone to be entertained, but some timely fun can strengthen a team’s bond. Laughter and play are good for developing a healthy leadership community.
Conversation
G'day Anonymous, My name is
G'day Anonymous,
My name is Doug Espie and I'm currently serving as the Youth pastor at a Highfields church in Aus.
It seems like you have a number of difficult issues-I've highlighted three:
1. Your church leaders are mean and unwilling to listen to the younger Christians. The teens feel disconnected from the older Christians
2. You have some newly saved people who are extremely arrogant
3.Your son,who is a Christian, does not want to be part of the youth ministry.
Ok..some ideas-for your perusal:
1. Having at least a once a term combined parents and teens youth night-that is, a fun game night were both both parents and teens can be on teams together(or even kids vs adults).
You can change the theme each term,but the general idea is a fun night together.
1a) Tell/write to your youth's parents about how great their kids are when you get the chance. Now obviously the praise must be deserved,yet if its legitimate praise...then why not encourage the parents with it?? Parents love nothing more than to hear praises about their kids
1b) With leadership approval, have a monthly photo slideshow and update on whats happening in youth minstry-and if possible,include testimonies from teens about youth ministry or better yet,their personal testimonies on how they got saved. Allowing your church to have some open insight into the lives of the teenagers breaks down the "us and them" mentality.
Both the above ideas will take a long time to change the culture of your church-nevertheless,regular implementation is the starting key to changing the church culture.
2. The saved and extremely arrogant part-Well thats something you may want to,with great prayer and humility,talk to your pastor or church leaders about. This is not a "That person is soo arrogant!!!" complain fest..this is a genuine "I'm worried about new Christian X" talk.
If you yourself are bound up in frustration and anger in regards to new Christian X's arrogance then you need to pray and ask God to help you love and forgive them.
3. Pray with your son about youth ministry-hear his thoughts and grievences,then slowly and Biblically work out what to do from there..together.
Finally mate, it sounds like you have multiple legitmate reasons to be angry at certain people in your church. You need to make 100% your not bitter yourself regarding their conduct-you need to be able to forgive them and love them. If that feels like its impossible-it's because it is. I suggest a long walk in the woods/quiet hour or so in your room/whatever it takes to connect with God and allow Him to take the anger/grief and bitterness away from you(if this is an issue in your life..be honest..because I know I'd be struggling with bitter).
Allow God to fill your heart with love for people who humanly speaking dont deserve it..just as God loves you and I..people who don't deserve it either.
I am praying for you mate,and your church. My above suggestions may be way off or spot on-I don't know enough specifics to know-Either way-you have my love in Christ and prayers.
May God bless you and your Christian family,
Doug E.
Hello, I find in my local
Hello,
I find in my local church that the leaders are mean spirited and unwillingly to listen to the youth. Many teens are oppressed and disconnected from the church and their youth leaders. I believe that the church is a place of healing and restoration and should never be used to through around ones weight. This type of dictatorship is tolerated by the pastor. I am a builder. I believe the foundation must be solid and the builders must be genuinely concerned about the frames and the walls before their are ever set or any pictures hung. Everything is not about when we were teenagers. Those times have come and going. When will the black church learn to minister to the need and not their own personal insecurities. We should always minister the truth in love. Some people get saved and become impossible to be around. Extremely self- righteous. If God should judge sin and He will....Who shall stand?
My son is 18 years old, a excellent son, good person who loves God but despises being apart of his local youth ministry. I can't say that I blame him. HELP!
Post new comment