I <3 my small group (part 2)
Leading a small group of teenagers can be rough: It’s impossible to be “on” week after week and not hit some kind of a roadblock:
• Our teaching can feel flat
• Our personal lives can become too overwhelming
• None of our students seem to “get it”
Of course there are other roadblocks…these were just a few. Here’s an interesting phenomena we’ve observed: while small group leaders are working hard to develop community with their students, they often neglect the community they might enjoy with other leaders in the youth ministry.
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Fall in love with youth ministry...AGAIN. Join Doug, Louie Giglio, the Skit Guys,
and tons of other great folks in March for the Simply Youth Ministry Conference.
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Here are a few ideas to strengthen your small group ministry by enhancing your own sense of community and connectedness with other leaders.
LAUGH WITH OTHER LEADERS
Laughter is important. You know this--you’re a youth worker! A healthy ministry has leaders who genuinely enjoy one another’s company. In our opinion, it’s not enough for a leadership team to be kind and cordial to one another. Strong ministries have leaders who like each other enough to hang out and have fun together.
LEAN ON OTHER LEADERS
When you’re struggling, share the load with another leader. Chances are, he or she has felt the same burden and can relate with your experience.
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Fall in love with youth ministry...AGAIN. Join Doug, Louie Giglio, the Skit Guys,
and tons of other great folks in March for the Simply Youth Ministry Conference.
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LEARN FROM OTHER LEADERS
Everyone needs advice and perspective from others. When you face an issue with your small group, ask some of the other leaders for their insight. When you have a question, what’s keeping you from asking someone for help? Let’s make a commitment to debunk the myth that we need to have it all together and know all the answers. Leaders are learners from other leaders!
LOVE OTHER LEADERS
You’ve felt the power of encouragement in your own life and most likely you work hard to build up your students. Be sure to do the same with the other leaders in your ministry. You never know if something positive you say to another leader is just the thing they needed to hear. Standing on the brink of discouragement is a lonely place, and the right word said at the right time can be powerful. Who could you encourage this week?
Conversation
very important to stay in
very important to stay in touch with each other as leaders, I agree. We often leave after the youth have gone home - always later than planned. But finding some tome to meet before/ after youth events, is an opportunity to share ideas and concerns with each other. I think this should be a time about how YOU are doing as a small group leader, not discussing the behaviors of the youth.....or your opinion of them. You'll notice the difference when times are tough - much easier when the team is used to dealing with each other - they will be more united and encouraging...
Never give up - it's not about you!
Some of my favorite times
Some of my favorite times with the team is when we are just hanging out and laughing together.
We got together and built a bonfire and sat around in lawn chairs snackin on some good grub. Good times.
I think the "fellowship" is what makes the team stronger.
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