Josh Griffin | More Than Dodgeball

Josh GriffinMore Posts POLL: Parent Ministry

We’ve been doing quite a bit of talk about expanding our parent ministry – so this week’s poll focuses on parents and your ministry. What all do you offer parents? I’ve tried to list a ton of options – and even left you an “other” section to drop in your great ideas, too!

JG

1 View Comments February 29, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts Parenting the Spiritually Orphaned

In my first few years as a youth pastor I keenly remember a faithful student named Scott. He was the child of a single parent, and like many students he struggled as a result of not having a father figure at home. I was like a father to Scott, and he looked at me the same. I was a voice of encouragement that took pride in his efforts and successes. He required extra care and time and in many cases grace as they things you would expect that he know were not fair to assume.

So many students are fatherless, motherless, spiritually orphaned or from a home that claims to be rich in their spiritual lives but in actuality is bankrupt. Your encouragement to them, your willingness to pray for them, to value their opinion and to be a good role model to them can make a world of difference. Don’t take lightly the fact that you are the best example of a man or a woman in their lives and that can have lasting implications on who they become and eventually marry.

It is for these students that we need to remind them often that in the midst of a void in the area of an earthly father that there is a heavenly father and He is the father to fatherless. While pointing our students to Him, you need to know that these are the students that need more of your time; they crave it to know that they are acceptable and loved. This is an incredible opportunity to show these students who Jesus is and what He is about and I challenged to seek out these students and make time for them.

4 quick takeaway points to think about today as you youth pastor-parent:

Think like a parent — What are the needs of that student? If they were my son or daughter, what would I say or do. Be that spiritual voice of truth like they were your own kid.
Share your pride of your students — Tell them you are proud of them and why. Notice the little things they say and do. Balance correction and hard truth with lavish and genuine praise.
Remind them that they are loved — By God, by your leaders, by you.
Be a solid role model — You might be the best image of what a man or a woman is to them.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. -Psalm 68:5

JG

1 View Comments February 28, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts More Than Dodgeball: The Book

Excited to announce that this week my new book, More Than Dodgeball, was released at Simply Youth Ministry. Excited to have a print version of a bunch of classic blog posts and some new stuff snuck in there, too!

Griffin focuses his attention on four main themes: the heart and calling of the youth worker, the leadership of a student ministry, the volunteer team that serves teenagers, and big-picture ideas about healthy ministry. These aren’t just random thoughts–they’re practical words of wisdom rooted in his 15 years of experience as a youth pastor. More Than Dodgeball will encourage, inspire, and drive you toward the realization that your youth group can be more than a source of entertainment, a glorified babysitting service, or “Church Lite.” It can be a vibrant ministry that intentionally, significantly, and permanently impacts the lives of teenagers.

JG

4 View Comments February 28, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts SYMC 2012 Official Blogger List

Looking for reports, insight and observations from the Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2012? You’ve come to the right place – here’s a list of the bloggers that will be updating throughout the coming weekend. This is a first pass at the list -I’d expect to add a few dozen more. Check them out!

You coming, too? Let me know on Twitter (@joshuagriffin)and I’ll get you added right away!

JG

5 View Comments February 28, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 172

Weekend Teaching Series: The Book [40 Days in the Word church-wide campaign] (series finale, week 6 of 6)
Sermon in a Sentence: How to Study Your Bible

Service Length: 82 minutes

Understandable Message: This weekend was the conclusion to The Book, our student version of the 40 Days in the Word church-wide campaign. In the finale I wanted to help students learn how to read the Bible, but took it from the opposite angle with the message being titled, “Don’t Read The Bible” which got some great reactions. The idea was that if you read the Bible, it will change you completely. I also asked 3 students to share how they read the Bible as well, so it wasn’t just a pastor telling them they should but they could hear from students who were doing their best to read and live out the book in real high school life.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: This weekend we played a get to know you-type game where we put 2 contestants on stage (in this case Travis and Justin – two new guys on the team) and put up a random fact about them where students could text in who they thought the fact was about. We used polleverywhere.com, with a custom background so it looked much slicker than their default results template. The winners got a Twinkie shower which was hilarious and over the top, too. We also had a fun video or two to round out the night. So fun!

Music Playlist: We Shine, God Above All, Love to Learn, Amazing Love, Divine and Holy

Favorite Moment: I always love students sharing on stage – gives such credibility to the talk. The whole place got so focused when students took the stage. Way to go Sofie, Brad and Paula!

Up next: You Own the Weekend: Trabuco Hills HS (series premiere, week 1 of 6)

Add Comment February 27, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts Group Magazine 2012 Youth Ministry Salary Survey

Group Magazine just published their 2012 Youth Ministry Salary Survey that you might be interested in!

JG

4 View Comments February 27, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts The SYMC 2012 Participant Journal

Open publication – Free publishing

Tell me you’re coming to SYMC this week? It is going to be SO good! Here’s the participant’s journal everyone will be given on the way in. So excited!

JG

1 View Comments February 26, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: Matt McGill is Looking for More Leaders

I’ve accepted an exciting responsibility from my senior pastor–probably the biggest project I’ve ever worked on.

My calling is to identify, challenge, and help develop the next generation of great leaders: people who will plant churches, become pastors at our regional campuses, or lead large ministries within Mariners Church.

The person that I’m looking to hire will need to fill the following general position: reach out to lost high school (or junior high) students, help them build their faith, and identify students who will become leaders. Would this type of ministry excite you? Might you be the kind of leader we need?

For you, does influence come naturally? When you walk into a room, no one wonders if you are a leader. You’re not insecure, you don’t have to be the center of attention. Instead, your confidence and convictions move you to motivate others.

Do you have a message that you’re bursting to share? You have the ability and the need to teach others. To quench this expression of your gifts would be to deny who God has called you to be.

You are always on the move, looking for opportunities to leverage. Failure isn’t an option, it’s inevitable because you’re constantly trying new things. This is a secret to your success.

For most people, rules are a wonderful necessity. But for you, rules are mere suggestions and the only way to discover a good rule is to break it. If you’re not given latitude, you’ll take it.

You’ll have plenty of time to hesitate and second-guess when you’re in a nursing home. Until then, life is all about TAKING ACTION. PROVOKING assumptions. INTERRUPTING the ruts. It’s all about making a massive impact for the Kingdom of God.

You aren’t just a self-starter, you have the ability to motivate others to become self-starters. You’re able to set things in motion for the kingdom.

YEAH, I KNOW: THE BAR IS HIGH.

Everyone can lead, because everyone can serve. This is, of course, is what Jesus taught. However, this position isn’t for everyone. I’m looking for leaders who lead leaders. This isn’t just BUZZspeak.

Our church is committed to developing leaders for the next generation and I’m looking for the right people.

Interested?

The next step is to fill out an application at http://www.marinerschurch.org/job-openings.

Matt McGill is the Student Ministries Pastor at Mariner’s Church in Irvine, CA. You can check out his resources on Download Youth Ministry and his blog at Love God, Love Students.

3 View Comments February 26, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: Caring for the Chronically Ill in Your Group

Chronic illnesses are constant or intermittent illnesses that impact (to varying degrees) a student’s health and can limit participation in many “normal” teenage activities. Some of these chronic conditions include seizure disorders, asthma, diabetes, lupus, hypertension, or a long-term illness such as cancer. Most of the ideas we share below apply best to more serious health conditions.

Caring for the student: The teenager may have some limitations and things you can’t do with him, but engage on an appropriate level. Ever wondered why pediatric units have video games available? Distraction is a great way to alleviate patients’ pain. This is probably the only area where you have a bona fide excuse that playing games is pure ministry! Find out from parents and medical staff what the student can and can’t do and what level of interaction is appropriate. Also remember the need for positive touch.

Caring for parents: Parents of a child with a chronic illness may feel a sense of powerlessness. They are stretched emotionally, spiritually, financially, and psychologically as they wrestle with this illness, helping their child have a good life. Steer clear of platitudes and clich

Add Comment February 25, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts Book Review: We Are All Weird

We are all weird! Seth Godin was just the first to say it out loud. I’ve read all of Seth Godin’s books and read his blog daily – so when his latest book comes out I’m pretty much first in line. This one is solid once again, focusing on our uniqueness as individuals and challenging leaders instead of thinking of mass we need to think of much smaller tribes. The book feels like an extension of his earlier (fantastic) books Tribes and Linchpin. Good stuff, lots of challenging potential applications to youth ministry.

JG