Josh Griffin | More Than Dodgeball

Josh GriffinMore Posts Resource After Backward$

We’re finishing up our Backward$ series this week in HSM, I’m actually heading out after lunch today to finish up the talk for this weekend. I just noticed that Simply Youth Ministry is releasing a resource that might be good following the series. Stripped Clean takes a look at materialism and goes after living free of stuff. Looks like a perfect match!

JG

Add Comment June 4, 2009

Josh GriffinMore Posts 10 More Essentials of Summer Interns

Here’s the second part of our summer intern orientation (part 1 here). More stuff we cover right up front with our new team members:

10. Write it down.
You should not go into a meeting (one-on-one or with the team) with out a pad of paper and a pen. We’ll provide you with a moleskin journal – DON’T bring your phone, it has become a major perception issue in meetings.

11. Expect to pay for your own meals.
Team lunches are a privilege, and we will try to feed everyone whenever we are asking them to work through a meal, but never assume it is on us.

12. Ask for a deadline.
Why? Because there is one! Ignorance is not an excuse and asking will save you from conflict and unknown expectations. Even if the person can’t give you an exact time, ask them about how long they think it should take you.

13. Don’t be scared to ask for time with people.
You are here to learn and experience the inner workings of ministry. EVERYONE at Saddleback is working with a packed schedule, BUT you can not receive unless you ASK. If there is someone in Student Ministries or the church that you would like time with ask JG and he will try his hardest to make it happen.

14. Let JG know when you need his time.
The easiest way is to set up a meeting with him, but even when his door is closed it is really open.

15. Protect your day off.
Because if you don’t…no one else will. Mondays are sacred, we treat them that way, make sure you do, too.

16. If you’re not doing anything…ask how you can help.

17. Volunteers are the key
So… learn their names, talk to them, tell them how much you appreciate them, involve them with what, you are doing ,ask for their help, make a big deal when they do help, pray for them.

18. Know who does what on the Student Ministries team.
Student Ministries is a team and it is so important that we help each other whenever we can. Attached is a list of who does what to help bring you up to speed.

19. Your Spiritual Life is Essential!
Spend time with God everyday. Ask His Spirit to fill and guide you.

REMEMBER: You have 72 days… make each one count!

JG

4 View Comments June 4, 2009

Josh GriffinMore Posts 9 Expectations of Summer Interns

Today 2 of our 3 summer interns started in our High School Ministry, and we had a little orientation this morning going over a few basics. Here’s some of what we covered:

1. Know what is on your calendar before you come in for the day.
We live and die by our calendars in the office. Nothing throws you off more than forgetting about a meeting. Also, summer events don’t always allow you to run home and change. Outlook is a super important tool we really value in our culture.

2. Expect to be at all HSM events.
We do a lot of “all hands on deck” type of events. If you’re not sure, ASK, but the answer is probably yes.

3. Have a good attitude.
Your attitude is contagious! If you don’t have a good attitude, it can hurt the team. Be sure to take time for yourself to read, relax and refresh.

4. Know what is expected of you on the weekend.
Be on time – help set up – greet volunteers – jump in where needed – sit with students during the service – please don’t stand in the back!

5. You are responsible for your emails, voicemails, and texts.
One of the biggest complaints about our church is the lack of response to a phone call. So check your messages often and return them in a timely manner — no more than 24 hours late is the goal. Make sure take care of Pastoral Care issues immediately!

6. Communicate where you are going and when you will be back.
There is no such thing as over communicating and don’t ever assume someone knows where you are. Keep JG in the loop at all times. OK, you can go to the bathroom without telling him, we guess.

7. NEVER say “I don’t know” – ALWAYS say “Let me find out”.
Try and know the basics about every event on the calendar (location, price, times) and walk with the student or parent to get the information rather then sending them to find it. Also, make sure you listen to the person that did have the answer – then next time you won’t have to ask.

8. Know that everything can change at ANY moment.
We know this one is hard – you just have to go with it. There will be things you work on that don’t get used – hold everything with a loose grip.

9. Ask questions.
A lot of them. Why we do things? How we do things? What if we did things a different way? Even if it is to confirm what you already know… please ask questions!

JG

8 View Comments June 2, 2009

Josh GriffinMore Posts Youth Ministry Q&A: New Believers Resources

Haven’t done a Q&A in a while here on the blog, thought I would jump back into those since I got a good one today from a youth worker named Kyle. Send in your question, too:

Q: What do you give new believers as far as training or a packet? I’m trying to do some follow-up with new Christians in our group. Thanks for your help!

A: To be honest, this is something we need to get back to, we haven’t done this well recently. In the Fall I’ve got a plan to offer baptisms once a month and a beginners discipleship class called Fresh Start. We’re going to call it First Sunday and it will give our student ministry an easy answer to the question about when baptisms are and when a new believer’s class is offered. This particular resource is written in a 10-week format, 4 in a classroom setting and 6 on their own, though we’ll adopt it into something more like an extended 1-off with a devotional journal. Hope this helps!

You can read more Q&A’s right here.

JG

Add Comment June 1, 2009

Josh GriffinMore Posts New Resource: Through the Bible in 12 Weeks

This new resource on SYM, Through the Bible, looks promising to take your growing students to the next level. Caught my eye today:

If your teenager still think of the Bible as a disjointed jumble of stories and history lessons (trust us: they do), give them the perspective they need. Ground their faith and confidence in God’s Word.

All 12 lessons are highly experiential! Your teenagers will create a mural and add to it each week. By the end, they’ll have a panoramic view of God’s story as revealed in the Bible!

JG

1 View Comments June 1, 2009

Josh GriffinMore Posts Tea Cup Countdown Video

Fun little pre-service video during the countdown this weekend in HSM. We were also doing some testing with our new Flip Ultra HD, talk about quality video on a small budget!

JG

budget

4 View Comments May 31, 2009

Josh GriffinMore Posts The TED Commandments

Ministry Best Practices just posted of their love for TED (that I share, too!) but also included their version of the 10 Commandments to speaking at their event. So good!

1. Thou shalt not simply trot out thy usual shtick.
2. Thou shalt dream a great dream, or show forth a wondrous new thing, or share something thou hast never shared before.
3. Thou shalt reveal thy curiosity and thy passion.
4. Thou shalt tell a story.
5. Thou shalt freely comment on the utterances of other speakers for the sake of blessed connection and exquisite controversy.
6. Thou shalt not flaunt thine ego. Be thou vulnerable. Speak of thy failure as well as thy success.
7. Thou shalt not sell from the stage: neither thy company, thy goods, thy writings, nor thy desperate need for funding; lest thou be cast aside into outer darkness.
8. Thou shalt remember all the while: laughter is good.
9. Thou shalt not read thy speech.
10. Thou shalt not steal the time of them that follow thee.

JG

2 View Comments May 31, 2009