More Than Dodgeball | Youth Ministry Blog by Josh Griffin

Josh GriffinMore Posts To the Class of 2013

Excited to play this video from Josh Shipp during our senior weekend next month. Good stuff here, the video is going viral, too!

JG

Add Comment May 16, 2013

Josh GriffinMore Posts Student Ownership is Excellent

Thought this post over on Junior High Ministry was super and totally worth the read. Kurt has some great points about how ownership increases the excellence, even when the program potentially suffers. GEnius observation, here’s a clip before you head that way:

What you wouldn’t have seen much of is excellence; at least not in the way it is traditionally defined! The worship team struggled quite a bit, the guys in the tech room were consistently a slide (or two or three) behind at any given moment in the service, My microphone kept popping and getting feedback, and Saturday after church our cupcake girl shared that she wouldn’t be able to be there on Sunday….and hoped we’d still be willing to sell her cupcakes (which we did, of course).

Our visiting youth pastors are rarely impressed with the level of excellence they witness. I’m surprised, though, at how often they comment on the level of student involvement and ownership happening.

I share this to remind you that as you lead your junior high ministry you have a decision to make, and how you answer is determined mostly by what you value. Do you want your ministry to be marked by excellence or by ownership?

JG

Add Comment May 15, 2013

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 211

Weekend Teaching Series: Workshop Weekend (1-off)

Sermon in a Sentence: This weekend we had 4 messages – students got to choose which one they would hear.

Understandable Message: This weekend we had a couple videos and a couple songs, then divided up the students into1 of 4 workshops for them to hear about a topic they chose for the weekend:

1. The Comparison Trap: A workshop about the dangers of comparing yourself to your siblings, classmates, celebrities, etc. Learning about how to appreciate who God created you to be. Even showed the Dove video.

2. Modern Day Compassion: Learning to have compassion on other people because everyone has a story. Everyone has their own struggles. They went through Bible stories of compassion and learned how to compare them to everyday life.

3. Judging: Good or Bad? We all have heard about judging being wrong. It can be hard to live out. So they took an in-depth look at what the Bible says about it. Learn how and why God calls us to stay away from judging.

4. Self: Compassion: Learning how to let go of what you’re holding onto. God has forgiven you, and you should forgive yourself as well. The workshop helped students understand God’s love better through teaching them about God’s compassion for us. It is hard to have compassion on others if we can’t have compassion on ourselves.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: Didn’t have much in this department this week – pretty straightforward service for sake of time. Good stuff!

Music Playlist: Holy Moment, Like an Avalanche, All I Am

Favorite Moment: Seeing students and leaders team-teach the workshops was SO cool. LOVED this idea. It isn’t sexy or flashy like some of our other stuff, but I like it a lot.

Up next: Crazytown (series premiere, week 1 of 3)

Add Comment May 14, 2013

Chris WesleyMore Posts When You Don’t Have Time

I would like to say that when I was young and single that I enjoyed all the margin that was in my schedule to the fullest. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Just like now I had responsibilities, obligations and burdens that constantly made me wonder, “Where did all the time go?”

Doesn’t matter what season of ministry you find yourself in, time management can be a struggle. The problem comes when you do not monitor the amount of responsibilities and obligations that cross your plate. What it does is create a unnecessary and debilitating tension. In order to be successful in youth ministry and manage all that is in front of you, it’s important to step back, look at your calendar and:

Focus On A Few: There is this pressure in youth ministry to do it all; however, all that leads to is ineffective ministry. Focus on those few things that you, and only you can accomplish. By focusing on what you are best at doing you’ll have the greatest impact for your ministry. Delegate the rest to your volunteer and leadership teams to create more capacity.

Learn To Say “NO”: It’s flattering to receive invitations and offers especially when they can lead to big opportunities. While it’s not always easy to say, “NO.” what it will do is protect you from overcommitting. To discern what to accept and what to turn down, figure out what will move you towards your vision and what will pull you away.

Prioritize: To stay efficient you need to know what is Urgent, Important and Expendable. By sorting tasks and responsibilities in their proper category you won’t have to worry about tangents tearing you away from your vision. Make a list, write it down and revisit frequently.

Build Safety Nets: Find people to share your schedule, and goals with. Ask them to hold you accountable and check-in. It’s also important for you to schedule in (Even if you don’t have time) to just connect with God. When you feel as if you have no time, the best you can do is pause and wait for God’s direction.

You always have time, the question is, “How are you using it?” Consistently look at your schedule, review your responsibilities and trim what is unnecessary When you can add margin to your schedule you allow room to recover, refresh and enjoy what God has called you to do.

Which of these habits is hardest for you when it comes to making time?

Chris Wesley (@chrisrwesley)

2 View Comments May 14, 2013

Josh GriffinMore Posts POLL: Youth Worker Devotions

Would love to get your response in this week’s poll – when is the best time for your as a youth worker to spend time with God yourself? Lots of different options for you to choose from – vote now!

JG

1 View Comments May 13, 2013

Josh GriffinMore Posts The Youth Ministry Handoff

article.2013.05.07 The quarterback takes the ball, and hands it to the running back. The running back forgot the play for a second, maybe the quarterback goofed and was a split-second late—either way there’s a problem with the exchange and before you know it the ball squirts from his hands on to the AstroTurf™. FUMBLE!

Something went wrong and the end of the play usually leaves everybody wondering what it was and how to make sure it never happens again.

The children’s ministry is doing their own thing. The college ministry is on their own page, too. Big church is doing something completely different. Oh boy. Here come the kids—there go the seniors. How can we be better at the crucial handoffs between our ministries? Is it possible not to fumble this important part of youth ministry?

That’s what we’re going after this week: lots of practical stuff coming tomorrow, but today let’s focus on the big picture.

1) The handoff is critically important.
Often times students leave in the transition. In junior high they were forced to come to church with the family. In high school they have some options. In college the have total freedom. In each life stage the handoff is a vulnerable time to lose students as they move from one ministry to another.

2) It is difficult to move from a ministry you love to the unknown.
Students who LOVE their junior high ministry might be intimidated by the bearded upperclassmen in the high school ministry, or maybe a young adult is so comfortable with the college ministry they have a hard time moving up to big church because it is largely unknown to them.

3) Change is challenging.
Even people who thrive on change feel the intimidation of it—they just have a different response to it from there. Feel the pain of change, even if you love and trust the leaders in the ministry a student is heading to next!

Some things for you to journal about today:
What was your experience in the youth ministry handoff as a young person in the church?
Think of some people by name who have transitioned well, and some people who didn’t make it to the next level.
Describe the perfect spiritual life development plan from birth to big church.
Answer the question—when is the best time to transition students up in your ministry?
What can I do today to make the handoff better for those entering my ministry and for those graduating?
Take some time to figure out where you’re at right now. Pray about where you believe God wants you to go!

This post was written by Josh Griffin and Kurt Johnston and originally appeared as part of Simply Youth Ministry Today free newsletter. Subscribe to SYM Today right here.

change

2 View Comments May 13, 2013

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: Watch Your Words

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become habits. Watch your habits for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” -Frank Outlaw

When you wake up in the morning, what words are you speaking? “Ugh, not another morning? I just want to sleep!” “I hate my job, I just want to quit.” “Why do I always have to be the one to…” Or are you speaking words that build you up? “Today is the day that the Lord has made, this will be a wonderful day!” “My job is a blessing and I will make the best of it!” “I am thankful God always gives me the privilege of being the one to…” There is no doubt about it, words can either build you up or break you down. We know from last week’s blog Watch Your Thoughts, words begin with a thought. So how do you turn those thoughts into words?

Speak positively – When the alarm that you have set to go off every couple of hours throughout the day goes off and you redirect your thoughts, make sure you tell someone what a lovely day it is or give someone a compliment. It will lift you… and them UP!

Speak scripture– When you read scripture from the post-its you have posted all around you or from the Bible app on your phone, read them out-loud! Let them sink into your spirit.

Sing a song of praise – As the worship music is blasting, sing! Dance! It will take the focus off of you and your situation and place the focus on the almighty God who is alive and worthy to be praised!

Accountability – When your friend calls in the middle of the day to see where your thoughts are, share words of encouragement and build each other up while you are at it!

Positive influence – Your words become like the words of those you hang out with. Choose friends who choose their words wisely.

Words have a powerful impact either for the good or for the bad. When you watch your words, they have power to build your entire well-being up and that power will spread like wild fire to everyone and everything around you! Watch your words and be blessed!

Ashley Fordinal is the Children’s Church volunteer at Family Life Church in Sulphur Springs, TX.