change | More Than Dodgeball

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

1 View Comments May 13, 2013

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: Lifelong Learners – Stretched by Shortcomings

Learning should not stop the day your ministry begins. Becoming an effective leader requires you to be stretched by shortcomings in order to become the best leader you can possibly be. Lifelong learners become stretched by shortcomings when they become aware of their shortcomings, make a conscience effort to learn from them and open themselves up to correction.

Becoming aware of your shortcomings
It’s pretty easy to fall into the trap of making the same mistakes over and over again. That happens when you become comfortable with a certain way of living. Whether your shortcoming is that you jokingly make fun of people or that you are always late, you have first got to recognize the shortcoming so you can get on the right track.

Conscience effort
After recognizing your shortcoming you’ve got to put forth a constant conscience effort into making a change. If you are constantly conscience, you are able to catch yourself before falling. You will catch yourself and be back on the right track. Accountability is very helpful as well in staying on track.

Open to correction
All of us can use a little correction now and then. Opening yourself to correction allows you to grow in ways unimaginable. People who are open to correction are teachable; they are the lifelong learners who are stretched by their shortcomings. Put aside your pride, you do not always know what’s best. Be ready to listen the next time someone corrects you.

Though you may fail at a particular task, it is important you get back up and try again. Lifelong learners are aware of their shortcomings, make a conscience effort to learn from them and open themselves to correction. With a desire, you too, can become a lifelong learner stretched by your shortcomings.

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

1 View Comments March 24, 2013

Geoff StewartMore Posts GUEST POST: Adventures in the Interim

What in the world am I doing here? I fumbled my way through the Sunday morning lesson while 50 teens chatted and ignored me completely. I couldn’t do this. Why would God put me here where I was obviously not wanted?

Three years after we left volunteer youth ministry, God called us back in. This time as the leaders.

Our church had been without a lead pastor for around six months, and now their beloved youth pastor was moving on. They needed someone to keep the youth ministry going until pastors could be hired. For some crazy reason, God called my husband and me.

It was one of the hardest, sweetest, trying, and tearful 14 months of my life. It was wonderful.

The world of youth ministry was not foreign to us, but the world of leading one was. Without the proper training, our education came from the trenches. Here’s a little of what we discovered:

Own your ministry.

When we came in, we miserably attempted to recreate all the activities that everyone was so fond of. Every single one of them bombed. After about two months we realized that we had to be who we were. Things went much more smoothly after that.

God will provide.

I was convinced that God had closed that door forever on working with teens, and being back was not really where my heart was. I asked God to give me a love for these students because I simply didn’t have it in me. He was faithful to pour that into me, so much so that as the weight of it came over me, I second guessed that desire!

Establish healthy boundaries.

It didn’t take long for ministry to take over many areas of our lives, blurring some of our boundaries and creating a mess. My husband and I had to learn to respect each other and our differences. We established stronger time boundaries which also helped us in our personal lives.

Youth ministry is hard.

Yes, you know that. But seriously, volunteer sponsors really have no idea! We spent hours and hours helping, working, and serving in youth ministry, but still had no idea how much harder it is to be the guy in charge! It’s extraordinarily hard. And every youth pastor/director should be given something really awesome, like ice cream.

Simple can be good.

With our lack of proper training, an existing full time job, and not as many volunteers as we would like (can I hear an amen?) our students had to fill in the gaps. The amazing thing about this was that they did. And they were awesome! They learned and grew right alongside us. They got to experience the difficulties and take ownership of their ministry.

The biggest thing I learned was that God is in control and working bigger and better things than I can ever imagine.

I am just thankful he let me have a part in it.

Melissa Duggan just wrapped up a year of working as the Interim Youth Director at her church and is now (again) happily being the support guy in student ministry.

2 View Comments February 15, 2013

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: Take Back What’s Yours!

Change is something that we all long for but not many of us choose to do what it takes to see it happen. We continue to live comfortable even if it means we are miserable rather than shake things up a bit and live the life God intended for us to live, a life full of abundance! John 10:10 mentions both of these kinds of lives, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Decide: What are you taking back?
First, you need to decide what are you taking back from the thief? Has he stolen your joy, your intimacy with the Creator of the universe, your drive? You may have never gotten a chance to see what he stole from you or maybe you use to thrive in what he has stolen; whatever it is that he has, it is time to decide it is yours and you want it back!

Take action
Now that you’ve decided what you are taking back, it is time to take action. To take action, you need to have a plan. To go without a plan, is like shooting without aiming; yeah, you took a shot but you missed too. Figure out what you need to do to take it back and write down the steps you’ve got to take to get there. Look back at them from time to time as a reminder and to track progress. Just remember, the little steps are just as important as the big ones.

Show yourself grace
When you decide to make a change in your life, you will make mistakes. Remember to show yourself grace and forgive yourself for the small and not so small mistakes. The more understanding and forgiving you are of your downfalls, the more you learn from them and the quicker you progress.

Go you! For deciding to take back your life.

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

Add Comment January 12, 2013

Chris WesleyMore Posts Survive The Transition

14 days until New Years Eve, Seven days until Christmas and 3 more until the end of the world (At least that’s what the Mayans say). In the next several weeks a lot will be happening and that’s because everyone is in a season of transition. During these times it’s so easy for a youth ministry to get derailed because seasons of change are messy, fast moving and crazy.

Especially during this time of year, nothing is of the usual. All of your students are away from school, some go away on vacation, while others are in the midst of midterms. Nothing is normal during a season of change. But, when the dust settles, it’s important to keep moving as if nothing changed. You need to keep the momentum of your ministry going. If not, it’ll be a long winter and rough spring. So, how does one make the transition from one season to the next?

Embrace God’s Grace: Do what you physically can do and allow God to do the rest. It’s easy during season of change to overextend yourself. Unfortunately, if you are depleted of all energy, there is no way to move forward without feeling burned out. Make sure you schedule in time to sit with God, even if it’s just five minutes a day. It’s essential that it’s scheduled in.

Pass On Future Tasks: During times of transition it’s easy to get focused on the now and forget what’s coming up. Before you get in the midst of the chaos pass off future responsibilities to volunteers or coworkers. Doesn’t matter if it’s as simple as stapling paper, just get it off your plate so that you can do what only you can do. When the chaos settles down you can walk into the next because everything has been prepped.

Write Down Goals: Make a check-list of tasks that need to be done. When you get moving it’s easy to overlook simple tasks and responsibilities. Each day check that list several times and use it as a way of measuring your progress. Celebrate each time you eliminate an item and then move forward.

Sleep, Rest and Sleep: As hard as it might seem try to get as much sleep and rest as possible. During times of high stress it’s tempting to resort to staying up late, eating, and other bad habits that will slow you down. You need to maintain your energy; therefore, with the free time you do have, take it to refuel and refresh.

Transitions and seasons of change can be difficult; however, with a healthy pace and focus you’ll make it through. Build a system, don’t be afraid to rely on others and above all else know that God is walking with you.

How do you move through seasons of transition and chaos?

Chris Wesley (@chrisrwesley)

Add Comment December 18, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: Youth Group – Change it Up

Do you find that your Youth Group has fallen into a routine that isn’t bad; but its just okay? Maybe that it is too predictable and students aren’t paying attention as well? Or maybe you have taught the message at every single youth group for the past 3 years?

As you brainstorm what to change, your creativity dries up. You can’t seem to find ways to change things up to create a new and exciting youth group. Here are 3 ideas to help change it up:

Change the Speaker: Guest Posting on blogs has taken over the blogging community the past few years. In fact, I am guest posting right now. But what about if you “Guest Posted” in real life? Talk to another youth pastor in your area and ask if they would be interested in speaking to your youth group. Or even better, give one of your volunteers the opportunity to speak. I can ensure you that from a students viewpoint; we always pay alot more attention to a new speaker.

Change the Setting: Have you ever considered changing the place where you do Youth Group? If you are near the beach, what about if you did youth group at the beach? Or what about if you had youth group in your church’s main sanctuary? Changing the setting might have a bigger impact than you might think.

Change the Structure: Maybe your youth group has become such a formula that is isn’t reaching its full potential. What if you changed things up and did worship music for the whole night or your message was filmed ahead of time and played during youth group? It would be a big risk; but big risks yield the biggest rewards.

Chase Miller is a High School student from Orange County, CA. He loves to surf, Tweets occasionally and would love to Guest Post on your blog, too!

Add Comment July 2, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts 3 Responses When You Wouldn’t Attend the Church You’re Serving At

Too often I hear youth workers say something like, “I love my youth group, but I wouldn’t go to church here if it wasn’t my job.” I honestly understand this sentiment, and realize that most of the time it is just a season of frustration with the style or leadership in a given period of time. But sometimes it isn’t a light statement, it is actually very serious. And if you find yourself in this situation, I think you’ve only got about three choices:

Get on board
I’d start with you – maybe you need a change of heart. Have some dialogue with the powers that be in your church to better understand the context of their decisions and choices. Perhaps you are frustrated out of ignorance and a little more knowledge will help you get a bigger picture of what they are trying to accomplish. Style preferences are unavoidable, some things you just have to learn to live with. You’ll never lose with humility so it is a good place to start.

Lead the change
Different opinions and outside perspective can be healthy to a church – being divisive behind the scenes certainly isn’t. If you’re frustrated with your church to the point you may even reconsider serving there, be a part of the solution and not the problem. Maybe you stepping up is exactly what the church needs to help them in a time of transition. Help lead the change.

Get out
This one isn’t to be taken lightly, but perhaps literally. If you wouldn’t attend the church you are the youth worker at and have no desire to lead them into a time of transition – get out. Don’t take a paycheck from the church, tithe money, if you aren’t all in. Remember a period of frustration isn’t worth leaving over, if youth workers did that our tenure would be even worse. But if there’s no hope and you’ve done all you can, it might be time to ask God what is next.

What do you think? Open to discussion/objections in the comments. Fire away!

JG