discipleship | More Than Dodgeball

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: Considering a Senior Trip? Do It.

We have just this week returned from another epic adventure known as our senior trip or as we call it in Canada our grad trip. It is our second year of what we hope to be many of celebrating those students who finished their tenure in our youth ministry and giving them an amazing time and encouraging them on their future endeavors. Our Church is 30 minutes South of Vancouver B.C. and we decided to take our grads this year to Disneyland, and I can say after debriefing the trip, it was a success beyond what we could have imagined. Here a few of the reasons we did it.

The Dangling Carrot: We started the senior trip tradition last year with a bus charter to San Francisco and Six Flags which was a great time and the students involved had a blast. The trip is the end, it’s the prize and in many cases a bit of a carrot that we dangle that keeps our grade 12′s from becoming infected with senioritis and leaving mid-year. Knowing that the trip is coming, that it’s an incredible experience, and that its well worth going on meant that this year we had a huge percentage of seniors finish the year out. Having seniors stick around means that we had more older students being active leaders to the younger ones and being great spiritual role models to them as well.

Creating a team: The Church does not pay a dime for trip, we take a deposit to cover the flight cost and the students then have to fundraise the money themselves. This year we put ads out to the church offering to do any job necessary by donation. The students worked hard, worked together and watched the donations roll in. They served the church, helped seniors, walked old ladies across the road, dug holes, trimmed trees, weeded gardens, and they did it all together. It took two months, but they raised enough that all of them including their small group leaders and Youth Pastor (wink) could go for free. The Church loved it, the students bonded and connected before the trip and on it.

Bridging the Gap: Getting students to connect into college ministry is tough, and we recognize this. Each year we have several hand picked members of the college ministry team not only come on the trip, but be a part of the fundraising process as well with the hope of building some meaningful relationships. I feel that this year more than last that having the group come together so tightly will allow a great opportunity to land and grow in our college ministry. It is unfortunate how many students graduate their faith after high school and our heart is that we feel we can foster a scenario where that is less likely to happen as they more successfully make the transition into the next phase in ministry.

As a Youth Pastor, watching students grow in their faith is a blessing and being able to be a part of the process from grade 7 through to graduation is unbelievable. We place a high value on celebrating those students who finish youth well, and are seeing the younger students take notice and get excited about their opportunity to do the same. Our senior trip, while on the surface might seem to be solely for fun, is really a strategic move to build into the future of our students that they don’t leave their faith after high school.

Geoff Stewart is the Pastor of Jr & Sr High School for Journey Student Ministries at Peace Portal Alliance Church and regularly contributes GUEST POSTS to MTDB. Be sure to check out his Twitter stream for awesome ministry goodness. Want to get in on the fun and write up a guest post yourself? See how right here.

Add Comment July 17, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: Jesus Goes to the Movies

I love movies. As in, I’ve watched 85 films already this year, which averages to around 3 a week, if my math is correct. Some might call me a movie snob; I prefer the term “cinephile.” While one could argue that film is a big waste of time and money, I believe filmmakers are theologians of sorts. They tell us stories that both reflect and shape our cultural values, including our views of humanity and God. The movie theater becomes a sanctuary, a 2-hour respite from the summer heat and boredom. In the youth ministry world, movie theaters–alongside malls–become the centers of summer activity for many of our students.

Your students are not only watching movies this summer, their views are being inherently shaped by them whether they realize it or not. Students tend to approach films in one of three ways. Some are sponges–they mindlessly soak up anything and everything that a film offers, including messages and values that are intrinsically unBiblical. Others are funnels–they mindlessly avoid all cinema (and all other media, for that matter) and let it slide past them due to its supposed sinfulness. Finally, some are sieves (or colanders, or strainers, or whatever word you prefer for that thing you use when making spaghetti!)–they wisely filter which movies to watch or avoid, using a Biblical filter for discerning the messages that films are presenting, and critiquing films based on Philippians 4:8: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

People don’t become sieves on their own. Students need wise and discerning people to watch movies with them in order to have conversations that go deeper than, “yeah, that was a cool movie.” They need someone who will take them to a film, then take them out for ice cream or coffee afterwards in order to intentionally have that spiritual conversation. They need someone who will expose them to films that reflect the beauty of our Creator that they might not otherwise watch. They need someone who will hold them accountable to the films that they watch, lest they become sponges like the majority of teens around them. They need to know why a film isn’t okay to watch, not just what is wrong with it.

So go watch a film. Invite some students along. And expect Jesus to show up at the movies with you.

Joel Mayward is first and foremost a follower of Jesus, which is the foundation for his love of his wife Katie, and son, Copeland. Joel loves pondering all the interconnections between film, theology, and youth ministry. He is the high school pastor at Red Mountain Community Church in Mesa, AZ. You can read his movie reviews and youth ministry musings on his blog.

3 View Comments July 12, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: I’ve Failed As a Youth Pastor

I’ve FAILED as a youth pastor…

… if I put the ministry ahead of my relationship with God.

… if I put the ministry ahead of my relationship with my wife and family.

… if don’t invest in meaningful friendships outside of youth ministry and/or the church.

… if I don’t continually work to grow closer to my Creator.

… if I allow my identity to be found in my work.

… if I allow the numbers to discourage me OR make me feel good about myself.

… if I become jaded toward the church because of envy or pride.

… if I allow people’s view of me get in the way of God’s view of me.

… if I allow how the church/leadership values me to define my worth.

… if I am not a disciple AND a disciple maker.

… if I constantly look beyond student ministry toward “the next big thing.”

… if students feel like numbers and not individuals.

… if the work I’m doing “for” God doesn’t align with God’s desire for me or the ministry.

I’m sure there are others we need to be aware of as pastors/leaders/volunteers. Any others that come to mind?

Steve Ingold is the High School Director at Cornerstone Fellowship in the California Bay Area. Check him out on Twitter or read his blog.

6 View Comments July 9, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts POLL: Would you attend your church if you weren’t the youth pastor?

This post from last week got a fair amount of traffic/energy from some youth workers, so thought I would base this week’s poll on the same question: if you weren’t a youth worker at your current church, would you attend there?

JG

4 View Comments June 15, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts Taffy Talks About the Cost of Discipleship

Here’s a clip from Taffy’s talk this past weekend – this part focuses on the cost of discipleship and being sold out to Christ.

JG

2 View Comments June 9, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: Letting God Be God

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

I was working with a student who had decided to make one of the stupidest choices in his life so far. It was tough to see him get hurt the way he did because we had such a good relationship. I felt like I had failed, trying to be a good role model and him not following in that path. But I was determined to work with him again and help him grow.

I know that teens sometimes do not make the best decisions simply because they did not know better, he knew better.
I know that sometimes students are raised in crappy situations, he is not one of them.
I know that many people his age do not know what God wants for them and so live their life-like the world, he knows some stuff better than I do.

So for six months, I was extra intentional with him, to show him Christ’s love and talk with his parents about what is going on. Then, one day I get the phone call from the father that his son would not be coming with us to the ski retreat because he had done something even more dumb than last time. I put on a good face for the phone call that lasted for thirty minutes, but I was deeply hurting.

“How could he do this? What was going on in his mind? Was he even listening to me?”

I spent several hours in prayer, for his parents, for him, for those around him, and myself. At the end of my time with God, He spoke something deeply into my heart, “Let me do this. Ask him the tough questions and listen to what he has to say, but let Me be the one to fix the situation.”

The idea is not theologically revolutionary, but in this context for me, I was blown away. My heart was filled with joy, it was not my job to fix the situation and make sure the student does the right thing. I let go of the crisis and gave it up to God and my heart rejoiced for His wisdom and power.

So what are you holding on to? What is the worst thing that could happen if you let go and let God be God?

Jeremy Smith is a 26-year old youth pastor at the Air Force Academy chapel, working for Club Beyond, and attending Denver Seminary for his Master”s of Arts in Counseling Ministries. He has been involved in Youth for Christ for eight years – check out his blog at Seventy8Productions.

Add Comment May 28, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: 5 Things to Remember When Discipling Youth

Jesus has commanded us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). As leaders who regularly speak into the lives of young people in their most formidable years, our attention to this command must be even greater! Here’s a few things I’ve challenged our team to keep in mind when discipling:

1. Our authority to disciple comes from Christ
Your authority to disciple doesn’t just come from the senior pastor. Christ, who has received all authority from the Father, gives the authority we exercise in discipleship to us. When we exercise this authority, we are tapping into the very same authority that God the Father has given to Jesus. Even Jesus himself didn’t grab authority from the Father. The Father delighted to give it to him. We must both accept and exercise authority with the same servant heart.

2. Discipleship doesn’t just happen in the church
To make disciples, we must go and we must make. To go requires movement and to make requires creativity. Jesus went from heaven to to fully immerse himself in the sin filled, God rejecting world we brought on ourselves. He made and grew his disciples by preaching from boats, raising people from the dead and putting a runaway ear back on the head of a soldier. Jesus was creative in discipleship and we should be too!

3. Baptism should be our first aim of discipleship
The temptation might be for us to see ‘salvations’ as our first aim in youth ministry, but salvation by itself is not what Christ has commanded us to work towards. Our first aim in discipleship should be to see young people baptised. Here comes a John Piper quote but he’s better at this than you and me. Piper says, ‘The meaning of baptism develops out of this meaning of discipleship. If becoming a disciple of Jesus means dying to your old life and walking in newness of life with Christ as Jesus taught, then it’s almost inevitable that the symbolic act of that conversion should come to signify a death and resurrection.” Baptism is about more than the occasion itself, it’s also about the death of our old selves and our resurrection with Christ. Sounds like a good first aim to me!

4. Discipling youth is about making them more like Christ
It’s been said that discipleship is about being first, and then doing. If we are not observing all Christ has commanded us, how can we expect those we are discipling to do anything different? This shouldn’t just lead our young people towards our own special interest areas. We want them to become more like Christ! Let’s resist the temptation to turn them into mini-me’s.

5. You’re not alone
Jesus didn’t offer his final instructions and then just left us to it. We have a promise from Christ that he is with us always! That means when you’re facing a discipleship challenge that seems insurmountable, Christ is with you by his Holy Spirit. When a parent seems completely uninterested in the life of their young person, Christ is with you. When you bring the new church van back with a dent shaped like an frightened cow, Christ is with you. Always.

Rich Crosby is the Youth Pastor of Church of Christ the King in Brighton, England. He writes at rich-crosby.com and you also connect with him on Facebook or Twitter.

2 View Comments May 22, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts The Philosophy Behind HSM’s Summer Calendar 2011

Last summer was incredible so this summer we’re hoping to build on what we learned and have another great break. Here is a little insight behind what HSM has planned for this summer. If you haven’t seen the calendar and list of events yet, you can check it out here:

All about relationships
The summer is all about hanging with students. We embrace the beauty of time off from school and the different pace around the church office. Summer = relational ministry goldmine.

Free, free, free
Summer camp is the signature event to kickoff the summer and the only one that costs money – after that every event is totally free. In the past we have had events that each charge admission, and over time these add up to frustrated parents and limiting participation.

Low prep time
The events on the summer calendar are meant to be low-prep time events. They are basically excuses to do relational ministry. Prep for Free Coke Friday? Grab some frisbees and a cooler of Gatorade. Done!

Regular recurring events
Want to remember the summer schedule? Every event happens 7 times this summer. 7 Midweeks, 7 Free Coke Fridays, 7 Bagels & Bibles. If you come to one, you can figure out the schedule for the summer. If you’re free on a Friday, you know what we’re up to that day.

Lots of Bible time
One of the big emphasis of our summer is plenty of time in the Word. One of the advantages of no small groups and no high school classes is that we have blocks of time and regular opportunities to pull off our own classes fr spiritual growth.

What should we try next summer that is working for you?

JG