Monthly Archives: December 2011
Is there a “better way”?
QUESTION
What would it look like for disciplemaking to be something that everyone of your students had the joy of delivering rather than just merely something they attended?
This is a question that here in ReachStudents we’ve been wrestling with for some time. Recently, a pastor friend of mine who sits on the board for Cross World shared with me a little brochure called “A Betther Way” that their current president, Dale Losch, has written. It’ powerful. The implications are great and far reaching.
I dare you to read it.
A Better Way
Then I come back here and comment on these questions.
Where are you already experiencing this and/or what are the obstacles that get in the way? What are the implications for how you approach ministry and/or perceive your role? What would this mean for youth ministry?
I’ve love to hear your thougths!!
Challenge 2012: Why we invited Eric Mason
It’s exciting to have Eric Mason joining us for Challenge 2012 this summer in New Orleans. Registration for Challenge opens January 2. It’s going to be an incredible week as we challenge students to live on mission with God everyday, everywhere, with everyone. Check out more information at Challengeconference.com!
In Youth Ministry What’s of First Importance?
I grew up as the middle child of three boys. Both my brothers are incredibly intelligent and since they have always been natural born thinkers, I have looked to find my identity in other areas (that don’t include Star Wars and speaking Klingon). Consequently, I have grown up as a Christian who needs theology to be simple and straightforward. This might be one of the reasons I love working with teenagers.
Most of the students I have worked with can answer most of the cliché Christian answers with ease. These “Golden Children” have a clear understanding of the rules that good kids should follow, but I wonder if they actually know the main message of the Bible. Think for a moment about the brightest teenagers you’re working with. They probably come to your events, encourage you when you preach a crummy message, and even laugh at your corny jokes. But, do they know—and I mean really understand in both mind and heart—what the Scripture says is most important? Read the rest of this entry
Merry Christmas: Thanks for Bearing the Son
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. Luke 1:30-31
As we come into this Christmas season, God’s message to Mary causes me sit and ponder the what we’ve been invited into as youth workers. God has chosen you and me to be ones who bear the Son of God among this emerging generation of young people and their families.
Years ago, in reading the God Bearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry, by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster, I came to a fresh appreciation of what it means to be a “God-bearer.” Kenda Dean says that God’s message to Mary found in Luke 1:26-38 has two parts—affirmation and expectation. Because Mary is beloved by God, because she has found favor in God’s eyes, God has a an astonishing plan for her. His plan is to have this teenager bring salvation into the world! Let that sink in for a minute. Read the rest of this entry
The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus – Part 7
By Bill Allison and Dave Garda- Cadre International Ministries (Posted with permission.)
See also: Part 1, Part 2,Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
A young man I discipled since he was a teenager was asked in his college years to spend a summer leading the youth ministry at his church. At the end of that summer, I asked him, “So what did God do in your life this summer?”
He said, “He made it clear to me that I’m not cut out for youth ministry.”
I said, “Fair enough. When did you realize it?”
He said, “Well, I loved being with students, but the church seemed to feel like I wasn’t doing my job if I wasn’t in the office 40 hours a week. I thought youth ministry would be ministry to youth-getting time building relationships with students… not primarily office work.”
That is a sad and true story. The church invited him to be the youth pastor for the summer, but they didn’t really understand what a good youth pastor should do.
That raises the question: What should a good DLC do?
I hope you know by know that the answer to that question is found in the disciplemaking genius of Jesus. Read the rest of this entry
The (Second) Most Wonderful Time of the Year…
You may not consider the month of November to be a time of great anticipation and celebration, but for myself and many other youth pastor’s wives, the month of November is indeed one of the most wonderful times of the year.
This November was no exception. My husband and I spent several days in Melbourne, Florida attending the Rebound Retreat. As a pastor’s wife and mommy to two, two year-old girls (help!), I needed the encouragement and refreshment that Rebound provided. I’m not just talking about the extraordinary amount of sleep I managed to get every night (and it was extraordinary), I’m talking about relationships. My relationship with my husband, my friends, and with my Father
As you well know, it easy to get lost in the business of life. You wake up, you change some diapers, you feed some little people, you change some more diapers, you scrub red crayon off your walls, you change some more diapers, and somewhere in there, if you don’t care much about your own hygiene…you may get a few minutes to spend time with God and your husband. I know it’s just a stage of life, but it can leave you weary and disconnected.
This is why I look forward to November. I know that there will be valuable, uninterrupted time with my husband, I will see friends who encourage my heart, make me laugh and my heart will be refreshed by meaningful worship of my Heavenly Father. Even now, one month post Rebound, I am still encouraged and refreshed. I am so thankful to our church for allowing us to attend Rebound and thankful to the EFCA staff for caring so much for the youth pastors AND their wives.
(by Brooke Krause, Wichita, KS)
Rebound 2012 will be in Melbourne, FL. November 10-13, 2012. Put it on your calendar today!
Challenge 2012: Why we invited Francis Chan
We’re excited that an long time friend Challenge will be back with us again this year, namely Francis Chan. Francis is a great communicator, but we invited him to Challenge 2012 for a specific reason. Check it out in this brief behind the scenes video. Registration for Challenge 2012 will open January 2. Start Planning now!
EGO vs. EGO: 3 Leadership Questions
Ken Blanchard, in his book, The Servant Leader asks this question: Is your leadership E.G.O. Edging God out or Exalting God Only (p. 26)?
As youth leaders, I believe this is a great question for us to ponder as we reflect back over 2011.
- Am I edging God out by worshiping something else? Functional idols, those things we treasure as equal to or more than God, are the quickest way to kill intimacy with God and ability to hear His voice.
- Am I edging God out by relying on something other than Him? Relying on my strengths/ gifts, books and resources, models of ministry, and experience are all ways to begin moving God to the peripheral.
- Am I edging God out by making others my primary audience of self worth? Seeking the approval of the senior leadership, parents, students or my youth ministry colleges erodes both my intimacy with the Father and with others.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness… Matthew 6:33
Jesus’ call to us as we end 2011 and head into 2012 is one that exalts God only. The end of the calendar year provides a good opportunity for some reflection. These questions provide a great starting point as we seek to re-align our hearts with His as we step into 2012.
