en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/354281 Comments by Kellysoif http://youthminblog.com/2009/08/campus-access-learn-from-my-mistakes-pt-2/#IDComment31625783 Thanks Ben. I think a lot of youthworkers give up too soon and don't have the patience to stick with it. It's all about persevering and building relationships over time. Glad you are there! Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:56:40 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/08/campus-access-learn-from-my-mistakes-pt-2/#IDComment31625783 http://youthminblog.com/2009/07/past-present-future/#IDComment27280432 I agree, you're on a good track. Honestly, you could read the bulk of it in two hours. As you keep laying out these big changes, I'd really recommend it. The biggest suggestion I could give you is to get major buy-in from key leaders in the church. As you establish these "stakeholders" you'll have a better chance of realizing many of your goals over the long term. It's worth the effort. Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:37:12 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/07/past-present-future/#IDComment27280432 http://youthminblog.com/2009/07/past-present-future/#IDComment27259999 You've got some great ideas here Chris. Have you ever read Mark DeVries' "Sustainable Youth Ministry"? He's the only one who has listed all the planning pieces you need to give major infrastructure change.... Great resource. Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:57:14 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/07/past-present-future/#IDComment27259999 http://youthminblog.com/2009/07/networks-make-you-bigger/#IDComment26891014 David, this is an OUTSTANDING post. Well done. Very motivating. It makes me see your viewpoint on community-wide events very clearly. Tremendous job. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:41:34 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/07/networks-make-you-bigger/#IDComment26891014 http://youthminblog.com/2009/07/needs-for-networking/#IDComment26743380 I'm online, so I'll do a quick reply. The beauty of this online forum is that we get to see a variety of things and how they work. It is always intriguing to me how something works in one place and doesn't work in another. I hear you clearly in terms of the fact that you're not pushing for putting on events, but recommend them as a way to build youthworker (and youth group, I bet) relationships. Full disclosure: I don't really like big events regardless. It's one of those things I just have lost energy for as I've gotten older. So I like to let the youngin's pull together the big blowout events and then just invite my students to go. Doug Ranck is different - the dude is older than me (not by much though) and is still willing to go to Six Flags. THAT my friends, is commitment :) Thu, 9 Jul 2009 02:39:19 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/07/needs-for-networking/#IDComment26743380 http://youthminblog.com/2009/07/needs-for-networking/#IDComment26727070 Yep, no surprise, I'm lining up with Doug on this. I will not deny that community-wide events would be great. Once in a great while, they have worked out. But i would recommend more that youthworkers create an event and then allow us to support that event by bringing our youth groups or at least advertising them. It allows for fewer cooks in the kitchen, and frees up our network meetings to remain relationally-driven. Wed, 8 Jul 2009 21:58:28 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/07/needs-for-networking/#IDComment26727070 http://youthminblog.com/2009/06/theory-and-practice/#IDComment25161935 Thank you. Tell me what you connected with. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:38:29 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/06/theory-and-practice/#IDComment25161935 http://youthminblog.com/2009/05/not-to-be-served-but-to-serve-part-2/#IDComment21904741 Thanks - I'm seeing parallels between our posts on this topic with the stuff coming out of Fuller Youth Institute and their new book "Deep Justice Journeys." Cool to see the Spirit working all over -- we all seem to be headed in similar directions. Wed, 20 May 2009 15:11:41 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/05/not-to-be-served-but-to-serve-part-2/#IDComment21904741 http://youthminblog.com/2009/05/what-was-i-really-teaching/#IDComment21796770 Sara, wait till you see my post on this subject. It's EERIE how similar they are. We are on opposite ends of the country, but experiencing similar things. Go figure. Tue, 19 May 2009 03:14:27 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/05/what-was-i-really-teaching/#IDComment21796770 http://youthminblog.com/2009/05/how-should-we-evaluate-the-success-of-our-youth-ministry/#IDComment20859560 You're ahead of the game if you've got all those adults on board. Well done. I agree - we tend to equate attendance with success. Dang it. I think what's difficult is to find a way to "measure" maturity and spiritual depth, and to also set them in front of the students as goals. I find establishing rites of passage to be a helpful way to at least start the process. Wed, 6 May 2009 04:19:02 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/05/how-should-we-evaluate-the-success-of-our-youth-ministry/#IDComment20859560 http://youthminblog.com/2009/05/how-should-we-evaluate-the-success-of-our-youth-ministry/#IDComment20826596 Thanks Andy - anything stand out in particular? Tue, 5 May 2009 18:49:53 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/05/how-should-we-evaluate-the-success-of-our-youth-ministry/#IDComment20826596 http://youthminblog.com/2009/05/lessons-on-measuring-success/#IDComment20711118 I appreciate Kinnaman's final point the most - it is a difficult tension to navigate the bookends of "metrics" versus ministry -- quantity vs quality, I guess. It takes daily prayer, accountability with others, and partnership, so you don't have to do it all yourself! Tue, 5 May 2009 02:36:24 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/05/lessons-on-measuring-success/#IDComment20711118 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/4-pointers-toward-helping-parents/#IDComment20369400 OH MAN that is a great book. I couldn't put it down. I would HIGHLY recommend that you send out a book review to parents when you finish it. Or buy a case and sell them after church two weeks in a row. Or use quotes in your next Parents' Meeting. It's ministry gold! At the end, Peterson recommends parents forming small prayer groups to pray for their children. Sort of like "Moms in Touch" but for both parents if they are believers. This gets you out of the loop of caring for everyone, and getting them to care for and support one another. Fri, 1 May 2009 16:58:21 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/4-pointers-toward-helping-parents/#IDComment20369400 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/4-pointers-toward-helping-parents/#IDComment20369243 Let me know if parents respond... if they are slow to respond, I find it helps to grab a couple of parents at church and say, "Hey have you ever had ____ over for dinner? It would be great to have them hang with your whole family, and not just your son." With a smile on your face, of course! Fri, 1 May 2009 16:55:23 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/4-pointers-toward-helping-parents/#IDComment20369243 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/4-pointers-toward-helping-parents/#IDComment20175362 Thank you. That is high praise coming from a current parent o' teenager like yourself. If we just treat parents the way we treat our students (by pursuing them), it happens organically... Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:47:43 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/4-pointers-toward-helping-parents/#IDComment20175362 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/4-pointers-toward-helping-parents/#IDComment20175318 Outstanding comments. Thanks... two more thoughts: 1. Proactively make one appt per week with a parent. My overarching premise in YM is... pursue leaders and parents the way you pursue the youth, and your ministry will thrive. Pray over a list of parents to pursue and just slowly work through it. Let them know it's a "no agenda" coffee time. You will find that your "open doors to have teachable moments for parents" will increase steadily. 2. Send out an email to parents giving them the idea to invite leaders over for dinner. This will enlarge your leaders' relationships with the families of their students (especially if they lead small groups), and will make leaders feel affirmed. Thanks! Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:46:31 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/4-pointers-toward-helping-parents/#IDComment20175318 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/parental-pressures/#IDComment19746687 I also look for opportunities to relate to the child for the next few weeks, so I am not the one-dimensional authority figure. Same with the parents - I look for them when the child gets picked up or dropped off, and if they are on email, I may send some email "check-ins" for awhile... Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:50:08 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/parental-pressures/#IDComment19746687 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/investing-in-student-leaders/#IDComment18300785 Thanks for asking Joel (PS, I really enjoyed the debate on your blog the other night). The "structure" was this: in May, 1. I would talk to every sophomore and junior (for you, every 7th grader?) who demonstrated a desire to grow spiritually - I "assessed" that through their commitment to their small group, engagement on Sundays, and involvement in service projects. 2. I would say, "At summer camp (in June), I will be interviewing each person who wants to be a student leader. Please make sure you talk to me about it." And then I usually add some reason why I thought they were ready to serve: 'I can tell you are ready for more,' 'I see a real gift of worship leadership in you,' 'I appreciate the way you always offer to come early and help at the Rescue Mission...' etc. 3. At camp, I would give each of those students a poke and say, "Hey, don't forget to talk to me about student leadership." I'm more of a one-on-one coach when it comes to this stuff. Then at camp I'd meet with students as they asked (I think the initiative at some point is important). From there, we would have an overnight retreat in the fall, then meet monthly for training. They got announcements for it through email or text. I also did it this way because I did not want to ever make announcements from up front saying, "Hey student leaders, we have a meeting at such and such a time..." and create a hierarchical, inny-outty dynamic in the group. But unfortunately, that is sort of inevitable with teenagers, so it would happen to a point. But I worked hard to minimize it. This past year, my intern wanted to change things up, so we made a general announcement to the group, offering student leadership to anyone who asked. He felt like he wanted to see the ministry opened up more. I liked his idea, and we went with it. I don't know if it worked "better," because I was still sort of coaching on the sidelines when I felt a student needed to be encouraged. Old habits die hard :) There are some different dynamics with jr highers, but not much. I think jr highers are actually MORE willing to serve - they haven't gotten as cool and jaded yet. Or maybe that's just in CA that all students end up that way! Email me if you want more details, or keep posting! Tue, 7 Apr 2009 15:05:44 +0000 http://youthminblog.com/2009/04/investing-in-student-leaders/#IDComment18300785