Why are Youth Ministry books so lame?

I have been looking for a great youth ministry book for awhile.  Honestly, I feel that once you have read some of the basic youth ministry books then its time to move on to something that is a a challenge.  I don’t want another help book for youth ministry.  I can run a program fine.  I can deliver a youth talk great.  Because of this I haven’t read a youth ministry book in a long time.  I was looking back at my library and I still think one of the best youth ministry books is The Godbearing Life, by Dean and Foster.  I was at a Christian bookstore today and was saddened with the choices for youth pastors.  It felt pretty limited, and that is why I just walked by the youth ministry section.  Is there other great books for youth ministry out there?

Zach Hunter – Be Change!

I was working on my talk this week for youth and I was talking about Acts 5:17-42.  This one verse stood out.  “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!” What does it mean for us to obey God rather than men?  I came across a story of how one young man obeyed God, and did some amazing things.  Check out a story from Zach Hunter’s life.  Taken from Christianity today.

n May 2006, when I was 14, I was given an opportunity to speak about the issue of modern-day slavery at a big music festival in California. There were nearly 15,000 people there—one of the biggest crowds I’d ever seen, let alone spoken to!

Most people don’t know I struggled with an anxiety disorder when I was in middle school. I would experience short periods of depression, and felt both paranoid and sick to my stomach. During these anxiety attacks, I would either have trouble breathing, or I’d get extremely nauseated. Sometimes, I’d just lie down and it felt as though I couldn’t get up. These attacks were making me miserable most of the time, and robbing me of my joy and courage. Through support from family, God and friends, I defeated my anxiety disorder. I haven’t had an attack in several years. But when I looked out at that huge crowd at the music festival, some of those old fears came rushing back.

I remember looking out on the stage where David Crowder was getting ready to perform and thinking there was no way I could do this. And I remember turning to my mom and saying, “I don’t think I can go out there.”

Mom responded, “That’s OK, then don’t.” I don’t know if she was serious or not. But I knew I had a chance to let people know the story of millions of people who are suffering around the world as slaves. And if I didn’t speak up, then who would?

After Mom promised to pray for me, I decided to go ahead and take the stage, trusting God would give me the courage when I got there. I explained the truth about slavery to thousands of people that night, and I’m glad I did. During that summer, I was able to speak to nearly a half a million people about slavery, God’s passion for justice, and how they can get involved in helping to end slavery forever. God has given me a spirit of peace as I speak up for others. I know I have courage that comes from him, and that he is the one who enables me to do what I do. I still get nervous, but the stories of kids who are enslaved compel me to be courageous.

I know the courage I need to show is really nothing like the massive courage of many others who face death and danger every day. Soldiers who put their lives on the line to defend their countries. Investigators who brave dark corners of the world to free slaves. Firefighters who enter burning buildings to risk their lives for one more victim. And definitely, the courage required of every man, woman and child in slavery who must wake up today and face their slave masters. But each of us faces situations in which we need to muster up our courage. When we do, it’s as though the courage multiplies like yeast in dough, allowing us to be even more courageous the next time we’re called upon.

What About You?

Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is when you choose to acknowledge your fear, and look it in the face.

What are you afraid of? Everyone is afraid of something. Are you afraid of failure? Afraid of what might happen if everyone knew that you, Mr. Perfect, got an F in science? Are you afraid you might be shunned if everyone knew that your parents were divorcing, or your dad was an alcoholic, or you’re not really the person you say you are? What are you afraid of? If you don’t face your fear head-on, it will never go away.

Often our fear keeps us from getting close to God and others. God can use our fear to remind us of our need for him. We need to forget about ourselves and focus on others. If you have a fear of the unknown, go on a mission trip to a country you’ve never seen. If you are afraid of failure, try something new that you may not be good at. It’s important to acknowledge and confront our fears so we can move past them.

Breaking free from fear brings one of the most liberating feelings in the word. By liberating yourself from fear, you open the door to your mind, allowing the room fear took up to be filled with creativity and passion instead. And when creativity and passion come in as a gift from God and clean things out, you are able to care about things beyond yourself and your own fears. And that’s a good thing.

Youth Ministry Media Site

Here is a brand new website that is created by yours truly.  The goal is that youth workers everywhere can have the same resources as a bigger youth ministry.  Everything on the site will be free.  I hope that every youth worker can communicate to teenagers in a relevant way through media.  go check it out.  www.youthministrymedia.ca.

Youth Pastors as… Spiritual Leader

“It is not enough for te priest and ministers of the future to be moral people, well trained, eagerto help their fellow humans, and able to respond creatively to the burning issues of their time.  All of that is very valuable and important, but it is no the heart of Christian Leadership.  The central question is, Are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God’s presence, listen to God’s voice, to look at God’s beauty, to touch God’s incarnate word, and to taste fully God’s infinite goodness?” – Henri Nouwen

Sometimes youth pastors fall into the trap that we need to be best friends with the students we serve.  I don’t think they need another friend.  Teenagers have enough friends already.  What they do need is someone to leader them spiritually.  Especially in a world that is confusing.  I am not saying that we can’t have fun, but I think as youth pastors we need to look at ourselves and ask do I get in the way of ministry?

with that said, I like to have fun in my youth ministry.  Enjoy it.

Youth Pastor as…bullseye

I often wonder if youth pastors have a bullseye on their backs.  I find in church people complain about two things.  They complain about youth ministry and worship.  I find it funny of all the complaints that you can hear from concerned parents.  I often think it is better to hear complaints from parents because at least they are talking to you and you can try to improve areas that need work on.

Tip: Always listen, and be assertive, don’t say stupid things in the moment when a parent is talking about why they don’t like your youth ministry.  They want the best for their teen.

Millennial’s and church

I just read this article on Millennial Marketing’s site.  It is an interesting article looking into the lives of the teens/young adults in our society.  What do you think?

“Millennials are spiritually hungry and even consider themselves more spiritual than their parents. But they are the group least likely to attend church regularly. They have a ‘consumer’ orientation to spirituality; they shop around and select from among the ‘choices’ available rather than simply adopt the ‘faith of their fathers’. (Which is strange because they adopt their parents brand of bank, car and education quite readily!) Twenty-five percent consider themselves ‘unaffiliated’, yet two-thirds of those were raised in a religion. What a ‘marketing’ opportunity!

To reach Millennials, a brand, church or organization needs to make them feel as if they made a ‘discovery’  – it can’t be shouted at them. The values of churches and synagogues are very much in alignment with Gen Y values. They need to see how a church’s values fit with theirs. Once engaged, make it easy for them to share their discovery with others. Millennials love to share. They are connected communicators and they are always looking for ‘social currency’ to spend with their network of friends. Churches can offer that currency. Give them something to talk about and a way to act out their deep need to make a difference in the world. Give them a way to participate in their faith, not just talk about it.

My 16-year old son recently became involved with a small group of high school boys his own age led by a dynamic young adult. He didn’t even realize at first that it was sponsored by our church. He thought he had been ‘invited’ to participate in a special group of athletic, smart boys. They meet every week and he never misses it. It immediately led to participation in a retreat, Sunday night fellowship and finally worship services. He’s going on a mission trip this summer.  He is now inviting others. I think this is a good model for churches to reach young adults.”

Youth Pastor as…Leader

Being in youth ministry for the past 7 years has taught me a ton about leadership.  One thing I think is lacking in youth ministries today is leadership.  I see youth pastors coming through bible college to end up in a youth ministry only to be one of the coolest kids in the church.  I feel like sometimes youth pastors are merchants of cool.  They have to say the right thing, and wear the right clothes.  Sometimes youth pastors will have what I call inappropriate relationships with teens.  This happened to me when I was in Quesnel, and I think it was due to how close my age was to the teens I was trying to lead.

Youth pastors need to move beyond being the cool kid, or friend of teens to leader of teenagers following Jesus Christ.  My hope and prayer is that bible colleges will raise up leaders who are Christ focused and want to lead rather than be a friend.  I think teenagers have enough friends(just look at all those friends on some teens facebook accounts!).

Vancouver olympic Power point Trivia Game

The Olympics are in full force here in Vancouver.  It is exciting to see people show their Canadian Pride…I honestly didn’t know what had Canadian Pride.  Here is a free Vancouver Olympic 2010 powerpoint game for you to use in your Youth Ministries or whatever.  Enjoy.

Power point game

Flickering Pixels

by Shane Hipps

We live in a culture that is immersed in digital media.  We are using social media sites like facebook, twitter, or wordpress.  Shane Hipp’s does a great job talking about how technology shapes our faith.  Shane Hipp’s states clearly in his preface of the book how important techology is for us in understanding how it imacts faith, “This book explores the hidden power of media and technology as a way to understand who we are, who we think God is, and how God’s unchanging message has changed,  is changing and will change.  It’s  the about the way God communicates with us and the way we communicate God to the world.”  This is a great book, but I personally thought that his other book The Hidden Power of the Electronic Culture was a great book, and this new book is a watered down version of that previous book.  I would suggest you go buy, “The Hidden Power of the Electronic Culture”.  Also, Shane Hipp’s speaks at Rob Bell’s church Mars Hill Grand Rapids.  Check him out here.

Youth Pastor as… Janitor

Youth Pastor as Janitor

Have you ever had a youth event that you had to stick around at all night because someone spilt something on the floor, or you purchase cake for someone’s birthday and when the night is over you see it all over the carpet.   If you ever have those experiences you know that the youth pastor also serves as a janitor for the church making sure that everything is clean after your youth night is over.  Sometimes I wish that the garbages would magically empty themselves, or that someone would develop a building with cement floors that slant to the right, and at the end of the night I could just pressure wash the whole place.  Teenagers are messy, and that is why a youth pastor is a Janitor.