HNL Praying

Recently I have been reading a book that is challenging me to get more serious about my prayer life. Don’t misunderstand, I never stopped praying to God, but I must admit that the quality of my communication with Him leaves lots of room for improvement. I really want to get serious about prayer.

Prayer is a great resource and a wonderful privilege that we just don’t take advantage  of as we should. It is something we should want to utilize to the fullest. I’m not talking about praying more often or longer, although I’m sure that will be part of it. What I am talking about is connecting with God on a much more regular and deeper level than I have been. When things are going well in my walk with God, my prayer life is great, but when my walk with the Lord struggles, so does my prayer life. I’m not sure which causes the other – I think they both leap frog along together and are dependent on each other.

What do I need to do to get serious about my prayer life? I’ve been more serious about focusing when I pray, pouring out my heart more sincerely, keeping lists of people I said I’d pray for, listening to God’s still, quiet voice speaking to me, and desiring to deepen my personal relationship with Him. It takes focus, it takes time, it means having my priorities right, and it demands honesty and openness in my time with Him, but it certainly is worth it. I really do want to get serious about my prayer life. What about you?

Keeping It Healthy

One of the keys to a healthy student ministry is a healthy volunteer team.  I am not the smartest guy in most rooms, but I am smart enough to know that if I want to see a healthy student ministry it begins with a healthy group of adult volunteers who love God like crazy and are passionate about helping students take their next steps towards and with Christ.

 

I am constantly on the lookout and always challenging current leaders to be on the lookout for people who would be great in our ministry.  I am not just looking for young people who have a lot of energy and are warm bodies.  I have found that great  volunteers come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. 

 

Our process involves several steps: 1. All potential leaders fill out an application that asks questions about them personally, their relationship with God, their background, faith story, and references.  2. I interview them - I get their story, ask questions, etc. 3. I lay out my expectations of them - both as people, leaders, and in ministry.  (i.e. how they are to act, what they will be doing, etc.)

 

Below are some guidelines for choosing which volunteers to welcome onto your team and those to pass on.  It really comes down to 3 C's that most of us have heard about.

 

* Character, Calling, and Chemistry. 

 

Character: Any time I interview or talk to someone about volunteering with us I tell them I am looking for adults who have strong character and will be good role models to students of someone living a godly life.  I try and make my expectations of their lifestyle clear before they sign on.  I ask about how they spend their time and with whom.  Mostly I just listen to their story.  I ask if there is anything I need to know about them.  I ask follow up questions to address any unresolved areas that may come up. Often times those whose lifestyles are lacking and aren't willing to change will bow out right there; which is just fine in my book.  I would rather fire them before I hire them, so to speak.  Another good way to determine the type of character of new leaders is to call their references and ask around the church about them.  I am not looking for dirt, but red flags from staff and volunteers that might know them. 

 

Calling: I let potential volunteers know I am looking for individuals called to our ministry.  I communicate that I only want them if they feel God calling them, giving them a nudge, to this ministry.  If someone is called to our ministry by God the likelihood of them lasting long term is much higher than if they just want to serve for a while as they look for other opportunities.  Almost every one of my leaders, when asked about being called to our ministry, has said they felt a push and a desire or "call" to work with our ministry specifically.  When God taps someone on the shoulder and asks them to serve and they do it, long term volunteering is the natural and ideal result.  As a side note, I also give potential leaders the opportunity to "check us out" for a couple weeks before committing.  This is a chance for them to get a taste of what we really do in our ministry without too much investment on either side.

 

Chemistry:  As I meet with prospects for volunteering I am looking for individuals that have the potential to connect relationally with our current team.  I am looking for people who make good eye contact, who smile, who are willing to jump in wherever we need them, who are able to handle a bit of unpredictability, have a good sense of humor, and are excited at seeing life change.  Age doesn't matter to me I have seen all ages of people be amazing with students.  Chemistry is a huge deal when adding anyone to your volunteer ranks.  In the past, I have ignored some of my initial concerns regarding chemistry with the rest of the team and allowed volunteers to serve with us.  After a few months; however, the lack of chemistry became an anchor to morale and positivity in our ministry.  If I had been more intentional and listened to my gut at the beginning, I could have avoided the disruption to our team.  I am not looking for any one personality type I love all types- quiet folks, outspoken and goofy folks - they all add depth and diversity to the team - after all, our ministry reaches a wide range of students, so it only benefits us to have a variety of personalities among our leaders. 

 

A healthy volunteer team is one of the keys to growth in student ministry.  To me numbers do matter.  Not so I can talk about how big we are or how effective I am. They matter to me because numbers are a core component of the health of our student ministries.  It is a natural law...healthy things grow.  The goal of the church and of our lives as Christians is to spread the gospel and share Christ.  If our ministry is healthy it will grow.  If we aren't growing there is something about our ministry that is not healthy.  To me the first key to a healthy growing student ministry is healthy growing adults who love God, love being together, and love seeing the lives of students change before their very eyes.

15 Ways to Serve

If are visiting this site and attend Barefoot Church and are not currently plugged in, here are 15 areas you can choose from to get plugged into our vibrant and growing student ministry.  If you are already serving as a volunteer for student ministry here are 15 areas we need to continue to recruit for!!!  

15 ways to serve in Student Ministry @ Barefoot Church: 

• BIGGEST NEED: Relational Ministers…Adults who are excited to connect with students each week. We believe that relationships are a key ingredient for life change…we need Godly leader who want to come and build relationships with our student each week.
• Be a greeter…Be a friendly face and help us create a warm atmosphere
• Guest Connect…Assist in connecting first time students
• Work at our  Connection Section…answering questions, taking registrations, getting information to students
• Cafe...prepare and serve food to our students during our mid-week service
• Floater…Roam the tent looking for disconnected students—connect them to each other
• Technology…Operate the Computer & Easy Worship shout for the service
• Graphic Design…Design game & announcement slides, design series slides
• Video Editing…Create & edit videos that enhance our service
• Prayer Team…Pray for our mid-week service before it begins
• Set-up & Tear Down…Assist our team in set-up and clean-up
• Ministry Team Leader…Lead your own ministry team of students – help students get involved in a ministry
• Stage…Be on stage leading games, giving announcements, and more
• Behind the scenes…shopping & gathering supplies for the service
• Follow-Up…Follow-up on student prayer requests and student pastoral care needs

Power of Communication

I was reading Acts 22 yesterday and pulled out some great stuff that really spoke to my heart as a leader and communicatior and I thought I would share a bit with you. Three times in the Book of Acts, you find Paul recounting his conversion. Twice he tells his story before government rulers. In both settings he adapts his story and emphasizes a facet that meets the needs of his audience.

As leaders if we are going to be effective, we need to not only know what to say but how to say it in order to most powerfully impact our listeners. When we speak, we need to take into account impact, not image. We need to constantly evaluate our audience and communicate in a way that best connects with our listeners and then help them make practical applications to the message God has given us.

Sunday, I was speaking to Clay, about how amazing it was that you can take the same message and slightly tweak it to appeal to different audiences and the effect that it has. Try reading Acts 22 and 26 with the intention of comparing and contrasting the accounts of Paul. What differences do you see? What similarities? Why would Paul emphasize one thing to one audience and another to a second audience? What can you learn from Paul about effectively shaping your message to different groups? (i.e. Middle School & High School students)

VALUES Part 2

6.) Being "Others Oriented":  It's important to put others first.  Live to give and care more for the comfort of another than for the comfort of yourself.

7.) Communicating Care:  It's important that we care for our students and each other.  People don't care what you know until they know how much you care.

8.) Follow Through:  It's important to be faithful to your commitments to students, leaders, and this ministry.

9.) Spiritual Growth:  It's important to continually and actively growing closer to Jesus.  We cannot lead a student to a place of faith if we have never been there ourselves.

10.) Prayer:  It's important to pray for our students, each other, our church, and this ministry.

11.) Living Invitationally:  If we don't ask, we will never have a response.  We need to be asking our students to take the next step in their spiritual journey, and we need to be asking other adults to come alongside us and serve on this great leadership team.

VALUES Part 1

Values are traits or qualities that are considered worthwhile; they represent an organization’s highest priorities and deeply held driving forces.  Effective organizations identify and develop a clear, concise and shared meaning of values/beliefs, priorities, and direction so that everyone understands and can contribute. Once defined, values impact every aspect of your organization. Over the next few posts, I will be sharing the values that our leaders are constantly reminded to live by in their ministry to students here at Barefoot Church.  

1.) A Willingness to Engage:  It's important to overcome fear and continually approach and engage with all kinds of students in our ministry.

2.) Laughter & Fun:  It's important to lighten up and enjoy the many blessings God has given us.

3.) Transparency & Authenticity:  It's important to be yourself, lower the masks, and be vulnerable with each other and the students we serve.

4.) Encouragement:  It's important to be positive and uplifting to everyone.  A student or leader should feel better about who they are after being around you.

5.) The Power of Being There:  It's important to be present in our student's lives.  We need to show up to their games, functions, and activities so they know they can count on us when things get hard. 

1.       

Serve the Servants

Our staff has been busy dreaming and brainstorming about goals for their specific ministry for 2009. As I have put pen to paper, I have spent much time with my wife thinking and praying through what it is we want to accomplish the first 6 months of 2009. One of the big areas I want to invest time, energy, and resources into this next year is volunteer hospitality...serving and honoring those who serve with me.

As leaders, we are to be servants of the teams we lead. However busy we are with programs or urgent tasks, ministering to the team is one thing we cannot afford to neglect. I see the tasks of praying for the teams I lead, spending relaxed time with them, and ministering to them as one of the most important details of my calling as leader of this ministry. Keeping this group united is a key priority (John 17:11) and at times has been the most absorbing challenge that I have faced (Ephesians 4:3).

As leaders, if we want to overcome the lack of commitment from people in our church, we as leaders must first be committed to our people. The example of Jesus giving his life for his friends was going to motivate these friends to give their lives for each other (John 15:12-13). In the same manner, when we as leaders show costly commitment to our people, they then will pay the price for their teammates. While Jesus is presented as the example to follow in the NT, he was also presented as a true example of suffering. My prayer is that we would adopt and maintain a lifestyle of costly servanthood in our relationships with others.

Transparency

As I have spent the past several weeks with new leaders in our ministry, one of the recurring questions I hear is "how much of my past should I share with the students I am influencing or how transparent should I be?" I hope this helps to answer those questions:

1.) Self-exposure must have a purpose. Transparency is not just about saying everything we feel or think. The front of a student ministry is no place for a leader to work out his or her issues. We do not speak just to get something "off our chest." The goal should always be edification and not self-expression.

2.) Make sure that every confession of failure is joined with a clear intention to do better. The glory of the gospel is that by the death of Jesus for us we are saved "just as we are." But at least as glorious is the fact that by the life of Jesus in us we are not bound to stay as we are (Romans 5:9-10, 8:8-17).

3.) Our transparency must point students to Christ. We do not share our problems so people will notice how much we have given up, how wild we were, how humble we are, how honest we are willing to be. The nature of real transparency is that it allows students to see through us so that they can more clearly see Christ.

4.) Some confessions simply are not suited for public consumption. Talk it out with an accountability partner, a pastor, a counselor. Do not dump on a student ministry a load they shouldn't be asked to bear.

Success Happens Through Life Change Part 3

Well here is the third and final part of this three part blog series that has focused on success in the eye's of God. This final step is something that I am living and leading right now. The big challenge I am putting in front of our volunteers is to multiply themselves. Over the next few weeks I am challenging our team to be on the look out for people in their circle of influence that shows leadership potential...in order to succeed we must multiply ourselves.

SUCCESS = LIFE CHANGE THROUGH MULTIPLYING DISCIPLES

Jesus taught this...success requires successors. Jesus wasn't threatenened by a disciple doing ministry better than him. He was energized by the possibility (Luke 10:21 and John 14:12). Paul picked this up and commands us to focus on training faithful people who can train others (2 Timothy 2:2). So if we desire to be successful in God's eyes in our ministry endeavors, we must commit to a ministry taht aims squarely for multiplying life change in those we lead and teach--so that they can be used of God as a catalyst for life change in those they lead and teach. Those we minister to and influence must be trained to pick up the torch of multiplication and pass the flame onto those they reach and disciple.

Success Happens Through Life Change Part 2

Success = Life Change Through Equipping

Not just equipping students and adult leaders to do work inside of a church building.  That's great and all, but it's not what Jesus did.  When Jesus equipped believers, he trained them to live and share their fatih effectively with people in their circle of influence.  I love the words of Bill Hybels:

"So many churches consider 'success' the aggregating of ever-increasing numbers of people.  But that is only one measurement, and, in some cases, not even a good measurement of effectiveness.  A much better measurement of effectiveness is how many people in the church are envisioned and equipped to bring Christ to their arean of influence.  How many bring the power of the gospel into where they work, live, and play golf, and into the neediest areas of the community?"

Ministry success in the eyes of God is equipping people to BE the church 24/7--where they live, work, and play.  In Luke 10:21, after hearing the report of the seventy-two believers Jesus sent out, Jesus was "full of joy."  I think Jesus was full of joy because his circle, his disciples got it, they were equipped and trained to share the gospel effectively with people in their circle of influence.  I think it bring Jesus great joy even today when we move from being spectators to being participators.  My prayer is that I would be a leader that challenged people to move from the bench to the field!!!

Success Happens Through Life Change Part 1

Part 1:  Success = Life Change through salvation

In Luke 15 I am reminded what brings great joy in Heaven and I see what God considers ministry success.  When just one lost person finds God, Heaven rocks with joy!  According to Jesus, there is "more joy" in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine righteous people who do not need to repent.  So much for numbers alone equaling success in God's eyes.  God's spiritual economy is all about life change.  My prayer is that the joy and excitement that happens in Heaven when one student steps across the line of faith will be contagious and never grow dull inside of me!

Ownership of Results, Not Tasks...

I have recently been reading a college text book....that's right the thought of it may make some of you cringe, as you think you would never pick up a college text again once finished with classes.  However this is a great read titled "Relational Leadership," written by Walter Wright.  I was reading this morning about owning the vision of your ministry.  This has been something I have been giving a lot of thought too as it relates to our students.  I envision the day where the students and volunteers in my ministry take ownership of this ministry much like their first car....they invest in it and take care of it while utilizing it as a means of taking them somewhere.

Team members own the outcomes of their organization, the actual results not just the description of their job or place in the organization.  When members of the team see something that needs to be done in order to accomplish thier team goals, they do it, whether it is their job or not.  A good team takes pride in the results of their unit as well as their personal contributions.  They look for ways to support one another, to fill in the cracks, to do whatever is needed to achieve the results the team is seeking.  A good team always keeps the larger picture in view and measures its success by results. We must write our vision in stone and our plans in the sand.

A challenge to everyone....leadership in times of change, which is something we have seen and will continue to see here at Barefoot, is going to require us to focus on results rather than tasks or strategies.  It is so easy for us to lock into the way we do things, the tasks or strategies, as though the strategy is the mission.  If not careful, we can lose sight....we must focus on a vision of results (students taking their first step towards Christ and their next steps with Christ) and be willing to change our strategies if necessary to fulfil the mission.

What's Your Pharaoh?

So I was reading Exodus 3:13-22 and God is rocking my world as I continue to study the life of Moses.  Moses at this point is doubting he has what it takes to accomplish what God had called him to do.  One thing that jumped out to me is that it wasn't Moses' qualifications but it was all about God's presence.  Big vision requires big risks.  God's vision was to see His people set free and was calling Moses to step out and take big risks.

There are many Pharaohs in our world, each positing a reality that is and always will be, at least within the span of our lifetime.  Pharaohs come in many shapes and sizes, from institutions (even Christian ones) to governments to employers to individuals to corporations, to sickness, disease, and death, etc.  All Pharaohs have two things in common.  First, as noted, they all posit a reality that simply is and will always be.  The United States is and will always be the determining nation in the world.  Because of the current economy, the world is over as we know it.  You get the picture. 

The other thing all Pharaohs have in common is absolutely crucial to remember: they are no match for the "I am" of God.  All Pharaohs have a day coming in which they will no longer be.  Their worlds are real but not ultimate!  God, embodied and revealed in the exodus and most fully in Jesus, is, was, and will be.  God cannot be squeezed, managed, or hemmed in, even by Pharaoh death.  Pharaohs pass.  God crumbles their worlds and brings them to pass!

What Parents Need From Us...

This past Saturday we had our monthly Connect meeting with student ministry volunteers and one of the BIG things on the table was ministry to parents.  This is an avenue in our ministry we haven't walked down yet, but is one that is so vital to the overall success of our student ministry.  I am excited about exploring these "unchartered waters" with my team and I am so confident that this will be monumental in the life of our ministry, God has called us to not only minister to students but to be in support of their families and provide them with our available resources to better equip them in their relationships with their teenager.  So what do parents need from us as student ministry pastors and volunteers on the FRONTLINE in student ministry?

1.) Clear Communication:  The number one "felt need" in a recent survey of parents who had students involved in youth ministry was "we need communication and information."  What are you teaching on?  Who are the leaders who are influencing my kids?  What are the dates for this coming year's ski trip or summer camp?

2.) Assistance:  We need to assist parents to understand the unique world of teenagers.  As a student pastor, you are probably more of an expert on teenage culture than parents are.  Even if parents aren't all that active in your church, they typically do care about their kids.

3.) Involvement:  People will support what they help create.  I think a good sign of a healthy student ministry is having parents taking active roles.  Not every parent needs to teach, but he or she can do something.  Student need good parental role models.  I think we should ask parents for 100% involvement in one aspect of our ministry.  We may not get 100% but their is power in the ask!

Define Your Passion

Define Your Passion... from Amp'd Student Media on Vimeo.

Recruiting the Jesus Way Part 2

1.) Jesus required commitment of his disciples, not just sacrifice. We need people on our teams that are not there just because they feel obligated, but because they have a broken heart for students and want to pour into their lives and help them take their steps towards and with Jesus.

2.) Jesus modeled what He expected. My prayer is that I never fall into the trap of delegation because of laziness or being too good to do something because I feel it is beneath me. In order for my team to be successful, I have to be willing and able to model what I expect of them. Delegation is one thing, but laziness and apathy are totally different.

3.) Jesus taught them how to conduct themselves. We have to be intentional about training our staff of volunteers. We can't just assume that they are okay and well equipped. As leaders we need to be motivated in equipping our team with what they need to be successful in the area God has placed them and where we have entrusted them to be in our ministry. This means we spend time training them on a regular basis through connecting and taking them to a conference or two so they can hear from leaders. I praise God to be part of a church that allows me to spend time and resources pouring into and training our student ministry volunteers.

4.) Jesus spent time with His disciples. Let's not be the guy that just shows up on Wednesday nights and then disappears for the remainder of the week. Be intentional about spending time with your team, send e-mails, text messages, phone calls.

5.) Jesus spent time away from His disciples. This is where trust really comes into play. Pray for your team and equip them but retreat and trust them and most importantly trust God that they will carry out the work they are called to. If that trust is not established we will wear ourselves thin and out thinking we have to do it all, that is not what God has called us to do. Jesus took time away from His group just to rest and hear from the Father and so should we...God has not called us to be a one man operation.

Recruiting the Jesus Way Part 1

Jesus gave us the ultimate example on how to recruit volunteers for our ministry. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus, in his relationship with His disciples paints a clear picture on what you and I should be doing in recruiting people for the team, and if you don't like the word recruit, then substitute it for "inviting" others to join the team. My next several posts will be dedicated to the model that Jesus gave us to challenge others to join the greatest team ever!!!

1.) Jesus made it a matter of prayer when selecting those to be on His team. He didn't have the mentality of "red rover, red rover send the disciple right over."

2.) Jesus knew the Word and was definitely someone you could look up to...isn't that how we should be?

3.) Jesus realized He needed help, so he poured into others.

4.) Jesus recruited in ones and twos. He was all about multiplication rather than addition.

5.)Jesus told the disciples what was in it for them, both the thrills and the spills.

Fire That Calls

I am going through the book of Exodus, more specifically the life of Moses, each morning for my quiet time. God really spoke some clarity to me yesterday as I was reading through the first twelve verses of Exodus 3. Here are some thoughts that I hope will challenge you:

-Mt. Sinai also known as Mt. Horeb literally means "wasteland"

-At this place, just like any other, Moses met God.

-Moses was going about his regular routine...God used an ordinary bush, in ordinary dirt, on an ordinary mountain, during an ordinary day.

-How long had God been trying to get the attention of Moses? How long has God been trying to get your attention?

-God makes the first move, He gets our attention, but we have to respond.

-Many things today in our lives act as burning bushes, things which draw people to God. What burning bush is in front of you that God is trying to use to get your attention?

-Moses goes from Egyptian hot shot to a nothing shepherd and @ 80 years old finds himself at mountain "wasteland" in the desert...God had Moses right where He wanted him...broken, humbled, and open.

-It takes deserts in our lives to awaken us to our need for God.

-Moses took his first step toward the bush...the first step is usually the hardest.

-Moses was trying to go to God on his own terms...God said take of your shoes...shoes are dirty, God wants us to rid ourselves of the dirt, we are standing on holy ground when we are before God in His presence.

-In verse 8, "God came down..." GOD HAS COME DOWN TO OUR LEVEL THROUGH JESUS!

Are You Over It?

I was reading some comments from Steve Fee where he was sharing before the song “We Shine” and he said, “This song is for the ones who have been saved by God and aren’t quite over it yet!”. I love that statement. The fact that our salvation that Jesus brought about is not an old, boring, happened a while ago, faded type thing. It’s fresh and new each day.

I have met tons of Christians and been to a lot of churches throughout my life and I can say without a doubt that about 95% of follower of Jesus are over their salvation. They are living a dead and dull life with no excitement what so ever. I don’t want that to ever be me. After what was done on the cross, the worst thing and most cheapening thing that we can do with the love of God is except it, and then just “get over it”. Salvation is something I really don’t see how we can get over it. I mean seriously, think about it. The God of the universe, sent his one and only son who was perfect in every way to Earth, to take on the punishment I deserve for all my sin, to die a horrible unimaginable death, all so that I can have a relationship with that same God of the universe. How could I ever be over that? Are you over it?

Keeping It Real...

Keep It Real from Amp'd Student Media on Vimeo.

Welcome to the new blog...

Welcome to the new Advance Student Ministry Blog. This blog will serve primarily as training for our student ministry volunteers here at Barefoot Church and also as a platform for vision casting. In case you were wondering about the random rhino at in the header...a Rhinoceros can run faster than its field of vision. A herd of rhinos is called a Crash. As leaders, we want to be a movement, or crash, to advance the Kingdom of God and bring students to the feet of Jesus. It's my prayer that this site will equip and encourage you as you pour into the lives of the next generation.