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4 Principles for Creating Family Ministry Opportunities

183:744972604 (Daniel Carson) — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 19:03:21 GMT

Pouring into the Families of Your Students

It cannot not be stated enough how important the family is to the spiritual growth of our students. In the olden days (I’m 49), there was an expectation that the church was responsible for the entirety of spiritual training for the children and students within the church. We have realized over the years that we were all mistaken. Deuteronomy 6 gives us a clear understanding of the need for family involvement in the discipleship process. In verses four through nine, the Bible tells us

“ ⁴ “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ⁵ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶ And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (ESV)

With only one to three hours out of 168 each week, there is no doubt that the family is going to have a far greater impact on our students. Our students live with them, eat with them, vacation with them, and endure the difficulties of life together. While student pastors can be an important part of their lives, we are not their parents or even members of their families. With that in mind, it is vital that we pour into the families of our congregations and give them opportunities to grow together in the relationship with Christ and their service in the church. Here are four ideas for promoting not just family time, but family ministry time.

1. Get them serving together. Seek out opportunities for students and parents to serve together. It can be as simple as serving on a soup line together or providing mission trips for the whole family to engage in. We have seen the bond that is formed when students do something hard together. Our families deserve that type of opportunity as well. Plan service and ministry days for the whole family.

2. Get them playing together. My wife is a licensed professional counselor and play therapist. If there is one thing that I have learned over the years with her, it is this. Play is a natural part of a child’s language. We tend to lose that pattern of communication as we grow older. Play can close the gap between parents and children. Let’s give our families every tool available to have great communication at home. I can tell you from personal experience that is a blast to watch students and parents duke it out in a Nerf battle or water balloon war. Life at home can often be too serious. Let’s give our families the opportunity to play.

3. Get them talking together. At our house, our children never stood a chance. I’m a youth pastor and my wife is a mental health therapist. We talk about it all. However, I have found out over the years that not every family talks about things with the same openness that we do in our home. In fact, communication is often stilted in the home. Consider having a family class for a summer or semester. Have your small groups consist of the parents and children in each home. Ask good questions and have fun activities. Challenge them to build cities out of popsicle sticks. Have them create a family crest with art supplies. Our families need to interact around concepts as units.

4. Get them discussing God’s Word together. This is one step deeper than just talking. It is having them engage around God’s Word. Try sending a follow-up to the Sunday message to your parents. It can simply be a handful of questions that your families can talk about in the car on the way to school or the store. Listen to the Sunday message with purpose and then email or text your parents the two to five questions that can open the discussion of God’s Word. It can be deep and theological, or it can be about the pastor’s illustration. Just get them talking about the message.

If you want to see our students grow and have a lifetime faith, then it is time to invest in more than just the student walking into our youth spaces each week. We need to see that student as part of a system. If we seek to impact that family system, our reach can be much further.

4 Ways to Encourage Students to Look Outward

183:744972604 (Daniel Carson) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 18:00:00 GMT

Reaching Out Even During COVID-19

“Circle the wagons!” In many ways, that is what 2020 felt like. Many of our ministries had to scramble to quickly move to online worship, online giving, and online groups. Now, almost a year later, we still find ourselves in a circle. Unfortunately, some of our people didn’t make it into the safety of the circle and we haven’t seen them since. Our churches find themselves in a weird state (And, I’m not referring to Texas). I’m referring to the state of limbo. We want to start things back to “normal," but know we can’t because of COVID-19.

The early pioneers “circled the wagons” when they faced threats. However, they didn’t stay in those circles. If they had remained huddled in one spot, starvation and death would have soon followed. I believe that it is time for us to break formation and begin the journey again. It is time for us to turn our eyes outward to the lost and hurting all around us. This is incredibly important in the area of student ministry. There are students all around us that don’t have parents or a church family to point them to the Father during these difficult days.

I am not saying that this shift is going to be easy. I know that when I recently visited an elementary school to deliver something to the principal, I wasn’t allowed inside. Getting on campus is not a possibility right now. Even trying to go to volleyball and basketball games has proven to be difficult. Many of the “normal” ways that we support our students and reach out to others are not possible currently. So, what do we do? How do we think and move in an outward direction when the world has said, “Not today!”

I believe there are definitely things that we can do as student ministry workers to encourage an outward vision.

1. Teach on the Great Commission. I know that seems obvious, but we often forget to focus on the most important items. Making disciples was at the top of Jesus list during his time here on Earth. It should be at the top of our list as well. However, our students won’t embrace that concept if they don’t understand its importance. Teach on Matthew 28:18-20. Have your students memorize it.

2. Don’t give up on digital and online opportunities for ministry. I know that I became very discouraged by trying to have Zoom meeting with my students. The younger students were unwilling to join in, so it became a very small group very quickly. We set it aside and decided to try some different avenues. Currently, we teach an online Sunday school lesson for our students on Facebook and have created our own Instagram account for our student ministry to provide a weekly one-minute lesson called “The Word for Wednesday.” We may go back and try a few other options, but until we return to in-person meetings, this is a way for us to reach out to our students and others. In addition, your posts provide content that your students can easily share. Online platforms like Canva.com and license-free photos from sites like unsplash.com make the process of creating content relatively simple.

3. Reach out to schools. With students having to set aside so many “normal” things in high school (proms, concerts, games, etc.), there may be ways that your church can show love to them. Students need to know that they aren’t forgotten during these difficult days. Perhaps give a gift for all seniors or members of a chosen organization within the school that you want to bless (sports, cheer, band, choir, drama, etc.). This shows students that the church and God cares about them.

4. Ask your student what they are doing to reach out. Your students need to understand that they are responsible for reaching their friends with the Gospel. Knowing about the Great Commission is one thing, but being held accountable for it is quite another. Talk to your students regularly about how they are living out their faith in school.

God’s “Plan A” for reaching the world is the church. There is no “Plan B or C.” He wants to use you and your students to impact the world. Are you encouraging your students to step in that direction or have you "circled the wagons?"

Planning for 2021 while COVID-19 Still Looms

183:744972604 (Daniel Carson) — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 12:00:00 GMT

5 Questions to Ask as You Think about Next Year

Right now, planning for 2021 feels like I’m at a party with a piñata. They have just tied the bandana around my head and I can’t see anything. The party hostess has handled me a stick and started spinning me around. Inside I’m thinking, “I got this. I know what I’m aiming for. When the spinning stops, this will be easy.” Well, just like trying to hit that piñata, planning for 2021 is no party right now. While we want to think things will be back to normal by the time camps and conferences roll around in the summer, we have no way of really knowing. So how do we approach 2021 and our student ministries? While there continues to be a lot of uncertainty, we should consider some questions as we move forward.

1. Am I praying about the future of my student ministry? While this seems like an obvious place to start, those of us who are task-driven may inadvertently set this aside. God wants us to trust Him with our plans because they are His plans. Pray for wisdom and direction as you step into your planning process.

2. What is most important in our student ministry? While we want to provide fun as a part of our student ministries, the games and activities are far from the important things that we do. Ultimately, we want to facilitate great relationships where students can grow in their relationship with Christ through meaningful discipleship. That may seem boring, but it is really at the heart of what we are trying to do and accomplish. Help your students get into the Word. You can do that in a large group, small group, or one-on-one setting. Now, more than ever, we have the ability to stay connected to our students even while they are away from the church property. Use technology to disciple your students.

3. What is my Plan “B”? If church camp is set aside again and our annual conference is a no go, what will you do? As you plan for 2021, you need a plan “B” and maybe even a plan “C.” Don’t fall into the trap of “X" is student ministry and without “X" there is no student ministry. Look again into what is most important and look for ways to accomplish that goal.

4. Am I staying positive for my students? I’m not advocating that you portray yourself as something that you are not, but our students need us to be positive about what this next year holds. A great attitude can help your group move on if things are cancelled.

5. Am I holding my plans loosely? I’ve heard this more than once this year. Don’t hold onto your plans too tightly. After a year of postponed graduations, cancelled camps, and other craziness, I have learned that I can’t definitively plan too far down the road. I would like to because that is how I am geared, but 2020 has taught me to be a bit more flexible.

I would love to tell you that on January 1, 2021 everything is going back to normal. I can’t do that. I’m not sure when we will se normal again, but I can tell you that God has called us to serve Him as we work with students. If that is your heart, take some time to look ahead, but be prepared to hold things loosely.

Balancing Family & Student Ministry

183:744972604 (Daniel Carson) — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 14:00:00 GMT

5 Practical Steps in Working Towards Balance

As we approach the holidays during this crazy year, there are constant reminders of how things are not normal. A “normal” holiday season in student ministry means parties, ministry opportunities, and concerts upon concerts. While these things go hand in hand with student ministry, they can bring some unwanted tension into the home. There is always a bit of a push and pull between home and ministry that becomes a little bit more noticeable during the holidays. Sometimes, it can be downright exhausting, but we plug on because we love students and know that January will more than likely provide an opportunity to catch our breath. How do we balance out the holidays or whatever season of ministry we are in with our families? We know that God places a great deal of importance on our families and working towards a healthy balance of the two should be high on our list. Here are a few thoughts on how we can do that better.

1. Keep the lines of communication open. It is important that you and your spouse share concerns as they are happening. Whether it is Christmas or another season all together, communication will help ease any resentment that might build between you and your spouse during especially busy times. It will also all you to find solutions together so that you family knows that they are important.

2. Have a shared calendar. Whether you use an iCalendar, Google Calendar, or something on your fridge, it is important that those in your family and church understand what is coming up. I loved the big wet-erase calendar that we had a Temple Baptist Church of Rogers. I could step up to it and see what was happening in our church at a glance. In my own family and current ministry setting, we share calendars through our Apple devices. Practically speaking, this is one of the easiest and most valuable things that you can do to help manage the push/pull of ministry and family.

3. Go to your kids’ concerts and games. Your child will only have one third grade Christmas concert. It is important that your church knows that these milestone events are going to take precedence. When my own kids hit high school, I wanted to be at ever game that they marched in as a part of the band. Did I make it to them all? No, but I did make it to most of them. They have both graduated and I don’t regret that decision at all. There will always be high school football games to attend for the students in your ministry, but after a very brief time, your children will have moved on and there is no way to get that time back. Make sure your kids know that they are important to you.

4. Discuss church expectations with your pastor. Make sure that they are reasonable. The last youth pastor may have not had kids or healthy boundaries in his life. Don’t be afraid to say “no” to events or activities if they are going to harm your family. Your first ministry is in the home.

5. Carve out date nights and family days. Setting aside moments with your family shows them that they are truly a priority in your life. If you invest in those “special” days, it will help your family be more understanding when you are faced with a summer full of activity with your student ministry.

Balancing ministry and family is a challenge. There is no way around that. With God’s help, we can navigate these waters and find a sweet spot where our family is connected to our ministries in great ways.

Creating Creative Christmas Experiences for Students During COVID-19

183:744972604 (Daniel Carson) — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 17:39:19 GMT

Some Ideas to Help as You Approach the Holidays

Christmas is only a few weeks away and it is definitely going to look unusual this year. To accommodate issues surrounding COVID-19, concerts, Christmas parties, and other activities of the season will all be done differently or not at all. That is sad but it is where we find ourselves. So, what do we do? The Christmas season has always been a time to celebrate God’s great gift to us and to share that message of love with the world around us. As student ministry workers, this is especially difficult. We are used to playing crazy Christmas games and just really celebrating the joy of the season. It is important that we don’t let our disappointment wreck what can still be a very joyful time with new activities. We may have to be concerned about COVID-19 when planning activities for the season, but that shouldn’t stop us from celebrating and encouraging our students during this time. Here are there guidelines to follow as you work to provide socially distant, but meaningful experiences for your students.

1. Provide opportunities for family discipleship. The pandemic has reminded those of us in ministry that discipleship begins at home. Students have had to learn virtually off and on since March. The same can be said about their spiritual development. Many families have still not made that transition back to church due to pandemic concerns. There are at least two ways that you can encourage family discipleship in the home. First, provide content on social media that speaks to the entire family. Lead them through a Bible study that they can discuss throughout the week. Another idea is to provide a Christmas study/fun box for families to work through during the season. It can include any number of things that will benefit conversation and spiritual growth. You can have your students pick these up or enlist volunteers to deliver them to doorsteps.

2. Encourage the concept of serving others. Christmas is a fantastic time to show Christ’s love to those inside and outside of the church. One of the sixth graders at our church is currently making stocking hats to sell to support our Blessing Box (a small food pantry located on our campus). She has already embraced helping others, but some of your students may need some encouragement and ideas. They could be small things like sending Christmas cards to shut-ins or organizing a socially distant Christmas caroling event. Knowing your church and context, you will have a better idea of what will work in your community and impact your students.

3. Make the focus Christ. It is easy to get caught up in feel good things during the holidays. Hallmark Christmas movies, blankets, and warm apple cider aren’t bad, but they shouldn’t be the focus of our activities. We want to help our students share Jesus with their world. As we provide activities and meaningful experiences for our students, they should be about Jesus.

If you are working with students, let me just say “Thank You!” 2020 continues to be a challenge. Just remember, if we continue to point our students to Jesus, we can be a source of joy and in their lives. They need that right now.

Things to Do During Social Distancing

183:744972604 (Daniel Carson) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 15:48:55 GMT

Making the Most of Time in Isolation

This is an exceptionally weird time for all of us. We find ourselves struggling emotionally, financially, and perhaps, physically and spiritually. COVID-19 is definitely making its mark in our lives. One of things that we have been forced into is this idea of social distancing and self-quarantine. These concepts have left us feeling a need to do everything and an inability to do anything. During the first week of this new "normal," I personally felt like I was in a sprint from Monday morning until we aired our online service on Sunday morning. There was so much to do. However, after the initial surge of activity, things slowed down for us. Many of us in student ministry are experiencing something similar. We don’t have the ball games or concerts to go to. We can’t take the group to the bowling alley. We can’t meet together the way we have in the past. Ultimately, we have a little more time on our hands. What do we do with it? What should be our goals during this pandemic beyond surviving and ministering to the students in our lives. Let me suggest a few things that could pay dividends in the future.

1. Dream of what your student ministry could look like. So often, we get tied up in what is happening week to week. We must prepare our mid-week services. We must plan our next outings. We must visit our students and schools. In all of that activity, we lose sight of what could be. Take a few moments in the calm and think about what your student ministry could look like after the coronavirus has finished its reign of terror on our country and the world.

2. Dig into the Word. As student ministry workers, we can get consumed with the activity and prep work of our ministry. We can lose sight of God’s Word and our need to dig into it for ourselves. Spend some time studying for you, not for your next lesson, but for you. Pick a book of the Bible or seek out a good study to invest in. Make His Word the priority in your life and ministry. It is his letter to us. To paraphrase John Piper, God wrote a book. It is His thoughts and feelings written out for us. Check out the video “God Wrote a Book: Where Else Will We Run?” from Desiring God .

3. Determine that next step for your student ministry. Does your student ministry need to look different and step away from what you have always been doing? This could be a great time to make some changes. And specifically, what is that one change when society is able to interact again as it did before? What is the next step that you or your students need to make as you go forward as a ministry?

4. Dive into a good book. Readers are learners and learners are leaders. If you want to be effective in ministry, you need to be a life-long learner. You need to find good voices to speak into your life and then listen. The quiet moments at home or in a your office could be spent learning from someone. There are a number of good choices if you want to read about student ministry. In episodes 13-15 of the Student Ministry Matters podcast , I interview Samuel Bierig and Jared Bumpers of Midwestern Baptist Theological. Jared contributed to Sam’s book Fulfill Your Student Ministry which recently released from Rainer Publishing. I can’t recommend this book enough for student ministry workers. It is concise and useful as you seek to determine the direction and philosophy of your student ministry.

5. Develop deeper relationships with your students. If our students are stuck at home, we should be looking for ways to reach out to them as they search for things to do. I know that my students should be on their spring break this week. Technically, they are on spring break, but it definitely isn’t what they were hoping for. Text or message your students. Call them. Use Zoom or even snail-mail to build that relationship. Too often, we know a student as “Tommy who plays football and loves video games.” Let’s take this time to get to know who Tommy really is. What make him tick? What does he dream of doing and being? When all the externals get taken away, there is an opportunity for some real relationship building to occur, but you must be intentional.

God can use the quiet moments of social distancing to build us into something better if we allow Him to do so. Breath and allow him to work in your life and ministry.

Helping Our Students During Stressful Times

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 14:48:31 GMT

Approaching Student Ministry During COVID-19

It is clear that everyone is thinking about COVID-19. It has impacted sports, our universities, and now has impacted our public schools. It is important that we serve our students and their families in God-honoring ways during this time. They need to see hope and love come from us. How do we fight our own tendencies to become fearful and be light for our students? We must focus on three things. One, we must grow in our love of God. If we are seeking Him, we will understand that He is in control and will give us the peace that we need. Two, we must love the people that God has placed in our lives. When we think of others, it is easier to get past our own fears. Let’s be the Church and show people Jesus. Three, we must continue the work of making disciples. As we show others how to know God and trust in his unfailing presence, those thoughts and concepts will grow in our lives well.

As we work with students, let’s give them hope in uncertain times. Here are just a few ways that we can do that.

1. Point your students to the unchanging, all-powerful God of the Bible. God’s Word is a great source of strength and courage in our lives. God shows again and again in His Word how He is in control. Remind your students by sending them texts and emails that include God’s Word.

2. Stay connected with your students. It is important during this time find a way to remain in contact with your students. Perhaps you can call, email, or text them on a regular basis. Ask how they are doing? Pray with them. Let them know that they are not alone. You could also plan a live video on Facebook or Instagram and have a virtual meeting if face to face is out.

3. Encourage students to limit their social media intake. While it may be hard to get your students to step away from social media and media in general, offer suggestions on how they can utilize their time away from a screen. Your posts may be encouraging to them, but the sheer volume of negative information coming their way is going to lead them to a dark place. Walks, puzzles, and books may all seem old fashioned, but they can be very centering as we struggle with the stress permeating our society right now.

4. Pray for your students. It is vital that we continue to lift up our students to the Lord. Pray that God will give them peace and help them as they struggle.

During times like these, it is hard to know what to do even with our own family members. However, God has gifted us with students that are looking our direction for hope. Point them to Jesus and He will provide what they need.

Working with Your Pastor

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 18:59:43 GMT

5 Ways to Better Work with Your Pastor

During much of my 25+ years of ministry, I have been the second man. The titles have been different, but they have fallen under that staff role. I have served as a youth pastor, family pastor, worship pastor, church growth minister, and associate pastor. I have also had the privilege of serving in the lead role as a church planter and pastor, but most of my time has been working with godly lead pastors. I often think about these men: Henry Horton, Brad Hoshaw, David Pickard, Ronnie Chesser, Ron Fields, Wade Allen, and Kirk Shelton. All of these men have added to my understanding of God’s work and been a real blessing to me. Not everyone has had a similar experience. Sometimes, working with your pastor can be one of the hardest things you do. Whether you serve in a full-time, part-time, bi-vocational, or volunteer role, it is vital that you strive for “success” in your working relationship. If there is tension, it will stand in the way of God’s blessing in your ministry setting. So, how do we put things in motion to be successful?

1. Understand your pastor’s position. Your lead pastor has been placed in his role for a purpose. He is God’s man on the scene. He is the under-shepherd following God’s leadership to feed, protect, and guide God’s people. He will stand before the Father and answer for how he pastored his flock. You may not like the decisions that he makes, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is the leader. If you are serving as a staff member, your primary role is to help fulfill the vision and mission of the church which is led by your pastor. It isn’t about your agenda. You don’t need to lead your areas of responsibility in a way that contradicts your lead pastor. It is better for you to step out of the way than to head down a road that will only hurt the church in the process. If we insist on charging down that path, it will only hurt our families and reputation. We must remember our place of service.

2. Pray for your pastor. Your pastor may be your best friend or he may be pretty far down on your list. Either way, you should be praying for him on a daily basis as he seeks to dive into God’s Word in preparation to preach and as he serves the body. Not only will prayer undergird his work, it will soften yours. If there is a struggle between the two of you, speaking to God about him will open your heart to understanding. In addition, you need to pray for your pastor as an example to your students and others in the body.

3. Communicate with your pastor. One of the best things that you can for your pastor is to keep him informed. It can be in the form of an email or weekly conversation, but either way, your pastor needs to know what is happening in your student ministry. You may have complete freedom in the direction of your activities, but never lead him in the dark. If he has to answer questions from the body, he needs to be able to have the answers. In addition to discussing the direction of the student ministry, you need to hear about the ways that the Holy Spirit is guiding him and the ministry of the church as a whole. Are your youth lessons and messages tying into the big message and direction of the church? Too often, we are off in our own worlds with our students. We need to be a part of the bigger picture that is the local church.

4. Connect with your pastor. Take your pastor to lunch or out for coffee. Try to find ways to connect with him. It is important that as a staff that you have a genuine relationship. You may not have much in common, but you can always work at building that connection.

5. Publicly support your pastor. As the staff member, you need to be your pastor’s biggest supporter. If the church is doing something to honor him, you should be the one out front saying, “He is so deserving of this! Let’s give!” You may not always feel like being that voice, but the church needs the unity that this represents. If it is a ministry direction, jump on board. Let others see your excitement and they will join in. Now, you may have to set your own wants and desires aside. That means taking on the humility that Jesus exemplified. Make much of your pastor.

Working with your pastor is not always easy, but if a staff member or volunteer is working well with the lead pastor, God can do some exciting things. Have you been intentional as you have worked with your pastor? Have you made an effort to honor him and follow his leadership? When we submit to the authorities in our lives and truly partner together for the Gospel, Jesus can bring about real success in our ministries.

Making Much of Missions

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 17:41:41 GMT

4 Ways to Encourage Students to Go on Mission

World Missions Sunday is just around the corner and it got me thinking. What I am doing to promote missions in my student ministry? What do I do to help encourage a mission mindset with my youth? The truth is, I’m not doing enough. When I went to Temple Baptist Church of Rogers back in 2007, I didn’t have to promote a missions mindset with my students. It was already there. When I arrived, there were at least 7 individuals preparing for missions trips during the summer of 2008. They were headed to Chicago, Africa, and Romania. There was a culture of investing in missions and especially sending students on mission trips. I didn’t have to be intentional in promoting missions. In fact, the next summer, we took a large group of adults and students to Fountain, Colorado to serve with a mission church there. As I have gone along in ministry, I have realized that was a unique time at the church. I have to work to encourage students to consider taking a part of their summer or other breaks from school and investing them in God’s work. I am convinced that every student should experience a mission trip of some sort before leaving our student ministries. It might be with an organization like Volunteer Student Missions (VSM), our youth groups, or with the entire church. However they do it, it is important for them to see that God is working in different places other than just their local church.

So what do we do? How to we encourage our students to consider being involved in something bigger than themselves? We must make much of missions in our ministries. It can’t be something we just celebrate on World Missions Sunday. It should be something that we consider and look to all year long.

1. We need to teach on missions. The Bible should remain our primary focus as we teach our students. And, if we focus on God’s Word, we are going to be talking about missions before long. At the heart of the matter, God is a missionary God. He sent His Son for us. However, there are lots of other examples that we can point our students to other than just Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8. Let’s make them aware of a loving God who went out of His way to reach us. Let’s show them how Jesus sent out his disciples and Paul went on his missionary journeys.

2. We should provide opportunities for them to experience missions. One of the most readily available opportunities for our students is Volunteer Student Missions. It is a program led by our mission office and Angela Rice. This ministry gives students from big and small churches alike the chance to serve on a mission team. My son, Riley, has been a part of two teams to Romania and my daughter, Kat, has been on one trip to Peru. This summer, Kat will be a part of a team to a creative access country. I am so proud of my children and their desire to serve. If you have a student interested in missions, I would encourage you to reach out to Angela. She would love to have your student get involved for the summer of 2021. She can be contacted by email at angela@bmamissions.org or you can call the BMAA World Headquarters in Conway, Arkansas. In addition to VSM, your church or your youth group can plan their own mission trip. I know that there are many churches that take that route. The most important thing is to provide the opportunities.

3. We need to introduce our students to missionaries. One of the impactful things that ever happened to my daughter was meeting and being befriended by a dear lady that we all miss. She was a missionary to a creative access country and loved Jesus more than anything. She gave her life in service and declared His name to the nations. She is gone now, but her example and service still stand as a motivator to my daughter and to me as well. There are missionaries all around our world. When our missionaries are in the area, invite them to speak to your students. And, if you can’t get a missionary to your church, use technology to connect with them. There is no reason for our students to be oblivious to who our missionaries are.

4. We need to lead our students to pray for missions and missionaries. Prayer should be an important part of our ministries. After we have met and learned about missions/missionaries, we need to pray. Show your students how and then encourage them to be praying for great things.

Making much of missions doesn’t have to be difficult. However, it must be intentional. We can’t expect it to just happen. We must take steps to promote missions in our student ministries and help our students fall in love with God’s work around the world.

Time to Get Started

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 21:20:31 GMT

4 Things to Start Doing in Your Ministry

The first of the year is a great time to get things going in our ministries and lives. January serves as that transition point for many of us. We will try the gym, eating differently, or maybe giving something up. It is a great time to make some changes that will directly affect our student ministry. Last week, we talked about things that we might need to stop doing. This week, let’s look at a few things that we might need to start doing.

1. We need to start taking care of ourselves. It is hard to get anything out of an empty bucket. If we don’t take time to invest in personal Bible reading, prayer, and other self-care areas, we will not be able to pour into students’ lives. That means that we might have to step away from some things that we are doing. It might mean setting some things aside that we “love,” so that we can pursue something better. How are you doing in the areas of spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and even financial health? We need to work on ourselves if we hope to help others. Take the time. You may fear that others will just see you as lazy and selfish, but we know that even Jesus took time to be alone and recharge.

2. We need to start making the Bible our curriculum. As I have mentioned before, it is easy to become very focused on the culture and give lessons on behavioral modification. God wants us to dive into His Word and help students understand it in greater detail. The Gospel Coalition (July 29, 2011 https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-youth-stay-in-church-when-they-grow-up/ ) cites three reasons that students stay in church 1) They are converted, 2) They are equipped, not entertained, and 3) Their parents preached the gospel to them. That second reason ties directly into our need to use God’s Word. We must equip students how to study and know God’s Word in a deeper way. That can only happen if we make God’s Word the center of our ministry. Currently, my little youth group is going through the book of Mark. Why? Our pastor is leading us through a study of Mark on Sunday mornings. Our Wednesday night youth study intentionally parallels our Sunday morning study so that our students will get it. God’s Word must be at the heart of our ministries.

3. We need to start praying for our students. You may be really good at sending your students encouraging texts or funny memes, but many of us fail to pray for our students on a consistent basis. It is important to stay in touch with your students throughout the week, but it is vital that we pray for them. Your group may be small enough to pray for them all every day. However, if your group has gotten big, you may need to figure out a specific plan. Also, if you have volunteers working with your students, encourage them to pray for the group as well.

4. We need to make church attendance a priority for our students. It is easy to feel like our student ministry is on our little kingdom. We have room full of students looking to us for answers each week. If we are not careful, we can separate ourselves from the church. The truth is though, if there is no church, there is no student ministry. Our ministry is simply part of something bigger and we can’t lose sight of that. Point your students to worship on Sunday. Let them know that Sunday’s gathering with the body is the priority and that youth group is the “extra.” Make sure that your words never put down what happens at your church on a Sunday. You might feel that your preach goes too long or that the music is a little less than what you want, but we need to keep those thoughts to ourselves as we speak to our students. Build up Sunday worship, never tear it down.

What do you need to start doing in 2020? I know one thing that will help. Start connecting with us at Student Ministry Matters. We have just recently changed the name of our Facebook group from BMA of AR Youth Department to Student Ministry Matters Community . It is a private group that allows us to share and talk about things in our ministry. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram at StudentMinistryMatters. Reach out. We want to connect with you and see what we can do to help you impact the next generation for Jesus Christ.

Just Stop It!

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 16:53:19 GMT

4 Things to Stop Doing in Your Ministry

On the September 24, 2019 episode of the WorshipLife Podcast with Mike Harland, Mike and his co-host, Brian Brown, shared about the evaluation period that Lifeway goes through each year. Each department is tasked with looking at their ministry and applying three questions. What should we start doing? What should we stop doing? What should we keep doing? Specifically, they evaluate these areas in light of budget restraints. If you only have “X” amount of dollars, you can only do so much. So, you have to make choices on where to invest those dollars. They continued with their podcast and applyed that “stop doing” list to music ministry. If you work with musical worship in your church, I would recommend tuning in to these guys. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the conversation about worship ministry.

Mike and Brian’s conversation made me start thinking. What should we stop doing in student ministry? Are there things that have trapped us? Are we investing in the wrong things? The truth is that we can often fall into traps in our student ministry. We may be well intentioned, but if we don’t stay focused on what God wants, we may be pulled into things and attitudes that will do us more harm than good. For us to be successful in student ministry, let’s stop doubt those things that are pulling us down.

1. Stop comparing your student ministry to the one down the street. I serve in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It is home to the University of Arkansas and is a part of a larger, growing community known as Northwest Arkansas. We have churches of every size in our area. Cross Church of Fayetteville had over 3000 people for their first service in their new facility that they built not even two miles from our church building. It would be easy for me to just throw my hands in the air and give up with a ministry the size and impact of Cross Church that close to us, but I have to remind myself that Cross Church isn’t going to reach everyone. There are going to be students that would never attend a larger church because that isn’t their personality. The bigger churches may have more resources and students, but they don’t have you and the relationships that you are forming with your students.

2. Stop neglecting the Word. It is easy to fall into the trap of preaching and teaching our students great lessons on the culture and changing their actions. If we want to have a long term impact in their lives, we must teach the powerful heart-transforming Gospel. We need to study it for ourselves. We must learn it, so that we can teach it. And, we must help our students embrace it for themselves.

3. Stop being event driven. I know that this statement may not be that popular. A “good” student ministry calendar is full of activity, right? Mission trips, church camps, SOAR, lock-Ins, Back to School Bashs, Youth Christmas Parties, and End of the Year Parties are just a few of the things that most of us feel are necessary to have a “good” student ministry. The problem is that we can have all sorts of events and activity and completely miss the mark on growing disciples. Should these type of things remain on our schedule? Probably. But, they don’t need to be at the center of our effort and energy. Our primary focus should be to bring glory to God by growing disciples. Our plans and efforts should focus on that goal. We don’t want to help students just have good memories of being teenagers. We want them to experience transformation that comes through God and His Word.

4. Stop being someone you aren’t. I learned a long time ago that I am not the coolest guy at the party. In fact, I am probably the least cool. I’m okay with that. I like nerdy things. (Just look in my office and you will see what I mean. The last youth guy had a picture of Spurgeon on his wall. I have Superman.) I was never one of the “popular” kids. If I try to appear to be something or someone that I am not, my students will see it a mile away. All they really want is for me to be authentic. They want to know that they are cared about by a genuine person.

Brining about change in our lives starts by drawing some things to a close. We have to embrace the idea of stopping before we can really get started. Look for those things in your life and ministry that you need to bring to a close, so you can open up doors for the new and better things that God has for you.

Let's Go to Camp!

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 16:33:51 GMT

4 Reasons to Take Your Students to Camp

Church camp is a big part of many of our lives. I think about how it has affected my own family and circle. Both of my children accepted Christ while at church camp. One of my best friends surrendered to the ministry at camp. And, the list goes on. It is a powerful time. We look back on our childhood and teenage years and remember hot and sweaty summers learning about Jesus. For those of us who work with children and students now, we see the value. We know that it is important, but sometimes it is hard to express that to our churches when they just see the dollar amount. Camp can be expensive, but it is worth the investment.

Let me encourage you to find a camp that meets your budgetary and ministry needs. From our national camp to local groups, there are a number of choices out there. Here are a few reasons to share with your church to make camp a part of your ministry plan...

1. Church camp eliminates the distractions that our youth struggle with. There are so many things that vie for our students' attention: school, friends, phones, social media, and hard home situations. A week away at camp can provide that needed break from distractions and allow the quiet needed for the Holy Spirit to speak into their lives.

2. Church camp provides a week of focused study in God’s Word. 1/168… That fraction represents the typical amount of spiritual training that most children and youth receive during the course of the week, one hour out of 168. A week away at camp provides a much more concentrated period of biblical instruction. Between worship times, small groups, and nightly devotionals, men and women pour the Bible into our students. However, that truth makes it all the more important to pick the right camp. You want to make sure that instruction is sound.

3. Church camp creates lifelong relationships. I always love seeing my students connect with other believers. Church camp is a time for your group to grow closer together and to meet believers from other churches. The students will see their “camp” friends annually as they build memories. It’s great to hear our students say, “Remember back at church camp…"

4. Church camp points our youth to Jesus. A good church camp is going to continually point our students and children to Jesus Christ. The sponsors, counselors, and staff will show campers how Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If that isn’t a prominent feature of your camp, then perhaps it is time to search out a new one. It doesn’t matter if your camp is the most fun. If Jesus isn’t the point, then your camp has completely missed it.

I’m sure that you have a number of reasons why you take your students and children to camp. Let me encourage you to join the conversation in our Facebook group at www.Facebook.com/groups/BMAAYD .

Hope to see you at camp with your students this summer!

Finding the Right Volunteers

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 14:38:29 GMT

4 Traits of Great Student Ministry Volunteers

The end of the year is always a great time for evaluation. It is a perfect occasion to look at what we are doing, what we are studying, and who is helping us as we seek to minister to students. It is that last area that I want to look at today. Volunteers can make or break us as we seek to impact students’ lives. Whether you are the staff member looking for volunteers or a church looking for that next volunteer to work with your students, it is important for us to choose the right people. Unfortunately, we often fall into the “plug a hole” mentality. There is no one to work with our students, so we just find any willing body. It is often better to have no one in that role than to have the wrong person. The “wrong” person can damage our students’ spiritual lives for years to come. So, what do we seek in the “right” person? There are a handful of qualities that we need to look for.

1. We must look for students of the Word. We hold the Word of God in very high esteem. It is our rule of faith and practice. It is our source of doctrine and truth. It is how God speaks to us. It is vital that those working with students and children be students of the Word. Now, they don’t have to have a degree in Bible from a Bible college or hold a Master’s from Seminary, but they do have be diving into God’s word on a regular basis and desiring to know it in a bigger way.

2. We must look for the faithful. While your student ministry volunteers do not have to be at the church house every time the doors are open, they must be an active part of your ministry. You and your pastor should sit down and figure out what that looks like for your context. I have often asked student ministry volunteers to be active in a small group ministry of some sort. That may be a Sunday school class, a small discipleship group, or even a community group. It is in that smaller context where your volunteers can grow as they share their lives with other believers. In addition, your volunteers should place a high value on your corporate worship services. Those times of worship and study are when the body joins together in a greater way and it should take priority.

3. We must look for the teachable. Students today are growing up in a culture that has changed dramatically since I was in junior high and high school. Now, that was a million years ago, but that doesn’t change the fact that in many ways, our world has been turned upside down in the past 30 years. Sexual immorality, sliding gender identity, social media, and school shootings are just a few things that students must deal with today. A good volunteer realizes that they don’t have all of the answers. There are things that we must take time to learn. If a volunteer isn’t willing to be taught and learn, then they don’t need to be a part of your team. They must be willing to learn about the culture and ways to impact your students’ lives.

4. We must look for those that love students. Students can be very hard to like at times. Middle school boys can literally stink… Ugh. Junior high girls can be just plain mean. However, the right volunteer is able to look past all of that and see them for what they are, young people who just need Jesus. God’s Word commands us to love others. A good volunteer is motivated by that love to help a student on his or her journey of faith.

I remember being impacted by the “right” volunteers back in the late 80’s. Rick and Jody Preece's love and lessons changed my life forever. Make sure that you are looking for the “right” people in your ministry. It can make a lifetime of difference.

Majoring in Bible

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 19:13:01 GMT

A Case for Being a Bible Major at Central Baptist College of Conway

At Encounter ’89, I surrendered my life to what I interpreted as a call to music ministry. It was really just a first step towards God’s call on my entire life, but it was what I needed to get me to Central Baptist College of Conway. You see, I had my own plans. I was going to be the next great photographer at National Geographic. Central wasn’t really on my radar at all. However, that nudge towards CBC made all the difference in my life. While there, I grew in understanding of God’s Word and sought to listen as God spoke through the Holy Spirit. Starting my second semester, I began to realize that God didn’t just want what I thought I could. He wanted all of me. So, in the floor of Rob Hager’s dorm room on March 5, 1991 at 1am, I knelt and gave my life completely to God’s calling. I continued to study music for the next full year, but realized that I needed to focus my attention on God’s Word in a greater way than pursuing a double major of Bible and Music was going to allow me to do. It became clear that I should be a Bible major at CBC. In May of 1995, I received my Bachelor of Arts in Bible with a Pastoral Studies emphasis. Now, 27 years later, I can tell you that I don’t regret my decision to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Bible from CBC. Central was an incredible place for me. I met and married my wife during that time. I made lifelong friends. My five years there shaped me for years to come.

Why do I share my story? There are those that would have you wait to pursue your theological training until later when you are at seminary. As the line of thinking goes, you need to get an education in something that will allow you to support yourself because you will never make anything in ministry. While it is true that very few of us are ever going to get rich preaching the Gospel, God provides for his servants. While you may want to get some training in something else to give you the freedom to serve in a church that can’t pay as much, we shouldn’t skimp on our theological training. Let me share a few reasons that I believe that if God has called you, you should give serious thought to be a Bible major at Central.

1. Local churches need men trained in God’s Word and in critical thinking standing before them each week. Education at a collegiate level helps expand the possibilities as we consider a variety of thoughts and thinkers. Specifically, Central offers that while remaining grounded in God’s Word. Now, more than ever, our churches need men who are grounded in God’s Word and can adequately discuss and even debate the issues of faith and our world. If God has called you to ministry, you need to do everything that you can to prepare yourself. Central can be a key part of that preparation.

2. God needs men & women who are fully committed. I know that there is some fear in pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Bible. I have a BA in Bible from CBC and a Master of Arts in Religion from the BMA Theological Seminary of Jacksonville. What am I trained for outside of ministry? Nothing. I have picked up a few skills along the way, but my formal education has pointed me in one direction. I am to be a servant in ministry. Does that mean that I won’t ever get another degree or certification in something else? No. But it does mean that as I approached ministry and my education, I was fully committed to one thing, the calling that God had placed on my heart.

3. Ministers need a network of faithful friends. I gained a lot as I studied at Central, but one of the most powerful thing was the network of friends that developed. It is said that your lifelong friends are those from college. Many of the guys and girls that I met while studying Bible at Central are still a part of my life. Nothing like taking Greek together to bond you through shared suffering (Just kidding, Dr. Slayton). However, there is something to be said about friendships that are made as you are wrestling through the difficult things of Scripture.

4. Those considering further education can build a fantastic foundation at Central. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to pursue seminary when I started college. However, at the end of my time at Central, I was chomping at the bit to get my Master’s degree. The foundation that I received at CBC carried me through seminary in major ways. While at seminary, there were guys sitting next to me with Political Science degrees who were just now being exposed to things that I had learned 3-4 years before at CBC. I walked away from CBC’s Bible program with tools that would serve me well in the years to come as I taught and shared God’s Word . They were what I needed for seminary and beyond.

As a future pastor, student ministry worker, worship pastor, or family pastor, one of the greatest things that you can do for yourself and your future ministry is be consumed with the Word of God. Being a Bible major at Central is a great way to deepen your love for God by studying God’s Word in a deeper way. Contact the team at Central if you have questions. ( www.CBC.edu )

Student Ministry During the Holidays

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 21:08:46 GMT

When we make it past Halloween, we officially fall into the holiday season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s all blend together as a mixture of fun, parties, food, family, and friends. As we work with students, these holidays give us a great opportunity to speak into their lives. Students are open to a number of concepts at this time of the year: giving, gratitude, renewal, & Jesus. And, those are just the tip of the ice berg. Let’s take advantage of the opportunities laid out in front of us. As we do, we need to remember a few things…

1. Keep Christ at the forefront as you celebrate everything from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. Jesus must remain preeminent in all of our celebrations. He is the greatest gift ever given to the world. It is through Him that we have hope and salvation. During thanksgiving, He should be at the top of our list. During Christmas, He is the reason for the season. During New Year’s, we take the opportunity to recommit our lives to His instruction and guidance. Really, there is no celebrating without Jesus. It is all pointless without Him.

2. Be intentional rather than traditional. During the holidays, we often fall into the trap of “We have always done it this way.” While I love family traditions, it is important that we focus on the TRUTH of God’s Word and the best way to pour that into our students. As a parent and student ministry worker, I want to carefully consider what I am doing with my students at Christmas parties and other activities. Am I teaching my students about Jesus and how to follow His example in service? Or, is it all about the fun and festivities? Let’s be intentional as we approach this time.

3. Consider ways to get past the “Me-ness” of the holidays. I love my mom, and even though I am a 46 year-old man, she still asks me for a Christmas list. She always goes out of her way to make the holidays special for those around her, and we love her for it. If I am not careful though, I can allow myself to get very selfish during the holidays. I would like “this" or maybe “that.” We have all thought those things. However, what eternal significance do those items have? It is something to think about. Have you considered taking your family on a Christmas mission trip? Have you thought about adopting a family or ministry for your Thanksgiving meal? Maybe a neighbor just needs to be loved on. We all struggle with it, but the truth is life is not about me or even us. Life is about bringing honor and glory to our great God. Let’s help our children and students move past the “Me-ness” and place the attention on Christ and His Mission.

I would love to hear how you and your youth group celebrate the holidays in God honoring ways. Join the conversation in our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/BMAAYD/

Senior Year for Kat

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 15:55:02 GMT

Evaluating How We Have Invested in Our Students

This morning, my daughter, Kat, headed out of the house to get her cap & gown pictures and to start her last week of early band at Har-Ber High School. How can this be? Didn’t I just graduate from high school last year? Wasn’t she born a couple of days ago? As a student pastor, I have seen parents go through this process time and time again. In fact, I faced it two years ago when my son started his senior year at Har-Ber. The difference is this is the last time for so many things with us… Last first day of Early Week, Last first day of school, Last first game to march at. Well, you get the idea. As she embraces her “lasts,” we will be there with her in a different way than we were with our son. In just 9 short months, she will be walking across a stage and accepting her diploma. She will have graduated from high school and so will we.

As my daughter’s youth pastor AND her parent I ask myself a lot of questions about how we have invested in her. Did we teach her the right things? Will she be ready for the world that awaits her after high school? Will she continue serving and loving God even when she is away at college? My prayer is that there is a resounding “Yes!” to all of those questions. However, it is important for me to continually ask.

While we can’t fix many of the issues that students in our ministry face at home, we can have a plan for their time with us in student ministry. We need to paint a picture of what we want that student to look like at the end of their time in our ministry. Whether it is my daughter, Kat, or any other student in the ministry at Calvary, here are a few of the things that I hope our students will be characterized

as.

1. A Christ Follower. While we love having students come to our meetings, student ministry should never be just about the numbers we run. And in the same way, attendance from a student to youth group is not an indicator that they are a Christ follower. We must share Jesus with them and help them embrace the idea of accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord. They must realize their sin state and turn to the one that can fix it. This must be our primary goal. There are a lot of great things you can share with your students. Your love will help them in dark times. Your support will lift them up. Your lessons may inspire them to greater service. BUT, if you haven’t introduced them to Jesus along the way, then you have missed the mark. Notice, I didn’t say, “If they aren’t saved, you have failed.” Our job is to faithfully share Jesus with them. Our prayer and goal is that they become Christ followers, but that is not up to us.

2. A Reader of the Word. After salvation, engagement in God’s Word is one of the most important things that Christian can do. Jana MacGruber of Lifeway reports in her book, Nothing Less, that the “single greatest contribution to raising fully-devoted Christ-following young adults is regular Bible reading” (pg.52). It is our job as student ministry workers to point our students toward the inerrant, infallible, eternal Word of God. We may need help finding good resources, but nothing beats making sure they have a Bible in their hands. While at Temple Baptist Church of Rogers, we bought enough extra Bibles that we could give a Bible to every student and every guest that came through our student ministry.

3. A Committed Church Member. Our students need to understand that church involvement is not just for old people. As saved, baptized believers, they have a responsibility to be involved with their local body. They can find love and support in ways that they don’t even understand. While in high school, my family didn’t attend church. However, my faith family cheered me on as I pursued God with my whole heart. My physical family supported and loved me, but my church was there as I was learning to exercise my ministry gifts. That can’t just be done with your youth group. It is accomplished best and fully when the church comes together.

4. A Mission Minded Servant. It has always been my prayer that every student that goes through our student ministry will experience a mission trip at least once before they graduate or head off to college. This can take on all sorts of forms, but it is important for our students to see God working outside of their local context. The mission trip might be a “local” trip in their community. However, there is nothing quite like standing with those that are on the front lines of ministry around the world and see their faith and trust in a God that provides and moves.

While this isn’t an all-inclusive list, it is a place to start as we try to evaluate our student ministry and the impact that we are having on our students. Is my daughter all of these things? For the most part. She is like all teenagers, in a state of growth and change. I pray that I have done my part in pointing her toward Jesus. I am praying that God is using you to do that same in your local church with the students that God has placed under your care.

Let me invite you to join us online in our Facebook group ( www.facebook.com/groups/BMAAYD ) to continue the discussion.

Opening Up Our Lives (and Homes)...

Sat, 07 Jul 2018 00:39:08 GMT

Whether we serve in a church of 20 or 200, there is an attitude that all of us need to embrace. It’s hospitality.

I wrote this article from the home of a friend, TJ Lewis. TJ is the youth pastor of a large church in Arlington, Texas. It was a Sunday night and his house was buzzing with activity. He invited the middle school boys from his ministry to come over and watch WrestleMania. It was loud and crazy, but the best part was seeing these young guys just feel loved and welcome. Is it easy? Probably not. He has 3 kids under 10 and tomorrow is a school day, but he doesn't hesitate. He knows the value of connecting with his students outside of the church walls. Crazy loud nights of pizza, soda, and “wrassling” turn into moments of sharing and growth in the years to come.

Now, this is an area that I have struggled with over the years. Is my house good enough? Is it big enough? Is it clean enough? All of these reasons pop into my mind as I look to invite students into my home. For years, I had a legitimate excuse of living 25 minutes away from my church, but now that I live closer to where my church meets, I need to make some changes in my life. I need to at least open up my heart to having more people in my home. Why? Because, it is biblical. God wants us to open up our hearts and homes to others in a spirit of hospitality. As youth workers and leaders, its important to remember what God says to us through his word.

1. Christian Leaders are called to be hospitable… (Titus 1:8) If we hope for our people to love one another, we need to model this behavior. As we look at the qualifications for an elder/pastor, it is clear that we are called to be hospitable in comparison to what we find in verse 7, "He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain.” It is not optional. Hospitality shows the opposite of greed. It is a giving attitude that says, “my home and my heart is open to you.” When we lead with this mindset, people will feel loved and follow.

2. Hospitality should be done without grumbling… (1 Peter 4:8-9) God calls us to hospitality with a cheerful heart. Now, for an introvert like myself, that isn’t easy. How do we make the changes necessary? We just do it. While we may not want to, we take the steps of action and God will slowly work and change our hearts. In addition, we must pray. We pray for a change of heart. Taking the steps and praying will take us to where we need to be.

3. Hospitality should extend to all… (Luke 14:12-14) If we work through our attitudes and make the initial breakthrough, we can sometimes get hung up on who we are loving on. It’s easy to love on the lovable. The harder part and better part is loving on the weak, the lame, and the helpless. These are the ones that can’t pay you back. These are the ones that are harder to extend hospitality because you might never receive the reciprocal. Do you love on all of your students or just the ones that you connect with. When we extend love to all, we are the living example of Christ and his love for us.

The Bible is clear in these passages and more. God wants us to love on our students and getting them into our homes is a great way to start. Pray for me as I work on my heart in this area and I will pray for you.

Providing Hope to Our Students

Sat, 07 Jul 2018 00:28:43 GMT

As those that work with students on a regular basis, how do we respond to the most recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida? I know that when I saw the video coverage coming out of Florida, my heart broke. My daughter is a junior in high school and I could only imagine the pain the survivors were sure to face in the days ahead. How do we give hope to our students and their families in times such as these? While I have been in ministry for a number of years and many of those working with students, I can’t get over the increase in pain and destruction that has happened since 2013 when it comes to school shootings. Gun control. Bullying. Security. The issues surrounding these shootings can be divisive. Our students are often left behind as the arguments ramp up. Imagine yourself back in high school dealing with the very real possibility that someone may come in and shoot up the place. That was never a thought as I grew up. It is a different world that we live in and that our students must face on a daily basis.

But the question remains, how do we help our students? We can argue about the gun control and the right to bear arms, but does that really help that 9th grader sitting in our group wondering if he will make it home alive tomorrow? I believe that as student ministry workers our job is to pour hope into our students' lives. Our students cannot let fear and worry dominate their life. That is no way to live. We must allow hope to be our guiding force and truth to be what places it there. So if truth is vital in this process, what truth do we give them?

1. Give them the Gospel. The truth about Jesus tells me that God loves me so much that He sent his Son to die for me. It tells me that I am of extreme value in God’s eyes. God loved me SO much that He sent His Son live and to die for me. I’ve heard preachers tell me over the years that Jesus would have come to Earth event if was just me. I like that. It gives me hope and makes me feel significant in God’s eyes. Many students that we work with don’t feel loved or appreciated by anyone. The truth of the Gospel lets them know of their ultimate worth.

2. Give them the Great Commandment. The Great Commandment is simple, “Love your neighbor.” Our students must make it a priority to love those around them. They must see beyond their own troubles and look at the hurting that walk beside them. This mindset works as a preventive method. If we take time to love on those around us, they are less likely to strike out. The saddest thing is to know of students who simply walked and ultimately took their own life. There is power in a smile, a “Hello,” or “How’s it goin?” If our students realize that God wants us to love on those He has placed in our lives, we will see a powerful change in our world.

3. Give them the Great Commission. God gives us all a mission. He wants us to reach out into the world and share the great message of hope to a lost and dying world. Having a mission gives our students purpose and ultimately hope. If our students understand that God has given them a job to do in their homes, neighborhoods, jobs, and schools, our students have hope. If I carry hope, I am a “Hope Bearer.” Let’s see our students carry that great message to the world around them.

There is no easy answer for the pain and suffering that we endure in this sinful world. Men, women, students, and children will continue to act out in their sin until Jesus returns. We can either run and hide or stand and share. God has called us all to share hope to our world. Let’s share truth with our students and give them the hope that God’s Word provides.

Working with Youth Worship

Sat, 07 Jul 2018 00:26:20 GMT

This past fall, I had the opportunity to attend the Sing Conference in Nashville. It was a great exploration of worship and theology. As someone who has been involved with worship ministry off and on since 1989, it was fantastic to see others so focused on making sure that our worship is doctrinally sound and engaging.

As youth workers, we have a responsibility to not only disciple our students in the Word, but we must help them grow in the other disciplines as well. Worship needs to be on that list. Throughout the Bible, we find the call for his people to sing. Singing is not the only way to worship, but it is definitely an important part of worship for all believers.

Now, you may be a youth worker who doesn’t know much about music, but you can still have an influence in this area. Here are a few tips as you work towards putting together a worship component for your youth meetings.

1. Work with what you have. Many of us can get caught up in the what we do not have. We don’t have a drummer. We don’t have a guitar player. And, the list goes on. Start with what you have. If you have a vocalist, but don’t have any musicians, start with lyric videos. You can download these videos and have one or two of your students lead the group to worship and engage with that music.

2. Use students as much as possible. Whether they are playing or leading, it is better for them to be on stage than an adult. This might not always be possible, but it is the better solution.

3. Pray for others to use their talents for God’s glory. This may sound like a contradiction to number one, but the truth is that you want the group to grow. Pray that God will lead students to you that want to serve and glorify his name.

4. Use musicians that are leaders on and off the stage. Just because someone can sing doesn’t mean they need to be the one leading. You want young men and women on stage that are genuine and authentic Christ-followers.

5. Speak into the music selection. You want songs that engage students and that are theologically sound. You have the right and responsibility as the group leader to point them in a direction. Don’t think that since you might not know music, you don’t have a right to speak into the situation. You are their spiritual leader especially as they attend and serve in your student ministry.

6. Expect rehearsals. It is vital that your students practice together before performing together. That makes sense, but since it is not Sunday worship, we often don’t give it the same weight. Encourage your students to practice and prepare before your student ministry meetings.

While I was serving as the Pastor of Worship & Students at Temple Baptist Church, I was blessed with great student musicians that loved serving. One of our sponsors at the time, John O’Connor, invested in these young people and helped them grow in their worship leading skills. John is now their youth pastor and worship ministry with Temple’s students continues. I will tell you that it didn’t just “happen.” Your influence as youth workers is vital for the worship to happen. You have to be intentional.

If you would like to join the conversation about student ministry in the BMA of Arkansas, let me invite you to join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/BMAAYD . There, you will find encouragement and hope as you step forward in youth ministry.

Lifetime Learners

Sat, 07 Jul 2018 00:20:58 GMT

Some thoughts about continuing to learn...

On April 10-11, 2017, I had the opportunity to attend the Youth Pastor Summit in the Dallas, Texas area. Youth Pastor Summit is a FREE two day conference for youth/student ministry workers of all backgrounds put on by Student Life University and Lifeway. First of all, if you work with students, look into it! This was a high quality event that I paid nothing to attend. I had to come up with food, lodging, and gas, but that is nothing compared to what I have seen many events like this go for. Second, I also learned that many in student ministry are pretty new to the field. Out of hundreds in attendance, I was among the 4 people that had over 25 years of ministry experience. That makes events like this one even more important. Hearing from those that have been there before can be invaluable as you approach difficulties and challenges in ministry. Whether you are a volunteer, part-time, or full-time student ministry worker, it is vital to be a lifetime learner. We must be humble enough to know that we don’t have all the answers and teachable to understand that there are those that can help. So the question arises, “What are some ways that I can continue to grow and learn in the areas of ministry?" Let me give you a few ideas that may help.

1. Go back to School… I know. Many of you may have just decided to put down the paper in frustration. “I can’t go to school. I can’t afford it. I am horrible at school. I can’t move. Etc.” The list goes on and on. Some of those excuses are just that, excuses. Schools offer distance learning as well as online options, so you can reenter school and stay where you are. Don’t write it off unless God says, “No.”

2. Listen to Podcasts… There are a number of good podcasts out there that focus on student ministry. Ben Trueblood from Lifeway Students shares a great one. It can be found at http://www.lifeway.com/studentministry/ . Thom Rainer offers another great one about leadership in the church called Rainer on Leadership. It can be found at http://thomrainer.com/ and discusses a great number of topics in the church.

3. Join in Discussion Groups… Peer groups are a great way to share ideas and concepts. The BMA of AR Youth Department offers a Facebook group where student ministry workers can share prayer concerns, ministry ideas, and other thoughts about students. The group can be found at www.Facebook.com/groups/BMAAYD . I hope that you will join us there.

4. Find a Coach/Mentor… It is a powerful thing to have an accountability partner. A personal Coach or Mentor that you meet with on regular basis can help you move forward in your ministry and work towards your personal and leadership goals. One of the things that I offer as the director of this department are my skills as a Life & Leadership Coach. If you are a student ministry worker and would like to take advantage of a coaching relationship, contact me at BMAyouthdepartment@gmail.com . If it isn’t me, find someone to meet with that can help you grow as your seek to serve students.

If we want to have a lasting impact in students’ lives, we must continue to grow ourselves. We must pour ourselves into the Word and then focus on those things that can help us more effectively win the hearts and minds of the next generation.