I’ve Got Something to Say

I’ve been doing student ministry full time for a full decade now… and I love it. I love that moment when you’re with a small group of students and you ask them to share what they are processing. I love that awkward moment of silence and curious facial expressions and worried facial expressions and I really, really love the moment that one students begins to clear their throat because they have something to say…

Last night in our last small groups session, one of our young men cleared his throat and began to share how he had a new understanding of who was and who he is created by God to be.

That a profound thought! Who I am in this very moment and connecting the dots to who I should be in Christ Jesus. Two totally different worlds… different people that are now in a collision course. When who we are collides with who Christ has called us to be… everything changes. EVERYTHING!

World it’s time for us to listen up then next time this young man clears his throat and mutters the words, “I’ve got something to say…”
This young man is about to speak truth into his world and everything in his world is going to be held responsible for their response to TRUTH.

Swarms of Students Part 2

How do we (me, myself, and I), our leaders (all of them), our Churches, our communities, begin to REALLY value/love teenagers the way Jesus does???

Christian T-shirts, stickers, praise bands, youth group games, small
groups, big groups, camps, and a forced “Christian” smile will only
take the gospel so far.

Swarms of Students (known or not) matter to God

They should matter to us.

Things must change…

1.  We must become undignified. It’s not about us… it’s all
about God.  It’s not about “our” ministry, it’s about swarms of
students who desperately need a savior whether they know it or not.  (2 Sam 6:22)(1 Cor. 9:22)

*By the way, this doesn’t mean we have to be silly, try to be the cool
kid, or let down our guard in any way, it means that we make Jesus
Christ “the” rock star of our world, and that of students as well.

2.  We go to Battle. This is not the time of year when student pastors stay home.

• Every single day put on the armor of God.  Protect yourself, your

• Church, your family and friends, above all protect the name of Christ.  (Ephesians 6)
• Fight with Purpose – I think too often we “deal” with church brats
  and parents who pick at the meaningless details of ministry (we don’t
  have enough events, too many events, event goes too late, lessons are
  boring, or too entertaining… you can make your own lists here).  We
  need to go to battle for the souls of students.  Be creative, pay
  attention to “good” criticism, but don’t take your eyes off of the
  target.
• Battle for the Swarms of Students that you know… that you don’t
  know (yet)… that Christ battled and died for.  Student Pastors,
  students are the Cause that Christ called us to… let us BATTLE.

3.  Build Your Army – Look to your left, look to your right… who is with you?
Students – Take the swarm of students, whether 10, 20, 100, 500 students, and prepare them to connect with the un-churched swarms of students.  Believe in your students (theologans or not).  Jesus discipled fishermen, tax collectors, political assassins; all kinds of questionable rift raft.  Jesus’ motley crew introduced the world to Christ.  I don’t know about you, but my group of teens are far more computer savvy, relevant, gifted, talented, brilliant; than I ever was.  Trust in the teens that God has brought your way to pour into.

Adults – I have some adult leaders who really are my life guard dogs.  I’m serious, if you say something mean to me, they are ready to bite!  I love that.  I love them.  I’m proud to know that I have a team, an army of volunteer leaders that God has so equipped to develop, disciple, and defend our students.  Trust in your leaders, trust in God who brought them to your student ministry, who called them to minister and lead your students.  Then, equip and let them lead.

4.  What Ever it Takes Attitude – not sure who said, but I often quote to my
team, “It’s better to sweat in preparation, than to bleed in Battle.”
I firmly believe that one of our biggest problems is that we we get
bored, aggravated, frustrated, angry… and we just shut down.  It’s
easy to blame your Pastor, the deacons, the elders, the Church, the
community, but what about YOU???  Everyone may be to blame a little,
but from my own experiences, I carry plenty of problems as well.  So
what?  Get off you big ol’ Butt and get back to the calling of Christ.
DO WORK!  Live with the no perfect people allowed motto, and open your
eyes to the ministry, the ministry opportunities around you, where God
is already at work… and join HIM.  Be creative, be wise, “borrow”
from other leaders, youth pastors, lead pastors (I get ideas from mine
all the time).  Call me or the guy down the street.  I love sharing
ideas, but not anywhere near as much as I like getting new ones.  Then
take the ideas, and put them into action.  Work your tail off… not
sure you’ll need it in heaven anyways.

5.  Laugh Again – Jerry Garcia was known for saying, “Nothing
left to do, but smile, smile, smile.”  Well, I partly agree with that.
There’s lots for us to do, but if we’re not loving life, somethings
wrong.  We often forget about investing in eternity and rather begin to
invest in this life. (Philippians 3:20).
If heaven is our home, let’s put our hope there.  So have fun.  Laugh
at yourself, learn from your mistakes, live your life abundantly (Jesus
wants you to).  Attitude reflects leadership captain… If your
frustrated, your leaders will be, and so will your students, your
family, and those you invest in.  Live to love… Love God, Love
others, Love life.  Life is what we get to share with those we minister
to.  give it a shot…  two peanuts crossed the street… one was
a-salted-ed…  ok, that wasn’t funny, but the new comedy, “community” is and you can check it out at HULU.com.  Have fun!

6.  Be Vocal – Be open with your Pastor, your leaders, your students, your family, your community.  Clearly define things that you are praying for.  Don’t let past experiences pursuade you to be silent.  Don’t be pushy, but be honest.  Don’t be obnoxious, rather be courteous.  Courteous to authority, parents, deacons, elders, who ever… (your wisdom may not be God’s wisdom…it may be last nights burrito).  So don’t have the attitude, that it has to be this way or that way.  Simply put, it doesn’t.  One of my favorite things and most frustrating things about my Church is that there is no student space/building.  We can’t decorate, but we do get to use our worship center.  I could say well we can’t do student ministry without a building, but in all honesty the creativity that comes along with a lack of space, it has been one of things that God has used to grow our student ministry the very most.  Clear vision and purpose allowed us in the big room to do stuff few other student ministry have the opportunity to do.  Our leaders had be taught to re-think student ministry.  Our parents, couldn’t figure out where to drop kids off for a few weeks.  There have been issues to work through and will always be, but I love that challenge.  I love seeking out God voice on what to do next, how to respond to this or that situation.  However, If I keep the details, the purpose and plan to myself, no with will get to experience the excitement of the why.  So be clear.  Be passionate. Be Vocal.

There are swarms of students here where I live… There are swarms of students where you live.  What now???

what are some practical ways you engage students?

a.  the cussing, non-churchy student

b. the cussing, going to churchy student

c. the plugged in, Jesus is the answer, churchy student

d. the swarms of students in your community

BFF

Sitting outside on my back porch and putting the finishing touches on a talk that will kick off our new series at The Wave called BFF.  Mostly talking about the purpose and importance of friendships.  Thinking back through the years some things I valued in friends have changed some, but some of those things have been cornerstones of my relationships.

Friend Values that I held tightly on to:
1.  Friends who Esteem me – one may sound selfish, but it’s so important to me.  I’ll go to battle for someone who lives out that they value and respect me.

2.  “Go to Battle” for me friends –  I’ve always loved hearing that someone out there was trash talking me a bit, but my friend __________, had my back.  I value that.

3.  Constructive Criticism.  Not often, but when I really need it.  I appreciate those who care enough to speak truth in my life.

4.  Learning and Teaching Friends – I hold tightly to those that I can learn from, but they are humble enough to allow me to teach them also.

5.  Encouraging Friends – I just need it from time to time.

6.  Christ following Friends – Christ is my foundation.  I need to be reminded of that often and in every way.  Great friends do just that.

What do you value most about your friendships?