Youth Specialties Blog
The Perfect Youth Ministry Volunteer
By Youth Specialties on May 22 2012 | 0 Comments
Youth Pastor, Chris Dortch, in North Carolina recently posted on his church's blog looking for volunteers. Here's what he's looking for — sounds pretty good to us.
What would the “perfect” youth ministry volunteer look like? I think I have an answer, but first let’s address some of the myths.
Myth #1 “You’ve got to be cool.”
Let’s face it, we probably weren’t that cool in high school and we’re certainly not cool as adults. Students don’t need someone to be cool, they need authenticity. If you are willing to be yourself around teenagers, you’re a great candidate for volunteering in the youth ministry.
Myth #2 “You’ve got to be young.”
Sometimes we think that the 20-somethings “relate better” to teenagers because of their age. Most teenagers have a hard time telling the difference between at 25 year-old who is married and a 37 year-old who is married (they are both “old”). Research shows that teenagers are actually drawn to the oldest person in the room who will listen to them and take them seriously. If you are willing to listen to teenagers and take their problems seriously, you’re a great candidate for volunteering in the youth ministry.
Myth #3 “You’ve got to act like a teenager.”
There is a difference between being child-like and being childish. One of my youth ministry heroes, Duffy Robbins says, “Teenagers don’t need adults who act like teenagers. They need adults who don’t freak out when teenagers act like teenagers.” If you can act like an adult and not “freak out” when teenagers act like teenagers, then you’re a great candidate for volunteering in the youth ministry.
Myth #4 “You’ve got to a Bible scholar.”
Sure, we want you to know something about the Bible, but we don’t expect you to have all of the answers. In John 9, the man born blind gives us a great example of how to respond to questions we don’t know the answers to, “Whether Jesus was a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know, I once was blind but now I can see!” If you are willing to help students discover answers to their questions, you’re a great candidate for volunteering in the youth ministry.
Myth #5 “You’ve got to know everything in teen culture.”
It’s okay if you don’t listen to Justin Bieber and you still listen to Abba on vinyl. Students want you to be you. Many of them would even love to hear stories about the time you were in a KISS cover band! If you don’t know who Justin Bieber is, you’re the perfect candidate for volunteering in the youth ministry.
If these aren’t the things that teenagers are looking for, what do they need in an adult volunteer?
Reality #1 “Students need adults who will live a life honoring to God.”
Students are searching for adults who are authentic in their walk with Christ. If there is one thing that teenagers have a keen ability to spot, it is fake people.
Reality #2 “Students need adults who are interested enough to learn their name.”
Students want to know if adults care enough to remember their names. When I first came to Christ Community Church over ten years ago, I had a middle school girl ask, “Do you know my name?” To my embarrassment, I had no clue. I told her that if she reminded me of her name one last time, I would make sure that I knew it the next week. I will never forget Alice.
Reality #3 “Students need adults who are interested in their life.”
Students need adults who will spend time with them, pray for them, say an encouraging word, believe in them, and simply laugh with them. Students want to know if you are willing to come into “their world” and discover who they are.
Reality #4 “Students need adults who are consistent with their attendance.”
Students are familiar with adults who come in and out of their lives like a revolving door. Teachers change from semester to semester. Parents change from alternating weekends. Teenagers need to know which adults are going to be consistent in their life. This is one of the reasons that I have committed to youth ministry for nearly twenty years.
Students may ask it this way, “Do you care about me? Do you know my name? Will you be here next week?” If you are willing to show teenagers you care about them, willing to learn some names, and be consistent with your attendance… YOU are the perfect youth ministry volunteer.
We believe that every teenager needs five godly adults who are investing in their lives. When a student in our church’s youth group is asked, “Who are the most influential adults in your life?” We want their parents and adults from our student ministry to be in their top five!
Originally posted on Christ Community Church's blog.
Chris Dortch has been in ministry since 1993 and has been the Lead Youth Pastor of Christ Community Church since January of 2002. You can find a few of his resources at Download Youth Ministry.
By Youth Specialties on May 22 2012 | 0 Comments
“I Love My Job” - Free Video and Discussion Questions
By Youth Specialties on May 21 2012 | 0 Comments
Whether online or over a cup of coffee, some of the most significant ministry with students is done in between youth group meetings. Technology and the world around us may continually change, but one thing remains the same: the impact it has on student’s lives when someone reaches out and genuinely cares about them.
We’ve written some discussion questions to go with this video to use in your ministry to spark conversation about connecting with students and what that looks like in your context. It would be great at a volunteer meeting to start some discussion going into summer when students are so much more available to connect with.
Click HERE to go the download page.
By Youth Specialties on May 21 2012 | 0 Comments
Keys to Leading a Great Mission Trip
By Youth Specialties on May 14 2012 | 1 Comments
Are you planning on taking your youth group on a mission trip this summer? Doug Franklin over at YouthMinistryLeader.com had a great post with the 10 keys to leading a great mission trip. Here's a few of them that stood out to me:
1. Going is not enough.
We must be intentional with a student’s mission experience in order to see transformational change happen. Often we think that it’s great the kids are doing a service project. This is shortsighted; we don’t just want them to go, we want them to grow. By being intentional with the mission trip, we could see students return with a desire for a daily quiet time, or we could see them want to spend their whole lives in service to the needy. God can do so much through our students; let’s not sell Him short.
2. Be a trip mentor.
A trip is a great place to develop a long-term, life-changing relationship with a student. We must be more than chaperones. Most adults go on trips with students to keep them out of trouble and drive the van. If adults used the trip to develop deep relationships that led to mentoring, then the trip could be more than a mountain top experience for students. Challenge and train adults to look for opportunities to become a mentor while on the trip.
5. Find teachable moments.
Teachable moments happen when you mix a student’s experience with the truth of God’s Word. On mission trips, students will encounter many different experiences, and they will be challenged to think in new ways. Look for the moments to help them make applications for changing their lives back home. We have the opportunity to help them connect the dots between real life and God’s Word.
8. Add value to your adult volunteers.
I have led over 200 student mission trips, and the number one problem I see over and over again is adult volunteers who have no idea what they are doing on the trip. They come because youth trips need adults, but beyond that they are not sure why they are there. We can change this by offering pre-trip training, by providing clear roles, and by having a clear purpose for the adults being on the trip (As mentioned above, my purpose would be mentoring relationships that lead to life change.). Another way to add value to adult volunteers is to write a note to their spouse thanking them for their sacrifice.
Read the rest of Doug's 10 keys on his blog.
If you are ever looking for a great mission trip for your group, check out YouthWorks and their lineup of trips. We also have some great resources to get the most out of your trip: Deep Justice Journeys and Mission Trip Prep Kit.
By Youth Specialties on May 14 2012 | 1 Comments
Four Foundational Summer Priorities
By Jonathan Mckee on May 08 2012 | 4 Comments
After all, everything I do in ministry falls under one of two categories: Outreach or Discipleship. I’m either reaching out to those who don’t know Jesus, or I’m helping believers get to know him better. The question is…how can I use summer vacation to achieve these goals in my ministry to teenagers?
By Jonathan Mckee on May 08 2012 | 4 Comments
Graduation Gifts
By Youth Specialties on May 08 2012 | 0 Comments
Looking for that perfect gift for your graduating student? Check out some of what we have:
The Ultimate Guide To Being A Christian In College
from Jeff Baxter
Are You Ready for the Rest of Your Life? You got the high school diploma, received the college acceptance letter, and have your eye on that dorm fridge. Everything seems new and exciting—-but with those positive feelings come huge questions about what awaits you once you're no longer home but sharing a small room with strangers instead. Don't fear! Here is your essential guide for everything you need to know to survive and thrive.
Retail Price: $9.99
Your YS Price: $8.00
Ruin Your Life
from Chris Folmsbee
Where most teen devotionals teach about God, Ruin Your Life is designed to inspire teens to interact with God in unconventional, creative, honest ways, showing them they are part of an ongoing, artistic narrative between a holy God and his most beloved creation.
Retail Price: $12.99
Your YS Price: $11.00
Lose Your Cool
from Zach Hunter
You don't love a mocha the same way that you love Jesus. As a teen today, you probably have plenty of interests and plenty to plug into. In the midst of the constant stimulus—-activities, media, text messages, and social networking—- activist and fellow teenager Zach Hunter asks: What consumes the bulk of your time? How do you zero in on what really matters?
Retail Price: $9.99
Your YS Price: $8.00
Don't miss our student Bibles; they are a fantastic gift for anytime!
By Youth Specialties on May 08 2012 | 0 Comments
Let’s Go Shopping in the New YS Shop
By Chris Davis on May 04 2012 | 0 Comments
We've been hard at work making a brand new store to make it easier for you to find Youth Ministry resources to help you minister to teenagers.
Broswe through hundreds of books, DVDs, Bibles and other resources selected especially for the Youth Worker.
Some great things about the new store:
-Save at least 15% off of every product
-New Youth Ministry focused Categories
-New Search to make things easier to find
And to celebrate the launch save an additional 10% off our Curriculum and Books for Students Categories.
(Good until May 7th 2012)
By Chris Davis on May 04 2012 | 0 Comments
Free Living With Questions Ebook
By Youth Specialties on April 25 2012 | 12 Comments
Our book Living with Questions is available for FREE for a short time. You can grab it for your Kindle, iPad, or Nook. Written by Dale Fincher for students who are wrestling with some of life's biggest questions.
Download it:
Amazon Kindle Apple iBooks Nook
Here's what it's about:
A practical and personal approach to apologetics for students. How many times has your teacher asked you a question, and you stare blankly at the ceiling, hoping to discover the answer lingering there? It's frustrating when we don't know the answers to the questions we're asked by others, but it can be even more frustrating when we don't know the answers to the questions we are asking ourselves.
Have you ever asked one of these questions?
- Does what I think really matter?
- What is truth?
- Is God there?
- Has God spoken?
- Am I important enough?
- Am I good enough?
- What's so great about heaven?
If you've ever wondered about any of these questions, you've come to the right place. In Living with Questions, Dale Fincher will help you look at each of these questions in such a way that you'll discover clues, helpful tools, and answers—-and what they all mean for your life and your faith. The answers you find will put you on a path to dig deeper and gain confidence in your faith. As Dale addresses the big questions that he's been asked by students across the country, you'll find that you're not alone in your doubt, confusion, or questioning. As you learn to live with questions, even the answers are only steps in the right direction. You'll find how they whet the appetite to go deeper into your purpose on this planet and to discover something big—-yet very personal—-that's worth living for.
This offer won't last long so download it today.
Amazon Kindle Apple iBooks Nook
By Youth Specialties on April 25 2012 | 12 Comments
