Having recently returned from our mission trip from Fayette County, West Virginia and having sweated the past week away at Vacation Bible School, I finally have some time to take a breath and collect my thoughts.
First of all, let me say that I am very proud of the small group of students and adults who traveled to West Virginia and served the community and families who are in desperate need. While down there, I learned that the average income is Eight-Thousand dollars per year. That amazes me and appalls me all at that same time. I'm blessed with a steady job and a cozy home and all the other "extras" that I'm able to afford for my family. Yet, just four hours away are other families just scraping by on a fraction of what I make in a year. I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to hopefully make a difference in these people's lives. I am certain that our mission team served well and displayed Christ's love through their actions.
But that's not the only reason I'm proud of them. Here was a group of teenagers willing to sacrifice a week of their summer to get up early, work in the hot sun all day, sleep on the floor of a classroom, sacrifice their cell phones, computers, and televisions, and not complain once, and to actually say to me--"I can't wait until I go on my next one."
Let's not forget our two adults who went along too. Amy and Clint should be recognized as well. They sacrificed a week's vacation to do the same thing, probably working harder during their week of vacation than what they would be working at their regular jobs.
To say that I'm grateful would be true. To say that I'm impressed would be even closer to the truth.
I'm even more impressed when I stop and consider that most of our group turned around and spent their evenings this past week at the church serving as volunteers at this year's VBS. Can you say "motivated by God's Love to make a difference in the world for Jesus?"
At the risk of making some people mad, I'm going to ask this question: What's your excuse?
Believe you me, I've heard a lot of them throughout the years as youth director here, and not only from students. "I only get one week of vacation a year." "I not very handy." "I'm too old." and the classic "I've never done anything like that before." To all of these excuses I only have one response: What's one week out of your year, what's one week of stretching yourself, what's one week of serving God and TRULY being HIS hands to someone in need?
We all have to make sacrifices, but when was your last sacrifice to God? I'm not sure when our next mission trip will be, but I hope that more and more of you will be willing to come join us. I hope that you will come and witness firsthand what a small group of teenagers can accomplish and what they are willing to sacrifice for the Lord.
What's your excuse?
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Youth Ministry Lessons from West Virginia
I just recently returned from a week of work camping in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. I was able to witness all the cliches that go along with that as well. Cars on blocks, lots of dogs running around, and even a miniature horse tied up in a yard being used as a lawn mower of sorts.
Personally, I love West Virginia. I love the mountains and the rivers and I love the accents of the people you meet from West Virginia. It was a great setting to spend a week with a small group of students, working side by side at various work sites. The week was full of hard work, but also full of "youth ministry" opportunities that I'd like to take some time to reflect upon, maybe even some with a southern twang...
Teenagers will always, not just sometimes surprise you. I'm always humbled and awed by what a group of teenagers can accomplish during a week away. When I say accomplish, I don't neccessarily mean just in the physical sense. Students say the most insightful things about faith, about life, and about most anything when we get the chance to pull them away from cell phones and their normal routine.
My group surprised me in their work ethic. Everyday at lunch, they were the first to finish up and start working again. While the rest of the "adults" were still relaxing and watching the clock, my boys went back to work.
As far as spoken insight. Here's the nugget from one of my group who is heading to college at the end of the summer. " I'm going to treat college like prison. I'm choosing my friends carefully, not trusting anyone, rarely making eye contact, and definitely not dropping my soap..." Unorthodox, but good advice nonetheless.
Reinforced also this past week was the fact that teenagers value authenticity. Every evening their was a program time. This included a time to share from the teenagers about how they had seen God work throughout the day, praise and worship, and also a main speaker. Our main speaker was a great guy, but he definitely tried too hard at times. He tried to be cool around the teenagers and the reaction from my group was not positive.
I truly believe that teenagers have a very highly attuned "B.S. meter." They can see a fake a mile away. I've learned through the years that I really only have to be myself. They would rather be with an adult who is a little dorky and not afraid to be themselves than one who is trying to act like a teenager. Relationships have to be authentic to be deep. Teenagers know this all too well.
Lastly, (and here comes the twang!) when you hear the banjos--row harder. Deliverence is a great film on so many levels, but if one piece of advice can be applied to youth ministry from that movie, it is that nugget. When things get weird or hard, we have to keep going no matter what.
Youth ministry if full of disappointment, frustrations, and broken hearts. Luckily, it's also full of a lot of joys as well. Those "banjos" will begin playing from time to time, but we need to remember that just up the river is a better place. I've seen so many youth workers give into those negatives and end up being tied to a tree.
What have I learned? Just keep rowing. Don't wallow in those bad happenstances. Embrace the positives and push through those times when things seem bleak.
I'm definitely tired after that long, hard week spent in West Virginia, but I'm also renewed by the Wild and Wonderfulness of it all as well. Between the strumming of the banjos, I'm glad that God can whisper some truths that we all can pick up on.
Personally, I love West Virginia. I love the mountains and the rivers and I love the accents of the people you meet from West Virginia. It was a great setting to spend a week with a small group of students, working side by side at various work sites. The week was full of hard work, but also full of "youth ministry" opportunities that I'd like to take some time to reflect upon, maybe even some with a southern twang...
Teenagers will always, not just sometimes surprise you. I'm always humbled and awed by what a group of teenagers can accomplish during a week away. When I say accomplish, I don't neccessarily mean just in the physical sense. Students say the most insightful things about faith, about life, and about most anything when we get the chance to pull them away from cell phones and their normal routine.
My group surprised me in their work ethic. Everyday at lunch, they were the first to finish up and start working again. While the rest of the "adults" were still relaxing and watching the clock, my boys went back to work.
As far as spoken insight. Here's the nugget from one of my group who is heading to college at the end of the summer. " I'm going to treat college like prison. I'm choosing my friends carefully, not trusting anyone, rarely making eye contact, and definitely not dropping my soap..." Unorthodox, but good advice nonetheless.
Reinforced also this past week was the fact that teenagers value authenticity. Every evening their was a program time. This included a time to share from the teenagers about how they had seen God work throughout the day, praise and worship, and also a main speaker. Our main speaker was a great guy, but he definitely tried too hard at times. He tried to be cool around the teenagers and the reaction from my group was not positive.
I truly believe that teenagers have a very highly attuned "B.S. meter." They can see a fake a mile away. I've learned through the years that I really only have to be myself. They would rather be with an adult who is a little dorky and not afraid to be themselves than one who is trying to act like a teenager. Relationships have to be authentic to be deep. Teenagers know this all too well.
Lastly, (and here comes the twang!) when you hear the banjos--row harder. Deliverence is a great film on so many levels, but if one piece of advice can be applied to youth ministry from that movie, it is that nugget. When things get weird or hard, we have to keep going no matter what.
Youth ministry if full of disappointment, frustrations, and broken hearts. Luckily, it's also full of a lot of joys as well. Those "banjos" will begin playing from time to time, but we need to remember that just up the river is a better place. I've seen so many youth workers give into those negatives and end up being tied to a tree.
What have I learned? Just keep rowing. Don't wallow in those bad happenstances. Embrace the positives and push through those times when things seem bleak.
I'm definitely tired after that long, hard week spent in West Virginia, but I'm also renewed by the Wild and Wonderfulness of it all as well. Between the strumming of the banjos, I'm glad that God can whisper some truths that we all can pick up on.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Shanking the Shot...
Youth ministry is like playing golf-its hard!! You’ve got to hit that little white dimpled ball, with this little, skinny club, into this little white cup, surrounded by sand traps, water hazards, and rolling hills….and if you’re like me, nine out of ten times the ball doesn’t go where you want it to go.
Youth ministry is the same. You’ve got only a few hours a week with students, dealing with their very short attention spans to hopefully speak a little bit of truth into their lives. And again, nine times out of ten I blow that opportunity.
BUT
There’s always that one “shot” that lands on the green, that one fifty foot putt that we sink, and that one talk that we give that we see a glimmer of recognition in the eyes of a student that keeps us coming back for more.
Though, those nine out of ten failures can definitely be a drag on us mentally and spiritually…
Today, I’d like to share with you some “Truths” that will hopefully help you push through those frustrations that we all encounter in youth ministry and encourage you to keep anticipating those positive breakthroughs.
1. Take care of yourself spiritually.
Those of us who work or volunteer in Youth Ministry are the greatest abusers of spiritual well being. We go nonstop from one event to another to one meeting to another, to one phone call to another. Slow down!! Read some scripture that you will NOT be teaching on later, go on a retreat just for YOU, spend some time alone with God. We’re definitely not the energizer bunny, we can not keep going and going and going…
2. Dwell on the positives
Let’s face it, Youth Ministry is full of messes sometimes. Kids are inconsistent, they don’t commit, families question your skills as a youth worker, even your senior pastor might not quite support you in everything that you do. It’s easy to get bogged down with the negatives, but we must break that cycle. The positives WILL come and when they do we need to celebrate them and party like its 1999 all over again!
3. Give yourself permission to say “NO!”
Who knew that two little letters could hold so much meaning and power? Many of us are “people pleasers.” We want people to like us and we want to be everything to everyone. When we do that, we just leave ourselves open to getting to spread thin and eventually burn out. God wants us to be effective in our ministries and He wants us to be healthy. Practice it, say it, let it become your montra. and when the REALLY important things come along, you’ll have the time and energy to do them well and with enthusiasm. Also, you give yourself the time to spend time at home with your spouse or family or both. We need to stop hurting the ones we love the most, we need to give ourselves permission to say NO!!
The good and the bad, frustrations will come, but because we know they will we can prepare. I’m hoping and praying that you are taking care of yourself, focusing on the postives, and saying “no” a little more often and saying YES to being a healthy youth worker.
Youth ministry is the same. You’ve got only a few hours a week with students, dealing with their very short attention spans to hopefully speak a little bit of truth into their lives. And again, nine times out of ten I blow that opportunity.
BUT
There’s always that one “shot” that lands on the green, that one fifty foot putt that we sink, and that one talk that we give that we see a glimmer of recognition in the eyes of a student that keeps us coming back for more.
Though, those nine out of ten failures can definitely be a drag on us mentally and spiritually…
Today, I’d like to share with you some “Truths” that will hopefully help you push through those frustrations that we all encounter in youth ministry and encourage you to keep anticipating those positive breakthroughs.
1. Take care of yourself spiritually.
Those of us who work or volunteer in Youth Ministry are the greatest abusers of spiritual well being. We go nonstop from one event to another to one meeting to another, to one phone call to another. Slow down!! Read some scripture that you will NOT be teaching on later, go on a retreat just for YOU, spend some time alone with God. We’re definitely not the energizer bunny, we can not keep going and going and going…
2. Dwell on the positives
Let’s face it, Youth Ministry is full of messes sometimes. Kids are inconsistent, they don’t commit, families question your skills as a youth worker, even your senior pastor might not quite support you in everything that you do. It’s easy to get bogged down with the negatives, but we must break that cycle. The positives WILL come and when they do we need to celebrate them and party like its 1999 all over again!
3. Give yourself permission to say “NO!”
Who knew that two little letters could hold so much meaning and power? Many of us are “people pleasers.” We want people to like us and we want to be everything to everyone. When we do that, we just leave ourselves open to getting to spread thin and eventually burn out. God wants us to be effective in our ministries and He wants us to be healthy. Practice it, say it, let it become your montra. and when the REALLY important things come along, you’ll have the time and energy to do them well and with enthusiasm. Also, you give yourself the time to spend time at home with your spouse or family or both. We need to stop hurting the ones we love the most, we need to give ourselves permission to say NO!!
The good and the bad, frustrations will come, but because we know they will we can prepare. I’m hoping and praying that you are taking care of yourself, focusing on the postives, and saying “no” a little more often and saying YES to being a healthy youth worker.
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