Monthly Archives: January 2012

01.30.12
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3 Reasons Students are leaving the church after graduation

The title to this blog post is no secret to student ministry. I have heard a statistic as high of 80% of students are leaving the church within 2 years after they graduate high school. I used to think that was an over exaggerated statistic, but as I look into our church, it is not that far off. It is actually pretty accurate. Okay, maybe a little. I would say 70% are leaving the church within 2 years after graduation. We see this statistic, and it begs the question, WHY? Why are they leaving? I wrote a post a while back on how to keep them in church after graduation, and you can read this here. This is not on how, but rather, why they are leaving. Here are 3 reasons why I see students leaving the church after high school graduation:

  1. Lack of Involvement to the local church- I look at our students who continue in church after graduation, and there is an involvement in the local church…well, most of the time. Okay, the majority of time. They were connected to the local church, and not just the student ministry. If we are not careful, we can grow a student ministry, and lose tons of those students, because they were only connected to the student ministry, and not the local church. Connect and use them in your church. Find areas for them to serve and be involved in the church, and not just the student ministry. Students crave ownership over their student ministry, and this is why they are so faithful. So, why not take that principle, and apply it to the local church.
  2. Parent Back Up- Parents are huge in the spiritual success of students! I look at my core student leaders, and the majority of them have solid parents who are backing them up and teaching Biblical principles in the home. This is why parent ministry is so big! I encourage our small group leaders to reach the parents, and not just the students! If you can get the parents in church, the odds are better for the students to get connected in the local church as well.
  3. Generalized Preaching- You might be thinking, what does this mean? I thought of this recently, and it made sense, and I hope that this makes sense to you. For years (at least in the circles that I have grown up in) have generalized our preaching. We use clichés from the pulpit, and phrases such as “Stand for God,” “Live for Jesus,” “Be bold,” “Be strong,” “Be courageous,” “Do right,” etc. These are all good, and nothing is wrong with these clichés, but for the younger generation, they are asking, How? How can we do this or what does this mean? For years, we have taught “Do this and Do that,” and have slowly made our Christianity generalized, and not authentic. If you want to keep your students, make the preaching Biblical, and practical. Give the Bible to them in a practical, “How to” type of way, and make the “do points” of your preaching right where the students are at. Do not generalize your preaching and your points for the message, because you are going to have a group of students asking, why and how?  We live in a simple and practical society, and our preaching should be the same so that the students can grasp it and leave church applying the Bible instead of asking questions like, “how can I do that” as they leave the service.

I hope that this blog post has been a help to you. If you have any thoughts on the subject, you can always comment or email me. I hope to hear from you soon.

01.27.12
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Student Ministry Fund Raiser Ideas

The economy is as bad as it has ever been, and this is affecting ministry. Parents struggle to send students to camp, all nighters, conferences, and other random stuff that student ministry brings. They desire to send their students, but can they afford it? This is where fund raisers come in. Fund raising used to have this dark cloud over it, but now, it is essential in my opinion to help your families be more involved in your student ministry. Here are a few fund raiser ideas for you:

  • Teen Cafe- This is something that we have done in the past, and it has worked really well. We will serve a meal to the church on a Sunday night after church. We have served hot dogs, burgers, and other things at these meals. We have the students attending the event that you are raising money for serving the people. We take orders, serve drinks, and clean tables. It is like a restaurant. We always throw a theme in there that we dress accordingly too. You do this by donations only.
  • Church Wide fellowship Meal- This is very similar to the Teen Cafe, but you serve a Wednesday meal before youth group/main service to your church people and the community, and you take donations. The students serve the meal and clean up afterward.
  • Appleby’s Flapjack Fund Raiser- This is a new one, but it sounds legit. We have one scheduled, and I am super stoked about it. Appleby’s opens their restaurant on Saturday mornings for you to serve breakfast to people. You sell tickets ahead of time to know the number to prepare for. The students will host, serve, deliver food, bus tables, and clean dishes. You sell the tickets for as much as you like, and Appleby’s require about $3 per person for the food. They give you 3 pancakes, 2 sausage patties, unlimited drinks.
  • Krispy Kreme Cards- These are cards for discounts on a dozen krispy kreme donuts. Everyone loves krispy kreme so this is a huge success every time!
  • Car Wash- I am shocked at how many people love getting their cars washed from students. This is always a huge success for us, and this year, we are hoping to do 2 different locations. You do this by donations, and you will be shocked at how many you get.

I would encourage you to plan ahead (even though this is against a student pastor’s job description), and spread these out for great results. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me by sending me a direct email or by commenting below:

01.26.12
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Student Ministry Event Idea- Geocache

How many of you have ever heard of Geocache? This is a legit event idea for your students. We have done this with our students, and they love it. Here is my review of the game:

What is Geocache? It is (in a nutshell) an electronic scavenger hunt. You have to have a smart phone or a handheld GPS. People all over the country have started hiding geocache’s for people to find. Some of them are big and some are small. By the way, it is not money, many people think that it is money, but it is not. It can be a little old school film case, or as big as an army box. Inside you will find something for you to sign saying that you found it, and some you will need to leave something random in the box.

How to Geocache? The easiest way is to download the app from the apple store or the Android market. When you download the app, you open it to find the 3 closest geocache’s that are too your location. You can navigate to it, and it will immediately begin to show you how to get there. You can look at the compass view or the roadmap view. It will lead you there, and tell you exactly when you are close. Each geocache gives a description, and most give you a hint in finding it. When you find it, you sign the paper in the geocache, and go and find another one.

Why Geocache? I like it because it is cheap! It is free to do. You can have a geocache party, and just charge prize cost and food cost. It also is fun for the students. They enjoy looking for something random, and going out with another to try to find it. It is a challenge to them.

Helpful ideas in planning a large geocache event:

  • Have groups of 6- If you can have groups of 6, I have found that this is the best. If you have much less than this, it gets to be no fun, and too many is not fun either. 6 is a great number for a group.

 

  • Start each group in a different area. Each group needs to be at least 15-20 minutes apart to make it work or each team will be going after the same geocache, and running into each other. Have a plan to start them in different areas of town.

 

  • Have a time limit- Set a time for each group to return back, and deduct points for every minute that they are late. This gives them an incentive to make sure that they are on time.

 

  • Have each group take photos of their entire group with the geocache
01.25.12
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Thoughts on Love

Love is so important in today’s society. Many people (saved or unsaved) say that we should love one another, and that we should be kind one to another. This is the norm for society and the culture in which we love. God speaks of love throughout the Bible. After all, He is love. It is not just what He does, it is who He is. “God is love.” The famous verse in Scripture, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This is a different kind of love that the world thinks that they need and to demonstrate. God’s love is an Agape form of the word, love. This word simply means sacrificial. This is the kind of love that He demands that we have to each other and to the entire world.

The book of I John uses the word, love, over 30 times. In chapter 3, we see several thoughts about the love that we should have in us and flow through us:

  1. Love is a sign of our faith- Verse 14 says, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love our brothers.” He says in verse 19 that we know the truth, because of our love. The way that you love one another is a reflection of what love (Jesus) has done in you. How is your love? If it is not good, it is a reflection of your faith…..or lack of.
  2. Love should be shown in action- Verse 18 of I John 3 says, “Little children we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth.” It is action. Jesus loved us so much that He gave. Romans 5 says, “But God demonstrated His love…” If He demonstrates His love to us, then, why can we not demonstrate our love to others? True love should be shown in our actions.
  3. Love is the way to a pure heart- Verse 19 says, “assure our hearts before Him.” This is speaking of our conscience and the cleanliness of our hearts. The way to maintain a clear heart before God is by loving one another. If you are loving Jesus the right way, your love for others will be a reflection of that.

How is your love? We live in a day where everyone is craving love. Love is action, and ultimately is a reflection of your heart.

01.24.12
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Principles to help teach students how to use social media

We live in the most social world that we have ever lived in. When I was growing up, it was beginning to take shape. I remember when I was in high school, cell phones were just becoming big for students to carry around. It was the day where you carried the huge Nokia phone, and whoever had the newest face plate for the phone or had the highest score on snake was the coolest! Instant Messenger and email were around, but never too big, but occasionally we used it. Nothing came close to communicating with our friends in person though. Today, things are drastically different, and that was only 10 years ago. In the past 10 years, social networking has become one of the largest businesses in the world. It is the best way to market your product, blog, thoughts, or simply to connect with others.

I wonder how many of you have had an instance in your student ministry where a student communicated or lashed out on their social site, but would not have done it in person. This happens in students and parents, because we have lost sight of consistency with our communication. If we are not careful, we will allow our students to communicate one way on their social network, and another in person. Here are a few of the top social sites used by students today: Facebook, twitter, myspace, bebo, and google+.

Students communicate in totally different ways now, but that does not change the Biblical principles of communication!

Ephesians 4:”Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.”

God holds parents accountable while they are in your care. He loans them to you and expects for you to teach them the principles found in Scripture about communication. Student Pastors are here to back up and to reinforce what is going on at the home. You are the parent and it is the responsibility of a parent to teach/train/discipline, and the student pastor to reinforce that teaching!

Personal: I see pictures that are questionable, I see disrespectful and demeaning of authority, profanity, bullying, and negativity on social media. How can we use social media more effectively, and how can we teach students to use it the right way? Here are some principles (not absolutes) for student pastors and parents to teach their students on using social media:

  1. If you do not want your authority (Parents, Leaders, teachers, pastor) to see it, do not post or tweet it!
  2. Teach them the importance of using consistency in their communication. If they would not say it, do not post it! Never lash out or complain about something in church or school on social media. These things need to be handled in person like the Bible teaches.
  3. Teach them to think before they tweet! This would eliminate so many problems. Just think about what they are about to tweet or post before they go through with it. This is the goal. You should have a goal to teach students so that eventually they can make good decisions using social media on their own.
  4. Teach them that their social media page is an extension of who they are. You can tell who a person is normally by looking at their facebook page. It does not take much. You can see what they are interested in, if they are dating, what movies they enjoy, music preferences, and much more. Students need to be taught that their facebook page is an extension of who they are.
  5. Monitor your student’s social sites! This is not popular especially for the students, but I feel that this is the responsibility of the parents. This could eliminate so many problems for our students if they had the parents checking up on how they are using their social sites.
  6. Teach them that social media is an excellent way to share their faith- They can be a great example of Jesus on their site, and point people toward Him if they use it the right way. They need to be reminded of this fact all of the time.
I mentioned above that these are principles, not absolutes. The goal should be to train and teach our students about social media so that they can learn to make good decisions on their own using social media.
As always, thoughts, ideas, and comments are appreciated and welcomed. Just use the comment box below:
01.18.12
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5 Reasons you should R.S.V.P. NOW for Parent/Leader Luncheon

If you are not signed up for this Sunday’s parent/small group leader luncheon, I seriously want you to consider signing up for the luncheon.
Here are 5 reasons why you should R.S.V.P. today for the Parent/Leader Luncheon:

  1. It is important that you have a relationship with the small group leader investing weekly into your student. Look, if someone is spending this much time with my kid, I will want to know about them and who they are. It is our responsibility as parents.
  2. It is important that you have a relationship with the student pastor and his wife. Now, I am not just saying this, because I am the student pastor. No, I believe it! If I am not my daughter’s student pastor, I will want to know who she is with every Wednesday. It is important for you to try to reach out and build a relationship with us! We want to get to know you better!
  3. To learn practical principles on parenting a teenager in today’s youth culture. Now, I am not the parent of a teenager, but I understand teen culture. I read about it almost every day, and I experience it working with them. I would love to meet with you throughout the year and share helpful principles on how to parent a teenager in today’s culture. Sign up for this weekend’s parent/leader luncheon to receive insight regarding social media.
  4. To eat. This one is simple. We love to eat, and this is a free lunch for you and your family. Our leaders are making the food, and all you have to do is show up.
  5. To fellowship with other parents. I love times like this more because of the fellowship than anything else. You will get to speak and hang with other parents going through the same struggles or victories that you are. It is always good to join together in praying for one another and getting to know one another better.

The luncheon is held this Sunday (January 22) from 12:15 (after the 11:00 am service) until 2:00 pm. The cost is free, but we will be sending out a leader sign up sheet this afternoon! Parents, you do not need to bring anything, just you and your family. You can R.S.V.P. below:

01.17.12
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How to Leave a Ministry the right way

This is a blog post that was generated by an article that I read on church leaders. I have left one ministry and joined another. I learned more during the transition that I have ever learned before. God taught me so much about life and ministry during this growing time.

Leaving a position can be very hard and difficult. Most of the time student pastors leave because they struggle connecting with the senior pastor, the culture of the church, or a philosophical difference. These reasons for leaving are valid, but also carry a great deal of baggage with them as well. For instance, if you are leaving because of a difference between you and the senior pastor, that is tough to explain to people in an honest fashion without causing division within the church.

  1. Encourage change in your student ministry- I try to keep change in front of my students and leaders all of the time. I try to change little things here and there to make sure that they are used to change. If you do things the exact same way every single time, when you leave, it will be difficult for a new person (who is not you) to come into the picture and make things work. He will have different ideas, thoughts, and vision, and the people should support him.
  2. Allow your leaders to lead- You are still the student pastor, but if you can have them lead more often while you are still on staff, it will help a new guy coming in! Also, if there is a time where they are without a student pastor, the leaders can handle the ministry if they have been trained to lead while you were there.
  3. Love your students & speak about this to them- When you leave a position, you need to address your students! Do not address all of the issues if there are bad issues involved, but address them. Show them that you love them and their families. By the way, invite their families to join in this time when you address them. They need to know that you take your relationship with them very seriously! Do not be afraid to show emotion or value on your relationship with them, because they and their families need to see this. Also, explain the importance of supporting the next guy who comes in!
  4. Leave Quietly- This is very tough to do if there are problems with why you are leaving, but this is the right and respectable thing to do!  I believe this more now than when I was actually leaving my first position. You do not have to explain to every person who asks the exact reason why you left especially if it is a disagreement with leadership! For some reason, we tend to feel we must voice why we left to everyone, and this sometimes can cause discord among the community of believers, and this SHOULD be the last thing you desire.
  5. Move on- Go to the new ministry that God has for you and go “ALL IN” there! Do not try to undermine the new student pastor by pastoring your students. I recommend leaving the area, but if God has other plans and keeps you in the area, stay there, and do His will, but be careful with trying to pastor the students when there is another guy there. Do not completely cut off relationships, but keep that relationship strong and healthy!
01.16.12
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Coaching Network Opportunity

Every student pastor needs accountability. Whether you want it or not, you need it. We all need to be accountable to someone. Every student pastor needs teaching. When we reach a point where we feel that we do not need any further teaching or growth, we might as well quit, because we will not go any further in ministry. Every student pastor needs healthy relationships. This is huge, and one of the reasons why many student pastors fall out of the ministry. It is a lack of healthy relationships. We need healthy friendships outside of our church that we can vent and share burdens with. Many student pastors fall out of the ministry, because of a lack of one or all of these things. I am writing today to encourage you to consider joining a network that offers each of these three things and MUCH MORE…

Each of these three things are offered by my good friend, Terrace Crawford! Terrace is a mentor to students and youth workers and has great insight on student ministry. He founded, the “Youth Worker Coaching Network” last year, and through this ministry, he provides the three things that I mentioned above: 1. accountability 2. teaching 3.Relationships. It is a 6 month process where Terrace comes alongside of you to coach you in your student ministry. He provides help and training for young student pastors. He enjoys investing in you, the student pastor or youth leader.

Here are a few reasons why you should consider joining the Coaching Network offered by Terrace Crawford:

  1. I’ll be your personal coach and cheerleader for 6 months.
  2. You’ll get practical guidance and personal counsel.
  3. You’ll get a weekly phone call with yours truly.
  4. You’ll get encouraging but constructive feedback.
  5. You’ll get occasional free books from publishers.
  6. You’ll get the shared experience with other network participants.
  7. You’ll get chat sessions with notable thought-leaders.
  8. You’ll get other free resources too…. and other fun surprises!
To learn more about the Coaching Network, check out this promo video below or visit terracecrawford.com
You can also apply for the Coaching Network here.

You can apply for the Coaching Network offered by Terrace here. Check it out!!

01.13.12
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Friday Grove Newsletter

As you know, I pastor the students in the Grove student ministry. We send out a weekly newsletter called, Get Connected. I have found that keeping things in front of your leaders and parents on a weekly basis is the best way of communicating and keeping them updated. It works for me, but may not work for others.

If you want to check out the newsletter that came out today, go here. Hope this helps if you are a member of the Grove, and if not, I hope that this will give you ideas in your ministry.