Great thoughts from Mark Buchanan interview

Yesterday (Feb 28th, 2014) I got the chance to interview Mark Buchanan. There were a couple of things he talked about that really challenged my thinking.

First, in regards to youth pastors, he talked about valuing the things that are important to your senior pastor. The most important thing in Saul's kingdom period was the fight against the Philistines. While Saul was king, David poured his life into that battle. Goliath was only one part, collecting twice as many foreskins as required was another. We see in David's personal life and in his kingdom period, that the surrounding peoples weren't an issue! David lived and worked amongst the Philistines. David engaged Hittites, Canaanites, etc in his armies! The battle with the Philistines was Saul's passion, not David's; yet David engaged whole heartedly in it while he was under the leadership of Saul. What is it that your supervisor values highly, that isn't an issue for you? Are you willing to pour your heart and energy into that? Mark says that this is what it takes to be an effective youth pastor & team member in your job.

Secondly, Mark talked about his perspective on the Sabbath. I really like his take. To over-simplify.... what is it that you get drained of through the work week? Do you get worn out in your heart? In your head space? In your attitudes? In your physical stamina? What is it for you? Is it your intimacy with God? It is those things that we can ought to pour energy into during our sabbath day. If my soul is worn out, then focus the sabbath on renewing your soul. If I am physically worn out, then focus your energy on physical recovery. I like the idea of: "if you work with your hands, then sabbath with your head and heart. If you work with your head, then sabbath with your hands".  Interesting way of thinking about it.

Anyway, here's a link to the full interview - if you haven't watched it, it might be worth the 30 minutes.
 
VIDEO: interview with mark Buchanan


Dave

Dave Brotherton was a youth pastor from 1984-2006 and now teaches youth ministry at Ambrose University College in Calgary. Dave is also the National Youth Guy for the Alliance churches in Canada, the director of Legacy Youth Conference, and a junior high volunteer in his church. Dave is married to Lisa and they share 2 of the greatest kids in the world. Fishing, camping, and cheering on the Leafs are some of his favorite things. 
twitter: @oldbrotherdave

How In Sync are You?

While vacationing in Las Vegas, we went to see “MUS.I.C” featuring the first winners of America’s Best Dance Crew, the Jabbawockeez.  Unsurprisingly, it was an amazing show and my entire family absolutely loved it.

Within minutes of sitting down (for the sake of the dance crew and the entire audience, I made sure I purchased tickets in the "Absolutely No Chance of Being Called on Stage" section) we were mesmerized by the “audiovisual story of inspiration brought to life through the harmonization of sound and movement.”

A couple of things really stood out to me during the show.  The first one was their trademark white masks.  They wear the expression-less masks so the audience focuses on their dance moves and not on their individual faces.  As well, you then focus on them as an entire unit as opposed to individuals.  Sounds a lot like something I wrote a few weeks ago in my blog “Get Over Yourself.”

The second thing is related to the first: the synchronicity the dancers displayed all evening.  I’m no dance expert (as 99.5% of my family and friends will attest to) but I did appreciate how tight and exact the routines were. 

Which got me thinking:  how “in sync” are you in your youth ministry?

1.  In sync with God.  This should be obvious but it certainly shouldn’t be understated.  We simply cannot give what we don’t have; thus the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.  Are we constantly working on our prayer lives and our knowledge of the faith?  The more we know God the more we will love Him.  And the more that young people will see God living in us and through us.

2.  In sync with your team.  As I alluded to above, the strongest youth ministries are those with the strongest teams and not necessarily the strongest individuals.  It takes a variety of individuals to minster to and with the many young people in the parish and it takes a multitude of people to be able to respond and relate to the many needs of youth. 

3.  In sync with your church community.  We speak constantly about the importance of involving young people in the greater live of the church community.  But often youth ministry is put into its own “silo”.  It might be because we have a “youth-focused” Mass or service where the majority of young people congregate.  It’s our job as youth ministers to make sure that youth are visible and involved in all facets of parish life and not just in youth-related activities.

Just a few things to think about.   Now excuse me as I go look for my old mix tapes.  I feel a good Running Man coming on.

Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years, helping parishes develop their own youth and young adult ministries.  When not doing ministry, Clay enjoys spending time with his family, playing music, playing sports, playing naptime, and writing blogs on topics such as family, faith, and the Vancouver Canucks.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo

Get Over Yourself

Tonight I will be going to watch our Vancouver Whitecaps host the LA Galaxy at BC Place in some MLS (Major League Soccer) action.  There has been a considerable buzz around the city for the last couple of days because of one player: David Beckham.

One may argue that Beckham’s best soccer days are behind him (being left off the British Olympic Soccer Team is a clear indication) but his appeal is undeniable: along with Tiger Woods he is arguably the world’s most renown athlete.  And despite the Galaxy also having all-stars Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane on its roster, the Galaxy goes as Beckham goes.

So it’s not surprising that almost all of the media focus has been on Beckham – it’s even triggered a debate as to whether or not they should open up more seats for the game that’s officially sold out.  It got me thinking about what it would be like to be one of the other Galaxy players; to have the media circus follow the team wherever you went.  Would I enjoy it? Would I be resentful or jealous?  Would I accept it as part of the job?

I remember my first few years in youth ministry at my home parish of St. Paul in Richmond.  I was surrounded by an awesome team of leaders and blessed by a youth ministry coordinator who trusted me despite my relative newness in the Catholic faith (I came into the Catholic Church in April 1993 and was part of the youth ministry team by that fall). 

In my excitement, enthusiasm, and now admitted ignorance, I wanted to be involved in EVERYTHING.  I wanted to be in every skit.  I wanted to deliver every teaching or testimony.  I wanted to make the announcements at Mass.  I wanted to be known as the best small group leader.  I wanted to lead every prayer service.  I equated being the best youth minister to being the most popular youth minister; thus I wanted to be the most popular youth ministry leader at the parish.  Basically, I wanted to be the David Beckham of my parish youth ministry.

Notice how I “wanted” to be all of these things...but I certainly didn’t “need” to be them all.  In terms of “Christian years”, I was by far the youngest and least experienced member of the team.  It’s almost comical now...19 years later...thinking about what a pain I must have been to work with. Certainly I had some decent ideas but scattered among them I’m sure were plenty of bad ones.  I’m so grateful that my peers were patient, understanding, and most importantly, humble.

Looking back, I certainly don’t regret how things turned out: this December I will be celebrating my 10^th year working for the Archdiocese of Vancouver as its Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.  But I do regret how I may have made some people feel, especially if they felt that I was too selfish and/or arrogant.  Over the years, I’ve learned how to delegate, how to trust others, and to humbly accept that other people are simply better than me in certain areas.  In essence, I’ve learned to “get over myself”...although some would argue that I still haven’t mastered that elusive skill. :p

That’s why the best youth ministries are the ones that are run by teams of people and not just one person; where one person will be weak another will be strong.  It takes a variety of individuals to minster to and with the many young people in the parish.  It takes a multitude of people to be able to respond and relate to the many needs of youth.  And it takes an entire team of leaders, bonded by faith, to lead young people closer to Christ.

After all, there is no “I” in “TEAM”.

And it takes an entire village to raise a child. 

Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years, helping parishes develop their own youth and young adult ministries.  When not doing ministry, Clay enjoys spending time with his family, playing music, playing sports, playing naptime, and writing blogs on topics such as family, faith, and the Vancouver Canucks.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo