Team

Team. Many thoughts and images come to mind when I think of "team" and also many questions.

• what are the key ingredients of a team?
• how big or small should a team be?
• what personalities/experiences/spiritual gifts are required for that team?

Watch this video and think of all the elements of team that you see. This video is of a barn being built by the Amish from the foundation to completion. It is a 10 hour job time-lapsed in to a 3:30min video.

Here is what I see:

1. they have the right resources for the project.
2. they have the right materials to accomplish the project. Foresight: someone organized the materials and the workers to be there for that day
3. they even take a meal break showing there are other people working behind the scenes to assist the build team. The team is much bigger than shown.
4. they picked the right day to accomplish this project.
5. they finished the project. 

Share what others things you saw about team from this video in the comments. 

Many Hands Make Light Work: Amazing what can be accomplished in a 10 hour day.everyone knows what they are to do on this project. 

@JeffSmyth

Is Your Youth Ministry Ready to Grow?

One of the most important decisions any youth ministry needs to face is how to plan for growth. Let’s

be honest, It’s a nice problem to have, but you need to temper any excitement by making sure that you have well laid plans.

You might be a sole youth worker and you’re ready to make your first hires. Or you’re a solid, established youth ministry team thinking about adding a new on sight or off sight location. No matter your size or ambitions, here are a few tips to help you plan to expand.

Ensure God Wants You Grow
Expansion is not only a matter of growth, it’s also a matter of stamina, time, commitment. If you’ve got the fortitude – just like when you were starting out, you’ll be in for some long days – then you need to ensure that you and your youth ministry are ready to grow. It starts with you being honest before God. “It’s not about you. It’s about God!” - Rick Warren. Before you embark on a new journey, you need to know exactly what kind of shape you and your youth ministry is in. Essentially, you need to develop an entire ministry plan with full SWOT analysis in order to successfully chart your new path. That takes time, will, and, most importantly, a healthy balance sheet that is both spiritual and physical.

Be Prepared to Spend
We all know it’s true that you have to spend money to make money. But you have to spend your budget smartly. Consider consolidating your budget resources: spiritual gifts of your ministry team,volunteers, finances, recruitment, students, parents, and the church leadership team. That way you can track all of the resource categories that you can expect to surge as you start to walk this new journey.

A Few Good People
It can be the hardest and also the most rewarding part of ministry – hiring and managing your team. (Yes, you do hire volunteers) But the people who come on board with you are key to your success, especially as you grow. You will need to have processes and policies for dealing with mundane stuff such as vulnerable protection, volunteer role descriptions, expectations and benchmarks. You don’t want to spend your valuable time on these details, but they are very important to your people. Also, software solutions are easily accessible; Evernote, Google Drive, Google Calendar, are great places to start keeping your team organized.

Making Your Move
Do you need a bigger space, either for an office, lounge or gathering room? This may be the most formidable part of your expansion plan, and will entail a lot of site visits around your facility, negotiation with others staff/program leaders. Especially if you’re considering expanding to another part of your facility. Remember that you need to choose the best location based on the needs of your ministry, not just your wants. Off sight might even be something to consider. Creativity is your greatest asset in making your move. Surround yourself with 2-3 creative people and 2-3 people who have the spiritual gift of faith and see what happens. 

If your youth ministry is growing, it’s a sign that God is using you and those on your team – and feeling positive, even celebratory, is perfectly natural. But it’s also important to understand that growth is a disruptive force. A period of significant growth will impact every single aspect of youth ministry – which is why you need to adopt a strategic mindset. Ask youself, “Is my youth ministry ready to grow?” If so, the time to plan is now.

@jeffsmyth

coordinator of community initiatives - scarborough

youth unlimited (tyfc) 

3 words you should never say to our sons

What three words have the potential to result in long term, psychological damage and stress for our sons? What three words should you avoid saying at all costs?

In an up and coming film from The Representation Project (from the team who also brought us the confronting Miss Representation), you’ll see what’s happening in today’s society that is threatening the emotional wellbeing of our boys – and even our girls.

What are your thoughts? Please share them in the comments box below. Also, check out our awesome article for mothers: 5 Guidelines For Mothers Of Sons.

Messy

I was sitting across the table having a one on one conversation with one of my students. He was stuck. He didn't know what to do and he had just told me another version of so many stories I've heard before. I knew I needed to say something as he looked at me with awkward glances.

During our conversation I was listening, taking mental notes, but most importantly I was asking Jesus to give me the words to say to this young man. I think I was begging with Jesus for the right words to say because my initial thought was to say, "suck it up buttercup."

As I took a deep breath about to impart my amazing words of wisdom to this young man he broke the silence by saying, "I'm sorry to bore you with this but I just don't know what to do." I quickly responded with the first word that came to my mind, "Wow!" I thought to myself, "did I say that out loud?" This young man had just poured his heart out to me for the past 15 minutes, asking for my advice and I started my response with 'Wow'. What was I thinking?

Yet, what I didn't realize was that one word would be the hinge that opened the door to our conversation. We continued our conversation for 90 minutes and it sparked other conversations down the road and our interactions went deeper then I could have ever imagined.

This conversation reminded me of some of things I love about youth ministry:
Shepherding students is messy: when I enter the lives of students I must allow them to enter my life. The pain, hurt discomfort and unsettling frustration that they have going on in their lives is when I share with them my stories of pain, hurt, discomfort and unsettling frustration. if teenagers rooms are messy, so are their lives. the one thing that I have to remind myself is that my life is also messy.

Process with students: life is full of things we like and don't like. when you and your students experience one of those things, process with them, but don't allow your emotions to dictate your response with your students. if something was challenging, process with them on how they can learn from it, wether you liked it or not. the big thing about processing with students is that it is a long journey. You cannot expect things to be wrapped up like a teaching session or telling them to read this passage or to just pray about it.

Resource your students: have follow-up resources on file and ready to help your students process through circumstances. if you don't have the answers, don't pretend you do. get resources from other youth workers or experts in specific fields. this is a really pretty way of delegating. you can say to your students, "you know I'm not really sure about that but I know someone who does. let me get you some information about that and after you've checked it out, let's talk some more." students understand it when adults tell them that they don't know something. what they don't understand is when adults claims they know everything. if you have resource file, keep adding to it. if you dot have one, start to put one together.

These are three things that I've found that help me as a youth worker. What would you add to this list?

Here are four resources to add to your resource list or to help you start your first one:

X3Watch: online accountability and integrity. FREE
CovenantEyes: online filter and accountability software.
Pam Stenzel: speaker and resources on biblical sex and sexuality
Dr. Karyn Gordon: canadian, family and relationship expert, her products are excellent.

@jeffsmyth

The Letter

The letter was one page and hand written. It was filled with Encouragement. Hopes. Dreams. Goals. Direction. Questions.

As I read this letter the penmanship was familiar but I could not place it at first. It was a very personal letter as it asked very detailed questions that obviously had intimate knowledge of my life.

It was an encouraging letter in my work with Toronto Youth for Christ, my leadership, vision and direction moving forward into a new year. Was my staff feeling encouraged and valued in not only their work but in their lives.

It then moved into asking me how my commitment to my wife as her husband and best friend or even how I am setting an example to my son as a man, husband and father.

The challenge came when it asked me about specific books that I had just read and they knew the books on my "too read" shelf. Had I been challenged, provoked to action or action from what I read?

At this point I knew who had authored this letter.

This was a letter that I had written to myself 5-months earlier.

This was a fun exercise and allowed me to refocus, remember, challenge and encourage myself based on intimate knowledge of my life.

Even if you actively journal throughout your year, to receive a letter from yourself is like having the image in the mirror talk back to you about your life.

Anatomy of Effectively Planning Ahead

Planing ahead at the end of June is always hard. Who wants to start thinking or even planning strategically about September through June for next school year when the summer this year has only just begun?

Effectively Planning Ahead can be broken down by using a simple template. I've used this template for years and each year I tweak it a little bit more or a little bit less based on the upcoming year. Get you calendar out for 2014-15 and lets get going.

My planning template consists of six components.

1. Non-negotiable: weekly programs and seasonal events that always happen every year go right into your calendar without any hesitation (e.g. winter retreat, mission trip car wash fundraiser in May, fall kick off event, Friday night you or Sunday school). Make sure you have the church calendar for the next year so you don't double book stuff on missions weekend etc...
2. Curriculum: you need to be praying about this and writing notes down about where God what you to go with curriculum and then evaluate the curriculums to get the right one. This can be done by yourself or in a group setting with your leadership team.
3. Journalling: through out your past year, you must be taking notes about everything. Key questions parents have asked, how can we prevent someone from breaking their arm in our pillow fight night, what worked well at your Christmas banquet, what failed when kids got on the roof and the a neighbour called the cops. These are then applied or thoughtfully consider for the next year. 
4. Next Steps: what are those next steps that you need to provide for your students or volunteer leaders to challenge them to go to that next level? Do you need to start a student leadership team or recruit more volunteers? Do you need to focus on Spiritual gifts this year or plan an overseas mission trip?
5. Share the Plan: after you have everything planned out you need to go through several beta tests (3-4) with three groups of people; 2-3 key volunteers and students from your leadership team, church staff, 2-3 key parents.
6. Publish: send out a basic 2014-15 calendar that only marks out key dates ad has no details. You don't need to list your Friday night theme from September through June but you should have you Friday nights in the calendar.

Two key things you should have on every basic calendar is this: 1) youth ministry schedule subject to change without notice. 2) Friday night youth will not be on these four dates: ____, ____, ____, _____.

@jeffsmyth

Change of Mind

What Steve Saint talks about in this video is oh so true about youth ministry today. Actually, it could be applied across the board in many churches.

We need to think different about youth ministry today than we did yesterday. What are your thoughts?

@jeffmyth

ReStart in Youth Ministry

if you are serious about reaching preteens, you need to be serious about providing them with a

picture from LifeWay preteen

space where they feel comfortable. i've seen preteen ministries setup in small rooms, large rooms, medium room and even hallways. they key to opening the door of connection into the church for any preteen ministry is relationships, but don't under estimate the power of decor.

preteens love bright funky colours along with the soothing glow of hd tv's with great sound and video game systems. others love loud physical activity like mini sticks, ping-pong or air hockey. you also need a quieter place to hang out and chat, read or drink a cup of tea.

if i was to start a preteen ministry from scratch, i would set aside a portion of my budget on creating a new, exciting, and inviting spot for preteens.

since budgets are becoming tighter and tighter these days and we being asked to to more with less, here are some creative ways to design and build a preteen room on a tight budget.

• find the largest unused space in your church and ask your leadership for it. a larger space is better for a preteen room so you can have an active and quiet area.
• paint your ceiling tiles or hang old camp t-shirts if you have rafters.
• add unique lighting and furniture ideas throughout the room. ikea is a great option if you have one near you. if not, try a second hand thrift store and go retro in your design.
• ask for old game systems and computers so you can have a technology section.
• scapbook paper and picture design is very powerful and allows preteens to add to the decor of their room.
• collect board games and music for them to pick and choose for their ambience. itunes lets attenders choose their music from a play list if you have wifi access for your kids.
• buy a flat screen tv and show music videos on it or home made ministry event videos.

@jeffsmyth

Youth Ministry #FAIL

the definition of insanity is this: "doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results".

many youth workers today are insane, and not in a good way. let me tell you about one of the biggest secrets about youth ministry that really depends on how right or wrong you think about about it.

prayer.

we must think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our heart. the blood flows ceaselessly, and our breathing continues ceaselessly. none of us are conscious of it, but it's always going on. we are not always conscious of Jesus keeping us in perfect union with God, but if we are obeying Him, He always is.

"Pray without ceasing," keep the childlike attitude of always asking questions of God, always sharing with him your hearts thoughts and feelings all the time.

"Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer, He had the boundless certainty that prayer is always answered. have we by the Spirit the unspeakable certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when God does not seem to have answered our prayers? Every one that asks will receive. We say - "But...but..." Do we expect God to answer prayer? The danger is that we water down the things that Jesus says and make them mean something that correlates with our common sense. The things Jesus says about prayer are supernatural revelations." Oswald Smith - My Utmost for His Highest

Do you expect God to answer your prayers for the students and their families in the youth ministry you have been entrusted to oversee?

Are you giving 10% of your weekly time to prayer?

photo from rimrockchurch.com 

Parent Ministry Resources

One of the most forgotten elements of youth ministry is the focus on parents as it was the focus of last week's post, parent ministry.

Connecting church and home is a very difficult and daunting task for youth workers.

If you are like me, you need a parent ministry plan that will set you on the right course. Other youth workers can design their own plan based and use various resources for support.

Need a Parent Ministry Plan
ParentMinistry.net
This is a great service that allows your kids ministry through youth ministry keep the same branding, messaging and resourcing. Cost: $25 per month.
What you get:

• one video, two emails, and 10 tweets/texts that you customize and send out to the parents in your youth ministry each month.
• give parents resources on a right of passage each year from grade 6 through grade 12.
• parenting toolbox that gives you the resources to build an effective parent ministry.
• event kits on creating impactful parenting events.
• community resources that connects you to other youth workers ministering to parents.

Need Resources for your Parent Ministry Plan
SimplyYouthMinistry.com
Youth Cartel.com
Group.com

Knowing my weakness in parent ministry I would set aside $25 per month from the youth ministry budget and recruit a communication team to run this for me.

What is your parent ministry plan and what resources do you currently use?

Parent Ministry

Let me be honest, parent ministry was not on my radar as a youth worker. It might be on a whiteboard in my office or a notebook as a dream or something that would be a good idea if I had time but I never have time or energy for it. I have good intentions for a parent ministry. Until I make parent ministry an intentional priority, I will always have good intentions about it.

Here is why parent ministry is such a struggle for me:

it's holistic
i move from focusing on a student to an adult(s) and their family dynamics.

the adult me
i need to be an adult when i speak to other adults. i need to face real world adult problems if i get involved in their lives.

extra help
i would potentially get extra help in resources for youth ministry. (parent drivers, event volunteers, material resources, extra help...) why would I ever want that!

communication
i need to build relationships with parents, not just inform them about upcoming youth events by updated Facebook or sending out tweets or an email.

what ideas, tips or resources have worked for you in your parent ministry?

Jeff Smyth

Book Review: I Am Second

I love stories. Especially when you hear about a life that was transformed or changed through an experience that they went through (good or bad). I love when my spirit is bubbling up inside me as I listen to a story and when it gets to the end I can boldly say to the story-teller, "That's the God I know!"

As I sat down to read this book over a few days, I was excited because I had used several of the videos from I AM SECOND in various youth ministry contexts. Each video is visually simple yet powerful, verbally thought provoking, and very inspiring. (I used three "V" words there, cool!). I am also a person who loves things visual, seeing a person share their own personal story, seeing their facial expressions of joy or pain is very powerful. Yet when I read, I love to visualize what I'm reading.

As I began the book I kept having this sense of confusion come over me because it wasn't clear to me who was telling each of the stories I was reading. Every story, through out the whole book, kept switching from first person to third person. I then jumped ahead to a story I had seen on video that impacted me personally and started reading with expectation. I was let down because as a reader I wasn't sure who was telling the story. I was left confused.

There are many ways to tell a redemptive story and I know that the redemption that God offers to each one of us is mind blowing. The big problem I had with the book was that the redemptive story of God seemed hidden, missed, not communicated well, I'm not sure what. When someone has a life changing encounter with the living God it is usually very clear to everyone through two ways: 1) their life changes (behaviour, decisions, attitude, thoughts, language, body language, etc…), 2) the reason for the change is clear, they tell you that it was because of their life intersecting with the living God and his son Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some of the stories in the book I AM SECOND seem to lack a depth of the redemptive story and the life change that each person went through when they encountered God through Jesus Christ. I'm not sure if that's because the authors wanted it that way or if the person telling the story was not coached on how to tell the story of the redemptive work of God in their life.

Overall, if you are looking for a book to read about how various people go through a rough/rock-bottom experience and they emerge on the other side without drowning and discover God, then this is a book you will enjoy. If you are looking for a book that is very well written and explains in detail the redemptive work of Jesus in the life of various people, then this is not the book for you.

My recommendation is to watch the I AM SECOND videos for free. The book is not a must have on my book shelves. Stick with the videos.

Urban Mission Experience: REMIX

I have been involved with REMIX for many years as a youth pastor and now on the teaching team. This is a weeklong urban mission experience that could help you in one of these ways:

1) summer camp staff training

2) students experience reaching out for the first time (Jerusalem, Judea... Acts 1:8)

3) overseas mission team prep and training before you leave.

June 29th - July 4th in Toronto!

• 20 Years
• 5000+ Teens
• 350 Youth Groups
• Local Focus - Global Impact

This should be your missions trip in 2014!

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

REMIX is a week-long interactive and hands-on urban mission experience designed to equip, train and inspire young people to 'centre their lives within the mission and message of Jesus'. Each REMIX participant will receive in-depth training each day, be engaged in afternoon mission opportunities throughout Toronto and be a part of large group celebration gatherings each evening.

The following is the outline and flow of our week at REMIX:

• DAY 01: ENCOUNTERING God's Love
• DAY 02: MEETING people through Jesus' eyes
• DAY 03: CARE through listening and learning
• DAY 04: CONNECT with God's community
• DAY 05: SHARE God's truth
• DAY 06: FOLLOW Jesus' Mission
• 
  

Catch

Today before walking to the bus I played catch with my 7yr. We had an extra few minutes before we had to leave so we were both talking about it being opening day across major league baseball today. The Smyth family are huge Toronto Blue Jays fans and after a disastrous 2013 season we are now on the verge of a new season which brings hope. Hope for a better season, better pitching, actually better everything over last year.

Once you choose hope, anything is possible!

So my five minutes before our walk to the bus brought up many memories for me. You see, I grew up without a father so actually playing catch with my son is very special for me. He is experiencing something that I was never able to experience. He is talking about hope with dad, he is making crazy throws and diving for catches and we are both laughing together because when you play catch with your dad, anything is possible.

Now in your own life, when you are alone and it is just you and God, do you have hope? When you are with your family at mealtime, doing homework or playing, do you have hope? As you prepare and plan for your youth ministry for today, this week, this month, this season, do you have hope? Anything is possible in any area of your life!

Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

-  1 Chronicles 29:15 

Jeff loves Jesus, his wife and family. He has been married for 12 years and he has one of the most energetic boys in the world. Jeff is also a life long fan of the Toronto Blue Jays & Montreal Canadiens. You can connect with Jeff online: Jeff Smyth Blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+

The History of Saint Patrick - a Short Story

Oscars 2014: 3 Things I Learned

The 2014 edition of The Oscars was last night. If you were like me and you had your winning picks for all the various categories,  the one thing that was evident was that there was something very different about this annual award show by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

It was a visually stunning show and everyone looked stunning regardless of who will win and lose your best dressed, speeches, musical performances and this years host Ellen DeGeneres.

Here are 5 Things I Learned from watching the Oscars last night:

FUN
Three big fun moments were when host Ellen DeGeneres ordered pizza, took a selfie that broke Twitter and then appeared in a Wizard of Oz good witch outfit. The Oscars are stressful on so many levels for the nominees. It was great to see them relax, be spontaneous, enjoy the many moments of the night and the show.

Are you having fun in your youth ministry role?


HUMILITY
I love when you see and hear an acceptance speech that is genuine. My favourite speech were from Lupita Nyong’s and it set the tone for the night and it seemed that almost every winner was genuine, humble and truly thankful for the honour of receiving and Oscar.

Do you celebrate the God moments in the lives of students?


CELEBRATION
One night out of the year where many were celebrated focusing on the hard work, dedication and results that has allowed these movies, actors and the behind the scenes people to rise to top of their craft. I’m sure that being nominated for an Oscar and not winning would be heart breaking, yet they were strong enough to celebrate for their colleague who won the Oscar.

When and how do you celebrate the students and youth workers around you in your local church and youth ministry?


Jeff Smyth has been in youth ministry for 15 years and is now working with Youth Unlimited (Toronto YFC) in Scarborough. Jeff focuses on developing community initiatives with local organizations and local churches reaching out to numerous high priority neighbourhood youth and families.  Jeff is an alumnus from Liberty University/Theological Seminary and Arrow Leadership. Jeff has been married to Heather for 12 years and they have one of the most energetic boys in the world, Nathan. Jeff is also a life long fan of the Toronto Blue Jays & Montreal Canadiens.
You can connect with Jeff online: Jeff Smyth Blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+

Seeing Through the Fog: Book Review

Has your world ever fallen apart? On more than one occasion mine has fallen apart. My wife Heather has journeyed through the last 15 years of her life with leukaemia + a bone marrow transplant. You can read her story here: www.smythfamily.wordpress.com

That's why I was so intrigued to read Ed Dobson's new book, Seeing Through the Fog: Hope When Your World Falls Apart.

Ed has written one of his best books about his own eleven year struggle with ALS. He shares his heart, struggle and emotions from the point of his diagnosis + physical deterioration + seeking forgiveness + spiritual journey + thinking of the after life.

We ask for forgiveness. And we forgive others who ask us. In that way, we can experience healing, healing in our souls. - Ed Dobson

Regardless of how your world might be falling apart right now, Ed's book is MUST READ!

Follow Ed's Story.com

You can purchase Ed's book through Amazon below.

One of Canada's Best Youth Ministry Family Gatherings

Today's Teens Conference
I have been attending #TTC for over 10 years and it keeps getting better every year. What I love about it; it's a one day conference that provides a Friday night for parents, the next day brings a full Saturday with specific tracks designed for students and youth workers. All of this happens within a 24hr period. It's a day that is affordable, it's one of Canada's largest youth ministry family gatherings. The only downside is that it's only location is Toronto.

I have been involved with TTC as a workshop presenter and attender and it is one of the best conferences that I have ever been a part of. If you live within a 2-3 hours drive Today's Teens which is scheduled for Feb. 21-22, you need to make this a priority to attend.

YOU WILL EXPERIENCE ALL IN ONE DAY:

OVER 30 WORKSHOPS FOR YOUTH WORKERS

OVER 18 WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS

2 GENERAL SESSIONS FOR YOUTH WORKERS

2 GENERAL SESSIONS FOR STUDENTS

1 INTERACTIVE "TOGETHER" EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS & YOUTH WORKERS

100’s OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE

30 EXHIBITORS

GREAT WELCOME BAG AT BEGINNING OF CONFERENCE

SPECIAL MUSICAL GUESTS / BREAK-DANCERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Main Speakers:
Parents night and Youth Worker Track: Mark Devries
Student Track: Mike Gordon

You can follow this event on Facebook and Twitter

Today's Teens Promo Downloads:
- Brochure
- Poster

TTC Registration

Today's Teens: Feb 22, 2014

BE SURE TO REGISTER EARLY AS WE HAD OVER (opens Nov 1, 2013)


1600 Attended last year

This one-day experience is an affordable conference that is able to bring together worldwide recognized speakers, many local youth ministry leaders, an interactive learning experience, a host of free resources and access to more of the newest supplies.  This is more than just a conference, it is an annual experience that has been partnering with youth ministries across Ontario to see more youth effectively engaging and living out the message of Jesus.
The TODAY’S TEENS CONFERENCE has been one of the leading youth ministry conference for the last 29 years.  As the times have changed, so has this one-day experience.  This year we will continue to have specifically designed programs for youth workers and students while providing an additional special parent’s night on the Friday.  It is amazing to think that in one weekend there can be one conference that caters to so many needs - why give up an extra weekends, when you can get everyone equipped together in one place.  So we want to work with you this year to be able to make it a whole weekend experience for your ministry. 
The future of young people is our passion at Youth Unlimited.....  We see their unlimited possibilities and want to help them by addressing their personal, material, and spiritual needs.  We know that as a youth worker you share the same passion.  It is our goal to assist you with high quality training that will help you take your youth to a higher level of commitment.  We have a great line up of speakers and music that we believe will go a long way to helping you do the best job possible of reaching young people for Christ.

  We've spent months preparing with your team in mind—from volunteers to veterans, from novices to know-it-alls.  After 29 years of being committed to equipping and resourcing the needs of youth ministry across Ontario, we are just as committed and passionate to partner with local ministries as they dream to impact their communities for Jesus. 

Shutting Down Your Youth Ministry

Have you ever thought about doing this? I’m not talking about shutting it down, closing the doors and never opening them again. What I’m talking about is shutting down your youth ministry over Christmas break, march/spring break, easter weekend, or over the summer.

I’m seeing this more and more and as I speak to youth workers, this is not just denominational specific. This is

Design this, you have time to plan for your youth group.

happening right across denominational lines.

The reasons for this epidemic of shutting our youth ministry down are from paid  and volunteer youth workers:

• i don’t have the resources
• i’m not a paid youth worker
• i have a family
• i have vacation
• we are giving the kids a break
• we give pour volunteers a break
• most of our students go away at this time
• what's your reason?

My response:

• your kids don’t care about resources, they care about you in their life.
• you have not been a paid your worker the rest of the year.
• did you have a family the rest of the year?
• take your vacation. enjoy and rest. let someone else take the lead for the youth ministry.
• kids and youth workers take breaks all the time when they can’t make it out during the rest of the year.
• most of your students going away is not ALL. You need to get over the numbers game your playing and address this with God. It’s not about most but about one.

The one thing I know about youth workers, paid or volunteer, is that you are creative enough to over come obstacles. Just because the school calendar tells us that their is no school does not give us the right to say to our students that God has entrusted to us that their is no youth group scheduled.

There are many reason why youth workers honestly cancel youth group and here are three I have seen:

• insecurity
• control
• greed

Surprise your kids and church by not cancelling your youth group over break. Create a new plan and involve your students to help you accomplish it. They will surprise you, guaranteed! 

Pray and ask God:

Do what ever it takes in me

for your kingdom

for my freedom

so that others may see Jesus

Manic Monday

OVERFLOW

Moses raised another objection to GOD: "Master, please, I don't talk well. I've never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer."

GOD said, "And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn't it I, GOD ? So, get going. I'll be right there with you—with your mouth! I'll be right there to teach you what to say.” - Exodus 4:10-12 (The Message)

Do you ever wonder why God chose you to work with teenagers? Have you questioned whether you have what it takes, whether or not you’re relevant enough to relate to them? By yourself, you’re not. With God, you are.

God wants the grace, love, and truth he poured into your life to overflow into their lives. On your own you are not

enough; with God’s grace you have way more than enough. With God’s help, Moses, who was not very good with words and who got tongue-tied, confronted Pharaoh and led the Israelites out of Egypt. If God can do all that, he can use you to share the great news of God’s love with teenagers.

Life Coaching
What concerns do you have about your ability to relate to teenagers?


How has God shown himself faithful to be more than enough fo your needs and the needs of your students?


Prayer
Lord, you made me and you know me better than I know myself. Fill me up until your love, your power, your grace, your truth, and your presence overflow through my life into the lives of students I work with. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jeff Smyth was a youth pastor from 1996 - 2009 and is now working with Youth Unlimited (Toronto YFC). Jeff is married to Heather and they one of the most energetic boys in the world. Jeff is also a loyal fan cheering on the Blue Jays & Canadiens.
You can connect with Jeff online: Jeff Smyth Blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+