Youth Ministry is So Advent

Source: www.thepracticingcatholic.com

Advent is about waiting.  Anticipating.  Expecting.  Preparing.  Hoping.  This sounds a lot like youth ministry to me.

We wait for youth to commit their lives to Jesus.  We wait for them so we can start our youth gatherings.  We wait for their parents to come pick them up at the end of our events.

We anticipate the arrival of youth at our gatherings with our eyes fixated on the door.  We anticipate their confusion or their silence when we are preparing small group discussions.  We anticipate their excitement when we announce the dates of retreats and rallies.

We expect the youth to behave when they are at Church.  We expect that more youth will come out to social events than teaching nights.  We expect that Father will ask us “So how many people came to youth ministry last night?”

We prepare prayer services, social justice excursions, and skits.  We prepare snacks to serve the youth either before, during, or after the gathering.  We prepare them to be able to share their testimonies with a world that so desperately needs to hear them.

We hope that we are making a difference in the youths’ lives.  We hope that they make good decisions especially in the face of temptation.  We hope that their homes are stable and that their friends are good.

Most of all, we love them where they are at and we lead them to an encounter with Jesus Christ.

Just as Christ entered the world to love and encounter us.

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   

The Greatest Disqualifier in Youth Ministry: Lack of Preparation

Image Credit: Values.com

When I was in Boy Scouts, they had a motto that stemmed from the founder, Robert Baden-Powell:

Be prepared.

It meant to be at the ready in both mind and body to do one's duty, having the discipline and wherewithal to know the right thing to do at the right moment, and have the right skills and mindset to actually...you know...do it. (I was never a great Scout. I'd just giggle every time someone said "duty.")

I was recently talking with a friend about the various struggles we face in youth ministry, and the following statement came tumbling out of my mouth:

"The greatest disqualifier for legitimacy in youth ministry is a lack of preparation."

I said it as a passing comment, but it stuck in my mind.

Organizationally, many in youth ministry have the reputation of "winging it." Through making last minute requests, turning in forms and request past deadlines, and having poor budgeting and calendaring skills, a person with a great heart for people loses traction due to slapdash methodologies.

Emotionally and relationally, a number of leaders in youth ministry burn out due to lack of healthy boundaries, inability to deal with criticism, or the drain of carrying others' burdens on their own shoulders. They weren't prepared to handle the emotional weight of ministry, and buckled under the load. Perhaps they weren't prepared with healthy boundaries, and fell into sexual sin and temptation.

Spiritually, we too often become branches disconnected from the vine of Christ, trying our best to be spiritual leaders without finding regular rest and rejuvenation in the One who gives us abundant life.

I wonder if our tribe's lack of preparation is connected to an inadequate vision of one's duty.

Let me unpack that.

Our duty--our calling from God into ministry as shepherds and spiritual guides and disciple-makers and teachers and leaders--stems from God, and God alone. When I am relying on my own strength and energy and efforts to accomplish ministry tasks and functions, I begin to lose perspective on what matters most and who God has created me to be. When I am humbled and must rely on God for His strength and wisdom and grace, I'm reenergized to dive back into who God has created me to be and what He's created me to do, and to prepare accordingly. 

I can only prepare if I know who I am and where I'm headed, what I'm supposed to be doing in the first place. If I'm a hockey player, I show up to the game prepared with a certain set of skills and equipment. Those are very different skills and equipment if I'm going to play basketball. Or practice guitar. Or preach a sermon. Or lead a small group discussion. Or sit across from a student in a coffee shop and just be present with them.

2 Timothy 4:2 says to be prepared in season and out of season. For what? Preaching the Word of God; correction, rebuke, and encouragement, with great patience and careful instruction. This doesn't just mean "stand on a stage and preach a message." It requires a knowledge and love of Scripture that soaks into our minds and hearts and leaks out in our everyday lives. Spiritual disciplines and practices matter--they're called practices because they're meant for training, rehearsing, polishing the rough edges of our souls. When we're not practiced and prepared, when we've forgotten to hone the skills and bring the right equipment, when we ignore our identity and vocation, we disqualify ourselves from effective ministry with others.

So youth ministry tribe: let's strive to be prepared, in season and out of season, to do our duty with those we're called to shepherd and love in the name of Jesus. 

And let's make sure to giggle every single time someone says "duty." It's our...well...duty.

What do you think? Agree or disagree with my statement? What practices are you trying to stay prepared in youth ministry?

--
Joel Mayward is a pastor, writer, husband, and father living in Langley, British Columbia. He’s been serving in youth ministry since 2003, and is currently the Pastor of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at North Langley Community Church. A writer for numerous youth ministry publications and author of Leading Up: Finding Influence in the Church Beyond Role and Experience, Joel writes about youth ministry, film, theology, and leadership at his blog, joelmayward.blogspot.ca.

No More Lone Rangers

It was a last minute decision one night this past summer to go see the Lone Ranger with some friends. Here are some words that describe the Lone Ranger: mysterious, unknown, vigilante, angry, alone, (insert your own word here)______________.

Lone Rangers are arriving on the youth ministry landscape on a regular basis, I’m sure you’ve seen them. They are not bound by age, gender or ethnicity, however those are a few of the commonalities to Lone Rangers.

Two common characteristics of Lone Rangers in youth ministry:

1) No Team: they like to run everything yet complain how much youth ministry is draining the lit out of them. They don’t actively recruit volunteers yet work well with who they have. They maintain all the authority never releasing anyone from their team to pursue where God is leading them. It’s all about control.

2) No Community: it is all about their youth ministry. They do not connect with other youth workers from other groups. It’s all about in-reach and no out-reach. Remaining alone, they don’t want any help from anyone, no advice, no help, no mentoring, no coaching. They will gladly listen but they will write off any advice. They are arrogant and they believe they know everything.

Successful Youth Workers have two common characteristics:

1) Know Team: the success of the team is paramount. Releasing the vital areas of the ministry to the volunteers and students. 

2) Know Community: they realize that they will not reach every student for Christ. They partner together with other youth ministries because the scope of their impact is greater together than alone. Creating synergy around the things that unite them, by focusing on Jesus.

What thoughts or questions do you have about Lone Rangers?

A Recovering Lone Ranger.
Jeff Smyth
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Canadian Youth Worker Conference

Will we see you at the Canadian Youth Workers Conference?

Are We Really Making Disciples?

Another quick video from Dave Brotherton. In John 17:4 Jesus prays: "I have brought you glory on earth by completing what you sent me to do" Then, after praying, Jesus proceeds through the rest of the passion week towards the cross. Note: Jesus is done what He was sent to do....

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 and the director of Legacy Youth Conference. 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

Dave Brotherton

An Ambassador?

What does it really mean to be an Ambassador of Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 gives us clarity on the ministry of reconciliation that God has called us to. In other words, reconciling the world to Him is our God given role. The Apostle Paul gives us a great description of that role in the word ambassador. I ramble about this in this short video.






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 and the director of Legacy Youth Conference. 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

Taking Ownership: Lessons from a 9 Year-Old and Club Penguin

 

Last month, we had our good friend Karen over just a couple of weeks before she moved to Kelowna to begin employment with Disney Interactive.  When Karen told me that she would be working on the popular game Club Penguin, I told her that Jacob plays that game all the time.  Within a matter of minutes, we had set up a date for Karen to come over to our place to eat and then play.

Needless to say, Jacob was very excited for the opportunity to teach someone – and an adult at that – everything he knew about Club Penguin.  He counted down the days to Karen’s visit and he could barely contain his excitement when the day finally arrived.  After a delicious dinner (prepared by Gail of course), Jacob showed Karen the ins and outs of the game for the better part of two hours.  It was a great visual: Jake the eager 9 year-old as teacher and Karen the willing grown-up as obedient student.

Jake took complete ownership of his task: he prepared for Karen’s visit very diligently and even strategized a systematic order of how to show her aspects of the game.  The end result was a win-win:  Karen left more confident about the game, and Jacob was affirmed in his knowledge and enthusiasm.

Naturally, it got me thinking about youth ministry (surprise, surprise).  In particular, I thought of three ways that youth ministry leaders can give ownership away (or in essence, let others take ownership) in order to strengthen their youth ministries.

1.  Letting Your Volunteers Take Ownership
Being a Lone Ranger youth worker will only get you so far. Despite how charismatic or capable you are (or think you are), eventually you and your ministry will plateau.  It’s amazing what can happen when you let your volunteers take ownership; when you provide a variety of responsibilities to your volunteers and when you encourage risk-taking.  They will feel affirmed and supported.  They will feel more invested in the ministry and will want to see it succeed.  They’ll likely go the “extra mile” so to speak.  And they’ll want to tackle new challenges with newfound confidence.

Our volunteers are ordinary people in the hands of an extraordinary God.  They want to know that what they are doing is indeed making a difference.  Letting them take ownership will go a long way towards that.

2.  Letting the Parents Take Ownership
Asking parents to help does not mean you are relinquishing control of your youth ministry.  Rather, it’s a sign you are reaching out to them to be actual partners in the ministry.  There’s nothing wrong with asking for a little help from them especially given the time and energy you devote to their kids; parents are often very willing to assist but they just need to be asked.  For example, I’m aware of many churches that have parents (as opposed to the youth leaders) prepare the snacks for the youth ministry gatherings.  Not only will parents feel more invested, the snacks will likely be of better quality.  That’s how our parent ministry got started at my home church – I think the parents were sick of me feeding their kids Tang and potato chips.  Sad but true.

Parents need to be able to communicate with us, rely on us, and trust us.  When parents entrust their children into our hands, opportunities arise to serve together and further strengthen the community.

 3.  Letting the Teens Take Ownership

Remember, good youth ministry is not just ministry to youth and for youth – it’s ministry with youth and by youth as well.  Thus, it’s imperative to give young people an opportunity to take ownership in the ministry.  For instance, there are many ways that a young person can get involved at Mass:  lectoring, alter serving, greeting, ushering, and singing in the music ministry.  All of these roles are vital to the celebration and their involvement is a wonderful witness to the entire parish community.

Also, you could task some youth with coming up with a skit, game, prayer, or testimony for one of your gatherings.  By giving young people roles in our ministry, they feel valued as part of the community and they are developing crucial leadership skills.  And in many cases, they might do a better job than you or your team would do!


I encourage you to consider these three simple ways of letting others take ownership in your youth ministry.  After all, if it works for a 9 year-old, it surely should work for us.

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