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Do You Know How Gifted Your Students Are?
youthministry360 From youthministry360 on Monday, March 18, 2024 @ 6:00 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
This is probably an understood point. But for the sake of conversation, did you know that your students are gifted? I'm sure you have students who are gifted athletically and are phenoms at their sport. I'm sure you have musically talented students who could play concerts for large crowds. But what I'm talking about is students gifted spiritually for the work God is doing. One thing I have felt purposed with lately is equipping those around me for the ministry that God is calling them to. I will regularly ask adults in our ministry if they feel comfortable doing more than just being in the room. I remember when I was a volunteer with the ability to lead worship and teach, and I so desired someone to ask me to do more than just be a warm body. So, I always want to give those opportunities to them. The same is true with our students I know they are fully capable of doing so much more than just being present in a preschool classroom. I know they are capable of teaching God's Word. I know they can be worship leaders in our student services. I know, even when they say it freaks them out, they are honest with their prayers and can lead our group in that way. So I ask them to do just that. I'll go to a student I see actively participating each week and offer them a chance to lead. "Hey, have you ever thought about leading our teaching time on Sunday nights? I think you would do a great job, and your friends would listen to you." This isn't a commercial for YM360 Sermon Series, but I will say that's why I love getting series and curriculum from YM360 because it's an easy way to set up students for success in this. The formats you get in their teaching series are great outlines to give students, and it leaves ample room to make it your own. It also gives me a chance to walk through the content one on one with those students. Ok, back to students... If I see a student hanging around during our worship band rehearsals, I'm quick to say, "Hey, have you ever played an instrument before?" Neither our drummer nor our keyboard player in our student band had any experience leading worship, but I noticed a spark when I asked if they were interested in learning. One last story, and then I'll wrap this up so you can get back to your email inbox. I had a student come to me a few months ago asking about wanting to buy a camera. He was curious about photography and wondered if it would give him some new opportunities when he goes to college this fall. So we talked about cameras, what kind of lenses he should get, very basic stuff. A few days later, he sent me a picture of his new camera setup. Needless to say, he was excited. So I asked. "Hey man, you want to bring your camera to church on Sunday and take photos of our services?" I wanted to give him an opportunity to learn his new passion, and I just happen to manage our church's social media accounts as well. So he took pictures that Sunday, and I used his pictures for our social media that week. The next Sunday, he showed up with his camera and asked to take pictures again. And again, I used his pictures for our social media posts. He is now our lead Sunday photographer, and his pictures are getting better and better every week. He shows up with a shot list of things to capture and honestly takes better photos than I ever did. People have noticed the difference; they are constantly complimenting our weekly content. His parents tell me weekly how grateful they are that we gave him the opportunity to develop this new passion. He's even using it as an outreach opportunity at local sporting events to connect. Your students are gifted in so many ways. And there is ample need for them to take ownership in our churches through serving. Give them that chance. I didn't give that student his photography skills. I just offered up an opportunity for him to promote the Gospel work God is doing through it. And he's flourishing in it. Ask your students to lead. Ask your students to teach. Ask them to live out their gifting. Share your thoughts with others in our YM360 community: How are you teaching your students about spiritual gifting? Do your students know what their gifts are? Do you have a road map in place to help your students find places to serve? What holds you back from getting more students involved in serving around the church? _________________ Help your students and the adults in your church make a difference in the lives of others with Volunteer Accelerator: Youth Ministry Edition! Ready for more articles and training? Check out these top posts!
Why Youth Ministry Is Important
ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Monday, March 18, 2024 @ 4:03 AM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
I have been serving teens now for 15 years as a volunteer and on staff at different churches, and I still need to be reminded why youth ministry is important. I need to be reminded because the truth is that student ministry can be difficult. The post Why Youth Ministry Is Important appeared first on ChurchLeaders.
Last-Minute Easter Prep Tips
YouthMinistry.com From YouthMinistry.com on Monday, March 18, 2024 @ 3:01 AM PST
in the "Blog" Category.
Easter will be here before you know it! One of the most difficult things about ministry is the very few number of days between Sundays. Wouldn't life be easier if we had a 10-day workweek? I think I would teach better lessons, lead better worship, and play more fun games.... The post Last-Minute Easter Prep Tips appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Easter: It's Not Just for the Students
YouthMinistry.com From YouthMinistry.com on Monday, March 18, 2024 @ 3:00 AM PST
in the "Blog" Category.
The death and resurrection of Jesus was and is for every student and every parent. During Holy Week, we remind our students that Jesus was a living sacrifice with a vision and a plan for each of us. To be loved and to love.... The post Easter: It's Not Just for the Students appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.
Church Revival Can Begin in Your Very Own Youth Room
ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Saturday, March 16, 2024 @ 4:03 AM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
Church revival is a hot topic, and it's not limited to adults. Discover how teens in your youth ministry can serve as catalysts for widespread revival. The post Church Revival Can Begin in Your Very Own Youth Room appeared first on ChurchLeaders.
Bible Lesson on Truth for Teens: Offer Youth a Godly Foundation
ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Thursday, March 14, 2024 @ 10:00 PM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
A Bible lesson on truth is essential for equipping youth in the Christian faith. Use these teen-friendly resources about absolute truth. The post Bible Lesson on Truth for Teens: Offer Youth a Godly Foundation appeared first on ChurchLeaders.
Teaching the Resurrection to Youth: Put Easter's Outcome on Trial
ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 @ 10:00 PM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
Teaching the Resurrection to youth is the most important lesson you can offer. Use this material to put Easter on trial. The post Teaching the Resurrection to Youth: Put Easter's Outcome on Trial appeared first on ChurchLeaders.
How to Unite for the Cause of Christ
Dare 2 Share Ministries International From Dare 2 Share Ministries International on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 @ 2:27 PM PST
in the "Blog" Category.
No ministry can single-handedly reach their community with the Gospel. Use the "5 G's" to find like-minded ministries to partner with.
Easter Preparation Tips: Last-Minute Advice for Busy Youth Leaders
ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 @ 10:01 PM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
Need Easter preparation tips? Read one youth worker's insights about getting ready to celebrate the Resurrection. The post Easter Preparation Tips: Last-Minute Advice for Busy Youth Leaders appeared first on ChurchLeaders.
Easter Skits for Youth Groups: 8 Powerful Church Presentations
ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Monday, March 11, 2024 @ 10:00 PM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
Easter skits for youth groups have powerful impacts on viewers and performers alike. Check out these 8 Easter skits for teens. The post Easter Skits for Youth Groups: 8 Powerful Church Presentations appeared first on ChurchLeaders.
3 Tips For Avoiding Burnout
youthministry360 From youthministry360 on Monday, March 11, 2024 @ 7:00 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
Youth ministry is a job that requires much of us emotionally and spiritually. We are asked to give of ourselves so we can serve our youth and their families. When navigated mindfully, this is a wonderful thing. However, it is easy to slip into tendencies that can lead to burnout quickly if we are not careful. Burnout is kind of a buzzword right now and is essentially a harmful mental/emotional state after prolonged or unmitigated workplace stress. How can we serve sacrificially as God calls us to while still protecting ourselves and preventing burnout? Here are some ideas: 1. Boundaries, Boundaries, Boundaries Having clear-cut boundaries with your time and job is key. It is a sign of an unhealthy approach to youth ministry if you are expected to always be "on call" and available simply because "we are called to serve." Even Jesus had boundaries! Multiple times in Scripture, we read about Jesus going off by Himself to pray and spend time alone (Matthew 14, Luke 5, Mark 1, for example). Jesus did not spend every minute of His time healing and preaching. He had the boundary of spending time alone in prayer so that He could serve people well. One way to accomplish this boundary is to not answer emails outside of your office/contract hours. I know this can be hard, especially when most - if not all - of us have email apps on our phones. Even so, protecting your personal time is key. You do not need to answer emails once you leave the office. That can wait until the next day. Think of it this way: if it is truly urgent, they would call you. And odds are, they won't call you. Leaving work at work in this way helps our minds relax and separate from work so we can focus on other aspects of our life. We can decompress because we are not taking our work life into our personal life. Speaking of leaving work at work, make sure you are actually leaving work when you are supposed to. Youth ministry schedules are notoriously irregular, so be sure you are protecting your personal time by not working more hours than you're supposed to (i.e., being paid for) for no reason. There will obviously be weeks where you would technically be working overtime, such as a mission trip, and maybe you stay at work until Wednesday night youth group instead of going home beforehand. But, if you are at the end of a work day and a task can be resumed the following day, you owe it to yourself to protect your time and go home. Jesus had boundaries, and we need them too. 2. Find a Hobby This might seem kind of silly, but hear me out. You should have a hobby - something you enjoy that isn't draining and has nothing to do with work. If you don't have anything going on in your life besides work and then going home, that's a recipe for burnout. There needs to be something that fulfills you outside of the job. Whether it's hiking by yourself or a book club with friends, find a hobby or two that you enjoy and stick with it. Youth ministry should be fulfilling, but it can't be the only thing that fills you up. 3. Spend Time with Jesus REGULARLY Regarding being filled, it is crucial that you are intentional with your relationship with Jesus. When Jesus went off by Himself, He spent time in prayer with the Father. Speaking from experience, it is super easy to let this fall by the wayside. When you are engaging with Scripture while writing the Sunday school lesson, it can be easy to let that be your time in Scripture for the day. This isn't enough, though. We need to be in prayer and reading the Bible on our own for our personal pursuit of Jesus, not just for work. As youth ministers, we are called to lead by example for our students. We aren't meant to feel guilty for the ways we fall short but should be convicted to do our best to model a life of following Christ both in the seen and unseen ways. This includes our personal relationship with Jesus. There will be times when youth ministry is more stressful than others, and every day of the job won't be a walk in the park. We owe it to ourselves and our students to do what we can to avoid burnout so we can both do our jobs well and treat ourselves with care. Share your thoughts with others in our YM360 community: What are some ways you decompress after work? What hobbies do you have that help your mind relax? Do you have any tips on maintaining work/life balance? Are there any things not listed in this article that have been helpful for you? Ready for more articles and training? Check out these top posts!
High-Contact Sports: Help Parents Consider the Risks & Benefits
ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Thursday, March 7, 2024 @ 10:01 PM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
High-contact sports are under the microscope due to concussions and other safety concerns. So share this insightful article with parents of young athletes. The post High-Contact Sports: Help Parents Consider the Risks & Benefits appeared first on ChurchLeaders.
6 Keys to Sharing the Gospel with Strangers
Dare 2 Share Ministries International From Dare 2 Share Ministries International on Thursday, March 7, 2024 @ 10:14 AM PST
in the "Blog" Category.
Striking up spiritual conversations can be easier than you'd think.
8 Things That Keep Young People in Church
ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 @ 4:03 AM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
It's no secret that many college-age students who were raised in church drop out once they're on their own. On the other hand, some churches have done a good job of keeping and reaching this group. Here's what I see that keeps young people in church. The post 8 Things That Keep Young People in Church appeared first on ChurchLeaders.
Sarah Jakes Roberts Sermons: 5 Messages for Today's Teens
ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 @ 10:00 PM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
Sarah Jakes Roberts sermons contain powerful words for young people. Offer hope and healing to teens with these messages. The post Sarah Jakes Roberts Sermons: 5 Messages for Today's Teens appeared first on ChurchLeaders.
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