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Juggling: Can You Balance Family and Ministry?

From youthministry360 on Monday, April 15, 2024 @ 6:00 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
"Daddy has to work again." This was the one-line dagger that my two-year-old daughter stabbed me in the heart with. I had just gone back to work off of bereavement after my dad had passed away, so I was trying to catch up from all the time I had missed-I was putting in longer hours. I was working more than enough for my toddler to notice it, and when she said what she did, it caused me to reflect. Is this what I want my daughter to think of me when it comes to ministry? That I work all the time? The answer was no. But how do I manage the responsibilities at home and church? Who do I tell no? I knew that I had to make some changes, but I didn't know which ones to make. I just so happened to be in grief counseling at that time, and I mentioned what my daughter said to me. Then, my counselor also dropped a one-liner I will never forget: "You might be the employee of the month at church, but that isn't going to mean a thing to them (my family)." He was right, and that told me all I needed to know. He then began to walk me through some practical things that I could do to prioritize family AND ministry. Comp Time I know some of you just read the section title and laughed, but hear me out on this. Sadly, the church isn't the best at comp time, but my counselor gave me a great idea. He said that you have to make your own comp time. If my normal office hours are 8 am-4 pm but I have a game to go to from 6 pm-8 pm, either I leave that day at 2 pm and go see my family or go in the next day at 10 am. Now, this may not be a revelation to you, but it was to me. He said that I needed to speak to my pastor about this because being unclear is being unkind. So, I went to my pastor and explained what my daughter had said and how that messed with me. Then, I proceeded to propose this idea. My pastor told me that any time I was at a school campus, I was on the clock, so that would be fine. So now, that's what I do. I don't feel pressure to get to the office at 8 am if I was out late the night before at a school function. I will spend that morning with my wife and babies, and then I will go into the office. Doing this has given my family and me a sweet time together but also provides a great space to prioritize family. The 8 am-5 pm Phone Rule Like you, my phone stays going throughout the day. I'm answering texts, calls, and emails. But when I get home, I don't answer work-related texts, calls, or emails after 5 pm unless they are urgent (you will have to define what classifies as urgent). I will leave them unread and will answer them as soon as I get to the office the next day. We don't have to be available all the time, especially if someone just needs a table moved or a dumpster dumped. If it's a family emergency, answer that and go! Put your phone on the mantle when you walk in, and just leave it there. I want to eventually work up to having my phone off one hour a day and one day a week. Accessibility has never been easier these days, but nobody should be accessible 24/7-not even the ones that think you are supposed to be. Finish Lines Why are finish lines so effective? Because we can see them and know that once we cross them, whatever we're doing is finished. We need finish lines. Maybe yours is 4 pm or when you get the message written or after your last meeting on a particular day, but not only that, finish lines are important for your overall well-being as well. Use your vacation days; that's why they're there. My wife scheduled a one-night getaway for us in the spring of 2023 for my birthday. I had originally scheduled to be off half of the day on the Thursday we were going to leave, but my counselor convinced me to take the whole day because he could tell I needed a finish line. So that's what I did, and what happened was that I was more motivated to finish strong because I knew I had a finish line coming that would allow me to rest without the pressures of work for a few days. Let's face it, our jobs are very rewarding, but they can also be very stressful. Finish lines are key to maintaining a healthy work-home relationship. So, can you balance family and ministry? No, that's impossible. But you can prioritize them both. When you are at work, be all there. When you are at home, be all there. There are going to be emergencies that pull you away from home, but there are also going to be emergencies that pull you away from work. Both your family and your church need to know and deserve that you're all there when you are there. Be present. So, has the work/family life prioritization been perfect for me? No, but my daughter hasn't said, "Daddy has to work again," again. Share your thoughts with others in our YM360 community: Why is prioritizing home and work so difficult? What are some ways to prioritize them both that you can implement now? In your own experience with trying to prioritize both family and ministry, what would you add to this article? Ready for more articles and training? Check out these top posts!

A Stressed Out Generation

From YouthMinistry.com on Monday, April 15, 2024 @ 3:01 AM PST
in the "Blog" Category.
The current generation of students is being considered a group that is marked by a fear of failure and public scrutiny. Of course everyone blames the rise of technology and social media for the pressure this current generation of adolescents is under.... The post A Stressed Out Generation appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

My Students Can't Pray

From YouthMinistry.com on Monday, April 15, 2024 @ 3:01 AM PST
in the "Blog" Category.
Once, I had the awesome opportunity to offer some training and speaking in a dear friend's small town in Kansas. After five days away, I sat on the plane ready for home. Plugging into music, a favorite worship song came on just as the plane engines started to roar.... The post My Students Can't Pray appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

Bible Study on Identity: Help Teens Discover Who They Are in Christ

From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Friday, April 12, 2024 @ 10:00 PM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
A Bible study on identity lets teens grapple with who they are, who they're becoming, and where they belong. The post Bible Study on Identity: Help Teens Discover Who They Are in Christ appeared first on ChurchLeaders.

(PODCAST) THE WAYS OF JESUS: Sitting at the Wrong End of the Table

From YouthMinistry.com on Friday, April 12, 2024 @ 7:53 AM PST
in the "Blog" Category.
Big news! Rick is re-launching his podcast Paying Ridiculous Attention to Jesus after a year-long sabbatical. Even bigger and better news-the Becky-nator will be joining him again to co-host. So check out the Episode 2 of Season 8 "Sitting at the Wrong End of the Table"-a continuation of the series "THE WAYS OF JESUS."... The post (PODCAST) THE WAYS OF JESUS: Sitting at the Wrong End of the Table appeared first on YouthMinistry.com.

Uncle Bob.

From Deep Thoughts by Gman on Friday, April 12, 2024 @ 7:12 AM PST
in the "Blog" Category.
We all have that one uncle. The one we adore, and treats you like royalty. That is Bob Russell for a lot of preachers. He's been at Southeast Christian for years and retired. I think one of the best things he's done wasn't preach, nor teach (though he's great at those things) but was after his ministry at Southeast to pour into ministers. Bob has become an uncle to a lot of preachers. He has mentored, supported, travelled all over to encourage, equip, and send out Kingdom workers. He loves the church, God's people and most importantly his family. One of the best compliments I got from Bob was "You remind me of my Dad." Basically rough background, but overcame and loved God. I'll take that any day. I recently reconnected with Bob at a seminar called "Art of the Sermon." We had a brief conversation on which he talked about his home church, one of the ministers we both knew: Jerry Yorks. It was with fondness that we looked back at how people handled rough times and God uses it for his good. I wonder though as people look to Bob Russell for wisdom, who will be the next Uncle to our church leaders? Then I got thinking we already got that person. It is who Bob and other preachers been talking about, preaching and teaching about: Jesus. As much as I love Bob Russell and his influence, I love the God and Jesus whom we both serve more. And I think that's the way Uncle Bob likes it. http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/ZioO

Daily Devotional Prompts: 10 Journal Starters for Focused Prayer

From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Thursday, April 11, 2024 @ 10:01 PM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
These daily devotional prompts help you grow your Christian faith and apply it to your life. The post Daily Devotional Prompts: 10 Journal Starters for Focused Prayer appeared first on ChurchLeaders.

Mother's Day and Teens: How to Support Kids Who Are Hurting

From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 @ 10:01 PM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
Mother's Day can be stressful or uncomfortable for some teens, depending on their family background. Discover how youth leaders can support these kids. The post Mother's Day and Teens: How to Support Kids Who Are Hurting appeared first on ChurchLeaders.

What Does the Bible Say About Discipleship: 4 Fundamentals

From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 @ 4:00 AM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
What does the Bible say about discipleship? How can you equip young people to go make disciples for Jesus? Discover four key aspects of biblical discipleship. The post What Does the Bible Say About Discipleship: 4 Fundamentals appeared first on ChurchLeaders.

Preach Like a Servant Leader

From youthministry360 on Monday, April 8, 2024 @ 6:00 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
Being a servant leader is core to Christian Leadership. We all remember Jesus washing His disciples' feet as an example for them to follow in their ministries. Christian leaders serve first and lead second. That's why the best spiritual leaders are the ones who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. Even when it's not in their job description, they pick up trash, stay late, and eat last. What if we applied this foundational leadership principle to one of the most important aspects of our gatherings: communicating God's Word? Communicating God's Word is normally the time of the week that requires the most effort and preparation and, for many, the primary opportunity to lead all of your students at once. If that is such a significant leadership opportunity, how can we preach as servants of our students? How can we be servant preachers? Servant preachers meet the true needs of their students, not just felt needs. They preach for God, by God, and about God. They preach to help students know and live for God without any personal agenda or motive. Below are three aspects of servant preaching and how they help us avoid the pitfalls of selfish preaching. 1. Servant Preachers Illuminate, not Impress The goal of communicating God's Word is to shine a light on the text and not ourselves. Each week, students come in starving for truth and direction, whether they know it or not, and our job is to deliver. That is the essence of preaching as service - preparing a rich, Jesus-centered message and serving it at a level they can understand. Preaching to impress is selfish preaching. Students don't care about how beautifully crafted an outline is, how much Greek you know, or how much you could bench in High School. They're not so easily impressed. If you want to leave an impression, have them walking away thinking much of God, much of your love for them, and very little of how smart or cool you are. As the old adage goes, they don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. 2. Servant Preachers Focus on Engagement, not Entertainment Students live in an entertainment-saturated world. At any time, they have access to high-quality, personally-curated content that will keep their attention for hours. It can be tempting to try to meet that felt need by introducing more energy, spectacle, and entertainment into our messages. But faithful servants give people what they need, not what they want. Rather than entertaining students to keep their attention, we should focus on engagement. How can we help them stay interested and interact with the material rather than watch it? My mentor would often say that about every ten minutes, students need a commercial break. Something to change the tempo, grab their attention, and help them participate rather than watch (or sleep). A few examples could be an object lesson, a crowd question, asking them to share something with a neighbor, having them type something in their phone, or having them repeat something back to you. Anything to turn them from an audience member to a participant in the message will help them stay engaged. 3. Servant Preachers Pile on Encouragements, not Burdens Lastly, students should walk away from most of your messages encouraged rather than discouraged. Years ago, I realized that I was much better at preaching for conviction than encouragement. I could drive home sin and its consequences, but I wasn't as strong with my encouragement. So I put more effort into the encouragement sections of my message to serve my students better. The Gospel is ultimately a message of encouragement and hope, and students should feel that as they walk away from a message! Because following Jesus does have expectations of obedience, sometimes communicating that in the wrong way can be discouraging. Jesus once called out the lawyers of his day, saying, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers." Share your thoughts with others in our YM360 community: Which of the three aspects of Servant Preaching is the most challenging for you? Why? What is something you can do this week to have a more insightful, engaging, and encouraging message? Ready for more articles and training? Check out these top posts!

The Best Fuel for Your Ministry Fire

From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Monday, April 8, 2024 @ 4:03 AM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
Few things can save ministry leaders from debilitating discouragement like helping souls turn from "dark to light, and from the power of Satan to God" (Acts 26:18). The post The Best Fuel for Your Ministry Fire appeared first on ChurchLeaders.

Day of Silence: How to Respond to This LGBTQ-Themed Observance

From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Friday, April 5, 2024 @ 10:00 PM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
The Day of Silence, now called the Day of (No) Silence, addresses LGBTQ discrimination. Learn how Christian teens and youth leaders should respond to this event. The post Day of Silence: How to Respond to This LGBTQ-Themed Observance appeared first on ChurchLeaders.

Life in 6 Words App: An Evangelism Power Tool for Teens

From Dare 2 Share Ministries International on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 @ 1:11 PM PST
in the "Blog" Category.
5 reasons the LI6W app is an ideal way for youth to share the Gospel

A Scarecrow in a Melon Patch

From ChurchLeaders.com Youth Leaders on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 @ 4:07 AM PST
in the "Articles" Category.
"Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good. No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power" (Jeremiah 10:5-6). The post A Scarecrow in a Melon Patch appeared first on ChurchLeaders.

Pure Imagination: Leading by Letting Go

From youthministry360 on Monday, April 1, 2024 @ 7:00 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
How good is your imagination? I want to put it to the test. Imagine this scene: It's a beautiful autumn day, and delicate leaves gracefully descend from the trees, gently carried away by a soft breeze. You are standing there in awe of nature's transformation, and you start to contemplate the profound lessons you can glean from the ever-changing seasons. Just as the leaves surrender to the wind, we, as leaders, must learn to embrace the winds of change when it comes to guiding worship experiences for middle and high school students. Envision yourself on a mountaintop, ready to embark on a new expedition. At this juncture, you face two choices: tightly clench your fists, adhering to a predetermined path, or open your hands, placing your trust in God's guidance. Leading worship for young minds parallels standing at this precipice. We carry the significant responsibility of shaping their spiritual journeys, yet we must acknowledge that God's plan often surpasses our own. By opening our hands, we create space for God to work in extraordinary ways, leading us and our students on a transformative adventure. Throughout the Bible, we encounter numerous instances of leaders who live with open hands, embracing God's guidance in their lives, e.g., the story of Moses, as he faced the daunting task of leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Overwhelmed and feeling inadequate, he opened his hands to God, relinquishing his doubts and fears. As a result, God empowered him to perform miracles and lead his people to the Promised Land. In the same way, we find young David, a shepherd boy, who defeated the giant Goliath not through his own might but by placing his trust in God. Their stories serve as powerful reminders that our strength as leaders resides not in our own abilities but in our willingness to open our hands and trust God's leading. To effectively guide worship experiences for middle and high school students, we must cultivate a spirit of humility, acknowledging that we are not the sole architects of these encounters. We are co-creators with God, allowing His Spirit to inspire and move through us. Proverbs 3:5-6 offers us guidance, encouraging us to trust in the Lord wholeheartedly, not relying solely on our own understanding. By humbly submitting to God's guidance, we position ourselves to receive His wisdom and lead in a manner that profoundly impacts young hearts. Flexibility is another vital aspect to embrace. The needs and preferences of middle and high school students can rapidly evolve, much like shifting seasons. Their desires, struggles, and questions are ever-changing. To effectively lead worship for this demographic, we must adapt and foster flexibility. When we open our hands, we create space for God to shape our worship experiences in ways that genuinely resonate with the unique hearts and minds of our students. Let's foster a culture of active participation in worship. Leading worship isn't a one-way street but an invitation for the congregation to engage. Encourage students to actively participate, creating an environment where they can openly express their love for God. By providing space for students to share their gifts, talents, and testimonies, we empower them to take ownership of their faith journey. Just as the seasons transition, our role as worship leaders for middle and high school students demands adaptation and growth. By opening our hands and embracing the winds of change, we allow God to work through us in ways that surpass our expectations. Remember the metaphor of open hands, humbly surrendering our plans and trusting in God's divine guidance as we embark on this awe-inspiring journey of worship leadership. If these thoughts resonate with you or if you have experiences to share, I want to encourage you to reach out and let me know. I want to hear about the moments when you've been pleasantly surprised by the incredible things God has accomplished when you've chosen to live a life with open hands. Don't hesitate to share your own remarkable encounters, and let's continue this conversation about the wonders of a life lived with open hands. Share your thoughts with others in our YM360 community: What's the hardest thing for you to relinquish into God's control? Why? How do you practice opening your hands and letting God move? How do you teach your students to do the same? Ready for more articles and training? Check out these top posts!