Student Ministry is by nature demanding, time consuming, draining and stretching and that's on a good day.  You have to be a special type of person to love Student Ministry and to think that this first sentence is appealing. Youth Leaders do not march to the beat of a different drummer, they are in an entirely different band. Maybe that is why I feel so comfortable around them and am energized by their presence.

I have just spent the better part of 4 days with Youth Pastors teaching at the Student Leadership University Youth Pastor Institute. We covered topics like leadership, time management, vision, passion, contentment, Biblical ethics, philosophy, personal discipline, relational theology and the top ten most important qualities of a youth ministry. It was a full schedule yet we found time to laugh together, pray together, and eat large portions of food and just hang out having great fellowship.

I am sure that no one there really had time to be away from their ministries but they took time. It is important for all of us to call a" time-out" and sharpen the axe of our life and ministry. In Ecclesiastes 10:10, Solomon says, "If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success."

If you have ever tried to chop wood with a dull axe, that verse resonates with you. You expend more energy and waste more time than if you had taken a few minutes to sharpen the tool. There is something innate within many of us that causes us to resist taking a "time-out" to learn or do something that will help us improve personally.

I am not preaching because I am often one of those people who would rather try to beat the wood to death than stop and sharpen the axe. My rationale is that if I just work harder and put more energy into it, then everything will be okay. This week reminded me of how working smarter may mean spending a few minutes, hours or even days sharpening my spiritual or ministry axe.

Can you relate?

Are you guilty?

What are your thoughts?

How do you take a needed "time-out?"

I spoke at a church Sunday to honor a dear friend of mine who is retiring. I met Tom Hammett more than 35 years ago and have had the privilege of watching him Pastor the same church for 33 years. I was moved by the people who shared about various aspects of Tom's life and ministry. I listened with an overflowing heart as adults, teens and children talked about his love and faithfulness. If you know Tom, you know that he was very uncomfortable with the personal attention.

So, why did I title this about reaching the world from Wilton, Alabama? I gleaned a great deal of insights into what it means to reach the world from where you live. Before I mention some of these, it is important for you to know that when Tom started the church the population of Wilton was in the early hundreds not even reaching 500, in other words, it was a small town. By the way, the population now according do a life-time member of the community has just broken 1000.

So if you want to reach the world from Wilton, Alabama, what is the secret? Here are a few of the things I picked up listening to people who were part of that process. By the way, the building was packed with more people that originally populated the town.

1.       Go where God leads regardless of the size of the ministry, church or  community.

2.       Move into the community and become a part of it not just a resident.

3.       Help people in the community regardless of their attendance at your church.

4.       Become one of the youth leaders to help launch the youth ministry when your church only has 25 in attendance.

5.       Train other youth workers so you can turn the work over to them.

6.       Be available to your people.

7.       Pastor the entire community without strings attached.

8.       Jump in and get dirty when you finally have property for your first building. Dig ditches, haul lumber, paint, and lay carpet with your people.

9.       Teach the Word to 25 people just like you would 250.

10.   Visit the hospitals, pray with the sick and cry when you perform their funerals.

11.   Love the children and be their Pastor to.

12.   Get involved with the youth and go on the all night events just because you care.

13.   Help direct your students to Christian College and then support them.

14.   Accompany your leaders to leadership conferences and let them see you learn.

15.   Have a plan for supporting missionaries and send them out from your church.

16.   Celebrate victories together.

17.   When your wife of over 30 years looses a horrible battle with cancer and precedes you to heaven, cry openly, praise humbly and work determinedly.

18.   Be a real person who is authentic and trustworthy.

19.   Laugh with your people.

Oh yeah and then when they have a special day to tell you how special you really are, explain with a sincere (not false humility) heart that the congregation should be the ones being honored.

This is a little longer than I normally post but quite frankly, my heart is full. I was blessed, challenged and my life enriched once again by the ministry and life of a simple country preacher who reached the world from Wilton, Alabama.

Have you ever heard any of the following "Christian Maxims?"

"If you are going to talk the talk then you need to walk the walk."

"Do as I do is more powerful than simply do as I say."

"If you want to have followers then you need to be a leader."

Or my favorite:

"Your life is so loud; I cannot hear what you are saying."

Whether corny or poignant they all attempt to address the concept of EXAMPLE. Today students (and adults for that matter) are looking for authenticity in leadership. They want to see and are willing to follow someone who is real or genuine.

The whole concept of being a role model has been skewed by many in leadership who do not live lives of excellence. They are an EXAMPLE but the wrong kind. Being an EXAMPLE means saying yes when others say no, saying no when others say yes, being willing keep giving when others give up, embracing a challenge when others let go, demonstrating submission when others rebel, allowing God to lead rather than being self-sufficient,  and being willing to live above reproach.  

I feel confident the Apostle Paul was looking piercingly into people's eyes - not at the ground or out into space - when he said, "Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ."(1 Corinthians 11:1) Now that is EXAMPLE! You can do that when your life speaks as loudly as your words.

I recently read an article in Wired Magazine entitled The Good Enough Revolution: When Cheap and Simple Is Just Fine by Robert Capps. I found it to be extremely intriguing and troubling simultaneously. The idea of the article is that simple and cheap are more important than quality.

I take no issue with the premise of spending less money if the purpose of the item is short term. I have purchased my share of disposable items and compulsively shop for the lowest price. After all, do I really need a $1000 camera to take my $1 pictures? (I am referring to my photography ability not the subject of my photo.)

But I think the thing that troubles me about the concept is seeing evidence of The Good Enough Revolution creeping into some youth ministries. Real ministry with eternal results is not cheap and it cannot be purchased in the bargain basement.

Biblical discipleship is not a cost, it is an investment. It requires vision, commitment and time. If we are to truly imprint lives for Christ then good enough will not be good enough. Just getting students to attend our church, behave, sing out loud and like us may be good enough but it is not enough.

So how do we combat The Good Enough Revolution in our ministries?

1.      Make a commitment to teach the Bible not just about it.

2.    Develop adult leadership that can multiply the ministry.

3.    Create a climate where personal spiritual growth is the norm not the  exception.

4.    Connect every student with a discipler.

5.     Think through a strategy for each student's personal growth.

6.    Raise the bar for the students.

7.     Demonstrate faithfulness and passion for Christ by example.

Scenario #1:

The P.O.W's had been in captivity for months and were physically abused and malnourished. Their hungry pains were so severe that the roaches and rats that freely roamed the prison cells were looked upon as delicacies.

Scenario #2:

Your favorite dessert is anything with chocolate and your plans are to eat a good meal followed by indulging yourself in the triple layer chocolate lava cake. The appetizer is great, the main course and the breads are more than plentiful.

After eating for what seems to be an eternity the waiter returns with all the dessert choices beautifully arranged on the tray. As he lowers them to eye level you can smell the aroma of the chocolate but to everyone's surprise you decline declaring that you are full to the point of exploding.

Challenge:

I know these are two extremes so let me make my point. Proverbs 27:7 says, A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. Wow, talk about a verse that is relevant, practical and pointed; this one is wrapped up and tied with a bow.

Why do I struggle so much with sin? Why do I keep making wrong choices? Why do I find myself doing the very things that I hate again and again? Is there a way to have victory in my personal life?

I do not want to trivialize these questions or try to fix you with a Christian clique. There is no easy answer or multi-step plan that I can reveal, but there are some Biblical principles that can guide us to victory and freedom from guilt, Proverbs 27:7 contains one of those principles.

So here it is, "Keep your soul full!" I have found that the times that I am most vulnerable to temptation and sin is when I have not consistently fed on the Word of God each day. If I (or you) go too long without physically eating then everything begins to look appetizing. The same is true of our spiritual lives; hungry souls are... well...hungry and can become desperate.

Why not make a commitment to "Keep your soul full." Begin each day with Quiet Time and prayer. Continue to meditate on the Word throughout the day and make time for Bible study as well as scripture memory.

 

 

Youth Ministry 101: Balancing Family and Ministry

 

One of the things I enjoy the most about my ministry is teaching college students. I teach a course each fall at Word of Life Bible Institute entitled, "Developing a Biblical Philosophy of Youth Ministry." I think it is imperative that we help students to think through their "principle centered" philosophy before they move out into a church ministry.

At the beginning of the course I take a survey. The answers to their questions serve as discussion starters at strategic points of the week. Here is one of those questions and some insights on the subject.

Question: "As a youth leader committed to ministry, how do you find time for family and/or your spouse?"

Answer: This is not a new question but it is an important one especially for students who are looking to set patterns for life, ministry and family. It obviously is about managing time but I want to suggest four concepts to consider.

1.  Priorities - establish your priorities early and base them on Biblical guidelines and not experience, emotion or enthusiasm. At the risk of sounding like a cliché or a sermon outline, I suggest that God, family and ministry is a good order to implement. If God is first in the lives of the husband and wife then as they grow closer to Him they draw closer to each other. Family is important. The church can have many teachers or leaders but your wife has one husband and your children one father.

2.  Plan - Have a plan to facilitate this equation of God, family and ministry in your life. Plan your personal devotion times. Plan family times and plan ministry. There will always be times when one takes precedence over the other and realize that family and ministry time has its own seasonal demands.

3.  Accountability - Make sure to have an accountability partner who is not afraid to ask you the hard questions and who is willing to confront you. Let your accountability partner know your goals for each of these three areas. True accountability means asking specific questions not generic ones. (Example: How many days this past week did you do your Quiet Time? NOT, are you in the Word?)

4.  Check Up - Have a family and ministry time where you come together to check up on your progress or the lack there of. These should be open, transparent, non-intimidating times of conversation about your lives, ministry and family resulting in change.

Back When the World Was BIG!

When I was young I would visit my Grandmother and stay with her for days on end. I loved being there because she made me pound cake with chocolate syrup for breakfast. (Yeah, I have always been into health food.)

She played the role of grandparent very well in that I got away with a lot of things my parents forbid. Her one cardinal rule was that I was to never cross the "big road," meaning the one that was paved rather than the dirt one. She had a large yard but it was never quite big enough to satisfy my curiosity.

The other side of the "paved" road represented the "big world" and it just kept beckoning for me to come and explore it. I knew that the country "drug store" (we now call them pharmacies) and the "filling station" (am I dating myself yet?) were over there somewhere. I could only imagine all the other wonders of the world that awaited me so I swallowed hard, looked both ways and pedaled my little red bike into history.

To say that our students live in a different world today would be a gross understatement. Children are connected with every corner of the world via the television or internet. Teens converse with students in other cities, states, countries and continents using social media, Skype and cell phones. The "big" world isn't so big any longer. Many adults still think of state lines or country borders as walls but students see them as grids on a map.

What a great time to introduce children and teens to world missions! Like previous generations they have a sense of adventure and their reach exceeds their grasp. They are already looking across the "big road" and anticipating their adventure. Maybe we as leaders are the ones who need to swallow hard, look both ways, then grab a student's hand and move out to reach the world with the good news of Christ.

So you've read The Greenhouse Project. Maybe you even loaned it out to a friend (why not be a real friend, and buy them a copy...) Perhaps you find yourself wondering how you are going to transfer the truths from these sixteen chapters to your student leadership.

Let's be honest: It's a big book. The Greenhouse Project has sixteen different writers, covering everything from intergenerational ministry to time management. There's a lot to take in. May I suggest a good first step toward "Cultivating Students of Influence"?

The Greenhouse Project: Student Guide

When we were writing The Greenhouse Project, I knew that we wanted to take the concept of Enlist, Equip, and Engage beyond the pages of a book and put them into practice. I hope that after reading the book, you will want to do the same. The Student Guide is written to make the time between information and application as short as humanly possible.

If the ideas taught throughout the book strike you as necessary and applicable, why not utilize the Student Guide to activate them where they will matter the most, at the nucleus of your youth group. Begin with your core group of students. Teach the truths that you have gleaned to your student leaders using the Student Guide as a vehicle for for transfering the key concepts of the book.

The Student Guide contains a synopsis of each chapter to help your students grasp the concept, key thoughts to help them measure their own personal life, and some study questions to help with discussion and personal application.

Many times in Student Ministry a dichotomy exists between what we learn and what we teach. Let's break down that barrier by Cultivating Student of Influence. The Greenhouse Project: Student Guide is a great way to start.

 

A practical plan for family devotions can be very elusive. I believe most parents really desire to influence their children spiritually but simply do not know how. I recently wrote an article for MTL Magazine entitled A Parent's Guide to Family Devotions. It contains some practical advice and creative ideas about how to institute a tradition of family devotions in your home. I hope you find it helpful.

Some of the highlights:

• Chose a time of day that works for your family.
• The age of your children will determine the length of time you spend on devotions.
• Don't feel pressured to have family devotions every single day. Start with 2 days a week, and work up to more freqent devotions.
• Use the 2 questions in the Word of Life Quiet Time Diary: "What is the Writing Saying?" and "How can I apply this to my life?"
• Create a "prayer poster" or bulletin board with pictures of people that you are praying for as a family.
• If your children have cell phones, pray through their contact lists.

If you are looking for a more indepth guide to Family Devotions, take a look at the Quiet Time Connect. This little booklet will give you even more advice about how to practically have family devotions that connect with each member of the family.

Do you have family devotions? Have you found a strategy that works? Got a creative idea to share? I'd love to hear about it.

Book Review: Building Your Leadership Resume - Dr. Johnny Hunt

I really enjoy reading and I make sure that leadership books are a part of my yearly reading repertoire. Recently I completed Dr. Johnny Hunt's book on Building Your Leadership Resume and I enthusiastically recommend that you purchase a copy and that you make notes as you read it.

Dr. Hunt writes this book drawing from the deep well of longevity of successful leadership. He addresses some of the basic concepts of leaders but he takes it to the next level because his focus is on developing a legacy, not just being successful. He touches the heart of leadership by addressing concepts like being real, transparent, caring and willing to serve others.

You will not fine the typical business leadership model on these pages. The chapter on "Guiding Principles" reveals his philosophy of Biblical leadership. He gives seven challenges for all leaders:

1.     Adopt godly values.

2.     Care for the interests of others.

3.     Live with integrity.

4.     Keep your word.

5.     Develop your gifts and potential.

6.     Manage well your time, talents and treasures.

7.     Pass on to others what you have received.

This is not a book written by a theorist but a practitioner. Dr. Hunt puts leadership in the circle and then examines it from every angle. He shines the light of honest evaluation on leadership and then carefully extracts some core principles to guide the lives of leaders.

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