Last week I wrote about the importance of long term youth ministry- from the perspective of the youth pastor. Even as I wrote that blog I knew that this one would be coming- some of it is out of a place of sincere gratitude and some is out of a place of seeing what works best.
In any ministry- but especially youth and children's ministry leadership is VITAL to the sustaining, flourishing, and overall strength of the ministry. I don't mean leadership from the youth pastor- I mean leadership from within the church congregation. Having people who will plug into, connect with, and focus on children and youth throughout their lives is so much more important than a pastor. I grew up in a church without a youth pastor and if it wasn't for the congregation inviting me into their lives- taking me on fishing trips, having me over for supper, taking me camping, even asking me to join them in cleaning the chicken coop- then I wouldn't be the disciple that I am today. A pastor preaches and teaches, plans events, organizes drives, dreams of the next crazy event to entertain the youth but the volunteer leaders- they are key. I've listed some reasons below:
Deeper Relationships-
One person (youth pastor) cannot possibly maintain deep connections with every single youth they encounter. Volunteer youth leaders are NECESSARY to carry out these deeper relationships, mentoring, and care- yes there are time that the youth needs to talk with a pastor (every Christian does). With strong, solid youth workers coming alongside a teenager and helping them to 'do life' it provides two key areas in God's Kingdom:
A. Community- We were not created to be separate from each other- God created us to be in community together and often times youth feel alone and segregated. Having leaders who are willing to join them in their life journey builds that community around them.
B. Use of Gifts- Not only is it good for the youth to have adults giving deeper relationships but it is important that ALL of God's people use the gifts that He has given them. Allowing leaders to develop relationships and serve God in youth ministry allows them to use their gifts - fulfilling the calling that God has given them.
Community Connections-
This is different than the community listed above- above it referred more to the Christian community- here we are talking about when youth are in the community and they see their youth leader at the grocery store, at their job, walking their dog, coaching a basketball team, going through the Tim's drive thru (because that is the only drive thru in Florenceville). These community connections help youth to see what being a Christian looks like outside of the church walls- how we interact with other people and show love on a daily basis. Pastors- seek out youth leaders who are active and set a GOOD example in the community. Youth Leaders (and Christian's in general)- You are always being watched by someone- show God's love in every situation.
Breadth of Knowledge-
Pastors- if you are like me you might have education more than you know what to do with. You know what TULIP means or the difference between Martin Luther King Jr and Martin Luther, you probably even have a working understanding of the Pre-Frontal Cortex and know why teens make the ridiculous decisions they do.
Youth leaders- you are important because you keep us youth pastors grounded- we often talk about theological things that interest us but have no meaning to a 13 year old boy who just failed his Math class. Youth leaders are needed to guide and teach about what it is going to be like to go to a 'real' university or what working in the 'real' world with no other Christians in the company looks like.
We all have a testimony, we all have different life experiences, ALL of these are needed to help guide, direct, and encourage youth to serve God no matter where they are or where they are heading in life.... which leads me to the next point...
Intergenerational Importance-
(like what I did there.... two words that start with 'I')
What happens when a teenager suddenly graduates? They are no longer part of the Youth Ministry that has sustained them, encouraged them, pushed them through life. Sometimes their youth ministry has been a substitute for 'real church' - they are worshipping, learning, listening to God so what shouldn't it be that substitute?
Then they graduate and realize that their weekly connection with the church and with God is gone... so some make their way to 'real church' ... they walk in and the only person they recognize is the youth pastor (who might not even be there because they are busy running another service, children's ministry, or other event). This isn't the 'church' they have known for the past 6 years. Having youth leaders from the congregation is VITAL to connecting the Sunday Worship to the Mid-week programs and worship experience.
Youth leaders are not only important for the youth here and now but they are important for the youth five years from now or ten years from now- to see that worship alongside those that are in different life stages is vital to their growth.
(There is WAY WAY WAY more reasons for intergenerational ministry to be happening... but this blog post is ALREADY too long)
Conclusion
So- if you volunteer as a youth leader THANK YOU- you are doing more than preventing injury, playing dodgeball, and enforcing rules- you are building relationships that children and youth won't ever forget. You are making disciples of Jesus Christ, you are fulfilling the great commission.
And if you aren't a volunteer youth leader....
1. What kept you reading this post!?
2. Try to give your youth pastor (or head leader) a heart attack and make that offer! I can guarantee they could use all the help they can get! (and if God has given you those gifts you better use them!)
Final Question: What word(s) would you use to finish this blog title?
Youth Workers are _________.
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Where?
My last blog update was titled 'A place I never thought I'd be' and it was written a year ago- I feel like I could use that title all over again today. So where am I?
Florenceville-Bristol, NB.
Never heard of it? Don't worry- most people haven't.
It is much different than my previous living accommodations of Halifax, Nova Scotia and it most certainly is a place I never thought that I would be. When I first started telling friend and family where I was moving most were very underwhelmed and after the initial "Where?" they began asking about what was there and how different it would be from living in the 'big city.'
Although there are differences there are also many similarities:
1. There are two bridges
Halifax has two bridges- the Old Bridge and the New Bridge (Or the MacDonald and the McKay for those of you not from the city). When talking to people about going from Dartmouth to Halifax or vice versa you are always asked which bridge you use and you plan your route depending on the bridge and the time of day.
Florenceville-Bristol also has two bridges. I have been calling them the Old Bridge and the New Bridge- but locals call them the Little Bridge and the Big Bridge. The little bridge is an old covered bridge that JUST BARELY allows two cars to squeeze by going 20km/h (Seriously, if you drive a truck you avoid the little bridge). The Big Bridge is part of the old TransCanada Highway and is larger, higher, stronger, and built for the load of trucks.
I used to hold my breath as a kid when we would cross the bridges in Halifax- when I moved to Florenceville-Bristol I would hold my breath when I passed another car on the little bridge. Then I would check my side mirror-- just to make sure it was still there.
2. The Airport is on the outskirts of the 'Municipality'
That's right... Florenceville-Bristol has an airport.
What you may not know about Flroenceville-Bristol is that it is the home of the McCain Food's empire. (seriously, go to your freezer, pick up a McCain package and look at the address on it....)
Being a global business there is an airport to transport executives, farmers, and other employees to major cities for business adventures. I promise- it was quite a shock on my first day here when I saw an airplane going down into what looked like another potato field up on the hill.... turns out it was supposed to go there.
3. Avoid Main Street(s) at 5:00pm.
Seriously. In Halifax I would try leaving work early, staying late, or find side streets as much as possible. In Florenceville-Bristol there aren't any side streets so I just avoid the 'Rush Hour' time. Driving through 'town' when all the businesses (especially McCain employees) are trying to get out of their driveway's onto the main street is CRAZY. The two biggest differences between Florenceville-Bristol and Halifax is that in F-B rush hour really only lasts 15 minutes and there is no side streets to avoid the rush.
*Another similarity that is connected to this one is that many people commute from outlying communities to work in the 'city centre'
OH! And don't be fooled at ANY point you can get held up in a traffic jam. In Halifax all it would take is one car accident. In Florenceville-Bristol all it takes is a tractor moving from one potato field to another.
4. Finally, it takes 20 minutes to get anywhere.
In Halifax my wife and I had a joke that we lived in the perfect spot because every time somebody outside the city asked how far it took us to get from home to _________ (pick a place) we would always answer '20 minutes'.... always.
Since moving to Florenceville we discovered that it takes 20 minutes (well... 15) to get anywhere. The difference is that in Halifax you passed 6 coffee shops before you got to the one you wanted. Here you get one option and 5 minutes of your 15 minute drive is waiting to get to the drivethru speaker, or talking to someone you know that you ran into in the parking lot.
---
Yep, they may be very different geographically and population-wise (1,600 vs. 375,000)but Florenceville-Bristol and Halifax have a lot more in common than you may think.
Don't believe me? Come visit- I'll give you the tour, but warning: It takes a while... since everything is 15 minutes away.
Florenceville-Bristol, NB.
Never heard of it? Don't worry- most people haven't.
*Note: I did not take this photo- I found it and don't know who did.
It is much different than my previous living accommodations of Halifax, Nova Scotia and it most certainly is a place I never thought that I would be. When I first started telling friend and family where I was moving most were very underwhelmed and after the initial "Where?" they began asking about what was there and how different it would be from living in the 'big city.'
Although there are differences there are also many similarities:
1. There are two bridges
Halifax has two bridges- the Old Bridge and the New Bridge (Or the MacDonald and the McKay for those of you not from the city). When talking to people about going from Dartmouth to Halifax or vice versa you are always asked which bridge you use and you plan your route depending on the bridge and the time of day.
Florenceville-Bristol also has two bridges. I have been calling them the Old Bridge and the New Bridge- but locals call them the Little Bridge and the Big Bridge. The little bridge is an old covered bridge that JUST BARELY allows two cars to squeeze by going 20km/h (Seriously, if you drive a truck you avoid the little bridge). The Big Bridge is part of the old TransCanada Highway and is larger, higher, stronger, and built for the load of trucks.
I used to hold my breath as a kid when we would cross the bridges in Halifax- when I moved to Florenceville-Bristol I would hold my breath when I passed another car on the little bridge. Then I would check my side mirror-- just to make sure it was still there.
2. The Airport is on the outskirts of the 'Municipality'
That's right... Florenceville-Bristol has an airport.
What you may not know about Flroenceville-Bristol is that it is the home of the McCain Food's empire. (seriously, go to your freezer, pick up a McCain package and look at the address on it....)
Being a global business there is an airport to transport executives, farmers, and other employees to major cities for business adventures. I promise- it was quite a shock on my first day here when I saw an airplane going down into what looked like another potato field up on the hill.... turns out it was supposed to go there.
3. Avoid Main Street(s) at 5:00pm.
Seriously. In Halifax I would try leaving work early, staying late, or find side streets as much as possible. In Florenceville-Bristol there aren't any side streets so I just avoid the 'Rush Hour' time. Driving through 'town' when all the businesses (especially McCain employees) are trying to get out of their driveway's onto the main street is CRAZY. The two biggest differences between Florenceville-Bristol and Halifax is that in F-B rush hour really only lasts 15 minutes and there is no side streets to avoid the rush.
*Another similarity that is connected to this one is that many people commute from outlying communities to work in the 'city centre'
OH! And don't be fooled at ANY point you can get held up in a traffic jam. In Halifax all it would take is one car accident. In Florenceville-Bristol all it takes is a tractor moving from one potato field to another.
4. Finally, it takes 20 minutes to get anywhere.
In Halifax my wife and I had a joke that we lived in the perfect spot because every time somebody outside the city asked how far it took us to get from home to _________ (pick a place) we would always answer '20 minutes'.... always.
Since moving to Florenceville we discovered that it takes 20 minutes (well... 15) to get anywhere. The difference is that in Halifax you passed 6 coffee shops before you got to the one you wanted. Here you get one option and 5 minutes of your 15 minute drive is waiting to get to the drivethru speaker, or talking to someone you know that you ran into in the parking lot.
---
Yep, they may be very different geographically and population-wise (1,600 vs. 375,000)but Florenceville-Bristol and Halifax have a lot more in common than you may think.
Don't believe me? Come visit- I'll give you the tour, but warning: It takes a while... since everything is 15 minutes away.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
One. Or None.
This post is not for the easily offended.
This post is for those searching for Absolute Truth.
Many people may be saying or thinking "Wait. What? Absolute Truth? What is that? There is no absolute truth."
Wrong.
Society has come to a point where it is philosophically believed that each person is right, that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Growing up I heard terms like "Everyone is different" and "Accept everyone just as they are."
Both of these thoughts are correct, yet they have led to accepting everyone and accepting everyones beliefs and thoughts. There are exceptions to this rule, like if a person's belief means causing bodily harm to another person or pressuring another person into a situation they are not comfortable with. Generally, as long as you are not bothering other people you can believe what you want.
Sounds great, I can believe what I want without being ridiculed or pressured into another belief. But what does it really mean?
It really means that evangelism of the lost is gone.
It really means that education on religion disappears, which means that:
It really means people are trying to figure out religions on their own,
It really means people are choosing their religion based on what sounds best to them.
It really means that more people are dying and not going to Heaven to spend eternity with God.
There can only be ONE absolute truth. ONE GOD. ONE Creator. ONE Saviour. ONE.
Allah, Buddah, God, Joseph Smith
These many beings didn't always exist, they didn't ALL create the world. Some have appeared over time and people began to follow them.
Atheist
Many Christian's hear that someone is Atheist and become afraid, wanting to do everything they can to prove God exists but if they hear someone say they are Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish or Mormon there seems to be less urgency in telling them about Christ.
The simple fact is that Christ Jesus came to relieve us from the old law, to save us from eternal punishment, and to serve as the only medium in which we may receive eternal salvation and glory in Heaven. Yet there is less urgency in telling Muslims, Buddhists, Jews about Christ than an Atheist? How can that be?
Is God going to look at a Muslim and say "Oh, you almost had it, you were following a god, you are okay" and then look at an Atheist and say "You saw my creation and did not believe" and allow one to enter into His Kingdom but not the other? No. Neither will get to spend eternity with Him.
There is only ONE way. ONE.
What does that mean for this postmodern world? Can we continue to accept everyone and their beliefs? Will this world survive if we do not begin to offend those are not listening? Jesus lived His life offending those who did not believe.
Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven, all other religions lead away from the One True God. All other religions lead to Hell. There can only be One Truth when it comes to religion.
I told you this post was not for the easily offended.
This post is for those searching for Absolute Truth.
Many people may be saying or thinking "Wait. What? Absolute Truth? What is that? There is no absolute truth."
Wrong.
Society has come to a point where it is philosophically believed that each person is right, that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Growing up I heard terms like "Everyone is different" and "Accept everyone just as they are."
Both of these thoughts are correct, yet they have led to accepting everyone and accepting everyones beliefs and thoughts. There are exceptions to this rule, like if a person's belief means causing bodily harm to another person or pressuring another person into a situation they are not comfortable with. Generally, as long as you are not bothering other people you can believe what you want.
Sounds great, I can believe what I want without being ridiculed or pressured into another belief. But what does it really mean?
It really means that evangelism of the lost is gone.
It really means that education on religion disappears, which means that:
It really means people are trying to figure out religions on their own,
It really means people are choosing their religion based on what sounds best to them.
It really means that more people are dying and not going to Heaven to spend eternity with God.
There can only be ONE absolute truth. ONE GOD. ONE Creator. ONE Saviour. ONE.
Allah, Buddah, God, Joseph Smith
These many beings didn't always exist, they didn't ALL create the world. Some have appeared over time and people began to follow them.
Atheist
Many Christian's hear that someone is Atheist and become afraid, wanting to do everything they can to prove God exists but if they hear someone say they are Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish or Mormon there seems to be less urgency in telling them about Christ.
The simple fact is that Christ Jesus came to relieve us from the old law, to save us from eternal punishment, and to serve as the only medium in which we may receive eternal salvation and glory in Heaven. Yet there is less urgency in telling Muslims, Buddhists, Jews about Christ than an Atheist? How can that be?
Is God going to look at a Muslim and say "Oh, you almost had it, you were following a god, you are okay" and then look at an Atheist and say "You saw my creation and did not believe" and allow one to enter into His Kingdom but not the other? No. Neither will get to spend eternity with Him.
There is only ONE way. ONE.
What does that mean for this postmodern world? Can we continue to accept everyone and their beliefs? Will this world survive if we do not begin to offend those are not listening? Jesus lived His life offending those who did not believe.
Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven, all other religions lead away from the One True God. All other religions lead to Hell. There can only be One Truth when it comes to religion.
I told you this post was not for the easily offended.
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