Three Things Every Church needs.

People like to Church shop. So when looking for a community of faith here is something I came across from Lee Morgan at Youthpastor.com and their email listserv.

Real Faith: is it a place where you are learning to live out a faith filled life
Real Family: Is it a place that you can experience biblical community?
Real Friends: Is there a high importance on evangelism. Is it a place that will spur you on to reach out to your friends. Is it a safe place to invite your friends.

Some good thoughts.

Others you might add?

Top 10 Things to do when Starting a YG

Recently I got asked about starting a new youth group or student ministry from the ground up. Here is my response.

1. Some Resources: www.youthspecialties.com www.pastor2youth.com
www.wildfrontier.org

2. Build Relationships - with teens, sponsors and parents.

3. Know what you want your ministry to look like and go from there.

4. Take your time. Rome wasn't built overnite - and neither were
these mega student ministries. Build the Kingdom - one kid at a time.

5. Pray. Depend on God. Reflect.

6. Make sure your soul is being feed.

7. Relationships with your staff and other pastors. Network. Goto
conventions, pick some youthworkers' brains who have been there, done
that.

8. Be flexible. Be a lifetime learner.

9. Read things such as My First 2 yrs in YM by Doug Fields, Starting
from Scratch, How to Expand your YM,

10. Have fun.

Overcommunicate: The Best Solution.

So recently there have been some issues in ministry.

1. Looking at my own objectives and getting more involvement
- so currently I'm revising some of these due to some great support from my leadership: Including looking at all our programs, more screening of volunteers, and getting more volunteers, as well as some personal discipline issues. (Monthly retreat @ monastary)

2. When redoing the Grounds - overcommunicate your vision. Our building is now being more visible and some inside and outside changes mostly due to the other Hispanic Congregation (New Church Ministry) that meets at our building and adding assistance as well. It would be good to have some insight or heads up to people so they know what is going on. All is good. But sometimes feelings get easily hurt. (It's the pastor in me)

3. When damage is done - communicate when things go wrong. Recently we had a parent take a nasty fall at her home but her child was at church, and police came etc. (The parent had over 40 stitched to her face) so communication is always good. I had one time to swallow my pride when I damaged the church van. We announced to pray for her and not people to get too concerned when they saw the police cars at our building during service time. It helped to know to people we care about people and want to help when we can.

4. Help and be humble in all things. Recently I've spent more time waiting for friends at the airport than my home. (They were returning from several mission trips). Help, pray, laugh, one of my friends is now leaving for AZ. He and his family will be missed. Today, I helped where I can but in some ways feel God is opening a Big Door for them only to leave some holes for us.

5. Pray. There have been times where I've done nothing but pray that God heals my own heart. Hang in there. God isn't finished with me nor the ministry I'm in yet.

McDonalds & Mormons

I almost thought I went to the Wrong McDonalds this afternoon. Nametags, white T-shirts, and ties.

Then I noticed how they looked like Mormons ... and as I looked closer I saw the McDonald's logo on the nametag.

So here are some similarities between the 2.

1. Both have a head leader. One is a clown.
2. Their "Missionaries" dress up and go for the Customer service.
3. They sell their product.
4. Both are growing fast.
5. They market what they know.
6. They are loving it.
7. They scare those that don't darken the door very much.
8. Their commercials tend to be "Cheesey"
9. I'm reminded why I try to avoid both.
10. They have really cool toys ... either flyers or plastic.

Christian as an Adjective

And here we have the Christian Flashlight. I saw this in an AD from Lifeway this week:

"When the lights go out, this flashlight will guide Dad on his way just as Christ guided him from the darkness into the light. Case is included."

Nothing in Lifeway or Family Christian interested me for Father's Day ...

HT to Marc
for reminding me of this terrible AD.

Plagiarism?

Plagiarism Article


Ht to ThinkChristian


I think, as bloggers, we need to be careful about what we post and how we post and cite it.

For me, I know that line is hard and even of posting pics etc.

So here are some rules I use:

1. If it is a story of interest - link to the story.
2. If it is a quote of a book - give the book and author, and treat and do a critique and review.
3. When posting pics - see if a copyright on the Picture - (Google
images is helpful)
4. Do Research.
5. Know the difference between that of plagiarism (Appropriate wrongfully passing one's work as your own) and that of copyright infringement (passing off someone's elses "copied" work to others without considering where the property or work is owned or whom by)
6. Know what is stealing and what is not. In the world of share files, music etc. Caution is always good.
7. Your blog is yours - make it like a scrapbook but give proper credit where Credit is due. (Scrapbooking isn't my thing, but does take some time and talent to make your blog better - to just copy and paste an article on your site doesn't make much sense, unless you are adding to it, quoting where you got it from, and evaluating it.
8. Have a Creative Commmons license or Copyright of your stuff - and if published on other sites ... Make sure it helps their site, and know that the work is YOURS.
9. Have Fun. Sometimes it isn't fun to find out that certain things aren't original, but try the best you can. You will make mistakes. Use your blog wisely, and blog what you know. If you don't know anything about automechanics, or hockey - don't blog about it. Make your blog yours. Don't try to be a "Know-it-all" on every topic.
10. See what other bloggers do. In being an example, get a mentor. Be a mentor. Your blog can be a very good tool and journal or can hurt you. You make it what you want.

Top 10 Things to Know when in a New Ministry

1. Get it in writing. Get a contract, job description. Know what is expected of you.

2. Get your office organized. The more organized chaos you have the better you have for administrative and relationship building.

3. Get to know your leaders. Know their giftedness, take them to lunch. Spend time together building a team. The more you support the Church Staff and stand united - the better.

4. Get to know the parents. Know what their expectations are. Get feedback on what they want for their child. Spend time building relationships with the parents (Moreso than even the teens)

5. Build your team. Get to know the sponsors. Slowly build your team. Get to what what they have do in the past, and what you are planning for the future.

6. Get to know your students. Especially your student leaders. Mentor, disciple, impact, have a plan and a purpose for every activity and lesson you do.

7. Don't change a Thing. At least not yet. Evaluate. Spend the first couple of months - maybe not even teaching but observing, look at the overall - what works, what doesn't. Be prepared to get your Senior pastor on board when you have to REVAMP, and possibly fire or rather re-assign other volunteers to other ministries. You are in charge - but that takes time to make the program Yours (After much consideration and prayer of course of where God would have you)

8. Have a network. Have some mentors, a network of youthworkers to rant, to bounce things off of, as well as some accountability. Build long lasting friendships outside even the congregation you are serving. Be Kingdom Building, not always Congregational. (There is a difference).

9. Build your resources. Have a library. Learn. Goto Conventions. Adapt, steal, borrow, use what might fit in your context of youth ministry.

10. Take Time for your own Spiritual Journey. Make sure you are feeding your soul. Don't get burnout. Be encouraged.



Other Resources That you might Find helpful:

Your First two Years in Youth Ministry by Doug Fields.
Starting Right - thinking theological about Youth Ministry - Dean, Clark & Rahn.
The Top 12 Resources Youth Workers Want - Jonathon R. McKee
10 Things I wished I had known when I started Youth Ministry - Revellyn Pletcher