I had 4 conversations last week that got me thinking about how to encourage Student Ministry leaders who are caught in the middle of the “I want to see results” & the “but we can’t compete with Pop Culture” battle. All of these conversations made my mind instantly reflect on the uphill battle we fight against Youth Culture at times. Seems like the Church is always BEHIND/FOLLOWING Youth Culture rather than creating Youth Culture that students can adopt. And at times, that has proven discouraging for some. (Personally, it is for me at times)
Here are some ways you can keep an edge in this profession known as Student Ministry:
- Always be Learning something new! This is more than “being current” on what’s going on around you. What new technology, skill, principle can you be sharpening that God can bless. What passage of Scripture have you heard 10,000 times that God wants to make new TODAY?!!
- Work harder than everyone else. When you’re working…WORK HARD! I’m all in favor of a good “brain-break”, “vacation”, “day-off”, “Sabbath” but when you’re in the office, GET IT DONE!!!
- Find some finishers. Seek out people who are willing to go the extra mile NOT just “get it done”. Personally those people make me want to………..on to the next bullet.
- Harness a nothing to lose attitude. Sounds reckless huh? Well in nature it is, but in principle it’s exactly what’s needed to keep the edge on emerging culture.
- Put up OR ………. (You probably know the rest). Either start producing/creating or rest in the sweet fate that you’ll be what you’ve always been…You have to judge whether that’s good or bad.
- Do the hard work of follow-up. I’m as guilty as any in this field but follow up on everything! If you want something done, see to it that it gets done, even if it’s “handed off”. Especially if it’s mission critical.
Here are some ways I do these around GSM (Granger Student Ministry):
- I read a BOAT LOAD of youth culture blogs, articles, ebooks, psychology.
- Making sure that I’m the hardest worker on the team. I’m constantly keeping the vision of what I’m processing out in front of my team so they know where I’m at. Speed of the leader speed of the team!
- I built a team of finishers along the way. Hiring some and retraining/re-calibrating others.
- I “go for broke“. I was hired to do anything short of sin to reach this generation for Christ…and that’s exactly what I do! There’s no need to hold anything back. I have an “all-in” attitude.
- Start GETTING STUFF DONE! We made lots of foundation, structural, and organizational changes that started instantly produces the kind of fruit we were looking for.
- I have help with this one. I have some people specially gifted in this area to help me push along any of the things that have to come from me that I can’t get done on my own. Katie, my assistant, is the primary player in this role…she can flat out get stuff done!
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I would like to exchange links with your site http://www.currystew.org
Is this possible?
Love the passion in this especially “was hired to do anything short of sin to reach this generation for Christ…and that’s exactly what I do! There’s no need to hold anything back. I have an “all-in” attitude.”
Thanks for the sharpening.
We’re reaching them in Charleston SC!
Dave
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