Tuesday morning Matt Proctor gave the early Bible sermon from the book of Titus. “AquaChurch: How to Turn a Leaky Boat into a Tight Ship.”
Tuesday Morning main session Mark DeVries (Youth Ministry Architects and author of Family Friendly Youth Ministry). That was after the Robbie Seay band lead some good worship music and Tim Jones did some funny stuff. They were both at each main session.
He talked about being “stuck.” Not knowing what to do next. He had some good insights on Youth Ministry. Some highlights:
In their research they have found 4 Normals in Youth Ministry:
1. YM usually consists of 10% of church attendance
2. 1 full-time youth worker for every 50 kids.
3. 1 volunteer for every active kid.
4. $1000 budgeted for every active kid.
He recommended the book The E Myth.
He challenged us to every week spend some time not doing ministry but working on ministry. [i.e. vision casting, etc.]
1. Have a directory – know your kids
2. Have clear expectations on how many kids I am expected to engage in ministry on a regular basis.
3. Have a staff and budget that matches expectations.
4. Have a year calendar.
5. Have weekly volunteers recruited and trained.
6. Curriculum picked and designed for a year.
Pay attention to what’s below the water. Character, heart, soul – “am I rearranging deck chairs when the boat may be sinking?” Students want a YM with a true relationship with Jesus. What’s below the water is what counts!
Mentors are needed to get you unstuck.
Prov 14.4 – ministry will be messy!
Messiness is not the same as sloppiness!
Tuesday seminar #1 – Gil Gilchrist “How to Quit “Dealing” With Parents”
Become family friendly. Work together with church staff to make the church family friendly. Overlap events. Plan camps at the same time to not tie up families so much during the summer. “I am family friendly”, let it be known. [Move Youth Church to Sunday mornings to be family friendly].
Respect time and money of families.
Communicate: e-mail, phone, mail, call-in line, blog…
Local mission projects are always family service projects. No longer youth or adult but family opportunities.
Parent meetings once a quarter. Give out 3X5 cards for notes, questions, and to write down events they want to volunteer to help with. Ask for help. Share calendar and ministry vision. Do a follow up letter to all parents with three main things talked about. Utilize parents – subs, cooks, hosts, driver, pray’ers, sm. group leaders.
Parent Forums – Not lead but facilitated. Round circle discussions. Hot topics – media, dress code… give them the topics at least 2 weeks in advance-send out an article or short paper on the topic. Have an expert – bring statistics, quotes, and 5+questions to get the discussion going. Have a goal for the meeting – even set policies [or work on them].
Tuesday seminar #2 – Tim Gray “Growing and Caring for Adult Volunteers”
How not to recruit: Don’t make YM sound easy, don’t guilt trip people, don’t lie, don’t recruit anyone who will show up to teach MS, don’t settle.
How to recruit: Start with general recruitment (bulletin, NL, preacher announcement), then speak to people one-on-one, do basic training (101- about YM, what and why 201- helpful hints for YM 202- character qualities-requirements), be prepared, be professional – good presentation, respect them, respect their time.
People to look for: dream sponsor – plays guitar and does sports too, older youth, old people, parents- look good in their eyes-communicate.
Move them into ministry: Don’t dump them in- move them in slowly, allow them to sit in class for a few weeks, then quip them, recruit them to be mentors-sit with youth, get to know names, contact ministry, be gentle, check with kids-ask them often about everything-they will have good ideas, check with staff and elders first before recruiting for key positions.
After recruited: Treat them like gold!, train them-www.pikeplacefish.com video-make it fun, book Seven Check Points, by Standley, recruit for Ministry Leaders- Church- music, tech, speakers, Guest services-greeting, follow-up, Small Groups, Large Group Events.
Books for Volunteers:
Help…I’m a HS Sponsor
Help…I’m a Small Group Leader
Help…I’m a Volunteer Group Worker
Help…I’m a Sunday School Teacher
How Not to Lead a Small Group
How to Recruit and Train Youth Volunteers
Play together with you volunteers- game nights, etc.
In between sessions I talked with the College Press representative about their new full church curriculum. It is a 6-Year through the Bible study coming out in Fall of 2006. It will be on computer disk and very affordable.
Tuesday night Matt Proctor spoke – “A White Water Faith” from Matt 14.22-32. Peter is the first ordinary man to walk on water. Those still in the boat are of the “legions of unjazzed.” This, a quote from a famous surfer (Phil Edwards) who spoke about the challenge of catching the perfect wave. Those who stay on the beach are of the legions of the unjazzed, living boring lives without faith. He also said, “there is a need in all of us for controlled danger.”
1. There is always a call – God is calling us to take risks.
2. There is always a fear
3. There is always a promise – “fear not” is in the Scriptures 366x
4. There is always a decision
5. There is always a reward
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