The Audience

Here is my question to you youth workers out there: When is the last time you stopped and actually contemplated WHO you are speaking to on Sunday and Wednesday? I know that as youth pastors we are to be relevant to our students and have relationships with them, but have you ever picked out a few students and actually charted out what you think, or know, they are addressing daily and weekly? How are you speaking into THESE areas?

I was forced to do this last week when I gave my final talk in a series titled “Sex Appeal.” Bet you can’t figure out what it was about… Anywho, this specific talk was the hardest of them all…homosexuality. What makes that difficult? Knowing there is a student sitting in the FRONT ROW wrestling with this issue.

When I talk about other things, or point out other sins, it’s almost as if I am addressing a collective YOU (being all the students). But when I started preaching, it was as if I could feel the eyes of this specific student. Is that weird? It changed the way I preached.

As Youth Pastors we are called to be reverse engineers: We have to decipher pop-culture, figure out what students are wrestling with, ask where parents are having problems, listen to the Holy Spirit on how to address these things, submit ourselves to the Word, and then shape a talk in a way that will hold the attention of our students….rough!

We have quite a job ahead of us. May we do it with integrity, humility, and wisdom.

Time to Worship

I’m a little giddy… Tonight I get to worship and not think about what students are doing. I get to worship and not think about a message I have to give. I get to give my all to God without distractions. So excited!

I live in North Dallas and Jesus Culture is coming to the Verizon Center tonight…it’s time to worship! While Youth Pastors are supposed to be the one’s that have it figured out, who can worship despite distractions, who can worship without worrying about what is going on during a service, who can worship while students are chatting, reality says that very few, if any, can actually do this.

This is why personal worship time is SO important in the life of a pastor. If we are not fueling ourselves in worship outside of Sunday morning, are we ever worshiping at all?

I know… I know… “Everything we do is an act of worship to God.”

My response: Rubbish!  ”The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41) Even in the presence of the Lord, the disciples fell asleep on the job. Am I greater than Peter?

I know for a fact that I struggle with keeping my eyes open to how God would have me worship every Sunday morning. I know for a fact that I get distracted by students and my message, and because of this my greatest moments of worship are in the car and in the shower. Too Much Information? Just trying to be honest…

When do you worship? How do you get distracted on Sundays? Is it a bad thing?

Justin Bieber

While watching The Voice on NBC I saw the preview for Justin Bieber’s upcoming single “Boyfriend.” In a 30 second preview, our students were bombarded with messages about what it means to date. His simple phrase, “If I was your boyfriend,” accompanied by hands touching his body and sexually whispering in girls ears sends a VERY CLEAR message.

It’s time to go to work. While it would be IMPOSSIBLE to address every element of pop-culture that opposes the gospel, starting with poster-boy Justin Bieber is easy. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 is a beautiful way of conveying how pop-culture detracts from our sanctification, our process of becoming holy. It states, “ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.”

As Student Pastors, we must help students place everything they do within the process of their sanctification. We need to get them questioning, “Is this making me more holy, set apart for God?” “Does this song, movie, relationship, or action set me apart for God?” “Am I in control of my body or am I letting outside influences impact how I control my body?”

We are fighting an uphill battle, but it’s a battle that must be fought. However, the more fun you can make pointing out how ridiculous pop-culture is, the better. I.e. “I’m Elmo and I know it,” a spoof of “I’m sexy and I know it” by LMFAO.

And that’s all I have to say about that…

Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava, Student Pastor at LifePoint Church in Plano, Tx, table tennis (ping-pong) extraordinaire, addicted to coffee. For anything else…you’ll just have to ask.

 

Different Kind of Sticky

There has been a lot of talk lately about “Sticky Faith” and Sticky Youth Ministry. My last two days in student ministry have certainly been sticky, but a different kind of sticky. Sunday after church, after week one of a sex talk no less, I had a mother come into my office and tell me her son had been arrested and placed in the county Juvenile Detention Center. Heavy.

He was charged with “assault with a deadly weapon.” Heavier.

Talking with a student on a telephone through bullet proof glass is the last thing I thought I would be doing when I woke up on Sunday morning, but it’s precisely where the Lord had me end my day.

Student Ministry gets very sticky sometimes, and how we choose to act or react in these sticky situations will effect how our students react to the gospel. As I spoke with my student across the glass I made sure he understood the weight of his decision, but also offered love. Sometimes God uses our rock bottom moments to get our attention. Sometimes we ignore God until we are forced to listen and ask for help. It’s sad that He has to get our attention in this way, but our God is also a God of forgiveness and grace.

As Student Pastors we have to navigate the line of gospel-centered correction and gospel-centered grace. To far in one direction and Christianity comes across as dogmatic and rigid. If we go too far in the other direction we make His grace cheap and downplay obedience: our only response to a love so deep.

When have you struggled walking this line? How have you succeeded or failed?

Foto Friday Freebie

Branding Youth Ministry

I wasn’t sure whether to call this post Foto Friday or Friday Freebie? So I went with both. This is a logo that you can use for your Small Groups. Be looking for more logos to come over the next two weeks! I only ask that you don’t take credit for it or try to sell it to someone!

Why Brand?

1. Its more exciting and appealing than text.

2. It gives your ministry an identity and generates a feeling of consistency.

But don’t go overboard…you don’t need a logo for everything. To much branding makes a bulletin or email feel cluttered and overwhelming.

If you do not call your Groups “Small Groups” or if you need a custom logo designed but don’t want to break the bank, you’re in luck!

Contact: Andrew Godfrey
AJGodfrey Design
214.519.1718

Teenage Girls

As a Youth Pastors, there are things students do that get under our skin. To be more specific, stupidity drives us bonkers. How can a girl that loves Jesus, is super involved in Small Groups and service for the kingdom, find it okay to wear shorts that are barely there and a v-neck that shows off things that shouldn’t be shown off?

The answer is simple…yet complicated. While girls in our ministries love Jesus and want to pursue him, there is a fallen world with fallen messages pursuing them! We must respond…

Kate Elizabeth Conner on her blog Lily Pads has responded. This read will bless you as a Student Pastor or dad!

6 Lessons from YS Palooza

This last weekend, 5 of us from the Student Ministry team went to the Youth Specialties Palooza in Dallas, Tx. Here are 6 things that stood out:

1. The Veterans will remind us and we must listen: nurture your soul and take care of your family!
2. Via Doug Fields: Value a collective vision for the ministry. It takes a TEAM!
3. Via Walt Mueller: We must engage and expose culture’s faulty messages.
4. Via Brian Berry: Mentoring is best when I know and am part of a student’s family story.
5. Via Kara Powell: Segregation happens weekly when students are secluded at church.
6. Via Jim Burns: When you reach the family, you reach the world.

There were so many highlights from this Palooza, and I would recommend you taking your Student Ministry Team when you have the chance! One thing that especially stood out to me was how available the speakers made themselves before and after sessions. At most conferences I have been to, speakers hide in the green room until it’s time to speak and then retreat back there afterward. This was not the case at YS Palooza! I had the pleasure of having brief conversations with Fields, Berry, Powell and Mueller. I think this speaks volumes about the character and passion of these Youth Ministry Advocates.

Previous Series Posts:

10 Things that Annoy a Youth Pastor
9 Youth Ministry Websites to check out
8 Youth Ministry Wins
7 Good Practices for Youth Pastors

Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava, Student Pastor at LifePoint Church in Plano, Tx, table tennis (ping-pong) extraordinaire, addicted to coffee. For anything else…you’ll just have to ask.                

7 Good Practices for Youth Pastors

These are seven good practices that need to become habits!

1. Call every volunteer you have to say “thank you,” and ask what you can do for them.
2. Give up the pulpit for a few weeks to refresh and nourish your soul.
3. Make your family a priority and get home on time!
4. Find ways to get students integrated and serving other ministries in the church.
5. Be actively mentoring students 1 on 1.
6. Hand over creative control of events to a Student Leadership Team and let them execute the plan.
7. Push your own spiritual development through studying scripture, theology, and adolescent literature.

Previous Series Posts:

10 Things that Annoy a Youth Pastor
9 Youth Ministry Websites to check out
8 Youth Ministry Wins

David Hanson is a Texas native, born and raised in Amarillo. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University and received his Master of Divinity from Baylor’s Truett Seminary. He and his wife Ashley recently started the journey of parenthood with their daughter Ava. David has been working in youth ministry for over six years and has a desire to see students know, love, and worship Jesus. David is passionate about Red Raider Football, and beating everyone in table tennis (ping pong).

8 Youth Ministry Wins

Here we go:

1. 75% of Students involved in Small Group discipleship.
2. Students starting Bible Studies in their schools.
3. Non-believing students feeling welcomed and sitting under gospel teaching.
4. Students engaging with the Word, in worship, and evangelism.
5. Volunteers serving out of passion rather than duty.
6. Nobody dying on a Sunday or Wednesday (via my Administrative Pastor).
7. Parents backing the vision of the Student Ministry.
8. Seeing students know, love, and worship God through a transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. (Our Mission Statement)

Previous Series Posts:

10 Things that Annoy a Youth Pastor
9 Youth Ministry Websites to check out 

What do you consider a win in youth ministry? Comment below to add to the list!

David Hanson is a Texas native, born and raised in Amarillo. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University and received his Master of Divinity from Baylor’s Truett Seminary. He and his wife Ashley recently started the journey of parenthood with their daughter Ava. David has been working in youth ministry for over six years and has a desire to see students know, love, and worship Jesus. David is passionate about Red Raider Football, and beating everyone in table tennis (ping pong).

9 Youth Ministry Websites to check out:

The Countdown Continues! If you missed the first, check out 10 Things that Annoy a Youth Pastor

1. Sticky Faith by Fuller Youth Institute – Great perspective on seeing faith that lasts the test of time.
2. whyismarko by Mark Oestreicher – Witty and genuine blog on youth ministry.
3. YouthMinistry360 by Andy Blanks – A factory of youth ministry articles and resources.
4. Seventy8 Productions – For those who love Jesus and technology.
5. YouthMin.org - Great insights by a group of youth geniuses.
6. Life in Student Ministry – Exceptional insights by a seasoned youth blogger.
7. Youth Specialties – Mark Matlock and company have so much to offer.
8. Simply Youth Ministry – A hotspot for youth curriculum and resources.
9. The Youth Ministry Blog – Free user generated content. Join the fun!

There is no way I deserve to be on the list with some of these powerhouse youth ministry websites. I also know I left off other great youth ministry websites, so let me know what other youth websites that you visit and read on a consistent basis!

David Hanson is a Texas native, born and raised in Amarillo. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University and received his Master of Divinity from Baylor’s Truett Seminary. He and his wife Ashley recently started the journey of parenthood with their daughter Ava. David has been working in youth ministry for over six years and has a desire to see students know, love, and worship Jesus. David is passionate about Red Raider Football, and beating everyone in table tennis (ping pong).