We all have those days that we are feeling low, not up to spiritual par. Those are the days student ministry goes from a passion to a job for me. I try to avoid this at all cost. Most student pastors do not last more than 2 years and most of the time, it is because they are not doing things right, whether spiritually or work ethic wise. I cannot give much advise on work ethic, either you got it, or you don't. That's up to you. But spiritually I can give advice.
The best example I can give on this is to imagine someone filling a cup out of a pitcher. If you fill the cup up to the brim or anywhere short, and then you pour from the cup into other cups, you will be drained and not at peak position, position to give. However, if you go crazy with the pitcher and spill over everywhere, a lot of the liquid will go into the other cups and the rest will go out into the world all while the original cup will be filled up.
Work hard to keep yourself high above the filled level. Let God take the brunt of ministry for unlike a pitcher, he is infinite and does not really notice when you rely on him too much, if there is even such a thing. Keep yourself focused on your studies, on your fellowship in believers and your service and you will find that the spiritual valleys come further and further apart and when they do come, you will have a way to reach the mountain again.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Why I hate lock-ins
Today kids were begging me to do a lock in. They peered into my soul with those big buggy eyes. Thankfully my heart is made of stone and I was able to say, "NOT TILL THE DAY THAT I AM DEAD ARE WE HAVING A LOCK-IN!" I have a flair for the dramatic. But truth be told, I think lock-ins are a bad idea and here is why:
The best way to make kids do the right thing is to make what they are doing something they want to do. Crazy, I know, but consider this. When I take kids to a theme park, I am super at ease that they are not going to get in much trouble. A kid who acts up a theme park misses out on going on the rides and will have a miserable day so there is motivation to be good.
Lock-ins always start fun and exciting, but then you tire and some of the kids will start finding new ways to entertain themselves. This is when trouble happens. I cannot tell you how many really bad stories I have heard that have started with, "We were having this lock-in..."
Basically, whatever you do, make it an environment where students want to be and you will avoid 99% of the potential behavior problems. If you can do this at a lock-in, you are a freak of student ministry.
The best way to make kids do the right thing is to make what they are doing something they want to do. Crazy, I know, but consider this. When I take kids to a theme park, I am super at ease that they are not going to get in much trouble. A kid who acts up a theme park misses out on going on the rides and will have a miserable day so there is motivation to be good.
Lock-ins always start fun and exciting, but then you tire and some of the kids will start finding new ways to entertain themselves. This is when trouble happens. I cannot tell you how many really bad stories I have heard that have started with, "We were having this lock-in..."
Basically, whatever you do, make it an environment where students want to be and you will avoid 99% of the potential behavior problems. If you can do this at a lock-in, you are a freak of student ministry.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The Joy of Unplugged Worship
My church knows how to worship. They bring it on the big services. The youth band brings it. They are on par with anyone out there. That being said, there are nights we go unplugged with just one singer with no mic for the sole purpose of finding the heart of worship.
I am not one to tell others how it is to be done, but I will say when something is stupid. Here is stupid: I used to live outside a YoungLife camp, which is in no way stupid, but instead is awesome. At this camp, a retreat group came one winter and set up shop. The worship "experience" they had was a famous Christian recording artist and instead of just projecting the words up and letting nature be the background, they set up LCD TV's that covered a giant wall behind the band that just played ridiculous videos. I am not 100% sure, but I don't think Jesus would worship like that.
My best worship in my life happened at a camp I used to work at. 400 kids, adults and special needs campers crammed into an 80 year old building worshiping to an unplugged guitar. Jesus, I feel, would worship like that. God was there and he was easy to see because I was not distracted by all the things of the world.
While I am all for awesome big worship, I am also a fan of simple worship. A moment when it is me and Jesus. That is where awesome worship is.
I am not one to tell others how it is to be done, but I will say when something is stupid. Here is stupid: I used to live outside a YoungLife camp, which is in no way stupid, but instead is awesome. At this camp, a retreat group came one winter and set up shop. The worship "experience" they had was a famous Christian recording artist and instead of just projecting the words up and letting nature be the background, they set up LCD TV's that covered a giant wall behind the band that just played ridiculous videos. I am not 100% sure, but I don't think Jesus would worship like that.
My best worship in my life happened at a camp I used to work at. 400 kids, adults and special needs campers crammed into an 80 year old building worshiping to an unplugged guitar. Jesus, I feel, would worship like that. God was there and he was easy to see because I was not distracted by all the things of the world.
While I am all for awesome big worship, I am also a fan of simple worship. A moment when it is me and Jesus. That is where awesome worship is.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Time to care about time!
Imagine you're 16 and your parents gave you the keys to the car for the night for a date. Then imagine you take that super important thing of theirs and just trashed it. Leave wrappers in it, get it super dirty, tear the carpet and even dent it. Your parents would be super mad and would never trust you with the car again.
Now imagine your are a student pastor who takes something even more important from a parent and treats it even worse. When you are in charge of a student, you are in charge of the most important thing in the world to a parent. When you do not take that responsibility seriously, you will lose that privilege.
So often I see youth pastors who are not doing what they are supposed to be doing with kids, not being 100% over the top safe, and my personal pet peeve, not being where they need to be with those kids. As a kid, I had a youth pastor who was always late. My parents never thought of him as someone who was responsible, not matter what he did for me and my sister. In their eyes, his lack of responsibilty for us resulted in him going from a solid student pastor in their eyes, to someone they did not want to trust their kids with. Do not lose kids for Christ because you cannot handle a bit of responsibility.
-Schutte
Now imagine your are a student pastor who takes something even more important from a parent and treats it even worse. When you are in charge of a student, you are in charge of the most important thing in the world to a parent. When you do not take that responsibility seriously, you will lose that privilege.
So often I see youth pastors who are not doing what they are supposed to be doing with kids, not being 100% over the top safe, and my personal pet peeve, not being where they need to be with those kids. As a kid, I had a youth pastor who was always late. My parents never thought of him as someone who was responsible, not matter what he did for me and my sister. In their eyes, his lack of responsibilty for us resulted in him going from a solid student pastor in their eyes, to someone they did not want to trust their kids with. Do not lose kids for Christ because you cannot handle a bit of responsibility.
-Schutte
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Thunderheads and the Best Part of Student Ministry
I live in Florida which is very different than my previous home in the north Georgia mountains. In the mountains, you get stunning views everyday. I remember in my old town when you crested over main street, you could see a huge stunning range of mountains. The view was just as beautiful when I left as it was when I came. Florida does not have this. But soon a friend told me look at the thunderheads and you will see the beauty of this place.
Thunderheads you see, are giant storm clouds that go thousands of feet in the sky. They are all unique and special and are only around for a couple of minutes before they disperse. The best part is that they are beautiful.
What keeps me in student ministry is that all kids are unique and beautiful. On top of this, they are not a permanent fixture. They stay for a few years and then go out into the world. Old kids who you never think can be replaced leave and new kids who blow you away come in and joy is felt by the person who is steady watching kids come and go.
-Schutte
Thunderheads you see, are giant storm clouds that go thousands of feet in the sky. They are all unique and special and are only around for a couple of minutes before they disperse. The best part is that they are beautiful.
What keeps me in student ministry is that all kids are unique and beautiful. On top of this, they are not a permanent fixture. They stay for a few years and then go out into the world. Old kids who you never think can be replaced leave and new kids who blow you away come in and joy is felt by the person who is steady watching kids come and go.
-Schutte
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