Leader Introductions

This fall, we have over one hundred volunteers between Jr. High and Sr. High. We realize that most of our students only know a hand full of these leaders. As this number continues to grow, we are trying to find new ways to help our students connect with a greater number of leaders, so that we can increase the potential relational impact.

Many of the students that we serve have access to and are familiar with video editing software. As a result we decided to invite our students (starting with Sr. High) to introduce their small group leader to us in 2 minutes or less through video. We maintained the right to edit what they gave us, but other than that, we left it completely in their control. To give them some idea of what we were talking about, we put together this simple video.

Aaron's Crib from Jon Grunden on Vimeo.

So far, nobody has entered a video, but there has been a lot of buzz about the idea. We will have to see what happens.

Something New (to us)

There are approximately fifty small groups in our Jr. High ministry currently. Every other week, instead of all the students gathering together at church, we divide them into seven homes based on school district geography. The programming that occurs in these homes is different than when we meet at church, but closely follows the same structure (game, worship, teaching, small group). This means that each home has a volunteer who is responsible to teach the content for that week. However, in addition to this task, these volunteers are also responsible to help care for the other volunteers in their home, organize programming, oversee service projects, and the list goes on.

For the last eight years, we have put the full responsibility of teaching this content on these volunteers, and they have done a great job. However, as we increase the number of cell families, increase the responsibility our Teachers have, and as our volunteers lives get busier, we have decided to try something new to continue to guarantee excellence in teaching and make life a little easier on these volunteers. This Wednesday we are trying our first partial video teaching. We still want our Teachers to set up the material, and we want them to focus on presenting the "application", but we put most of the Biblical and historical background on video. We are sure it is going to be a learning experience, and we are excited to hear the feedback.

If you are interested , here is the video portion of the teaching.

Cell Family Teaching Oct 14 from Jon Grunden on Vimeo.

Serving Etiquette: Video Announcement

I have the privilege of working with some of the most passionate, giving volunteers I have ever met. It truly is an honor to serve them and serve with them.

Every week in LifeLine we have over one hundred volunteers who invest their lives in building relationships with students with the ultimate goal of leading students closer to Christ. We know this relationship is crucial if we desire to impact a student's life, so everything we do as a ministry is designed around creating a context that is conducive to this relationship.

As with any student ministry, we realize that programming is a small piece of the bigger picture, but it is an important piece because it often sets the context that relationship occurs in. Every fall we implement programatic changes that we hope will improve this context. This fall, one of the changes we made was a move toward more video, specifically video announcements (and video teaching elements as the year progresses)

Why we made this change:

We want to get students to our events so we can continue to develop relationship with them, and we suspect that video is an incredibly effective way of conveying pertinent information.

So far:

Below is an example of what we have done so far and some things we have learned.

Learnings so far:

1. Video is memorable: I know this seems basic, but there is something powerful about putting an image with a message. Example: How many times have you heard a student quote a movie after only seeing it once.

2. Video can't replace the human element: It is important to maintain a host in the room. Someone who lives, breathes, and can react.

3. Humor goes a long way: As long as it's funny, it will be engaging, even if the video itself isn't well produced.

4. Humor needs to be explained: Just because it was funny in concept and you laughed your head off while you were shooting it, doesn't mean the students will get it. If they don't understand it, you're done.

5. Students don't need "all" the details: They just need to know where/what, and why they should be there. Their parents need all the details.

6. We have a lot to learn: We are on the beginning of this journey and we have a long way to go, but so far it has been worth the work to make it happen.

Ugly Like Me

I heard a song on the radio the other day that I hadn't heard in a few years. I was on my way home from work, flipping through channels, trying to unwind from what had been a long and stressful day at work. Truthfully it had been a long month of work getting ready for another ministry year launch. As with almost anything we do in life, the kick off of a new year presents the opportunity to step back and see the bigger picture, or get so lost in the details that we lose perspective on who we serve and why we are here.

This particular day was a "lost in the details" day. Despite checking several things off my "to do list", I left work feeling more overwhelmed by what had to be done tomorrow than I was when I started work that morning. Then a song came on the radio...

The song was "Outside" by Staind. I was familiar with the song from radio play in my college days, but I honestly had never paid attention to the lyrics. For whatever reason, a couple lines from the chorus jumped out at me that day.

I can see through you
See your true colors
'Cause inside you're ugly
You're ugly like me

I am not certain what the song is about, but in this particular case I couldn't help but think about the students we serve. They are bombarded everyday with products and messages that are packaged neatly, but offer them false hope. As adults who watch youth culture, it is easy to believe that if we package ourselves nicely, we will have the opportunity to really influence students with truth, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Students can see through us, and they know we are "ugly" too.

This is why authenticity in our relationships with students is so important. If we pretend we have it all together, we are only fooling ourselves. Students can smell fake coming a mile away. They may spend massive amounts of money on products the media has told them will make them whole, but the slightest hint of fakeness in relationship will scare them away instantly.

We all really desire to be authentic, but are we willing to do what it takes to be authentic? Are we willing to be vulnerable? Are we willing to let students see the ugliness in our story?

I'm not suggesting that we should walk around with our hearts on our sleeves. It is extremely important that we maintain professionalism and draw healthy boundaries, but we need to balance that by owning our mistakes and letting students take an honest look at who we are and where we have come from.

Important Note: There are some things in our stories that students don't necessarily need to hear. Being authentic isn't about airing our dirty laundry or telling our deepest darkest secrets, it's about about maintaining a healthy vulnerability about our struggles, and talking about God's work in our lives through these experiences. Discernment is of extreme importance.

What Keeps You Coming Back for More - Part 2

One of the things I love most about my job is the opportunity to serve with an outstanding team of volunteers. I am constantly humbled and overwhelmed by their wisdom, passion, devotion, and creativity. If you happen to be one of said volunteers, please know that you are amazing and it truly is an honor to serve with you.

Every volunteer is significant and every volunteer leaves a legacy. Whether it's one year, or twenty, God uses the time we give. Last week I blogged about the volunteers in our ministry who come back year after year. I wrote about a volunteer named Scott, who has given the last eighteen years of his life serving Jr. High students and leaders, and why I think he "comes back for more" each year. You can check it out here if you like.

Scott is one of the most humble and wise men I know. After reading my thoughts he agreed to add some of his own. Here they are. Enjoy and feel free to leave comments. I would love to pass them on to him:

"First I want to confirm a couple of the statements that you put forth.

First, I do believe that God made me for this. I often tell leaders that if they are doing what God has called them to do they will find life in that mission. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shown up at LifeLine dead beat tired, not feeling well or just plain old wanting a night off but by the time the students arrive I’m all in and when it’s over I’m ready to go for another round. I can’t think of another ministry that pulls at my heart like Jr. High. Add that up and yes, I believe God made me for this.

I try to keep the big picture in mind. One of the sermon tid-bits from my past that bolsters me is this, “ministry is brutal”. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to say, “I’m done”. There have been many disappointments and frustrations but if this is indeed what God has called me to do then what other choice do I have. As long as I don’t feel God moving me to do something else then why would I change.

And then I wanted to add two other ideas;

The people whom I labor with are an encouragement to continue on. There is something special about serving our Creator with other likeminded individuals. There is a bond and camaraderie that is difficult to explain. These people become near and dear as we encourage each other to be the best we can be at our respective roles. In truth they become what I would loosely define a small group.

The paydays are sweet. We don’t do it for the payday but man-oh-man is it sweet when it happens. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ended up in tears watching the baptism of a kid who’s come through the LifeLine, or when we hear stories of students giving their lives to Christ. Does it get any better than that? Isn’t that what this is all about? I’m to the point now that I have students who have passed through my sphere of influence and are now returning to become leaders themselves. How cool is that? Our labor is not in vain."

What Keeps You Coming Back For More - Part 1

Last night our Student Ministry team welcomed twenty new volunteers into the LifeLine family.  It was exciting to look around and see the fresh energy and potential.  As they drove away I couldn't help but wonder what God was going to do in each of their lives this year, and how He will use them to intersect the lives and journeys of the students we serve.  

As I laid in bed last night trying to fall asleep, my thoughts shifted from the new faces, to the familiar faces.  The faces of those volunteers who show up every week, year after year to give of their creativity, time, and energy to love and serve students and other volunteers in the name of Jesus.  It made me wonder, with all of the challenges that student ministry brings, what keeps them coming back for more.  

As I processed this question, one particular volunteer came to mind.  We will call him Scott, mostly because that is his name.  

Scott has been around our ministry for eighteen years.  In fact, when I began serving as a volunteer nine years ago, Scott single handedly ran the Jr. High ministry as a volunteer.  While our ministry has grown and changed over time, Scott has selflessly served, lead and loved Jr. high students and leaders for almost two decades.  

So, why does Scott continue to come back to LifeLine year after year?  

Here are my thoughts... I hope to add his in a few days.

1. He loves God... and He loves students.  It seems so simple, but longevity in student ministry takes constant commitment to maintaining health in your relationship with God and maintaining a passion for students.  When one of these is out of place, it's easy to feel discouraged.  

2. He believes that God made him for this.  He believes that God has put Him where he is on purpose and trusts God to use him, even when he can't see growth or change.

3. He believes in what we are doing. He believes that the mission is greater than the politics and keeps the big picture in front of him.

4. He maintains a spirit of humility and grace. If anyone would be entitled to have opinions about "the way things should be done," it would be Scott.  As a staff we realize that our volunteers are our greatest asset, so we work hard to consult their thoughts and opinions on much of what we do.  While Scott often has thoughts, ideas, and wisdom to offer, he always brings them with grace and understanding.  Additionally, when we make decisions as staff, he always respects them, even if he disagrees, even when we are wrong.   

5. He has the support of his family.  Scott has an awesome wife and four very cool children.  His volunteering certainly comes at their expense from time to time.  Over and over again I have seen their encouragement and understanding fuel Scott on.

Thank You

Anne Jackson, one of my favorite bloggers, asked the question today on her blog (www.flowerdust.net): What is "One thing you would tell the Church Leader/Pastor World."

As I thought about the question initially, my mind began to draft a list of thoughts and advice. I would love to say that this list was composed with love and grace, but in all honesty, my original thoughts came from a place of judgement, correction, and even a little unprocessed hurt. A few moments into this foolishness, I became overwhelmed by the selfishness of my thoughts and I began to think about the incredible challenge and responsibility of being in a leader/pastor role.

We all need to be held accountable to what God has given us, and there are certainly times that correction is necessary. However, when most of our time is spent critiquing every move a leader makes instead of encouraging them or holding them up in prayer, I believe we are in error. Leadership is God given. This does not mean that we do not question a leader or hold them accountable, but we must balance this with trust in God's sovereignty.

As I spent more time thinking about the question, I was left with an incredible sense of thankfulness. Here is my response.

Dear Pastor/Leader, Thank you for taking your role seriously. Thank you for working hard to maintain your personal health and integrity, so that you don’t distract us from the gospel. Thank you for pouring out your life to teach us truth and show us what it looks like to live the Way of Jesus. Thank you for constantly studying and striving to teach us and lead us in a way that is consistent with God’s Word. Thank you for the sacrifices you make that go unseen. Thank you for pointing us back to the cross. Thank you for admitting your mistakes and being confident enough to stand for what is right. I’m sure you have plenty of people around you to tell you where you don’t measure up, and I just want to say thank you. Continue to find your strength and peace in knowing that God loves you and He has put you where you are on purpose.

I encourage you to take the time everyday to pray for your pastors/leaders. They need it, and if you are like me, so do you.