In this 5 part special podcast series, Zac and Chad will walk you through the five stages of youth ministry growth. You will learn where your ministry is currently, and how to get to where you want to go.
For After 9 episode 104 the whole team is back to talk about ministering well at home. Youth minister, youth pastor, you are blessed if you minister well first to your spouse and family. Your partners for life and primary ministry are the ones at home. Hear from Zac, Chad, and Kristen for some thoughts, processes, and practical tips for ministering well at home which in turn will bless your student ministry.
In episode 101 Zac Chad and Kristen share their most important weekly task. Every week comes and goes in student ministry but as youth pastors and youth leaders we need to identify what the most important things are to get done. Prioritize your work self with these three helpful insights.
It's episode 99 time and the team is back with free and nearly free stuff that every youth ministry leader should have or know about. Chad Higgins, Zac Workun, & Kristen Lascola all share their top 3 things and then we have compiled a list of 99 other things that you have just gotta know about or have in your student pastor pocket
The founding guys from the super awesome Bible Project stop this episode to talk about Biblical literacy and clarity in communication. Did you know that they were originally part of a skater youth ministry church group? Or that many of the early concepts or test markets for The Bible Project videos started off as whiteboard talks to skaters?
Christmas is the season that we name that Jesus Christ has come! The gift of God wrapped in a manager. We celebrate God incarnate was born to us, and hey, Immanuel means "God is with us.” What a present/presence! Okay, that’s the last gift pun I will make today.
When I was an undergraduate, I double majored in religious studies and learned everything I could about theology, bible, and church history, but I also studied business management. One of the techniques that my management classes taught was "management by walking-around."
Yep. It was at simple as it sounds. You manage… by walking around. Like you literally just made sure to walk around the office space and see what people were actually up to, working on, and doing with the company’s time.
We read like a whole book about it. It was wild to the uninitiated mind, but what I realized is that few managers/pastors actually walk out to where their people are working/living and see how they are working/living. Immediately, I was taken aback for what this might mean for youth minister who cares deeply for the lives and habits of young people. We need to see them where are and where they are not.
This Christmas season I am encouraging my leaders and students to practice a ministry of presence. It is radically important for them to “be present.” We are going to start listening to each other better. We are going to get up and walk around on a Sunday morning. We are going to learn more about what other people are doing in our church.
In the places you frequent:
Wherever they are congregating, we are encouraging them to not stand in a closed circle. Let other folks know that they are welcomed into those spaces.
Give one hour this week to someone else:
Tutor
Coach
Mentor
Whatever they are into or whatever skill set they have to share, even if they don’t feel like they are the greatest they probably know enough to pass it along to someone younger. Musicians, singers, athletes, gamers, academics alike share what you know with students younger than you who are intrigued.
It’s true that we all like to be set in our ways. Routine is comforting for busy schedules and busy lives. However, it is really important for us to not get so comfortable that we forget that making space, taking, time and breaking routine are about creating discomfort for us for someone else/new/different/other to feel welcome.
We don’t just listen to teachings about hospitality and welcome this Christmas. We must learn to practice hospitality wherever we are and wherever we are going.
Go forth and teach and lead with grace!
zw
“This Christmas season I am encouraging my leaders and students to practice a ministry of presence. It’s hard to teach, but we must learn it. ”
