Youth Ministry Volunteer Podcast

BE PREPARED“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” -  Abraham Lincoln Preparation is needed for great ministry. Without God, man cannot do anything. Without man, God will not do anything. Joshua was a great leader of the Israelites, leading them to the Promised Land. Joshua went through great preparation in order for God to do great things in and through him. Exodus 17:9,10,13-14 - Joshua led the victorious battle against the AmalekitesExodus 24:13 - Joshua accompanied the Jewish leader to the mountain of GodNumbers 11:28 - Joshua was the attendant of Moses from his youth. Numbers 13:16 - Joshua’s name changes from Hosea (salvation) to Joshua (the Lord saves)Numbers 14:6-10,30,38 - Joshua, with Caleb and 10 others, spied out the land of Canaan. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who urged the nation to possess the land and, thus, they were the only ones who actually entered the land. Numbers 27:18-23 - Joshua was indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and was commissioned to serve the Lord for the first time. Numbers 32:12 - Joshua follows the Lord faithfullyDeuteronomy 31:23 - Joshua commissioned a second time Deuteronomy 34:9 - Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdomWhen we get to Joshua 1, I wonder if the trusting God was trusting in God above his experience. Still, preparation was key for Joshua to be who he was and how he was going to lead.  Preparation does not mean knowing everything, but being ready for anything.  Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction - 2 Timothy 4:2The role of a youth leader is to teach the Word of God to their students. This can come in teaching in main session, large group - or through small group questions. Our role is to teach the Word of God, completely, to our students. Here, the word prepared (or to be ready), gives the idea of urgency or readiness, like a soldier prepared to go into battle.That they are ready and able to teach God’s word when it’s popular and not popular, convenient or not convenient. BE PREPARED IN STUDYBE PREPARED IN STORY 

BE PRESENT Everything that we do as youth leaders is built on a foundation of trust. Trust is built with being present in the life of your student. Your student will not care what you know, until they know that you care. You need to be present in order for students to know that you care. When you are present as a youth leader, you begin to create an environment of community for those you are going to minister to. javascript:;You read throughout Acts how present people were - and you see the kind of life change that people went through. Acts 2:42-47 - the fellowship of the Believers There was devotion to teaching, and fellowship, and eating together. Those who believed were together and had things in commonThey sold possessions for each other, and distributed the proceeds to each other. They were there for each other. They had glad and generous hearts towards one another. Acts 9 when Saul is converting to the faith. God speaks to Ananias and tells him to go look for Saul. Ananias is afraid that he will go to jail, but God tells him in verse 15 - that Saul (later Paul) was a chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel - Acts 9:15We know the kind of man that Saul became, but part of his story is Ananias being present to minister. So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” - Acts 9:17Acts 8 Philip speaks with the Ehtiopian EunuchAngel of the Lord tells Philip to go to Gaza where he meets this Eunuch. Eunuch was reading passage (reading Isaiah)Philip helps explain what the passage means and shares the gospel. The Eunuch sees a body of water and wants to get baptizedDesires to move forward in his relationship with God.  BEING PRESENT ALLOWS OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY. How do we do this? 3 things BE PRESENT PHYSICALLY Show when you’re supposed to show up.  BE PRESENT MENTALLY  BE PRESENT RANDOMLY  Part of building great trust with students is  also showing up in random parts in your students' lives. ConcertsFootball gamesRecitalsBirthday partiesFamily lunches and dinners (when invited)Christian clubs (when invited)You also randomly show up to things that are hard. Memorial servicesHospital visitsDeath of family membersDivorce Bad days at schools 

Episode 13You’re not a know it all, and that’s a good thingEver feel like you don’t know enough about the Bible or Christianity? Has that ever let you stop volunteering in youth or kids’ ministry? DON’T LET IT!Youth group is about showing and growing the students into a relationship with Jesus, but it’s also about being a positive impact on them through our own life experience.IF you don’t know a lot about the bible but have a passion to see student does not go down the same path you did, volunteer anyway and allow the youth leader to invest and disciple you!Believe it or not, the youth leader wants to invest and disciple the volunteers, just as much as they want to invest in the students.Don’t be afraid to ask the youth leader to meet with you regularly for leader development and discipleship.

Episode 12Attendance and Interaction are KeyHave you ever showed up to youth group and there was “nothing for your to do”? Great!!! That means you have more time to personal interact with students!A lot of times, the biggest way you can support the youth leader, is just by showing up and interacting with the students. This frees the youth leader up to do what he/she needs to do, and it gives them peace of mind knowing that there are other adults in the room that care for the students and will make sure that no student feels lonely or unwelcomed.

Episode 11Be there FOR THE students, not just with the Students.Now that we have made the commitment to serve on a consistent basis, what are we doing while we are at youth group?Many times, leaders tend to seek each other out and only talk to other leaders.If you want to invest in the students’ lives, you have to get out of your comfort zone and interact with the students, not other leaders.Just like going to the Gym and sitting in the lobby on a regular basis doesn’t impact your muscle growth, going to youth group events and talking with other adults or playing on your phone on a regular basis doesn’t positively impact the students in a discipleship manner.

Episode 10Consistency An Impact Are ConnectedWhen we sign up to volunteer in youth group, we must prioritize youth group meeting times above most other events. This is the only way that consistency in the lives of the students will take place.IF you want to make an Impact in the lives of the teens you serve, you have to be consistent in their lives.Consistency in youth group events, church meetings, students’ extra-curricular events are going to show the students that you truly care about them and have their best interests in mind for them.

Episode 9Know why you are serving in youth ministry.Unless we know why we are serving it is hard for us to be able to fully commit to the commitment that is needed and required of us in youth ministry. If we are not committed, then it’s easy to get complacent and or distracted with reasons why we can’t attend youth meetings, events, etc.Knowing why you are committed will give you longevity when youth ministry seems mundane or redundant.

Episode 8Christmas Break IdeasChristmas break is an easy time to connect with your students.Here are 10 easy ways to connect with your small group over the Christmas breakGo to Walmart and buy a box of 10-20 blank cards and send them out. Hand written anything is like gold these daysThe day after Christmas go grab some 50% off items and drop them off at the doorsteps of your group with a little note on it.Movies! There are always great movies at Christmas time. Send a group text to your small group and let them know you will meet them at the theater for a movie. I highly recommend PG or G! Find the latest animated movie. Make sure there are more than 1 that show up and/or have a spouse/friend join you. Find out about a movie beforehand at places like pluggedin.Youth ministry event - we are having a lock in. If there is some event your youth group is already doing...get your students to it!Movie night or game night in your home or a parents’ home. Create an elf yourself video with you and the students in your group. Post it on social media. Send it to your group.Do a scavenger hunt. This is super fun to do. You can find all sorts of ideas online. Pinterest. etc.Go see the Christmas lights. There is always a “candy cane lane” type of place that could get on that show Christmas Light FightsGo caroling. Pick a neighborhood and carol with your group. Have everyone bring $5 after Christmas. Go shopping at a store for the post Christmas sales and shop for some homeless family. Go and deliver it together. 

Parents - if a parent disciplines one of your students...Don’t talk the parents down. Coach your students to engage with their parents and own what they new to own. Your student wins. Their parents win. You win. Win. Win. Win.  Prayer - it’s so powerful. Let’s not just use it as a token moment. Apps - A couple of apps to keep track of prayer requests. Evernote, Prayer Notebook Want to connect to Justin Herman? Check out his socials:Insta: heyjustinhermanTwitter: heyjustinherman 

Episode 6Special Guest Justin HermanNo student shaming & Follow up on missing students.  Don’t call out a student from the stage. That’s obvious. The key today is not shaming students for actions they are taking like dating. Try to put yourself back in your middle school and high school self. What you dealt with was the most important thing in the world to you. When you shake students for what they are in your shot down conversations.  Follow up on students who aren’t there. This is especially key for small group leaders. When a student knows they were missed they will want to come back. When they don’t hear from anyone and they don’t come back they will remember that no one reached out.  Connect with Justinlinktr.ee/heyjustinherman

Episode 5Special Guest Justin HermanConversational memoryActive listening is important! (looking at them with your eyes and body language, etc.) Conversational memory is about remembering what someone has said the last conversation you had with them. When you follow up on a conversation you had with a student in a previous week it shows that students that you value them.Apps you can use to keep track of conversations with students. Evernote. Notes app on your phone.Transparency with students. Be transparent, just don’t dive deep into the details. When you share your own journey it helps students to feel comfortable to share their story. Be careful with how many details you give. Keep the focus on Jesus…the redemption part of the story. That needs to be the hero of the story, not your struggle.

Small-Group PrepPart of a successful group is presence and a huge piece of presence is being “all there” when it comes to small group time. We need to lead with expectancy.Here are some tips:Pray for yourself and your own walk with GodPray some more – for the students this time, each by nameReview the teaching series and topics that have already been coveredIf you have an SGL guide or questions, read over them and become familiarList some goals for the group time (immediate as well as long term)Be there 15-30 minutes early Thank God afterward for wins each week 

Self-FeedingSometimes Small Group Leaders can be so busy serving they forget to do the things necessary to avoid burn out.  Today we are talking about habits that are necessary for proper self-feeding when it comes to our own walk with God because you can’t give to others what you don’t have to give.Daily time with GodYour own peer small/support groupRegular corporate worshipRestSacred Pathways - Gary ThomasCheck out the Youth Ministry Volunteer Podcast every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.Sunrise Church

T.R.A.P. 3 students this week!Touch - healthy touch is so important. Many of our students don’t have much healthy touch if any touch at all. High fives, side hugs, hand on the shoulder, fist bumpRelate - asking them how they are doing and what is going on in their life. Finding out about their week. Following up on conversations you had with them the previous week. Click the link for some great ice breaker questions to ask.Affirm - find ways to affirm students any way you can! An affirmation can literally change someone's life!Pray - this may be the most awkward one for many leaders. It shouldn’t be, but to actually stop and pray for someone is so vital. When you pray for someone, it makes a significant impact!Check out the Youth Ministry Volunteer Podcast every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.

Policing vs. Relationship When you act like a police officer and stand in the back of the room waiting for students to mess up…3 things it does 1) Tells students “don’t mess up or else” 2) Puts distance relationally between leaders and students 3) Builds a wall of distrustSit WITH students.  1 Thessalonians 2:8When you sit with students:3 Things it does: 1) continues to build a relationship with students 2) It helps whoever is on stage not to have to be the “bad guy” 3) It reduces potential problems (like Watch Dogs program at schools).)So please, sit with students. Engage with them.Sing with them.Play the games with them. Check out the Youth Ministry Volunteer Podcast every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.

Trailer: Youth Ministry Volunteer Podcast From Sunrise Church in California.Pastor Erik Williams, our host, and the NextGen Pastor.Erik Williams  Facebook  Email Sunrise Church