Category Archives: Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry: Resources, ideas and training to help you become more effective in your work with youth.

Barriers to Effective Communication

April 30, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

When communicating with your youth leaders, try to avoid the following:

By Passing

Different words have different meanings. Make your communication idiot proof so that no one can misinterpret it.

Allness

We think we have said everything necessary after a few minutes. Always have a time for questions in order to check communication.

Guess Proneness

Beware assigning hidden deeper motives to things.

Hardening of the Categories

Beware over generalization, all teachers are alike, all _____ are alike, we need to recognize differences in people.

Either / Or Thinking

Beware of categorizing things into boxes (i.e. “churches are either X or Y.”)

Blinderness

Like blinders on horses, sometimes we can only see one way to do something. We need examine other possibilities.

Thalamic Reaction

Think before you react. Don’t jump to conclusions.

Misuse of Small Talk

Do not give information through small talk. It is not an effectivemeans to spread information as it may not be taken seriously

Misuse of Labels

Labels are dangerous as they have a connotation of permanence and of being true 100% of the time. Neither is true.

Misuse of “And”

and

responsibilities “multiply” the work.

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Parents Ministry, Youth Ministry

The 7 Cries of Today’s Teens

April 29, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

For several years now the Gallup Poll has surveyed thousands of teenagers to discover their most important needs. The seven needs listed below have been in the teen’s “top 10” list for the last 6 years.

The need to be trusted. Teens believe that their elders distrust them and regard them as rresponsible and unpredictable. Teens today want to be taken seriously – and we, as their parents, would be wise to create an environment at home that allows them to earn that trust.
The need to be understood and loved. Please note that the teens who responded to the survey did not asked to be “fixed and made whole.” I believe they know their lives are in heavy transition at this point. But the data from the research is clear that teens tend to believe that their elders do not understand them. Teens crave to be listened to and loved . . . preferably by parents or guardians. (And if they don’t get this need met by you, Mom and Dad, they’ll go somewhere else!)
The need to feel safe and secure. Say what? Wild, reckless, self-confident teenagers who know no fear need to feel safe? That’s right. They need to know their home is secure and their school is safe. Sadly these days such is not always the case.
The need to believe that life is meaningful and has a purpose. Studies show that this is a growing need in the populace as a whole. Society in general is realizing that there are moral absolutes – and I’m convinced that Millennials (pre-teens and teenagers) can be the transitional generation for bringing spiritual revival to the world!
The need to be listened to – to be heard. Though this might sound like #2, there’s a huge difference between feeling “understood” and “listened to.” The latter takes time, and the breathless pace we lead our lives doesn’t make that possible. As parents, we need to make sure our kids know they are being listened to and being heard.
The need to be appreciated and valued. A poor self-image is a key factor in anti-social behavior . . . just ask the residents of Columbine and Paducah. Roughly one-third of all respondents to the Gallup survey indicated they felt worthless and unappreciated.
The need to be supported in their efforts. This means anything from helping with homework to showing up at Little League or soccer games. Its one thing to get your kids involved in a lot of activities; the real benefit to your children, however, is when Mom and Dad also participate.

By and large, teens remain eternally optimistic, particularly about their personal futures. At the same time, however, they are apprehensive about the future of society as they face a host of problems that simply were not on the scene just a few decades ago.

They need you adults to stand in the gap with them. They have a heavy load to bear. But, with God’s help, you can make a difference in their lives. After all . . . you’re not just raising them to be good kids – you’re training them to become responsible adults!

(Excerpted from the book, The Seven Cries of Today’s Teens: Hear Their Hearts, Make the Connection by Tim Smith)

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Youth Ministry

Youth Workers Survival Kit

April 27, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Toothpick
To remind you to pick out the good qualities in others… (Matt 7:1)

TestaMint’s
To remind you to refresh yourself from God’s Word Every day (Psalm 119:11)

Aspirin
For the headaches that come with the job of ministering to teenagers.

Nuts
To remind you that you have to be a bit nuts to work with youth

Rubber band
To remind you to be flexible, things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out…(Romans 8:28)

Band Aid
To remind you to heal hurt feelings, your or someone else’s… (Col 3:12-14)

Pen
To remind you to list your blessings everyday…Eph 1:3

Eraser
To remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it’s okay… (Gen 5015-21)

Post It Notes
To remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything with Jesus…(Phil 4:13)

Mints
To remind you that you are worth more than a ‘mint ‘to your heavenly father…(John 3:16-17)

Time Out
To remind you to relax daily and go over that list of God’s blessings…(1 Thess 5:18)

Jolly Ranchers
To remind you that our attitudes on Sunday mornings are important. Attitudes are contagious. If our attitudes reflect our joy about being here it will spread to the teens.

Life Savers
To remind us of our ultimate purpose, to point our young people toward a deeper relationship with the greatest Saver of all- Jesus! (Phil 1:9-11)

A Highlighter
I hope that working with teens will be a highlight of your year.

Kleenex
For the tears we shed on account of our teenagers, and for wiping their tears in times of hurt and frustration.

Spiritual Journal
Because it is important to take care of yourself spiritually.

Three Musketeers Bar
To remind you that you are not in this alone. You have my support, love, and encouragement. I want to help you in any way I can, professionally and personally. And of course you have the greatest support anyone could possibly desire in our Lord.

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Youth Ministry

Youth Personality Types

April 26, 2006 kensapp 1 Comment

Dr. G. Keith Olson, in his book entitled: “Why Teenagers Act the Way They Do” outlines some personality types of youth.

1. The Power Oriented and 2. Competitive

The power-oriented personality needs to see self in control of lives. The competitive personality chooses competition as the primary way of relating to others and has extreme narcism. The primary difference between competitive and power-oriented personalities is the use of power. The power oriented personality uses power to develop skills for maturation and growth, but the competitive personality uses power against others to enhance him/her-self.

3. Aggressive and 4. Rebellious

The aggressive personality attempts to push others away and position itself against others and seeks to cause them pain and psychological injury. The rebellious personality wants to push others away or withdraw from social experience, but unlike the aggressive personalty he/she is not interested in revenge. The self-demeaning personality has a lack of belief in him/her-self and is submissive and practices passive withdrawal.

5. Dependent and 6. Conforming

The dependent personality prefers to rely on someone else who will assume responsibility or adopt the leadership role because he/she fears he/she will be inadequate or fail if he/she was to have that role.

The conforming-personality seeks to reduce anxious feelings by being accepted and liked and may sacrifice too much of him/her-self in an attempt to gain the acceptance of others. The responsible personality is as close to the social ideal as adolescents get and is a blend of power oriented and conforming personalities that follows through with commitments and respects authority.

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Youth Ministry

Creating a Climate of Cooperation with your Youth Leaders

April 26, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Care must be genuine
Orders that you know will not be followed should never be given
Only use punishment in extreme cases.
(Discipline sets fences & boundaries. Punishment functions when discipline breaks down.)
Public praise or blame of an individual should never take place
(There are some times when you should praise publicly, but don’t give the appearance of playing favorites)
Employ personnel policies which help people
(i.e. people oriented instead of task-oriented)
Restrict yourself from manipulating people
Avoid passing the buck
Try to understand people’s needs.
(family situations, motives, etc.)
Educate yourself in knowledge of when and how to listen.

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Parents Ministry, Youth Ministry

Understanding Youth Needs

January 23, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

(in Order of Importance)

1. Physiological needs: These are the basic necessities of life.
2. Safety needs: These involve security, stability, protection, order, and freedom from fear.
3. Social needs: These involve the need to love and be loved, to feel accepted and to belong and to give and receive affection.
4. Esteem needs: These deal with confidence and competence, self-image, self-respect, and esteem from others.
5. Growth needs: Those needs dealing with potential and being all that one can be and become.

Some of youth’s greatest issues associated with these needs are those related to loneliness, poor self-esteem, and discovering self-identity. Other major issues include poor relationships with parents, school problems, prejudice and injustice, vocational decisions, and their desire to discover God’s will in their lives.

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Youth Ministry

Enlisting Youth Leaders

November 20, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

E xpect God’s guidance through prayer
N eglect no possibilities when making a personal list of potential leaders
L essen the fears of potential leaders by working to overcome barriers they may have to serving
I nitiate contact by mentioning the possibility of working with youth
S tructured situations with youth should be observed by potential leaders
T rain potential leaders by enrolling them in a training program.

Youth Leader training should begin with a broad prospective and progressively narrow in on the specific job you have in mind
1. Spritual foundations
2. Spiritual Leadership
3. Basic Youth Ministry Leadership Skills
4. Youth Program Organization its Structure of leadership
5. Specific Youth Leadership Position

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