cow tipping: wrestling with youth ministry

My twin nephews

GARRETT

 BRENNAN

Need Programming Advice

  

I have a quick question: We are planning our first annual Skateighties Spectacular (80's themed skating party) would you do it as early as possible (Septmeber 12) or wait until you can drum up excitement and do it later in the month (September 26)? Those are only open dates.

 

Without going into all the specifics, which one sounds like the best momentum builder for a new school year?

 

Thanks for your help!!!

JOSH WEAVER MAKES IT TO NIGHT #2 - PLEASE VOTE!

VOTE FOR JOSH WEAVER!!!

Ebb & Flow Project: Part 2

I am writing a book – a book about the incredibly unique calling to youth ministry. Studies say that youth workers have the shortest occupational life span among all church employees: “over one third stay in the field one year or less. Even when remaining in the profession, youth workers rank just behind migrant workers in length of time in one place.” These kinds of statements are discouraging especially when 76% of vocational youth workers cite God’s call to youth work as their reason for entering vocational youth ministry. There are few books (certainly nothing new) on the topic of calling to youth ministry – little less, vocational ministry. Calling is incredibly personal, so for anyone to write a book on calling is simply a singular experience does not begin to represent the millions of other ways God has called men and women to vocational ministry. Before I get too much further in my writing, I want to collect your stories. Here is the format I am using to create this mosaic of youth ministry callings:

 

In an essay entitled, “Talking about Bicycles”, C.S. Lewis describes four ages of enchantment: the Un-enchanted age, the Enchanted Age, the Disenchanted Age, and the Re-enchanted Age. Lewis uses the four ages to describe an individual’s experience with bicycles: “As a little child I was un-enchanted by bicycles. Then, when I first learned to ride, I was Enchanted. By sixteen I was disenchanted and now I am Re-enchanted.” Lewis states that these four ages can be applied to nearly everything. I found it to be incredibly helpful in understanding my calling to youth ministry. It is not just a straight-shot to vocational bliss; it is a mess of twists and turns full of adrenaline-pumping-highs and depths-of-despair-lows. My hope and prayer is that Lewis’ road map will provide guidance (and encouragement) to youth workers wherever they are in their calling.

 

NOTE: If you are not comfortable posting your story on the blog, please e-mail it to me. I would also appreciate you spreading the word about the project and helping me get the stories of those who are early in their calling journey (college students) or who have “sold out” on vocational youth ministry (just kidding senior pastors). To make it more interesting, I will randomly select one post (every other week) to award an Amazon gift certificate.

 

What is your experience of DISENCHANTMENT with youth ministry?

Lewis describes his experience of the age of disenchantment as revisiting the prose of cycling, and that his bicycle became to him what an oar is to a galley slave. What once filled them with joy and passion can become a boring routine and may even lead to feelings of resentment and bitterness. My personal arrival into the disenchanted age was just as Lewis described. My enchantment with youth ministry slowly died, and left in its place were feelings of resentment and bitterness.

Youth Group Logos

I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for youth group logos. I think I've posted about this stuff before. Anyway, I inherited the name "COW" when I came to my church. It stands for Cloud of Witnesses found in Hebrews 12:1-3. That is actually where the name of my blog comes from. Anyway, we try not to read into it theologically, it's just a way for students to indentify with their community. We've never really had a professional logo (just some scrapy stuff from long ago), so we thought we would hire a graphic artist. We have the final draft ready to approve, and almost everyone approves, but me. I'm just a little uneasy about it. I'm probably over-thinking it, but I just need some feedback from my friends. Could I tag a few of my friends to give me their 2-cents? Sean, Steve, Ken, Mark, Marj, Dad, anyone?

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Take My Church's High School Job

10. Competitive Pay and Benefits. We pay really well and have great benefits (including seminary scholarships).

9. Great Facilities. We have great offices, decent facilities, and above average media resources.

8. Location. Location. Location. Granted you are moving to the 9th most expensive place in the country, but a lot of cool benefits come along with it. Our school districts are some of the best in the country and the sky is the limit what you could do with such brillant kids. There are also a lot of great Starbucks for relational ministry!

7. Endless Outreach Possibilties. There aren't a lot of thriving youth ministries in our part of the suburbs. There are a lot of youth who aren't being reached by anyone (Willow Creek is at least 45 minutes away).

6. Solid Small Group Base. Community is a high value at our church and it is best modeled by our youth ministry.

5. Progressive Confirmation Program. I know confirmation scares a lot of people away, but it is actually very cool. Our mentor-based program is a very effective transition into high school. It goes along way to pregventing that huge drop-off that many churches experience.

4. Strong Middle School Ministry. You would partner with a middle school pastor who believes in your high school ministry and will work year-round to prepare kids for a healthy transition.

3. Parents. I have found our parents to be an amazing untapped resource. They are just waiting to be asked to serve. They have found that happy medium between neglectful and smothering!

2. Amazing Senior Pastor. He GETS youth ministry and will be your biggest fan! The rest of our staff is pretty cool too!

1. Passionate Young Followers of Jesus. Our kids desperately want to know Jesus Christ. They want to share their story with their peers and caring adults and connect it to the story God is telling.

Is it you or is it me? The search for a NEW High School Pastor

We are heading into our 9th month of searching for a new High School Pastor. Our search team has looked at almost 200 resumes, but has only brought 3-4 candidates in for an interview. I'm not on the search team, so I can't tell you why no one has worked out. However, I can tell you they have exhausted their list and are back to square one. What's the problem?

Are we the problem? Is it our job description (is it too much, not enough, too complex, not detailed enough)? Is it our church (are we too old-school, too reformed, no clear vision, too white-bread)?

Are my fellow youth workers the problem? Is it their lack of experience and maturity? Is it their lack of vision? Do they have too much vision? Are their expectations too high? Are they afraid to take risks?

Then I hear about the many churches that are also on the market for High School Pastors. That brings to light a third possible problem: the other churches are the problem! Too many churches looking for the same experienced, educated, passionate, relational youth worker (who loves Jesus). That means that we better know what our problems are so that we can find the youth worker who has as few problems as possible before some other church with fewer problems than us snatches up the guy with the least amount of problems. Complicated? That's probably why we can't find a High School Pastor, huh?

Whatever the solution, please spread the word: there is a Middle School Pastor in Oak Brook, IL who is praying for a new High School Pastor everyday!

How many middle schoolers can you fit in a VW Beetle?

I can do 24 - how about you?