MWNR
We invite you to send your female youth leaders, mentors, and mothers of teens to
Mentoring With No Regrets
, a unique discipleship training event that will help them more effectively disciple the next generation for Jesus Christ. They will receive practical training from gifted speakers and opportunities to network with others working with young women in your community. For your convenience, this Discipleship Training event will be held at two different times: Friday, April 13 at 6pm and Saturday, April 14 at 9am. We look forward to seeing you at the
Mentoring With No Regrets
Event in Lawrence, Kansas in April, 2012.
To purchase tickets for this event,
Click Here!
KS 2012 Mentoring With No Regrets Details.pdf
KS 2012 Mentoring With No Regrets Speakers.pdf
MWNR Promo Front_FINAL 022012.pdf
MWNR Promo Back_FINAL 022012.pdf
To advertise this event in your church, feel free to
download & print the following promo materials:
Leader Spotlight
How to Train Your Female Leaders
John Bogle
Developing leaders is a great joy and one of the most important things we do as youth pastors. By developing leaders who share our mission and vision, we invite passionate Christ followers to multiply our impact on the students in our community. Here are some of the things that I have learned that need to be part of an effective strategy to develop leaders.
Meet regularly.
One of the most common questions I answer from other youth pastors is "What can I do to impact my leaders if we are all too busy to meet regularly?" There is no shortcut to impacting people for Christ. Paul said that he did not only give the gospel, but he gave his very life. This is the example we must follow or we will not develop the leaders put into our care. I meet with my leaders once a month as a group for supper, 1-4 times a month individually by phone for encouragement and prayer, and once every 4-8 weeks one-on-one or in pairs. With my female leaders, my meetings are usually in my office by appointment when others are around. Sometimes I go to a public place to meet with them, and often that is done in pairs where I meet with small group leaders who are co-leading a group. I beg of you to select your leaders well and cultivate a long-term view so that you can deepen trust and impact. I focus our times together on Ministry Training and Leadership Development, and in addition, I...
Invite Feedback.
We live in a culture that likes to emphasize the similarities between men and women, which can overlook some differences that dramatically impact how we disciple our students. Having godly women who understand our female students - who can communicate the joys and frustrations faced by our female students - helps me to know how to better shepherd our flock as a whole. Having grown up in a family with three boys, I have a more natural understanding of how to connect with guys. I get sharpened by input that helps me see biblical principles applied in a way that resonates with our girls. As a result of feedback from female leaders in our group, our small group times for guys and girls look quite different. Our guys have been given freedom to connect around an activity for part of their small group time, while the girls have been given a full hour for small groups because they have a desire to pursue a different kind of relational connection. I value my female staff and thank God for them all the time. I pour my life into them because ultimately, I want to...
Encourage Leaders.
Encourage your leaders so that they are ready to invest in the students in their care. When I am discipling someone, I make sure that God's Word and His Truth are the focus of our conversation. Disciples expect their leaders to engage in meaningful conversations about spiritual things. My life verse is Hebrews 10:24 which reads, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
There are three aspects to high-impact encouragement: (1)
It is thoughtful and proactive,
not just accidental or spontaneous. To consider how to be an encouragement means thinking and planning ahead as to what the person I am encouraging needs from me. It takes into account the unique bent of the person whom I hope to encourage. (2)
It is corrective while remaining loving
. Most people are either good at being loving or speaking the truth; the deepest encouragement comes when a balance of the two is brought. A spur in the side of a horse is unpleasant and only used when necessary. It is not intended to leave a cut or to hurt the horse, but it does get the horse's attention. Part of encouragement is corrective. (3)
It elicits godly behavior by enticing people to be more like Christ.
It is not only corrective, but it also directs a person toward the purposeful end of "love and good deeds." It is more than a cute smile to a passing stranger or a "kudos" to a person who has done something well. Real exhortation impacts deeply and is personal.
Looking for an old article? Find it Here!
Pastor John Bogle has invested in students as a leader in church ministry since 1984. He has worked at camps and in churches his entire adult life. He recently wrote a book and put together a training course for youth pastors called
Discipling Interns: Developing Young Leaders in the Church
. The book is self-published and is only available directly from him at this time. He is currently the pastor of senior high and young adults at Ridgewood Church in Minnetonka, Minnesota. In addition to his ministry to students, he pours his life into his wife Cindy and their two children, JT and Hannah. To purchase a copy of Johns book, please contact him at jbogle_ridgewoodchurch.info.
Legacy Insight
How to Train Your Female Leaders
Nikki Bryan
Your female youth leaders are a mixed company: a college student, a stay-at-home mom, and a doctor. How can you effectively train three very different women for one common goal? Your leaders certainly cant go back for the formal ministry training you received. Leadership training is hard work, especially if you are a male youth pastor who might be tempted to let your female leaders "do their own thing."
However, your leaders don't want to be left out on a limb; they need the security of your support.
As a pastor, how can you show this kind of support? First, you can't sincerely support someone you don't know personally.
I encourage you to take all your leaders (both male and female) on a leaders' retreat at the beginning of each school semester.
This does not have to be a trip of great distance or expense. If you are able, you can even spend the day at a leader's home. Do morning devotions together, share testimonies, play games, talk about plans for the coming year, and allow your volunteers to discuss their excitements and concerns about being a leader.
Another way to stay up-to-date with your leaders is to hold a meeting before youth group each week.
This meeting can be used for sharing prayer requests, informing your leaders about the night's events, and getting to know the struggles and breakthroughs they are having with their students.
During my college years, I was heavily involved as a youth leader with a local church in Chicago. Often times, it was hard to balance my school schedule and my responsibilities at the church. My young age and lack of availability caused me to feel inadequate. The truth is that many of your leaders will feel inadequate, no matter their vocation, giftedness, or age.
By learning your leaders' strengths and weaknesses, you can find opportunities for genuine encouragement.
Sometimes just knowing that my youth pastor knew the specific difficulties going on within my group and was praying for me gave me encouragement during the challenging times. You can motivate your female leaders by earnestly supporting, encouraging, and praying for them.
Support is an effective method of leadership training.
Be an intentional, supportive, and encouraging youth pastor. In return, you will have intentional, supportive, and encouraging youth leaders.
Looking for an old article? Find it Here!
Nikki Bryan is so grateful for the female mentors and male youth pastors that God provided for her during her high school years. Without their support, wisdom, encouragement, and counsel, she would not be where she is today. Nikki serves as the Ministry's Volunteer Coordinator and Creative Assistant.
We are all aware of the staggering news headlines describing youth pastors who have engaged in sexually inappropriate relationships with their students. It grieves our hearts and we think, "How could that have happened?" Subconsciously, we may even thank the Lord that we could never do something as disgusting or degrading as "that. "
During my freshman year of college, our school's president addressed the student body with the news that one of our professors had confessed to having an extramarital affair. I knew this professor. In fact, I had enjoyed encouraging and spiritually engaging conversations with this man. How could this professor I thought I knew hide something so significant from an entire campus of faculty, staff, and students?
In this address, our president said that it would be a lie for him to tell us that he would never be tempted to struggle in this area. He said that he never wanted to be at a place in his life where he thought he was above temptation. In fact, he told us, "It would be better to know your capability to fall in this area and be on guard, than to think you are too far above falling and in turn, let your guard down."
He reminded us that this was a wake-up call for each one of us. Stuff like this doesn't happen overnight. It happens gradually and subtly. When we allow one area of sin to go unnoticed and unaddressed, we can be sure it will always try to devour us. We need to remember that sin is always predictable and always destructive. It breeds from one area of our lives to the next. We as humans are inherently wicked; we are reminded in Psalm 53:3 that "there is no one who does good, not even one."
When I think about having boundaries with students in youth ministry, I am reminded of the following passage, "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done
has been done through God" (John 3:20-21, emphasis added). As ministry leaders, we are called to live above reproach, and we need to recognize that we are never too strong to fall. We need to be honest with ourselves, open with our spouses, and quick to expose the sin in our lives. Be clear about the stance you are taking. Love your students as if you were their father, never wanting anyone, including their youth pastor, to hurt them or cause them to struggle in anyway.
Whether you sense a student drawing close to you or you desire to draw close to a student,
immediately stop,
and
seek the Lord
and His Word.
Stay in His Word
, and keep yourself accountable to your spouse and other godly counsel. Trust their observations if they are uneasy with a relationship you have with one of your students. Remember, God desires that you stay humble and stay connected to the Body of Christ. Do not think you can go off on your own and make it without the grace and strength of Jesus Christ. He desires for your ministry to flourish not diminish because of the choices you make to protect His Body. So where are you? What's your stance? How are you implementing godly boundaries in your ministry? And,
how have you been at running into the light
?
God's Truth
God's Truth
"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."
Romans 12:4-8
"All Christians are part of that one body. But just as the body has different parts with different functions, so too the church has people who are different and serve that church in different ways. Paul urges us soberly and deliberately to recognize what kind of people we are - what gifts we have been given, what weaknesses we have. We must view ourselves not as isolated individuals but as part of one organism. If we view ourselves that way and truly make the health of that organism a priority...and how best we can fit in with other members of the body and carry out effectively whatever function we might have in that body."
Looking for an old article? Find it Here!
Moo, Douglas. "Encountering the Book of Romans". Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academics, 2002. 178-79. Print
Boundaries
10 Healthy Boundaries for Your Ministry
(If you are a female youth leader, insert 'male' for the following boundaries)
1. Never be alone with a female student or adult.
Typically, this rule applies to driving alone or meeting in a private setting with a student or adult of the opposite sex. Although this rule may be inconvenient at times, it will help limit opportunities for struggle or temptation.
2. Have an accountability partner
who is willing to ask you the hard questions, pray for you, and encourage you in your desire to involve God in every area of your ministry. Be honest with him and with yourself.
3. Keep your spouse informed
of your conversations with students of the opposite sex. Leave no room for suspicion. You are on the same team. If your spouse senses that something does not feel right, trust your spouse. It is always better to remain on the same team with your spouse than to unlock reasons for suspicion or opportunities for division.
4. Keep your door open
when meeting with a student. Some youth pastors have even had windows put in their doors, so that whatever is happening in the office is out in the open.
5. Side hugs are always best!
If a student hugs you from the front, leave "plenty of room for the Holy Spirit ." Although this may seem unnatural at first, it will become second nature for you and will prove to be a very effective means of being above reproach.
6. Meet your students in public places,
and try inviting one or more students to join. This will maximize your time, build community in your ministry, and keep your relationships with students in the light.
7. Offer to have your female mentors counsel your female students
, if at all possible. This will give you more opportunities to train your female mentors, and it will leave you with more time for other aspects of your ministry. If this is not possible, talk in a public place and limit the length of your meeting.
8. Handle situations wisely.
If a student drops by after hours at church or at your house when no one else is home, politely tell him or her that your spouse is not home. Invite the student to come back at a later time. If the student is female, limit the conversation and have a female mentor follow up with the student immediately.
9. Address areas of temptation.
Although Facebook is a great way to communicate with your students, do not be naïve to the temptations that may arise as you minister through this medium. We must beware of looking at inappropriate pictures posted on students' profiles or engaging in personal Facebook messages with a particular student. If you see that some of your students' photos are immodest or inappropriate, ask your female mentors to address your female students. Many females have no idea of the struggle this may cause their brothers. If you sense this is also a problem in the photos your female leaders are posting, address this issue in your leaders' meeting. Be clear about your stance on this issue.
10. Be honest with yourself.
If you are struggling with a student in any situation, seek godly counsel and keep it in the light (John 3:20-21).
Note:
Ask yourself, "If you were the student's father, would you be okay with how you as the youth pastor are communicating and interacting with his daughter? "
Looking for an old article? Find it Here!
Resources
Resources
1. Your Time Is Now by Adam McLane
As youth workers, our time is now. Never before in human history has our ministry demographic, 12 to 19 year-olds, been so influential. When I think about the students in our ministries today, I get exhilarated by the potential. We all know that the great historical movements of the earth (good and evil alike) have not grown from world leaders but from young people. You and I have the exciting opportunity to present the truths of Scripture and help encourage them to bring a shadow of the Kingdom of God into their world. Just look around, and you will see students activated in your community for all sorts of causes. Imagine what would happen if they were to get activated for a cause that truly matters.
Looking for an old article? Find it Here!
Go To:
http://www.youthspecialties.com/articles/your-time-is-now-luke-2214-16/
2. Creating a Team People Want to Be On" by Doug Fields
(2007 National Youth Workers Convention)
• Be liberal with encouragement.
Recognize the ordinary. Facilitate "outside" encouragement.
• Give away praise.
Give "Minister of the Month" awards. Find out how leaders are ministering and highlight "I Overheard" awards.
• Design enjoyable leader meetings.
Begin with a positive atmosphere. Keep it moving. Regular delegation breeds apathy - tap into leaders initiative. Prioritize faith-development over training, but still train.
• Create time to play. "
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35).
•Design a care plan.
Model to volunteers what you want them to do with students. Everyone is cared for, but no one cares for more than five. Design a checklist: call, visit, pray for, write a note, etc. Volunteers must get more than they give: emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.
• Communicate changing expectations.
Surprised people aren't always happy people. As expectations change (and they will) make them clear and known. Answer these types of questions: do they know what is expected of them? Do they have the new tools to help them succeed in the new expectations? Do they receive recognition and/or praise for good work?
• Learn from those who leave.
Get an honest evaluation of why they left. Was it character? Strategy?
• Give them access to your life.
Relationships are the number one way to keep people involved.
Go To:
www.dougfields.com
3. Success Matters by Adam McLane
That title might turn a lot of people off. So, let me state the hypothesis of this right away: God cares greatly that you and your ministry are successful. He wants you to be great. He wants you to succeed in the position in which He has placed you.
Where many of us will disagree is not with my hypothesis, but in my definition of success in youth ministry. It's not just about numbers. It's not just about programs. It's not just about relationships. It's not just about your annual review. Success can be all of those things, but defining success is a lot simpler than that. Success is doing your absolute best and depending deeply on the grace of Christ for everything.
Listen, God wants you to prosper in your ministry. He really does want you to try to grow your ministry's impact. That might not play out in a way that results in thousands of kids coming to your church, a book deal, or speaking at conferences, but it does mean that God wants you to dream big!
www.youthspecialties.com
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