Usually I think we’d say that we shouldn’t listen to what others say about us; “sticks and stones,” and all that tosh.
However, as we are raising up young leaders, sometimes it’s good to get out of your church box and bend an ear towards the community. You should know by know that many of our students put on their best when they are with us. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what progress is being made and what problems need to be addressed if you’re basing your analysis solely on how your students act when they are with you.
Listening to what others are saying about the leaders you are developing can be a humbling experience. It can be hard. You may hear some things that you don’t want to hear. You may also hear some things that cause you to praise God and rejoice.
The problem is, if you’re not listening you don’t know.
How long has it been since you had a chat with your student’s parents? What are they saying about your student? Are there problems? Are there victories? What areas do the parents see that needs work, especially when it comes to character?
Talk to teachers. School is a harsh place, and teachers have a unique insight that neither you nor their parents have. Ask the teachers about leadership qualities being displayed at school. Ask them about character issues and homework issues. Remember that many of the good work habits your students will form will take root (or won’t) in High School.
Talking to these other influences on your students has a great advantage: it draws other parties into the leadership development of the student. The parents (which I hope are already engaged) will be on the lookout for specific leadership and character markers, so will teachers.
Use all of this information as you coach your students. We are called to lead an integrated life, and our students will need help in doing that. We do them a disservice when we base their growth strictly on what we see. If we are truly committed to seeing these young people grow into Christian leaders, we’ll get other people’s input.
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
Showing posts with label intentional youth ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label intentional youth ministry. Show all posts
Monday, May 3, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Youth Leadership Resume: Intimacy
A Christian leader has a piece of the puzzle that a non-Christian doesn’t have: a relationship with Jesus Christ. Many people would ask what in the world this has to do leadership, but I would say “everything!”
Jesus didn’t lead like other people. He spent a lot of time drawing the line between the world’s leaders and the way that his disciples were supposed to lead. Living the Christian life gives a person a sense of leadership that others don’t have.
Now, let’s get one thing straight. We don’t read the bible and culture a relationship with Jesus in order to become better leaders. In fact, a Christian leader is called by God through their relationship, in order to serve. The Christian leader is also equipped by God through Spiritual gifting and sanctification, the process of being made more like Jesus. So rather than us using God to improve our means, it’s quite the other way around. God uses us as leaders to advance his kingdom and to equip His people to serve Him.
Our relationship with God, in fact, makes us worth following, and gives us the true way of leadership. This being the case, teaching our students to foster a relationship with God should be of high importance to us.
That is easier said than done, obviously, because we don’t see our students every day. It’s hard to help them set up lasting habits even with something as important as a relationship with God. That means we have to work even harder and smarter in helping our students do so. We have to partner with parents, work with our students, and model intimacy for our students in our own lives.
If we are to have a generation of Christ-followers as leaders in all areas of society, they will have to have an intimacy with God that informs their purpose, calling, and leadership.
Question: How are you teaching intimacy to your students?
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
Jesus didn’t lead like other people. He spent a lot of time drawing the line between the world’s leaders and the way that his disciples were supposed to lead. Living the Christian life gives a person a sense of leadership that others don’t have.
Now, let’s get one thing straight. We don’t read the bible and culture a relationship with Jesus in order to become better leaders. In fact, a Christian leader is called by God through their relationship, in order to serve. The Christian leader is also equipped by God through Spiritual gifting and sanctification, the process of being made more like Jesus. So rather than us using God to improve our means, it’s quite the other way around. God uses us as leaders to advance his kingdom and to equip His people to serve Him.
Our relationship with God, in fact, makes us worth following, and gives us the true way of leadership. This being the case, teaching our students to foster a relationship with God should be of high importance to us.
That is easier said than done, obviously, because we don’t see our students every day. It’s hard to help them set up lasting habits even with something as important as a relationship with God. That means we have to work even harder and smarter in helping our students do so. We have to partner with parents, work with our students, and model intimacy for our students in our own lives.
If we are to have a generation of Christ-followers as leaders in all areas of society, they will have to have an intimacy with God that informs their purpose, calling, and leadership.
Question: How are you teaching intimacy to your students?
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Youth Leadership Resume: Humility
Humility. I’m not real good at that. I tend to go the other way: rampant, arrogant pride. So does most of the world.
Leadership goes hand in hand with pride. After all, you’re in charge. You’re the man (or the woman). You get it done. With all of that, it’s no wonder that most leaders do not show any humility. Even though this makes sense, it’s not the way it should be.
At its core, humility is recognizing who and what you are. If you are a Christian, then you know that everything you are comes from God. If everything you are comes from God, there shouldn’t be any room for pride, but rather worship, praise, and thanksgiving.
Many leaders, even Christian leaders, seem not to make this distinction. A young Christian leader is going to need to learn humility early, and continue to work on it as they gain in respect, influence, and stature. The higher up they get, the more they will probably struggle with pride.
Pride is an easy trap to fall into, and the world expects high-placed leaders to be prideful. But imagine a group of leaders who gave glory to God for results rather than glory to themselves. Now that’s counter-cultural.
In the course of our leadership development, we have to address humility. Humility, in its naked form, shows just what a person believes about God and themselves.
Question: how are you teaching humility to your students?
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
Leadership goes hand in hand with pride. After all, you’re in charge. You’re the man (or the woman). You get it done. With all of that, it’s no wonder that most leaders do not show any humility. Even though this makes sense, it’s not the way it should be.
At its core, humility is recognizing who and what you are. If you are a Christian, then you know that everything you are comes from God. If everything you are comes from God, there shouldn’t be any room for pride, but rather worship, praise, and thanksgiving.
Many leaders, even Christian leaders, seem not to make this distinction. A young Christian leader is going to need to learn humility early, and continue to work on it as they gain in respect, influence, and stature. The higher up they get, the more they will probably struggle with pride.
Pride is an easy trap to fall into, and the world expects high-placed leaders to be prideful. But imagine a group of leaders who gave glory to God for results rather than glory to themselves. Now that’s counter-cultural.
In the course of our leadership development, we have to address humility. Humility, in its naked form, shows just what a person believes about God and themselves.
Question: how are you teaching humility to your students?
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
Monday, January 25, 2010
Youth Leadership Resume: Integrity
Over the next week, I want to talk about three elements of character that are most important to a leader. As Christians, we find ourselves in a world that wouldn’t agree with most of our character traits. We seem weak to the world; we seem different. I think different is good, but all too often Christians, in an effort to fit in with the world and not be seen as an outsider, will adopt the world’s standards.
If young Christian leaders are going to have an impact in the world at large then they must remain different. We must be set apart. The three elements of character that I have picked to write about this week represent what I believe are the core aspects of leadership that set us apart.
The first character trait is Integrity. My dad was big on integrity, and I grew up hearing that word every day. Unfortunately, many people didn’t grow up with my dad.
Integrity, at its heart, means doing the right thing all the time, even when people aren’t looking. I think that last part is the most important, because it talks about more than behavior; it talks about attitude. I can follow the rules to a person’s face, and as soon as they turn around, dump all the rules out the window. That is a sure sign that I don’t have integrity. I’m following the rules because it gets me ahead. Integrity is when we do what’s right because it’s right.
In a world of situational ethics, instilling integrity in our kids isn’t easy. In fact, it’s an uphill battle. But it’s a battle worth having. In fact, it’s a must. People follow a person with integrity. They look up to them. They’ll follow them because people with integrity are so different.
We need different. I don’t want the status quo in charge anymore. If we’re going to raise up the next generation of leaders, let’s give them some tools to be different. Let’s show and teach them integrity.
Question: how are you teaching integrity to your students?
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
If young Christian leaders are going to have an impact in the world at large then they must remain different. We must be set apart. The three elements of character that I have picked to write about this week represent what I believe are the core aspects of leadership that set us apart.
The first character trait is Integrity. My dad was big on integrity, and I grew up hearing that word every day. Unfortunately, many people didn’t grow up with my dad.
Integrity, at its heart, means doing the right thing all the time, even when people aren’t looking. I think that last part is the most important, because it talks about more than behavior; it talks about attitude. I can follow the rules to a person’s face, and as soon as they turn around, dump all the rules out the window. That is a sure sign that I don’t have integrity. I’m following the rules because it gets me ahead. Integrity is when we do what’s right because it’s right.
In a world of situational ethics, instilling integrity in our kids isn’t easy. In fact, it’s an uphill battle. But it’s a battle worth having. In fact, it’s a must. People follow a person with integrity. They look up to them. They’ll follow them because people with integrity are so different.
We need different. I don’t want the status quo in charge anymore. If we’re going to raise up the next generation of leaders, let’s give them some tools to be different. Let’s show and teach them integrity.
Question: how are you teaching integrity to your students?
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Long Term Hope for Haiti
The third and last blog on Haiti this week is going to talk about a long term strategy for rebuilding Haiti. Specifically, what our churches can do in the long term to help rebuild the country and share God's amazing love with the Haitian people.
Something I've been thinking about is organizing the church into teams of people with a specific skills mix and sending them down in shifts to help with rebuilding projects. It would take a great amount of planning and coordination, but could really help when a full-scale rebuild is underway.
First, what will the Haitians need in the long term?
Architects
New infrastructure
Consultants
Construction Workers
Carpenters
Teachers
Long Term food supply.
Counseling
Temporary workers in proffesional jobs where people were lost
and the list goes on.
Does anybody in your church fit this list? How about your list?
The resources to help rebuild this country are right here, under our very noses.
I'm curious. What can your leadership team alone supply in the way of expertise or skill? I'd be interested to hear from you.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt
Something I've been thinking about is organizing the church into teams of people with a specific skills mix and sending them down in shifts to help with rebuilding projects. It would take a great amount of planning and coordination, but could really help when a full-scale rebuild is underway.
First, what will the Haitians need in the long term?
Architects
New infrastructure
Consultants
Construction Workers
Carpenters
Teachers
Long Term food supply.
Counseling
Temporary workers in proffesional jobs where people were lost
and the list goes on.
Does anybody in your church fit this list? How about your list?
The resources to help rebuild this country are right here, under our very noses.
I'm curious. What can your leadership team alone supply in the way of expertise or skill? I'd be interested to hear from you.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt
Monday, January 18, 2010
Haiti-Do Something
This week I'm going to put a pause to the normal leadership stuff and talk about ideas that have been coming in for helping the people of Haiti. My prayer is that we can share some ideas and by communicating help the people of Haiti better.
My prayer in all of this is that the church rise up as one and flood the nation of Haiti with food, water, shelter, support, rebuilding effort, workers, and of course, the gospel.
One idea that came to me yesterday really caught my attention: A benefit concert. I expect that at anytime, the worldwide music community will start having benefit concerts for the people of Haiti. Why can't we do the same? Surely in your community there are some bands and a central location that you could use to put on a benefit concert.
As for me, I love the idea. After talking with my leadership development team last night, we decided to start putting it together. It's going to take some work. In fact, it's going to take a lot of work. But it's worth it. I'll let you know what organization we will partner with to get the proceeds to Haiti.
In the meantime, share some of your ideas with me. Let me know what you're up to to help the people of Haiti, and how your leadership team is getting involved.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt
My prayer in all of this is that the church rise up as one and flood the nation of Haiti with food, water, shelter, support, rebuilding effort, workers, and of course, the gospel.
One idea that came to me yesterday really caught my attention: A benefit concert. I expect that at anytime, the worldwide music community will start having benefit concerts for the people of Haiti. Why can't we do the same? Surely in your community there are some bands and a central location that you could use to put on a benefit concert.
As for me, I love the idea. After talking with my leadership development team last night, we decided to start putting it together. It's going to take some work. In fact, it's going to take a lot of work. But it's worth it. I'll let you know what organization we will partner with to get the proceeds to Haiti.
In the meantime, share some of your ideas with me. Let me know what you're up to to help the people of Haiti, and how your leadership team is getting involved.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Mini-Me Leadership
What kind of leaders are coming out of your leadership program?
This is a very important question. The purpose of leadership development is not to turn out clones of you. I can’t think of a more egocentric way to pollute the world. What the world does not need is another you. I’m sorry, but it’s true. What the world needs is a man or woman that God has created specially and specifically for their own task.
Let’s stop trying to turn out mini-me’s and let’s start partnering with God to help Him turn out the kind of leaders that He wants.
Our job as leadership developers is to work with and hone our students as individuals, allowing them each to become what God has intended them to become, not what you are. This is very difficult for some leaders to put into practice, because they are very familiar with what trained and honed them as leaders. Each of us are different though, and each of us are going to need a different “program” to train us as leaders.
Let me give you a good negative example. I am a reader. I read voraciously. I learn from reading, and I love it. Right now I am mentoring a young leader who is not a reader (not that they don’t read, but they don’t read like me; see how egocentric this can get?). At first, I tried to make them read. That didn’t work so well. When that didn’t work I found out what kind of a learner I was dealing with and began to teach to their strengths. That worked much better.
What this means for us is it’s not going to be easy to train new leaders. It’s hard, messy, and time-consuming. But nothing worth doing was ever easy.
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
This is a very important question. The purpose of leadership development is not to turn out clones of you. I can’t think of a more egocentric way to pollute the world. What the world does not need is another you. I’m sorry, but it’s true. What the world needs is a man or woman that God has created specially and specifically for their own task.
Let’s stop trying to turn out mini-me’s and let’s start partnering with God to help Him turn out the kind of leaders that He wants.
Our job as leadership developers is to work with and hone our students as individuals, allowing them each to become what God has intended them to become, not what you are. This is very difficult for some leaders to put into practice, because they are very familiar with what trained and honed them as leaders. Each of us are different though, and each of us are going to need a different “program” to train us as leaders.
Let me give you a good negative example. I am a reader. I read voraciously. I learn from reading, and I love it. Right now I am mentoring a young leader who is not a reader (not that they don’t read, but they don’t read like me; see how egocentric this can get?). At first, I tried to make them read. That didn’t work so well. When that didn’t work I found out what kind of a learner I was dealing with and began to teach to their strengths. That worked much better.
What this means for us is it’s not going to be easy to train new leaders. It’s hard, messy, and time-consuming. But nothing worth doing was ever easy.
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
Monday, December 21, 2009
Credibility ≠ Likability
I heard one of my professors say this a while back, and it made me think quite a bit. Deep down, we all have this need to be liked. Well, unless we’re sociopathic. Unfortunately, many of us need this so much that we let it get in the way of our teaching. This is not good.
For just a minute, examine yourself and ask yourself if this is what you do. Would you rather be liked, seen as a friend, or teach the hard lesson and be seen as a jerk for a week?
In the long term, of course, the answer is “I want to be both.” I think we can have both, but not always at the same time. Don’t misread what I’m saying. You want likability too. You won’t do much for the cause of Christ by being a jerk-face. But there will be times when you’ll have to choose between the two, and that’s what I’m talking about here.
Sometimes it is demanded of us that we do the right thing, say the right thing, even if our student isn’t going to like it, or us, for a while because of it.
Their future and their godliness is more important than whether they like what we have to say, or us. Sometimes we have to bite the bullet, say or do the hard thing, and let the chips fall where they will. They may not speak to you for a couple of weeks, but in the end, when they “come to themselves” they will realize that you said what you did, or did what you did, for their benefit. You’ve just established credibility.
Whether they realize it or not, you need credibility with your students. They will know when you’re softballing it for them. Hardballing might not get you any friendly texts that week, but in the long run you’ll establish yourself as someone who truly cares.
This principle might be even more difficult in a leadership team, where you are probably closer knit. However, here more than in youth group this principle is so important. Softballing doesn’t help anybody. We’re messing with the future, and God has called us to raise up these leaders. Credibility is imperative. Say the hard things. Your leaders should be able to take it. When it comes time for a yearly review, don’t hold back. Be real, be truthful.
Credibility will allow you to build leaders.
Question: Are You Choosing Likability Over Credibility? How Do You Balance The Two?
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
For just a minute, examine yourself and ask yourself if this is what you do. Would you rather be liked, seen as a friend, or teach the hard lesson and be seen as a jerk for a week?
In the long term, of course, the answer is “I want to be both.” I think we can have both, but not always at the same time. Don’t misread what I’m saying. You want likability too. You won’t do much for the cause of Christ by being a jerk-face. But there will be times when you’ll have to choose between the two, and that’s what I’m talking about here.
Sometimes it is demanded of us that we do the right thing, say the right thing, even if our student isn’t going to like it, or us, for a while because of it.
Their future and their godliness is more important than whether they like what we have to say, or us. Sometimes we have to bite the bullet, say or do the hard thing, and let the chips fall where they will. They may not speak to you for a couple of weeks, but in the end, when they “come to themselves” they will realize that you said what you did, or did what you did, for their benefit. You’ve just established credibility.
Whether they realize it or not, you need credibility with your students. They will know when you’re softballing it for them. Hardballing might not get you any friendly texts that week, but in the long run you’ll establish yourself as someone who truly cares.
This principle might be even more difficult in a leadership team, where you are probably closer knit. However, here more than in youth group this principle is so important. Softballing doesn’t help anybody. We’re messing with the future, and God has called us to raise up these leaders. Credibility is imperative. Say the hard things. Your leaders should be able to take it. When it comes time for a yearly review, don’t hold back. Be real, be truthful.
Credibility will allow you to build leaders.
Question: Are You Choosing Likability Over Credibility? How Do You Balance The Two?
Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,
Matt
Monday, November 30, 2009
Practicing Leadership
My wife and I live right across from the High School and it’s football field. We don’t have to leave the house to hear the play by play on Friday night, we just turn off the radio.
Saturday morning, we were greeted to a new sound coming from the football field: a young person announcing a little-league football game. I stepped out onto the front porch to listen for a few minutes, and it was true.
The school, or little league program; whichever it was, had the foresight to let an interested young person announce a little league game. No doubt that this young person was elated at the opportunity, and from his voice you could tell he was having a great time. The opportunity also allowed this young person some on-the-job training that could very well sprout into a lifelong passion and career.
We should learn from this little league game. We need to hand off as many opportunities to our leadership students as we can. They will no doubt be excited (and nervous) about the opportunities, and it is great training for larger ministry in the future. The opportunity we offer them also just might spark a passion that they didn’t know they had, leading to a lifetime of service to our Savior.
Don’t pass off responsibilities that you should be taking care of; this isn’t the reason to have a leadership team. The school probably wouldn’t let that same young person announce the high school game on Friday night. But, after about five years of experience gained in little league, and then maybe Junior High and junior varsity games, that young man might be ready to tackle a Friday Night.
We need to be very intentional about the opportunities we give our leadership students. Let’s get them into practice.
Practice makes perfect.
In the Trenches,
Matt
Saturday morning, we were greeted to a new sound coming from the football field: a young person announcing a little-league football game. I stepped out onto the front porch to listen for a few minutes, and it was true.
The school, or little league program; whichever it was, had the foresight to let an interested young person announce a little league game. No doubt that this young person was elated at the opportunity, and from his voice you could tell he was having a great time. The opportunity also allowed this young person some on-the-job training that could very well sprout into a lifelong passion and career.
We should learn from this little league game. We need to hand off as many opportunities to our leadership students as we can. They will no doubt be excited (and nervous) about the opportunities, and it is great training for larger ministry in the future. The opportunity we offer them also just might spark a passion that they didn’t know they had, leading to a lifetime of service to our Savior.
Don’t pass off responsibilities that you should be taking care of; this isn’t the reason to have a leadership team. The school probably wouldn’t let that same young person announce the high school game on Friday night. But, after about five years of experience gained in little league, and then maybe Junior High and junior varsity games, that young man might be ready to tackle a Friday Night.
We need to be very intentional about the opportunities we give our leadership students. Let’s get them into practice.
Practice makes perfect.
In the Trenches,
Matt
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Reads of the Week
Seth Godin: how to lose an argument online
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/sethsmainblog/~3/FMthrhynRmM/how-to-lose-an-argument-online.html
Kary Oberbrunner: Free ebook on Fasting
http://www.karyoberbrunner.com/your-secret-name/free-e-book-on-fasting-for-you/
Mac Lake: Five Vision Casting Mistakeshttp://www.maclakeonline.com/leadership/five-common-vision-casting-mistakes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+maclake+%28Mac+Lake%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Mac Lake: Leaders are Readers
http://www.maclakeonline.com/leadership-development/leaders-are-readers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+maclake+%28Mac+Lake%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Bill Hybel’s Reading List
http://spin.willowcreek.com/c/blogs/leadership/archive/2007/8/10/bill-hybles-leadership-must-reads.aspx
Ragamuffin Soul on getting stuck on yourself
http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/11/drunk-on-your-junk/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RagamuffinSoul+%28Ragamuffin+Soul%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Perry Noble on Your Ministry
http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/11/23/10-things-i-believe-about-your-ministry/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+perrynoble%2FZvVU+%28Perry+Noble+dot+com%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Brad Lomenick on what a leader must be:
http://bradlomenick.com/2009/11/25/a-leader-must-be/
Perry Noble: We Will Never…
http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/11/24/we-will-never/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+perrynoble%2FZvVU+%28Perry+Noble+dot+com%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Mac Lake: Investing in your leadership development
http://www.maclakeonline.com/leadership-development/investing-in-your-own-leadership-development/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+maclake+%28Mac+Lake%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Doug Franklin: Move Beyond the Mess
http://www.dougfranklinonline.com/youth-worker/move-beyond-the-mess/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DougFranklinOnline+%28Doug+Franklin+Online%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Seth Godin: Accents
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/11/what-sort-of-accent-do-you-have.html
Doug Franklin on Effective Youth Ministry
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougFranklinOnline/~3/CUMDzwuLnok/
Seth Godin on the People You Should Listen To
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/11/the-people-you-should-listen-to.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/sethsmainblog/~3/FMthrhynRmM/how-to-lose-an-argument-online.html
Kary Oberbrunner: Free ebook on Fasting
http://www.karyoberbrunner.com/your-secret-name/free-e-book-on-fasting-for-you/
Mac Lake: Five Vision Casting Mistakeshttp://www.maclakeonline.com/leadership/five-common-vision-casting-mistakes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+maclake+%28Mac+Lake%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Mac Lake: Leaders are Readers
http://www.maclakeonline.com/leadership-development/leaders-are-readers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+maclake+%28Mac+Lake%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Bill Hybel’s Reading List
http://spin.willowcreek.com/c/blogs/leadership/archive/2007/8/10/bill-hybles-leadership-must-reads.aspx
Ragamuffin Soul on getting stuck on yourself
http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/11/drunk-on-your-junk/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RagamuffinSoul+%28Ragamuffin+Soul%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Perry Noble on Your Ministry
http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/11/23/10-things-i-believe-about-your-ministry/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+perrynoble%2FZvVU+%28Perry+Noble+dot+com%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Brad Lomenick on what a leader must be:
http://bradlomenick.com/2009/11/25/a-leader-must-be/
Perry Noble: We Will Never…
http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/11/24/we-will-never/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+perrynoble%2FZvVU+%28Perry+Noble+dot+com%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Mac Lake: Investing in your leadership development
http://www.maclakeonline.com/leadership-development/investing-in-your-own-leadership-development/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+maclake+%28Mac+Lake%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Doug Franklin: Move Beyond the Mess
http://www.dougfranklinonline.com/youth-worker/move-beyond-the-mess/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DougFranklinOnline+%28Doug+Franklin+Online%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Seth Godin: Accents
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/11/what-sort-of-accent-do-you-have.html
Doug Franklin on Effective Youth Ministry
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougFranklinOnline/~3/CUMDzwuLnok/
Seth Godin on the People You Should Listen To
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/11/the-people-you-should-listen-to.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Friday, November 27, 2009
New Opportunities
My church had a pastor from South Dakota in over the weekend. Our church has a partnership with his church. He came down this last weekend to talk about all of the ministries and ministry opportunities that he was dealing with in his church.
As I listened, my head started filling with ideas. Good ideas (or so I think). I had taken the leadership team to his presentation in order to brainstorm ideas for a possible mission trip. We generated a lot of ideas altogether.
These ideas are all good, and after this pastor’s talk, we discussed our different ideas with him. He seemed quite elated with them. Now we have a lot of ideas to sort through and start to put together as we plan a mission trip for our church.
The question now becomes this: How do we balance this new opportunity with the opportunities already in front of us? How do we decide between them? How much time do we put into planning this ministry opportunity and what role will the leadership team have in it?
New opportunities are a great thing. They keep us fresh, keep us thinking, and keep us working for the Lord. Beware though that they don’t replace existing commitments and thought processes that you are currently working on.
The challenge for my leadership team now is to balance this opportunity with a mission trip to Peru in June of 2010, some projects that we are working on individually, and the amount of time we devote to it now, as opposed to in the near future.
My challenge is to juggle the logistics and planning of such an endeavor with the leadership training opportunities that such a trip will present. How much do I hand over to the leadership development team? How large will this trip become?
These challenges are good and bad. They will try our leadership team and stretch us. We will learn. On the other hand, some of us will lose focus. This is the first time that I’ve allowed so much to be on the team’s plate. It is overwhelming to most teenagers.
New Challenges are great. I personally love them (my gifts set is particularly fitted to new ministry opportunities). In fact, I get giddy about them. But there is a dark side, and if we’re not careful, new opportunities rob us of our ability to keep on track with existing projects. They can also take up too much of our time.
Just some thoughts. Would relish your thoughts as well.
In the Trenches,
Matt
As I listened, my head started filling with ideas. Good ideas (or so I think). I had taken the leadership team to his presentation in order to brainstorm ideas for a possible mission trip. We generated a lot of ideas altogether.
These ideas are all good, and after this pastor’s talk, we discussed our different ideas with him. He seemed quite elated with them. Now we have a lot of ideas to sort through and start to put together as we plan a mission trip for our church.
The question now becomes this: How do we balance this new opportunity with the opportunities already in front of us? How do we decide between them? How much time do we put into planning this ministry opportunity and what role will the leadership team have in it?
New opportunities are a great thing. They keep us fresh, keep us thinking, and keep us working for the Lord. Beware though that they don’t replace existing commitments and thought processes that you are currently working on.
The challenge for my leadership team now is to balance this opportunity with a mission trip to Peru in June of 2010, some projects that we are working on individually, and the amount of time we devote to it now, as opposed to in the near future.
My challenge is to juggle the logistics and planning of such an endeavor with the leadership training opportunities that such a trip will present. How much do I hand over to the leadership development team? How large will this trip become?
These challenges are good and bad. They will try our leadership team and stretch us. We will learn. On the other hand, some of us will lose focus. This is the first time that I’ve allowed so much to be on the team’s plate. It is overwhelming to most teenagers.
New Challenges are great. I personally love them (my gifts set is particularly fitted to new ministry opportunities). In fact, I get giddy about them. But there is a dark side, and if we’re not careful, new opportunities rob us of our ability to keep on track with existing projects. They can also take up too much of our time.
Just some thoughts. Would relish your thoughts as well.
In the Trenches,
Matt
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Get into the Personal
As we are teaching our students how to be biblical leaders, we must keep in mind that as their mentors and teachers, we need to be careful not to neglect their personal lives.
The following quote from a Tony Morgan blog has haunted me this week, and I hope it haunts you as well:
“At the end of Brian’s message today, he invited people to come forward for prayer and anointing. I was one of a number of pastors and elders who were available to pray with folks.
The experience impacted me. It reminded me that the people that walk through the doors of our church every Sunday may look okay on the outside, but many are dealing with some tough stuff on the inside. Addictions. Marriages collapsing. Kid’s heading in a wrong direction. Medical challenges. Financial crisis. Lack of purpose.”
Our students are human beings, not information repositories. We often (I often) make the mistake of filling them full of knowledge and practice and scripture and all of those wonderful things without attending to their needs.
Big Mistake.
The student who is going through a personal crisis (and we all do) is not going to be able to concentrate on how to be a leader.
The student who just had a fight with her mom is not going to be on her “A” game.
Remember that you are more than a teacher to these students. You are a pastor, a mentor, a guide. You are sometimes the person that they trust the most with spiritual matters. Don’t neglect them by treating them like robots.
Leaders are people too.
In the Trenches,
Matt
The following quote from a Tony Morgan blog has haunted me this week, and I hope it haunts you as well:
“At the end of Brian’s message today, he invited people to come forward for prayer and anointing. I was one of a number of pastors and elders who were available to pray with folks.
The experience impacted me. It reminded me that the people that walk through the doors of our church every Sunday may look okay on the outside, but many are dealing with some tough stuff on the inside. Addictions. Marriages collapsing. Kid’s heading in a wrong direction. Medical challenges. Financial crisis. Lack of purpose.”
Our students are human beings, not information repositories. We often (I often) make the mistake of filling them full of knowledge and practice and scripture and all of those wonderful things without attending to their needs.
Big Mistake.
The student who is going through a personal crisis (and we all do) is not going to be able to concentrate on how to be a leader.
The student who just had a fight with her mom is not going to be on her “A” game.
Remember that you are more than a teacher to these students. You are a pastor, a mentor, a guide. You are sometimes the person that they trust the most with spiritual matters. Don’t neglect them by treating them like robots.
Leaders are people too.
In the Trenches,
Matt
Monday, November 23, 2009
More Than Motivation
What are we offering our students?
Are we offering them a spiritual pep talk and sending them out into the world?
How’s that going?
At first, they need a refill every week, so they come back. Sooner or later, they realize that what you’re offering them doesn’t and can’t last, so they stop coming. That’s the problem with motivation. Motivation brought on by emotional pep talks is extremely satisfying in the moment, but as the experience fades, so does the motivation.
So what are you offering your students?
We have to offer something more than motivation.
We have to give our students something to stand on, so they don’t have to come to you for motivation. Jesus gives life, He gives them the Holy Spirit, and He gives them purpose. When you understand your purpose, you don’t need motivation so much. When you have the Holy Spirit, He’s there to help when you start to slow down.
Our job isn’t to give motivation. It’s to lay the foundation of Christian Leadership Principles and to help them discover their purpose. It’s to go on the journey with them and help them make sense of it, but not to motivate them. This does lead to them not needing us so much, but it’s not us they’re supposed to lean on, it’s Jesus.
When we offer our leadership students motivation, this is what we get:
1. Students are dependent on us.
2. Students lose interest quickly.
3. Students looking to external motivation, and not to the Holy Spirit’s prompting.
Knock off the self-help stuff and give them something they can use.
In the Trenches,
Matt
Are we offering them a spiritual pep talk and sending them out into the world?
How’s that going?
At first, they need a refill every week, so they come back. Sooner or later, they realize that what you’re offering them doesn’t and can’t last, so they stop coming. That’s the problem with motivation. Motivation brought on by emotional pep talks is extremely satisfying in the moment, but as the experience fades, so does the motivation.
So what are you offering your students?
We have to offer something more than motivation.
We have to give our students something to stand on, so they don’t have to come to you for motivation. Jesus gives life, He gives them the Holy Spirit, and He gives them purpose. When you understand your purpose, you don’t need motivation so much. When you have the Holy Spirit, He’s there to help when you start to slow down.
Our job isn’t to give motivation. It’s to lay the foundation of Christian Leadership Principles and to help them discover their purpose. It’s to go on the journey with them and help them make sense of it, but not to motivate them. This does lead to them not needing us so much, but it’s not us they’re supposed to lean on, it’s Jesus.
When we offer our leadership students motivation, this is what we get:
1. Students are dependent on us.
2. Students lose interest quickly.
3. Students looking to external motivation, and not to the Holy Spirit’s prompting.
Knock off the self-help stuff and give them something they can use.
In the Trenches,
Matt
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Training Opportunities
Here are five excuses I often hear about why a person couldn’t or shouldn’t take advantage of a training opportunity, and why they are full of it:
1. I don’t have time
While it is true that you may not have a lot of time, since you probably work at least 2 full time jobs (counting your ministry), and never see your spouse anyway, don’t let time become a factor in continuing education. The fact is, learning is a great way to spend your time. Remember, a day without learning something new is a wasted day.
2. I don’t have the money
This one probably rings true as well, but I guarantee you that there are ways to get money for training, and a whole lot of training that is free. Just the other day I went to a discipleship training seminar put on by Dare 2 Share. Now obviously, I had to sit through a pitch on their upcoming conference season, but the training was good (and they fed me). If you want to go to some training that actually costs money, ask the governing board of your church. Or, if you know it’s important, ask some people who support you and your work. It’s not out of the way to ask some of the people you minister to.
3. I shouldn’t take off from Work
Yes, you should. I know you have a lot of work to do, but training is renewing and many times energizing. And besides, you’re going to bring back the things that you learned and apply them in your ministry. You’re kinda working anyway.
4. That conference isn’t part of my denomination
May I say that this is the excuse that I disdain the most. I know we all like to hang around people that we agree with, but believe it or not, your denomination doesn’t have the corner on training or new ideas. It’s amazing what happens when different denominations get together to worship, learn, and train eachother. Make sure your discomfort with other trains of thought isn’t keeping you from an amazing training opportunity.
5. I can learn all that from a book
No, you can’t. While it may be true that you could get some of the same information, what you won’t get is community, other ideas, and an opportunity to synthesize those ideas with other people. I love to read, so this is my favorite, but it’s just not true. Many of us (myself included) learn well from just reading, but we give up the boost to education that other people bring to the table.
Let’s make sure that we’re taking every opportunity to make ourselves the very best we can be. Our God deserves it, our ministries deserve it, and we deserve it. Let’s also be a positive model to our leadership students to show them that they should take advantage of every opportunity they get to better themselves. It’s a lesson that will serve them, and us, a lifetime.
In the Trenches,
Matt
1. I don’t have time
While it is true that you may not have a lot of time, since you probably work at least 2 full time jobs (counting your ministry), and never see your spouse anyway, don’t let time become a factor in continuing education. The fact is, learning is a great way to spend your time. Remember, a day without learning something new is a wasted day.
2. I don’t have the money
This one probably rings true as well, but I guarantee you that there are ways to get money for training, and a whole lot of training that is free. Just the other day I went to a discipleship training seminar put on by Dare 2 Share. Now obviously, I had to sit through a pitch on their upcoming conference season, but the training was good (and they fed me). If you want to go to some training that actually costs money, ask the governing board of your church. Or, if you know it’s important, ask some people who support you and your work. It’s not out of the way to ask some of the people you minister to.
3. I shouldn’t take off from Work
Yes, you should. I know you have a lot of work to do, but training is renewing and many times energizing. And besides, you’re going to bring back the things that you learned and apply them in your ministry. You’re kinda working anyway.
4. That conference isn’t part of my denomination
May I say that this is the excuse that I disdain the most. I know we all like to hang around people that we agree with, but believe it or not, your denomination doesn’t have the corner on training or new ideas. It’s amazing what happens when different denominations get together to worship, learn, and train eachother. Make sure your discomfort with other trains of thought isn’t keeping you from an amazing training opportunity.
5. I can learn all that from a book
No, you can’t. While it may be true that you could get some of the same information, what you won’t get is community, other ideas, and an opportunity to synthesize those ideas with other people. I love to read, so this is my favorite, but it’s just not true. Many of us (myself included) learn well from just reading, but we give up the boost to education that other people bring to the table.
Let’s make sure that we’re taking every opportunity to make ourselves the very best we can be. Our God deserves it, our ministries deserve it, and we deserve it. Let’s also be a positive model to our leadership students to show them that they should take advantage of every opportunity they get to better themselves. It’s a lesson that will serve them, and us, a lifetime.
In the Trenches,
Matt
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Crisis Point
What is a Crisis Point, and how can we use them to develop young leaders?
For our sake, the Crisis point is anytime our students are faced with a decision whose outcome causes them to grow spiritually, or to maintain the status quo in their walk with Christ. It can be a point for change in behavior, or thinking. Our students may go through many crisis points every day. Their decision at these points has tremendous effect on their lives, their spiritual growth, and their leadership.
Many educators and counselors use Crisis Points in their education and therapy to bring a person to the point of a decision based on learning and experiences. Others, instead of facilitating the experiences, look to use them as they come up naturally in life. Whatever side of that coin you fall on, I think these points are crucial in leadership development. These practices can also be used to train leaders. Here’s what I’m thinking:
1. Crisis Points reflect a time of possible growth in our student’s lives. We should be standing with them, counseling with them, helping them out in any way we can, but we should never make the decision for them. Doing so decisively kills any chance of growth the student may have.
2. Many times, a crisis point and its decision will necessitate a drastic change in lifestyle for the decision maker. Some students won’t make the decision because of the security or safety that could be lost. As we see our students at these crossroads, help them through fears that they may have. Don’t sugarcoat the options, but help them face fear as a believer should: in faith.
3. As leadership developers, we can often create Crisis Points for growing our leaders, or giving them the opportunity to grow, with our lessons and especially our activities. Examples of this can include giving people the opportunity to lead a group for the first time, or coaching an individual who needs to make a change in their lifestyle. We have to be careful not to manipulate our students into making a decision we want them to make, but to always allow the student to make a decision and grow on their own.
Crisis Points are very important times in our lives, and they don’t stop when adolescence ends. We need to help our students identify these times as we come alongside them and help them through.
How do you use Crisis Points to help develop leadership in students?
In the Trenches,
Matt
For our sake, the Crisis point is anytime our students are faced with a decision whose outcome causes them to grow spiritually, or to maintain the status quo in their walk with Christ. It can be a point for change in behavior, or thinking. Our students may go through many crisis points every day. Their decision at these points has tremendous effect on their lives, their spiritual growth, and their leadership.
Many educators and counselors use Crisis Points in their education and therapy to bring a person to the point of a decision based on learning and experiences. Others, instead of facilitating the experiences, look to use them as they come up naturally in life. Whatever side of that coin you fall on, I think these points are crucial in leadership development. These practices can also be used to train leaders. Here’s what I’m thinking:
1. Crisis Points reflect a time of possible growth in our student’s lives. We should be standing with them, counseling with them, helping them out in any way we can, but we should never make the decision for them. Doing so decisively kills any chance of growth the student may have.
2. Many times, a crisis point and its decision will necessitate a drastic change in lifestyle for the decision maker. Some students won’t make the decision because of the security or safety that could be lost. As we see our students at these crossroads, help them through fears that they may have. Don’t sugarcoat the options, but help them face fear as a believer should: in faith.
3. As leadership developers, we can often create Crisis Points for growing our leaders, or giving them the opportunity to grow, with our lessons and especially our activities. Examples of this can include giving people the opportunity to lead a group for the first time, or coaching an individual who needs to make a change in their lifestyle. We have to be careful not to manipulate our students into making a decision we want them to make, but to always allow the student to make a decision and grow on their own.
Crisis Points are very important times in our lives, and they don’t stop when adolescence ends. We need to help our students identify these times as we come alongside them and help them through.
How do you use Crisis Points to help develop leadership in students?
In the Trenches,
Matt
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
How To Destroy a Leadership Team in One Easy Step
Want to destroy a leadership team in a hurry? Here’s how: Don’t get to know your students. It’s that easy. Don’t learn anything more than their names. who needs to know more than that anyway?
Okay, you do. You need to know a lot more than just their names. Your leadership development team is going to hinge on intentional relationship building. If you want your team to be cohesive, meaningful, and fruitful, you must get involved in the lives of your students.
What drives them? What scares them? What are they truly passionate about? What can’t they stand? These are all things that you want to know; and that they want to share. This isn’t a shallow relationship, this is the real thing. Know them.
I know that this is risky. It involves emotional involvement. Emotional involvement means possible (probable) hurt. It comes with the territory. Get used to it. Remember, these relationships are there to build leadership principles on, not for your emotional health.
If you want to connect, if you want to have real impact on the lives of your leadership team, cultivate real relationships with your students. Be real with them and insist they be real with you. You’ll find that as you do, your group will begin to operate as a real team. And that’s when the real learning starts.
In the Trenches,
Matt
Okay, you do. You need to know a lot more than just their names. Your leadership development team is going to hinge on intentional relationship building. If you want your team to be cohesive, meaningful, and fruitful, you must get involved in the lives of your students.
What drives them? What scares them? What are they truly passionate about? What can’t they stand? These are all things that you want to know; and that they want to share. This isn’t a shallow relationship, this is the real thing. Know them.
I know that this is risky. It involves emotional involvement. Emotional involvement means possible (probable) hurt. It comes with the territory. Get used to it. Remember, these relationships are there to build leadership principles on, not for your emotional health.
If you want to connect, if you want to have real impact on the lives of your leadership team, cultivate real relationships with your students. Be real with them and insist they be real with you. You’ll find that as you do, your group will begin to operate as a real team. And that’s when the real learning starts.
In the Trenches,
Matt
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