Christianese

Ditch the “Christianese.” It is a bit comical but mostly sad to hear any minister use abstruse theology or diffuse biblical concepts. They sound smart and well trained as a polymath in Christian living. However, our intent should be to expose people to the Gospel rather than leaving them confused or impressed by our prolix of verbosity. While student pastors are not the leaders of the pack in this matter compared to those serving as senior pastor, it can be a challenging aspect of student ministry. We want to challenge students without watering down the non-negotiable truths, yet we also want them “get it”. Better to err on the side of simplicity than arcane pleonasm. Use language teenagers understand. This is not the same as using language that sounds like a teenager is the one talking, but rather using words that convey concrete concepts and leave little room for misunderstanding. ex: Christianese says: The third part of the triune God spilt His blood as the propitiation for our transgressions. Speaker to an adolescent audience says: Jesus is the payment for our sin debt. Deep theological lessons and countless hours of preparation mean nothing if they don’t know what you’re talking about. And while I am on a verbal rant, please make a deliberate effort to use words like I, we, and us when preaching rather than you, they, and them. Too often preaching assumes everyone in the room is a believer or the implied idea that everyone needs what is being preached but the one doing the preaching. They may never know how much time you spend preparing to deliver a theological masterpiece understood by your adolescent audience. They may never appreciate your dedication to crafting Gods word into understandable concepts that a high school student can grasp. They may not realize the challenge in delivering bite-sized truths that capture the attention span of a middle school student with Attention Deficit Disorder. But if you speak the truth in love and commit to the task of building a sermon with the learning style and developmental stage of your target audience in mind, you will find more students responding to the truth of the Gospel.

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:6

Understanding These Techy Times

Technology has always  been appreciated and celebrated by the adolescent community as well as those who lead them in ministry. Often times it is the appreciation of new technology that creates a special bond between the music ministry and student ministry. While new technology is greatly championed by teen culture, the life-span of an electronic item seems to get shorter each year. My first ministry electronics purchase was a VHS player that would connect to our 300lb youth room TV. The first projection unit I acquired was in 1986. We were thrilled to have a re-purposed overhead mounted projector from a defunct PanAm aircraft. The unit cost $6000 and could be focused only at 4, 8 and 12 foot increments after lining up the color grids. It was an incredible piece of equipment and one-of-a kind among the Panama City Florida church community. In a few short years we saw projection units shrink into portables models only 1/5 the size with major resolution improvements. Soon we would embraced the emerging technology of cassette tapes, V8mm, and Hi8 recording. Personal recording and duplication gave rise to youth music libraries. By 1988 we were training interns and students how to shoot and edit video with our youth editing suite. When the AG 1970 linier editing decks gave way to the new AG1980 decks we had to have a pair. In a few short years we would swap our $1,700 editing decks for $300 computer software that could not only edit but retain a digital copy – wow! From the mobile bag-phone that cost $2 per minute to use to the excitement of the Palm 100 PDA (personal digital assistant) to the windows operating system the trend continues. Imagine youth group games using an affordable pair of google glasses or hologram imagining your student band and 3D printing promotional items. Yes, embrace the technology of the day. In fact, lead the pack if you want to but remember, you don’t have to have the latest tech toy to impresses local tribal leaders. You do however, need to stay current, as in  . . . what your college age volunteer Geek Squad thinks is current. Any technology that helps communicate the Gospel message, your ministry vision, and ministry event information can be a blessing and well worth the effort and cost to remain relevant. Conversely, if you are spending an inordinate amount of time tinkering with and trying out the newest release then maybe you should back the throttle down a bit and rethink the benefit and priority of relational ministry. Know the times in which you live and exercise wisdom towards the vast availability and access to the electronic “things” and “stuff” at your disposal.

“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. . . “

I Chronicles 12:32a. 

“Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Affirmation Is Essential

Affirm your students, parents, and volunteers every chance you get. Encourage and compliment them corporately, in small group and as individuals. Big victories get our attention making it convenient to celebrate because we enjoy affirming a big win. A significant success prompts us towards gratitude and acknowledgement of God’s unmerited favor. Some victories are large while others may go virtually unnoticed. But with every small victory in the life of a youth or youth leader a big win is being constructed. Little things eventually add up to form big things in the business of life-shaping and character molding. So when it comes to accolades in ministry remember to praise students publically, admonish them privately and celebrate with them equally. I have never met a parent who did not appreciate someone being a positive influence in the spiritual life of their child. Even lost parents raising children in a Godless home will more often than not, appreciate your efforts towards character development. Parents who connect with the student ministry as a supportive participant will sing the praises of caring student ministry. Students who are regular attenders will never forget your personal affirmation. Students who are lost may receive their only encouragement from you or someone on your leadership team. Not only will your affirmation be appreciated, it will become contagious as well as an attractant for youth and families.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you have been doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to respond to each person.” Colossians 4:6