Create A Watchtower Ministry

Make your ministry a Watchtower ministry. That can be a scary statement if you have ever had the Jehovah’s Witness pay you a house-call to leave their flagship flier the Watchtower. Of course I am not talking about a little pamphlet stuffed with well-disguised lies. I am talking about peering into the lives of students and observing their circumstances, their high times and their lows. If you have a large group, you will need to cultivate your leadership team and small group leaders to be the primary watchmen. If your group is smaller you may be the only one manning the tower at first. Before seminary, I wanted to save some start-up money for married life. Since my degree was in Criminology, I took a job in the Florida penal system at Union Correctional facility. As an engaged single guy I signed up for every hour of overtime I could get - double shifts, holiday pay, and close-custody compensation. However there was one drawback; my extra shift was usually on tower-duty. With a standard issue 12guage shotgun and an AR15 rifle, I sat in a concrete tower overlooking the recreation yard occupied by a thousand inmates each day. The visual vantage point from a tower is tremendous. You can see trouble brewing and direct help to various areas as needed. One vigilant watchman can respond to a variety of situations. Likewise, one committed ministry watchman can provide a tremendous amount of support to a student ministry. Give your volunteers the advantage of noticing students who might be struggling with life issues. Train volunteers not to assume struggling youth will be okay or that someone is speaking encouragement and truth into his or her situation. Train volunteers to pursue relational investment with students and engage them with genuine care and concern. Don’t get so busy that fraught students slip through the cracks or get lost in the masses.

“Then the lookout called, "O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationed every night at my guard post.” Isaiah 21:8

“But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’” Ezekiel 33:6

Media Tip

When using video from a movie trailer, Youtube or other open source media, make sure you watch the WHOLE clip before incorporating it into your lesson. There are few glitches more embarrassing than a surprise on the big-screen. Never use media imaging just to appear relevant or cool. On the other hand, don’t hesitate to illustrate a message point using video or some other media source. Modern media capability is a wonderful teaching enhancement tool but it can also make you the joke at Tuesday's staff meeting as well as a question mark in the minds of parents. Our standard in the way we teach, preach, present, counsel and function is to live up to Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 1 Corinthians 10:31 - "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

The SILO Effect

Be careful what you are constructing at the student ministry construction site. Without deliberate effort you may accidentally be building a silo rather than a production plant. Some construction looks awesome and spectacular on the outside but turns out to be more of a monument than a manufacturing plant. Is it silo or solo – same thing, a ministry that builds upward and is constructed to store rather than produce. While all silo building isn’t necessarily bad, it can become a real detriment in time. I don’t know of any credible student pastor who would deliberately choose to construct a student ministry storage facility over an adolescent Christian production plant. Without balance and purpose however,  an adolescent disciple making and manufacturing plant can accidentally be reduced to a silo or storehouse  ministry. A silo ministry operates more from an independent framework than from underneath the umbrella of the church as a whole. How you lead and implement your ministry in this regard is a major factor in evaluating healthy student ministry. A silo or tower style ministry does not look at itself as a slice of the pie. Silo leaders see their ministry as THE whole pie. But remember, you are not the whole pie, but only a slice of it. Albeit a very important slice and a slice which the church’s future success depends upon, but still only a slice. To be fair, let me offer a few strengths of a ministry that has a stich of silo fiber woven into the fabric. First, a silo ministry encourages people to remain focused on a particular ministry. Second, it tends to bring people who are passionate about a particular ministry together. Third, a silo ministry can ensure that a particular group is strong in being thoroughly looked after. Fourth, a silo ministry leader knows precisely who he is to encourage, train, support, and supply. Interestingly, the weaknesses of silo ministry emerge from extreme versions of its strength characteristics applied over time. For example, silo ministry can create an environment where the ministry and its leader is so busy looking after its own interest and building itself up that it loses touch with the pastor’s vision for the whole church. Also, if each individual ministry is determined to secure the best resources, recruit the best people, and secure its desired finances without equal concern for the greater body, then the whole church will eventually suffer. Rather than the church body working together in sync towards a church-wide vision it dissolves into a dysfunctional organization with little to no conversation across ministry lines. Another problem with silo style leadership is that the team you lead become more important than the team you are on. In this system, volunteers can become valued only for their ability and willingness to serve your particular ministry silo. This promotes a recruiting competition that becomes more concerned with bagging the best volunteer leaders rather than helping people find their best ministry match per gift and skill set.
Patrick Lencioni the author of the “silo” concept shares the following negative results from allowing such a ministry style to take root.

• Unhealthy competition emerges
• Jealousy creeps in
• Hurt feelings pile up
• Pride increases
• Lack of trust grows
• Fighting over limited resources
• Foot dragging on collaborative ideas
• Politics establish priorities

How can you tell if you are accidentally constructing a silo ministry rather than a disciple factory? Ask yourself these questions:

1. Is filling a position more important to you than helping people discover their passion?

2. Is the value of a volunteer highly linked to whether or not they serve in your ministry?

3. Do you find yourself lobbying for resources that will only benefit your ministry area?

4. Do invite input from other ministry staff to determine how your ministry event can also benefit their area of expertise.

5. Do you seek to collaborate with other ministers in planning, promoting, and executing a ministry happening.

6. Do you involve the entire church by seeking and sharing prayer request when possible? If you do, the church receives the privilege of prayer, you get the credit for thinking of the senior adults and the youth ministry wins through supernatural prayer and practical promotion of ministry. Nothing can help your efforts more than an army of senior citizens who have time to pray for you, your students and your family. Also, they will likely spread the word how “awesome” and thoughtful you are.

If you want to change, minimize or remove silos from your ministry remember to build from the bottom up. Base your ministry foundation on unity remembering that unity does not mean uniformity.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.” Psalm 133:1

“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 1Corinthians 1:10

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

Shepherd > Friend

You are the leader of a student ministry before you are a friend to youth. While student leaders do enjoy a high degree of relational connections with teens there is often a temptation to connect with them on the wrong level. The pressure and desire to connect with your target age group and impact their life can lead to an unhealthy attachment or misplaced priority. While your heart may be in the right place and your passion be inspiring, a less than professional etiquette must be avoided. In other words, don’t “lower” yourself just to gain approval by the high school “power brokers”, the “in” crowd, the ones who lead the heard. Don’t be sucked into acting in a certain way just to be labeled the “cool” youth leader. In an attempt to connect and be accepted by the youth do not lower your standard or side-step your responsibility in being a biblical example. If you find yourself striving for acceptance by lowering your standard, take a step back, pray, and share your challenge with a trusted ministry friend. Remember, you do not want to do anything that would diminish your position or reputation in exchange for being “one of the gang”. Students don’t need you to be their primary friend, but they do need you to be someone they can trust and emulate. You may not see the effects of a misplaced friendship priority for a season or even longer. You may not recognize an inappropriate reputation gradually being constructed. Among parents, elders and deacons however, you will lose more leverage and influence than any temporary gains you might get from an emphasis on or pursuit of the cool factor. So speak the truth of God’s word in love and embrace the friendships that arise from leading students rather than impressing them. Your authentic love and discerning leadership will inspire them without the pressure of being voted flavor of the year by Cool Youth Leader's Magazine.

“Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness.” I Peter 5:2  “In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified . . . “ Titus 3:7