CHURCHLEADERS.COM

A couple months ago I was invited to have posts from chadswanzy.com shared and featured at a new website for church leaders. Among ministry areas for the whole church they have created a section just for youth leaders. It's a one stop shop for everyone.

They are also throwing in my alter ego site: YouthLeaderStash.com!

What this means is that I want for all of you who read chadswanzy.com to pump up the content for me with your own questions. I would love for you to submit a few on my formspring.

1. Visit the site.

2. Throw down a youth ministry question.

Thanks.

THIS IS BAXTER.

I just got back from camp... awesome. I got so much to share. My brother, Andy Baxter, spoke last night at Gateway's service for discipleship. I wanted to post it for you to chew on. Leave it running in the background while you check out other stuff on your internets.

SUMMER CAMP TWILIGHT FACEBOOK CANDY

I've been using these pictures on our summer camp event page to catch the eyes of students and to elicit a good laugh.... enjoy.

Procrastination.

h/tip Kitsune Noir

LET'S GET YOUTH LEADERS TO THE NINES

The Leadership Network and Catalyst host a conference every year called the Nines. Church leaders from around the world are given nine minutes to position a discussion that will influence the leadership culture of churches around the world. This year they are taking nominations for communicators.

WE NEED A VOICE THERE!

Here is our talk flow We would crowdsource the content with you so that we could be about a collective voice as opposed to an individual.

1 Min – The Current state of Youth Ministry.

2 Minutes of discussion on where we collectively see God working within youth ministry efforts?

2 Minutes of discussion on things that are slowing down or hurting youth ministry efforts?

3 Minutes of discussion on how to open up dialogue between youth leaders and church leaders about these areas.

1 Minute of closing discussion on ways to measure progress and continue the conversation with either those you lead or those who lead you.

FOR TALK CONSTRUCTION and CROWDSOURCING visit...

Threadbox HERE.

You must vote for our spot at the Nines by choosing

Youth Leaders here.

Look for "Youth Leaders" then vote.

Thoughts on Change

Change can be very healthy. It can also be potentially destructive especially when you make changes in the midst of an environment that requires buy in and implementation.

Communication is probably the most important element to change. Be honest up front and open. If you are not sure of how you want change to unfold or for that matter why you are changing don't do it. Those three reasons are the primary reasons that a hard change ends up imploding on itself. People do not want to feel misinformed, misled, or see their efforts wasted.

Just as important is why you are changing. Never change with your focus being about what you don't want. This is change based on problems and there is no problem free church. Instead make changes based on where you are already headed. The change should free you up to move toward where you have already decided long ago that you want to go. Such as your mission or vision. The Gospel is probably the best reason to change, tweak, or launch anything.

If you have made many changes in a short period of time that have never come to fruition you will make your people dizzy, confused, and indifferent. After awhile people will say, "we heard that before." If you come to this moment you're pretty much screwed. You don't want to lose your voice. If you do you better admit that you failed and then change your implementation team. If you're decision makers are the same people every time changes fail then you're doing it wrong... seriously.

There are two very important types of people in a change.... creators and maintainers. Maintainers implement the execution of the idea and carry out the plan. They cannot birth the idea or create it. That is not their gift nor can they inspire or communicate it's importance. Let the creators create and inspire but make sure they have maintainers who can follow behind them. Both of these groups have to respect each other and stay out of each other's way.

MATT CHANDLER on the CALL TO MINISTRY

Matt Chandler on the call to ministry from Adrian Warnock on Vimeo.

CLIFF NOTES WEEK 2

We're presenting this after the talk style discussion to our students at uprisingnews.com. Thought you might like to check it out. The 300 clip was used last night to talk about overcoming temptation. I'm closing comments. If you're a student you can comment on the youth site.

FILM SCHOOL

This is our newest series.

Film School – Some of our favorite movies have that one incredible scene that we will never get out of our head. In this series we take you to school on some of the classics and let them speak truth to us about our choices and our failures.

Week 1 - Common Temptations

Week 2 - Way out of Temptation

Week 3 - The Importance of Friends

Jamey Dickens Breakout Session

COMMUNICATING TO STUDENTS

Jamey Dickens 04/28/10 9:45AM

Passing in the words of God to the next generation is what we live for.

Paul said to Timothy to, "fan the flame of the gift that has been given to you."

GOAL: Is not to become great communicator for our own gain but so that we can proclaim Jesus to everyone.

FOUR THINGS TO TRANSFORM YOUR COMMUNICATION

1. Build a relationship.

Illustration… bandana. You can use it to pop some one. You get the end of it wet to really inflict pain and draw blood. Water to the bandana is the same as relationships to communication. 

- Give ministry away.

- Get out of the building.

2. Funnel your program.

Illustration… running out of gas. He did not have a funnel.

Do the same with your communication. Is your environment and program creative in such a way to capture area students? Would your students be willing to invite their friends? Who is with you by the time you get to your point?

- Think steps. Parking lot to the end of your program.

- Take courage. You will be challenged on the process.

3. Focus your content. Ingredients to a successful talk.

- Head nods. When you create a felt need in the audience. What is at stake?

Go from me to we. Create buy in.

Front load a verse. Transition the talk energy to give authority to the verse.

Talk to students and leaders.

Facebook updates.

Apply one point.

Break the pattern of talking.

4. Work on your system.

- Teach Series 

- Don't write all your curriculum

- Share the stage.

- Discover your model for content.

3D POSSIBILITIES...

The video above was played at an art exhibition. Everyone was given a pair of glasses and the image was screen projected using an ordinary projector. I talk a little bit more about it at the Stash.

How soon do you think it will be before student ministries use 3D? Have you heard of anyone already doing this? I can think of a sweet announcement or camp promo already. Thoughts?

BOOK OF GENESIS ART

I wanted you to see this video of a recent art exhibition for Robert Crumb's release of his work "The Book of Genesis. The images and diversity of onlookers should push you in thinking about how you present the Bible as well as stimulate your mind into new areas of style, imagery, and impact. You might not be familiar with Crumb so I pasted a press release excerpt as well as a description of the exhibit below. Crumb's "Keep on Truckin" piece was used in a Youth Specialties camp graphic that is still free there today.

(Excerpt from the press release)
Robert Crumb (born 1943, Philadelphia) began drawing comics as a young boy. In the late 1960s he emerged as the leading figure in the underground comic movement. Since then, his influence has been immeasurable, from the first issue of Zap Comix in 1968; to his most recognized comic, Keep on Truckin’, which became a widely distributed fixture of pop culture in the late 1970s; from the adventures of his notorious characters Devil Girl, Fritz the Cat, and Mr. Natural; to being the subject of Terry Zwigoff’s 1995 documentary, Crumb.



In October 2009, American artist and illustrator R. Crumb’s “The Book of Genesis”, illustrated by R. Crumb. The book topped many bestseller lists, including #1 on the New York Times: Graphic Books list. The 207 drawings (pen and ink on paper) that are on display until March 24, 2010 at David Zwirner gallery in New York were produced for this book. “From Creation to the death of Joseph, Crumb chronicles all fifty chapters of Genesis in an astonishing tapestry of masterly detail and storytelling, rendered frame by frame in meticulous comic book fashion. With a literal interpretation primarily assembled from translations of Robert Alter and the King James Bible, Crumb reintroduces us to the bountiful tree lined garden of Adam and Eve, the massive ark of Noah with beasts of every kind, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by brimstone and fire that rained from the heavens, and the Egypt of the Pharaoh, where Joseph’s embalmed body is carried in a coffin, in a scene as elegiac as any in Genesis. Using clues from the text and peeling away the theological and scholarly versions that have often obscured the Bible’s most dramatic stories, Crumb fleshes out a parade of Biblical originals: from the serpent in Eden, as a humanoid reptile; to Abraham’s wife Sarah, more fetching than most woman at 90; to God himself, patriarchal and white-bearded.” VIA HYPEBEAST

OUR MARCH MADNESS SERIES

We rolled out this new series in all of our middle school services last night.

March Madness is taking over. Everywhere you look you see the tourney brackets, hype, and college fans cheering on their team. Some of those things that make us love this season are some of the same things that show up in the Bible.

3/14 Week 1 “Win or Go Home” The champion mentality of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

3/21 Week 2 “Cinderella Story” Against all odds our girl Esther owned her moment.

3/28 Week 3 “The Underdog” Every tournament has one and our’s is David vs. Goliath.

GOT QUESTIONS? THE TALK.

Hi, I was wondering how you prepare to teach a lesson or sermon? Are you a points guy(1.2.3.) or one point guy(Andy Stanley)? Do you write it down beforehand and memorize it or just use key points? How far in advance do you prepare? Thanks

Okay, so when I teach students I first sit down with co-teachers and prepare the teaching schedule for the upcoming season so that we have calendared at least five months in advance the topics. Doing this allows me to hold loosely the subjects and movements we take our students thru in my heart and head.

As the time to teach approaches I usually sit down about 2-3 days before the talk time and Google the topic or idea. I also call the othr teachers and bounce things off of them. I pray and I read passages on the topic. The other thing I do is utilize google reader. I have about 123 subscriptions and because I know what's coming up far in advance I always make a point to save content that I can use in an upcoming talk.

For high school students I tackle the topic by answering two questions and building the talk around the two questions.

Why does this matter or why is this a problem?

In this first part of the talk I want the students to go on a journey with me. I have invited them on the bus and we are headed toward a place they have not been to before. So when I open the door to the bus I'm saying, where the bus is headed and why they want to go there.

This is where the intro and story builds energy for them to say in their heart, "I see what you see and I want to go with you in your talk." They have to have motive and desire to take a potential step.

Next question... so, what do I do about it or what is my next step?

After building the case for why the journey is so important or why it's gonna matter I bring them to the point of awareness on the way things shouldn't be or the way things could be. People are motivate to change pretty much on two pivot points; pain in their life or the need to be loved or feel pleasure. By pleasure I mean fulfillment, happiness, peace. "This topic is important because this pain is not intended for you" or "this topic is important because taking steps toward it is where you will come to understand God's love or plan for you." Does this make sense?

Again, now that I have told them why the talk matters and what it is taking them away from or toward I then tell them the "So what" portion.

This is where there is application. It is pretty basic in the talk too. My transition is not very creative. "So what do I do about this?" or "So how do I take that step?" or "So, how do I quit or let go?" or "So what does God want me to do with this?"

When I answer this question I usually give two answers with clearly defined steps that they can actually do. The two answers are for two seperate people. It goes like this, "So if you're a student in here and you're not sure what you think about God or you're still processing you don't have to be a rocket scientist or even a God follower to agree with what I'm saying. This is just good common sense. So in your chair or there on the floor the next step for you is to consider 'fill in the blank.'" Then the next answer is for the believer, "If you're a student here and you have stepped over that line in your heart and made what Christ did on the cross count for you, God wants you to understand that the pain you feel is intended to help you turn to him so rather than take matters into your own hands you need to start sitting down and 'fill in the blank.'"

Even after we're done teaching, the lesson continues as we always have students come up afterward to talk about the topic and their pain or void. You need that environment as well.

Now, with middle school, I do all of those things above with the exception that the group, talk 8-10 minutes, deals with the first question, "Why does this matter?" The second question, "What do I do now?" Is handled in small groups by the leaders.

I have four teachers I am developing in our ministry. I have only taught three times this year so far as I am wanting to build into the future with the other teachers. All of the teachers have to type their talk out. I have one teacher who doesn't. He journals the talk. I have three guys who teach and one girl. I would have more girls but for now she is the only one who has raised her hand expressing the desire to do a talk.

I don't know how they use their notes but for me I read them over and over again to memorize the flow and then right before the talk I write next to content single words on the margin to turn to in the talk if I forget. The single word helps me associate real quick the content that has escaped my head.

I write out the scripture and read it from the lesson. It's always highlighted. I do not try to have a bunch of bookmars in a Bible that I have to thumb thru.

Thanks for the questions. I hope this helps.

TO ASK ME A QUESTION CLICK HERE.

FACEBOOK AD CAMPAIGN FOR WHITEOUT

I posted earlier our lead video for WHITEOUT that we are using on facebook to push kids to register for the event. I also posted the teaser for crud war. Today i'm adding below the teaser for the band that is playing and our theme night for the 80's roller skating party. Enjoy. I also wrote a note on Facebook for kids to share with their friends, and setup an event page. Our luck with the event page is that only 2/3 of our eventual participants respond. The other 1/3 are verbal or show up the day of. You know how that is. Just thought you would like to see that as well. I will also change my profile pic to the lead graphic or another graphic. Our leaders follow suit. We try not to spam the kids or be invasive. Oh and the kids register here.

CONNECTED?

FACEBOOK

BLOG

TWITTER

MYSPACE

TUMBLR

4SQUARE

STUDENT SITE

SHARED READER ITERMS (GOOGLE)

WHITEOUT CRUD WAR PROMO

This is another teaser video for WHITEOUT we are using on Facebook to push students to register.
Feed readers visit site to watch video.

WHITEOUT VIDEO

This video is another cheapie. Color printed pics of program elements were taped one by one to the windshield by my friend Andy as I drove with an unimpeded view. The pics were wrapped in the polarid style border. Filmed with a flip then layer with peppy music. Very, very easy to do. We're using it on facebook to push kids to register.

WHITEOUT is a weekend long getaway with your friends and leaders at the Uprising. You stay in the homes with your friends of the leaders at the Uprising for accomodations and then travel throughout NW Austin for late night activities, live music, food, and a Saturday morning service project. You'll be listening to COURRIER in the sessions, eating Rudy's and Chik-fil-A, enjoying a crud war, roller skating, games, and discussion. The cost is only $60. You register at: http://uprisingnews.com/2010/02/10/whiteout-registration/

PROPAGANDA

One of my leaders spontaneosly generated some more "propaganda posters for our high school small groups. These are legit and I thought I'd share.

#KIDMIN VS #STUMIN

Three of these things belong together, three of these things are kinda the same, but guess which kid is doing his own thing... yeah I'll stop that right now. Anyway, pictured above is Matt McKee, Sam Luce, and Jonathan "Puppet Ministry" Cliff. They're all in children's ministry even though there is no fanny packs pictured! Of course I'm living out the stereotype with the Charlie Hall goat going on.

Last year we were a part of the blogger's bar at the Orange Conference. On the way from the hotel one morning I started a conversation with Cliff about collaboration and children's ministry.

We didn't get to finish the conversation but at least for that car ride to the conference it began to birth some thoughts.

This morning I'm reflecting on that and I've been wanting to do a post on things every Children's Director should know coming from the mouth of a Student Director. The hope is that some energy can be created to birth convo and thinking.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW...