needing some advice

[beetlequeendiva]

Ok so I've just started being the youth leader in my church which so far I'm really loving, now I've been approached by some of the members who would like me to teach sunday school with one of the younger male members of the congregation which is great. However I have never done any youth work so I'm a bit unsure what I'm doing - which is what I need in advice in!!!! Basically the youth structure is: 3 girls all of whom are very "Godly" - 2 of them are christians; 3 boys - one of whom is a Christian and the other 2 are not, 1 of those boys is autistic and the other one has been overlooked in the past so is feeling very seperated from the Church. Basically we had a youth leader who didn't do much - he focused on 3 members of the youth and neglected the rest. Anyway I've spoken to all my kids today at church and they all want to be more involved. so far we've got a youth day and a sleepover organised and we plan to finish decorating our youth room. So we've got some stuff planned but I'm a bit unsure about where to go next - this is all new to me!!!! So I'm really just asking for some help please.

 

[asianchexmix]

I know EXACTLY how that feels. I was new to ministry (my mark has been one year...I'm one year into it now) and it was hard at times. Didn't know what to expect...getting to know a new crowd (since I moved churches to serve) and it was tough (still is). I found that there were lots of books out there. Doug Fields is an awesome source for youth stuff. Purpose Driven Youth Ministry (its from the youth pastor of Rick Warren who wrote Purpose Driven Life...also attends Saddleback Church) and "Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry" is awesome. The Purpose Driven book is about building but the First Two Years book is more of his experiences and how to deal. I think that would help out a lot. Now for some more substance (which I'm sure you are looking for...remember I'm only one year into my youth ministry). So let me get this right: you have 6 people (3 guys-1 saved and 1 autistic, 3 girls- 2 saved). I say that you should focus on them all of course. are the people who are saved ready to take on some responsibility in leading the youth? i say you should spend time with all of them but disciple the one saved a little but more. with the unsaved folks, just kill them with God's kindness. show them how kind our God is and just try to stimulate conversation. i think that God gave you 6 because you can only handle six now. since its your first time serving (if im not mistaken), i think God purposely gave you these numbers. make a core leadership so that way once God sends more people (youth and teachers), you got a leadership going on. thats what i would do if i was in ur position. hope i helped, God bless you in your ministry and dont forget to be real. dont try to blow smoke. ive realized that they dont need people telling them they are bad...they just need someone they can be honest with.

 

[beetlequeendiva]

wow thank you for your reply!!!! First off I don't like the Purpose Driven Life books - I don't think they have enough substance. I'm looking in to books at the moment - trying to figure out what we're going to teach - our teens like discussion so our classes are going to be big on discussion.

Yup this is the first time I've served in this capacity - I've been teaching the younger kids up to a few months ago so this is new to me. All I hope to do is guide these kids, not to yell at them but to teach them and to give them what they need for the future.

 

[KagomeShuko]

Here are some materials I recommend:

Bible Studies to accompany Something CD High Frequency Book

Contains guides for eleven youth-group meetings built around themes of the LOST AND FOUND songs on the CD, Something. The guides are authored by Nate Frambach, professor of systematic theology at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. The CD, Something, is sold separately; but if you do not already own the CD, you can get the CD and book together at a discount by scrolling down to the combo listed below.

Rev. Dr. Nate Frambach's bio...

x
Born on a farm in rural Medina County, Ohio, Nathan Frambach presently lives in Dubuque, Iowa, with his wife, Diane, and their son, Garrett Andrew. He is a pastor presently called to teach at Wartburg Theological Seminary in the area of Youth, Culture & Mission. Nate has a prized collection of letters from Frederick Buechner, frequents Miguel’s Coffee Shop & Moondog Music, plays basketball at the Y, and makes numerous trips each year with his family to see the St. Louis Cardinals play baseball.

A pastor by public vocation, Nate served three congregations previously--two in Illinois and one in Minnesota. He also served as Associate Director of the Youth Ministries/Gathering team for the ELCA and, prior to that, as an Instructor on the faculty of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, for two years while he finished a Ph.D. in Practical Theology (congregational studies and leadership).

Along with worshipping, learning and teaching with the Wartburg community, Nate participates in the Ooze (www.theooze.com), shares the values and friendship of emergent (www.emergentvillage.com) and the Emerging Leaders Network (www.emergingleadersnetwork.org) and enjoys learning about and exploring the landscape of the emerging church with friend and colleague Karen Ward (www.emergingchurch.org).


$15.00

Graceland Curriculum and CD

"The Law is our constant companion, while the Gospel is a stranger in our midst." That statement, attributed to Martin Luther and quoted often by our longtime friend and mentor in the faith Gerry Coleman, resonates deeply with us. So much so that almost every song we write, indeed every concert we play, is in some way a search for that stranger - grace. Thanks be to God that the stranger found us - that God has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

This book is meant as a tool to help youth leaders, camp counselors, small groups etc. delve into the topic of grace. Rather than the usual curriculum handbook that dictates the exact order of discussion, this book offers a grab-bag of ideas that can be used as you see fit.

The book is 112 pages and comes with a CD of seven newly recorded Lost And Found songs the curriculum is based upon. Each song and session corresponds to one of five attributes of grace:
1) Free -- H.O.L.Y.
2) Mysterious -- BLSQD them
3) Present -- Baby and Kingdom
4) Constant -- All I've Ever Wanted and Remember
5) Transforming -- New Creation

Tim McLaughlin's bio...

x
A freelance writer with three decades in youth ministry, Tim McLaughlin has his hands in many cool projects a as contributor, co-author or author:
~ Creative Bible Lessons in Galatians & Philippians (Youth Specialties)
~ The student devotional Fed Up (Transit/Thomas Nelson)
~ Most of the books in the Real-Life Stuff for Men series (NavPress)
~ Contributor, Mission: Africa (Thomas Nelson).

Also, Tim has a novel in the works about youth groupies who are Left Behind and quickly exacerbate the horrors of the Great Tribulation by turning it into a global lock-in. Film rights are seeking Gene Hackman as God, Kevin Costner as He Who Rides On White Horses, and Angelina Jolie as the Great Ho of Babylon. To be filmed on-location at Saddleback Church.


$15.00

Those two are definitely discussion based. You can get them at www.speedwood.com and you might be able to get both of them at amazon, I know you can get the second one there.

Another thing from speedwood.com that's got discussion is a hymn CD (pdf file on the CD):

Hymn CD

This is a collection of traditional hymns, performed and recorded by LOST AND FOUND. Though the songs are traditional and well known, the style is traditional only to those who have seen and heard LOST AND FOUND for years. We play the songs in our usual acoustic thrash style, and sing them with the urgency we think they deserve.

A list of the songs:
God of Grace and God of Glory, Love Divine All Loves Excelling, For All The Saints, The Church's One Foundation, All Glory Laud and Honor, Crown Him With Many Crowns, Lift High The Cross, Holy Holy Holy, Thy Strong Word, My Hope Is Build on Nothing Less, and O Little Town of Bethlehem

Peer Ministry is a GREAT way for discussion - it's about being ministers to each other, dealing with every day things happening and using the Bible. Any materials you can get from www.peerministry.org are wonderful, too.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

 

[asianchexmix]

Here are some materials I recommend:

Bible Studies to accompany Something CD High Frequency Book

Contains guides for eleven youth-group meetings built around themes of the LOST AND FOUND songs on the CD, Something. The guides are authored by Nate Frambach, professor of systematic theology at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. The CD, Something, is sold separately; but if you do not already own the CD, you can get the CD and book together at a discount by scrolling down to the combo listed below.

Rev. Dr. Nate Frambach's bio...

x
Born on a farm in rural Medina County, Ohio, Nathan Frambach presently lives in Dubuque, Iowa, with his wife, Diane, and their son, Garrett Andrew. He is a pastor presently called to teach at Wartburg Theological Seminary in the area of Youth, Culture & Mission. Nate has a prized collection of letters from Frederick Buechner, frequents Miguel’s Coffee Shop & Moondog Music, plays basketball at the Y, and makes numerous trips each year with his family to see the St. Louis Cardinals play baseball.

A pastor by public vocation, Nate served three congregations previously--two in Illinois and one in Minnesota. He also served as Associate Director of the Youth Ministries/Gathering team for the ELCA and, prior to that, as an Instructor on the faculty of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, for two years while he finished a Ph.D. in Practical Theology (congregational studies and leadership).

Along with worshipping, learning and teaching with the Wartburg community, Nate participates in the Ooze (www.theooze.com), shares the values and friendship of emergent (www.emergentvillage.com) and the Emerging Leaders Network (www.emergingleadersnetwork.org) and enjoys learning about and exploring the landscape of the emerging church with friend and colleague Karen Ward (www.emergingchurch.org).


$15.00

Graceland Curriculum and CD

"The Law is our constant companion, while the Gospel is a stranger in our midst." That statement, attributed to Martin Luther and quoted often by our longtime friend and mentor in the faith Gerry Coleman, resonates deeply with us. So much so that almost every song we write, indeed every concert we play, is in some way a search for that stranger - grace. Thanks be to God that the stranger found us - that God has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

This book is meant as a tool to help youth leaders, camp counselors, small groups etc. delve into the topic of grace. Rather than the usual curriculum handbook that dictates the exact order of discussion, this book offers a grab-bag of ideas that can be used as you see fit.

The book is 112 pages and comes with a CD of seven newly recorded Lost And Found songs the curriculum is based upon. Each song and session corresponds to one of five attributes of grace:
1) Free -- H.O.L.Y.
2) Mysterious -- BLSQD them
3) Present -- Baby and Kingdom
4) Constant -- All I've Ever Wanted and Remember
5) Transforming -- New Creation

Tim McLaughlin's bio...

x
A freelance writer with three decades in youth ministry, Tim McLaughlin has his hands in many cool projects a as contributor, co-author or author:
~ Creative Bible Lessons in Galatians & Philippians (Youth Specialties)
~ The student devotional Fed Up (Transit/Thomas Nelson)
~ Most of the books in the Real-Life Stuff for Men series (NavPress)
~ Contributor, Mission: Africa (Thomas Nelson).

Also, Tim has a novel in the works about youth groupies who are Left Behind and quickly exacerbate the horrors of the Great Tribulation by turning it into a global lock-in. Film rights are seeking Gene Hackman as God, Kevin Costner as He Who Rides On White Horses, and Angelina Jolie as the Great Ho of Babylon. To be filmed on-location at Saddleback Church.


$15.00

Those two are definitely discussion based. You can get them at www.speedwood.com and you might be able to get both of them at amazon, I know you can get the second one there.

Another thing from speedwood.com that's got discussion is a hymn CD (pdf file on the CD):

Hymn CD

This is a collection of traditional hymns, performed and recorded by LOST AND FOUND. Though the songs are traditional and well known, the style is traditional only to those who have seen and heard LOST AND FOUND for years. We play the songs in our usual acoustic thrash style, and sing them with the urgency we think they deserve.

A list of the songs:
God of Grace and God of Glory, Love Divine All Loves Excelling, For All The Saints, The Church's One Foundation, All Glory Laud and Honor, Crown Him With Many Crowns, Lift High The Cross, Holy Holy Holy, Thy Strong Word, My Hope Is Build on Nothing Less, and O Little Town of Bethlehem

Peer Ministry is a GREAT way for discussion - it's about being ministers to each other, dealing with every day things happening and using the Bible. Any materials you can get from www.peerministry.org are wonderful, too.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

Great...more books to add to my library that I don't read (I have a tendency not finishing books...hehehe). But the PDYM is a really good tool for a successful youth ministry in my belief. It helps you make a vision (no vision means you'll just be there....and thats sorta like my church so I know the importance of vision) and all those things. Even if you don't like it, just check it out. I mean you can go to the Christian Bookstore and sit there and read a bit and decide. Even if you don't buy it, you will learn some stuff. I HIGHLY recommend the first two years book. I still go to it (typically discouragement section) and just read on it. It's just encouraging and it feels like he (Doug Fields) is sitting down and eating lunch while talking. I highly recommend that book. Curriculum is good but just remember be real. The last thing they need are people who are fake...they see through it. Also, just more importantly be there for them. It's hard at times but since its done for God, it makes it easier. Also, be open minded (I need to work on this still. I'm the very stubborn kind) about ideas they have and whatnot.

 

[beetlequeendiva]

thanks, my kids are very open and they know what they want - the way i see it is it's their youth group - they gotta tell me what they want, and i'll see what i can do - i'm the youth leader but i'm not a takeover bid on what they want!!! i'm also not the fake type, i get down to their level and i talk to them and just generally be there. my main worry is that i might mess up!!! i need to stop worrying about that though - chances of it going that badly are unlikely because my kids will tell me if i'm going in the wrong direction!!!

 

[asianchexmix]

You are going to make mistakes, there is no question about that. I made mistakes and will make mistakes. Just view them as learning experiences. Its good that your open minded but dont let them walk over you...there is that fine line. Hehehehe. Just thought I'd keep adding more and more help. =)

 

[beetlequeendiva]

thanks - i do appreciate it I know I will make mistakes - but I mean I hope I don't completely screw it all up, It's a big concern of mine!! I won't let them walk all over me - I agree that there is a fine line, I'll just have to hope that they don't try to take advantage of that