.: volunteer youth workers…
A wise friend once told me that “Life is about networking.”
I had the opportunity to co-host a Youth Ministry Network meeting for Volunteer Youth Workers on the Eastern Shore this morning. We had a great time discussing the importance of ministry to students and the unique challenges that are presented in small churches.
I have been working with Dr. Bruce Revel (Director of Missions at the Eastern Baptist Association) and Larry Davis (High School Pastor at Oak Ridge) to establish a network for the Youth Workers who serve on a volunteer basis in the many small congregations on Delmarva. We hope to create a network that provides occasional training, gives continual encouragement, and sparks fresh vision for reaching the students (over 6,000) in our community.
In the midst of our first network meeting I was given the opportunity to share some of the details of my journey in ministry to students… and some of the resources that have made a deep impression upon my soul. As I was preparing for the network meeting, the Lord reminded me of an article by Mike Yaconelli that has served as an encouraging reminder about what “NOT to do” as I minister to students. The article is called “Ten Easy Steps to Guarantee a Successful Youth Ministry!” and can be found archived on the YS website here. I also recommend reading Yaconell’s “Messy Spirituality” (which I have referenced previously).
In re-reading the Yaconelli article with these leaders today, I was encouraged all over again to be mindful of the most important things in youth work. I look forward to witnessing what the Father is preparing to do through this network… but the relationships are always the most exciting part of the process.
PRESS ON!!!
-Weav
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December 3rd, 2007 at 1:22 pm
One of the things we did in Hobbs, NM to help so many (the vast majority) of churches that had volunteer or even bi-vocational youth workers was to provide network training like you mentioned in your blog. One the biggest ways we helped was through resourcing (for lack of a better word).
We developed a youth pastors library that was housed at our associational office. We did two main things to put the library together. I had the cooperating youth pastors make their “top 10 list” of books and another for curriculumn.
Then we complied the lists and assessed how many books we could buy through the associational budget. (If your association or network has a youth budget or even and education budget and how willing is your DOM.) After the assessment of the list and budget I asked all the guys to also consider donating either from their own library, out of their church budget, or even out of their own pocket 1 or 2 of their top choices. (At the time I always had an extra copy of PDYM by Doug Fields and a few others that I gave to incoming youth workers.)
This was a huge help for the youth workers and smaller churches in our area. They don’t always have the time, knowledge, or budget to. We had each guy type up a one paragraph(max) description of each book and each curriculumn. And made the list available to every church. We divided up churches and called them to speak directly with someone to let them know of the library and get contact info to keep in touch with and encourage the volunteers.
The biggest issue I see in volunteer led youth ministries is burnout and high turnover rates. (very similar to the problems in paid youth ministry). We tried to do some training/encouragement events to help with that. First volunteers often do not necessarily feel called to the ministry but they just happened to get guilted into the job by the pastor, are a parent of a student, but even those called to it can suffer from burn-out and discouragement after about 6 months.
Problems with the library may be obvious but the hours of operation of the associational office were not always conducive to youth workers that had other full-time jobs. The turn-over rate among small churches staffs, both paid and volunteer, meant we had to constantly keep re-introducing it to church leaders. Factor in whether or not you have a centrally located place to house your library and how large an area you are trying to service.
So take this for what its worth and tweak it or chuck it. Just my two cents.
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:26 pm
.: McMinn…
Thanks for tossing your thoughts out here concerning this NETWORK. I think the library idea could quite possibly be very beneficial for the volunteer youth workers and leaders in the Eastern Baptist Association.
I was very encouraged by the amount of interest that was generated and the engaging conversation that was sparked in only our FIRST network meeting. I believe that the Lord is moving to work a great work for His Name’s sake through these volunteer youth workers on the Eastern Shore.
Any thoughts from anyone else? Any volunteer youth workers feel that this “Youth Worker Library” idea would help you as you serve the Lord?
December 28th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
God never ceases to amaze me in the ways he uses you - what a wonderful gift you have. So proud of you and how you continually seek new ways God has in store for sharing Him through your ministry.
Love you,
Mom2