Tag Archives: Student Ministry
Dallas Orange Tour!
Posted on 18. Jan, 2012 by Kenny.
I’m pumped! Tomorrow I leave for Dallas for the Dallas Orange Tour. This year I’m taking about 24 volunteers and staff. This year I’m actually bringing more student ministry volunteers than those in kidmin. For the last 6 months I’ve been far more involved in student ministry than I have in the past and I wanted to make a big investment in these leaders… plus I want them to start thinking Orange. These student ministry leaders were so excited to be invited, which is why I have about 18 going.
I can’t over-communicate how important these kinds of events are for ministry teams. I’ve been to the Orange Conference for the past 4 years and I’ll probably continue to attend for some time.… Read the rest
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Does your youth pastor hate you?
Posted on 02. Nov, 2011 by Kenny.
Sorry about the title, but I wanted to get your attention. It may have been a little extreme, but it does tie in… kind of.
I’m writing an article about the relationship between children’s pastors and student pastors. Interesting subject, huh? I’m pretty much done with the article, but I’d love to gather some data around one element I wrote about. So, would you answer the single question below describing the relationship between your student ministry and children’s ministry. First, let me define the relationships:
Dysfunction Junction: You totally don’t get along. There is virtually no relationship. Communication is non-existent, dismissive or even hostile.
Mutual Existence: The relationship between your two ministries is healthy. There is a respect for each other, maybe even friendship.… Read the rest
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Searching for a Student Pastor
Posted on 03. Oct, 2011 by Kenny.
So, I’m four months into a search for a Student Pastor. I’m well connected within Kidmin circles, but not so much among the student pastors out there. I’ve had some resumes from some great candidates, some that I’m still talking with. However, I do feel that we’re looking for a pretty unique individual and it is possible that the search could continue for a few months. So, below is my blurb on Church Staffing. If you know someone who might be the right fit or perhaps you’re the right fit, please send your resume to hr@gatewaychurch.com. However before the blurb, let me share the minimum requirements we’re looking at.
- Minimum of 5 years experience leading students; record of leading student ministries with 250+ weekly attendance.
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Orange 2011: Doug Fields – Student Ministry and Discipleship
Posted on 03. May, 2011 by Kenny.
One of the few breakouts I got to sit in on was Doug Field’s breakout on Student Ministry. Being a Kid’s Pastor for 13 years or so, I’m not as connected with all the inner-workings of Student Ministry. I was glad to sit in and take notes. You know what IÂ leaned? Student Ministry and Kid’s Ministry isn’t all that much different. Seriously. Below the surface, there are so many more things that are similar as opposed to things that are different. So, here are some of my notes/thoughts.
- Too often we get kids committed to programs and people, but when they move on to college, the programs and people are gone… just like their faith. We need to be intentional in helping them develop an independent faith that isn’t program or personality dependent.
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Parents in Transition
Posted on 15. Nov, 2010 by Reggie Joiner.
Time flies fast from elementary to college age, so get ready to change your parenting habits. Every child seems to move in warp speed toward the teenage years.
I was caught by surprise when a new declaration of personal independence was automatically assumed the day my son got his driver’s license. It was as though I represented an oppressive and extremely unfair regime whenever I tried to enforce any rule. (Whenever I said no to one of my teenage daughters, she would go to her bedroom, close the door and play Britney Spears’ “Overprotected†over and over again for over an hour, loud enough for me and the whole house to hear.) I have to admit, it was difficult for me to transition from parenting children to parenting teenagers.… Read the rest
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#Orange10 Day 3: Perry Nobel
Posted on 03. May, 2010 by Kenny.
I’ll admit it. I’m a pretty big fan of Perry Nobel. He’s fun and exciting and doing great things for the kingdom. In a lot of ways, he’s pushing new paradigms with his leadership in South Carolina. Going into this session, I knew it would be a very “quotable” session and he did not disappoint.- Family ministry has more potential than any other ministry in the church.
- A healthy family ministry must be supported by the Senior Pastor.
- Senior Pastors need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
- Environments matter. (Parents are going to ask two questions of their kids.
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Site of the week: Youth Leader Stash
Posted on 19. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
Today I’m promoting a great new site that hit the interwebs a little over a month ago. It’s called YouthLeaderStash.com. It’s a site run by the Student Pastor, Chad Swanzy at my church. Chad and his lovely wife Cat have been doing student ministry for a long time and this site is a virtual archive of games, talks, ideas and stuff they’ve come up with over the years. I’ll tell you this, Chad is one of the more creative guys I’ve known in student ministry and he’s got some great stuff here.
I know, you’re probably thinking it. “But I’m not a ‘Youth Leader!’ What about a stash for kids?”
For that, visit my new site kidminleaderstash.com (just kidding Chad).… Read the rest
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Orange is EXPLODING!
Posted on 26. Mar, 2010 by Kenny.
Have you ever had really high expectations for something and when you got there it was just… meh? Been there. But there’s something really cool about having a high level of anticipation about something that is GOING TO BE HUGE! Well my friends, that’s the 2010 Orange Conference for you. In spite of economic challenges and all the other things that could distract, Orange is BLOWING UP! Still being a month away, this year’s Orange Conference is smashing previous year’s registration. It’s going to be a year for the record books! If you’ve been in the past, you’re going to notice a difference. How exciting to be a part of a movement that’s got huge momentum. God’s certainly doing something through this strategy and this gathering of ideas to change families forever.… Read the rest
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Integrated Strategy: student and kids ministry getting along
Posted on 17. Jan, 2010 by Kenny.
I know I’ve already posted about Integrated Strategy today, but I had to share this. If you don’t read any more of my post (but you want to, don’t you?) click over here and read this post. It’s a post Chad Swanzy, my Student Pastor wrote of the weekend. Probably the best post I’ve read dealing with the conflict between student ministry and children’s ministry. Hands down the best post I’ve read about this from the student ministry perspective (maybe the only). It’s raw and honest. He asks some very poignant questions worth wrestling to the ground. I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten more comments than he has already. So if you haven’t checked it out yet, do so now. My thoughts are below.… Read the rest
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Student ministry stereotypes
Posted on 30. Aug, 2009 by Kenny.
We all know that Children’s Ministry has more than its share of stereotypes, both for the ministry as well as those who lead. Sometimes it can be embarrassing. But you have to admit, Student Ministry has plenty of stereotypes as well, just maybe not as dorky. I’ve worked with enough Student Pastors that I had a lot of fun watching this video.
All I can say is… Awkward Side Hug!
And what’s up with that creepy puppet at 2.24? Was that some kind of sub-conscious reference to Children’s Ministry?… Read the rest
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