It is exciting to know, that we weren't able to have the bus on last week, because so many of our volunteers were taking part in a conference aimed at recharging them spiritually. This is such an encouraging reason (and not that they were away watching the rugby) that it gave me reason to be thankful. It also gave me a chance to spend some time with the girls. Jennifer and I took them out to see 'Here comes the Boom', which is decidedly more of a boy's kind of film, but the girls had a really good time, and, I think, were just very thankful to have someone organize some kind of activity for them. So Praise God for another great weekend, and chance for a large part of your guys to meet with each other and learn from each other, and for Jennifer and I to have a chance to meet-up and build relationships with the girls.
It has left me thinking a little bit about the different cliques in the bus, and how we can try to build the groups into something a little bigger. Whenever I suggest an activity, it is very often the same people who are willing to do it, and excited to come out. And I am trying to think of ways to try to get more people excited about getting together, and meeting up outside of the bus.I think that this requires us to have more people actively involved with coming up with ideas, suggestions, plans that could be put into practice. Boy's respond better to boys, and girls to girls, etc, but each then like to have the other at their events. So I am devoting some time thinking of different activities that we could take our Youth too, inexpensive, simple, and if you have ideas please let me know. But aside from this, it is important that people come along to build the ever necessary relationships as well...which brings me to my next point. I think now is a good time to start looking for new volunteers. We are indeed in need of a couple of fresh faces: Here is something that I was reading in Youth Leader training ON THE GO (surprisingly also by Doug Fields) Direct quote:
" The truth about your volunteer team is that effectiveness of your ministry is limited to it's capacity to care for students. The more people praying, serving, and cheering your ministry on, the deeper it will be. While all this sounds great, it's not easy.
In order to have enough people to adequately care for students, everyone must get involved in recruiting for your volunteer team. Everyone should be committed to recruiting volunteers. The more people looking for potential leaders the better.
When you consider who would make a good volunteer, I would challenge you to rethink your ideal candidate. A youth ministry tends to attract students whom volunteers can care for. For instance, if my adult youth ministry team were filled with ex-athletes, chances are good that the majority of our students would be athletes. But because everyone needs Christ, your volunteer team should reflect what you want to attract. You want variety in your volunteers to attract a variety of teenagers. Anyone who loves Jesus and students can be a useful player on your team.
In my opinion, it's an unfair stereotype that the best youth leaders are young. Actually, many of the volunteers on my team have children who have already graduated from college. Some of my best volunteers are grandparents because they ave life experiences helpful for dealing with teenagers and they have more time. They know how to work with parents, and they've had more experience with pain. While painful pasts may disqualify many from ministry, I believe a painful past actually helps youth leaders When I know a student is experiencing great pain, I want to connect the student with a volunteer who has been delivered and healed from a similar situation, and that is usually an older adult. My point is that younger is not better. BETTER is better.
At some point, you might assist your lead youth worker by asking people within your church to join your volunteer team. Be ready and willing to invite some to check out serving in our ministry at any time. You might be looking for people at a Bible Study, a church, service,or in line for coffee after church. The thin to remember about "making the ask" is that everyone you come in contact with is a potential youth ministry volunteer. When potential volunteers are personally invited by a church per (as opposed to the professional -that is a paid minister), the chance for accepting the invitation increases..."
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. AS the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:8-9
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