Posted by Kurt Johnston

In the last post, I wrote about my belief that caring adults are what makes a junior high ministry great. But what makes a “caring adult”? Certainly there are lots of qualities to consider, and nobody will embody them all, but here are a few to consider. I’d love to see what you would add to the mix.

A caring adult:
- Actually LIKES junior highers. they don’t just love them, they like them.
- Speaks words of affirmation and encouragement.
-…But isn’t afraid to speak words of truth.
- Remembers what it was like to be in junior high.
- Nudges kids forward…but rarely pushes.
- Sees in junior highers what they usually can’t see in themselves.

Help me grow this list.

Posted by Kurt Johnston

If you know me very well, have read very much of what I have written in various places or have ever heard me speak on the subject of junior high ministry this will be nothing new. I think this post is serving more like a journal entry today to remind me of one of my core values.

Today, in the midst of Spring planning, funky budget scenarios, hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of repairs needed on our three-year-old student center, and launching 5 new campuses that all need youth ministry leadership (just to name a few things currently on my “plate”), I find myself sitting in Starbucks reminding myself of what it really means to have a great junior high ministry. it isn’t a big budget or a youth center or a well planned calendar of activities. I would be lying if I tried to convince you those things don’t help, but I have seen plenty of junior high ministries with all of those in place that are still missing the mark.

Want a GREAT junior high ministry? Here is the formula that works every single time in every single context:
JUNIOR HIGHER + CARING ADULT + JESUS = GOOD STUFF

That’s it! I have preached this formula for years. In fact, until today, the formula didn’t explicitly include Jesus…I left it out because His presence was implied. But, read my post “Less God, More Jesus” from a few days ago and you will understand why His name is now a formal part of my simple equation.

I will keep training youth workers, I will keep writing and speaking. But I sometimes
wonder if I need to. maybe I should just sell T-shirts at youth conventions that say
JUNIOR HIGHER + CARING ADULT + JESUS = GOOD STUFF

Posted By Kurt Johnston

- I am a little embarrassed by how excited I am at the news of John Elway’s return to the Broncos as “Executive Vice President of Football Operations”. That’s not true…I am not embarrassed at all!

- starting a new three-week series in JH this weekend called “The Beginning And The End” where we will spend two weeks looking at the creation story and one week looking at what the bible says about earth and mankind’s future. Should be a challenge to make these topics short, seeker-friendly, and “meaty” all at the same time.

- one of our interns, Rob Ham, blogs daily about all sorts of JH ministry stuff and about his journey here at saddleback. You can check it out at www.iheartyouthministry.com (sorry, I have trouble creating links from my iPad).

- About 8 months ago I started doing something I would have NEVER thought I would do: I started listening to country music. It has grown on me, and now I listen to it as often, if not more, than other genres.

- Have you seen True Grit or The Fighter? See them both. Two of the better movies I have seen in a while…..with the exception of Yogi Bear.

posted by Scott Rubin

It’s not a new concept… the idea of inviting students to participate in ministry instead of just being spectators, right? And yet I often I fall into the trap of thinking it’s always harder than “just doing it myself”, and the quality will be less, too. But… not always true!

Last night I was at a college basketball game — watching my alma mater Michigan State play at Northwestern. (I went to MSU because it’s such a great Bible school… oh, wait…)
Just before tip-off, a woman came out to sing the national anthem. I was up in the nosebleed section, so after about 10 seconds of awkward silence, it became apparent that she was actually singing, but her microphone wasn’t on!

As I was wondering whether anyone could do anything to remedy the situation, or whether we’d just endure an uncomfortable couple minutes of watching her struggle through it, a very cool thing happened. The crowd recognized that she wasn’t going to pull it off on her own, and everybody (I mean everybody) started singing! It was slow for a couple seconds… but once people realized that the room needed their participation, and not just their “watching”, thousands of people joined the choir. It was probably the most memorable National Anthem I can remember hearing!

Was it as “good” as if she would’ve sang alone? Well, my row wasn’t very “in tune”.
But the rowdy cheers when it was over seemed to indicate that everyone loved being a part of it all.

It immediately made me think about my ministry… and how I can continue to invite students into the experience, and not just leave them sitting in the bleachers watching.

Posted by Kurt Johnston

The idea behind the title of this post is simple: beginning in 2011, the ministries I lead at Saddleback will begin to make a subtle but, I believe, crucial adjustment. We will engage in a little less “God talk” and a little more “Jesus talk”.

We (and I wonder if other youth ministries, do too) tend to use “God” almost all the time by saying things like, “put your trust in God”, “when you have a relationship with God”, “you can choose God’s way or the world’s way” and on and on. None of these are theologically inaccurate, and it’s all good.

But think about this; the VAST majority of Americans believe in God and have a favorable view of him, and many religions have a mono-theistic foundation. Mormons believe in God, Islam believes in God, Jehovas witness believes in God, Judaism believes in God…it is hard to find teenagers who don’t think God is awesome.

obviously, the distinction is Jesus Christ…and the Gospel. Mention God and everybody is on board; mention Jesus and the distinctions become more obvious.

So for us…we will aim for helping students identify with Christ, not only with God.

Note: Instead of worrying about when to capitalize God, and when not too…I just capitalized them all (I know some of you will notice that stuff)

Note: Interested in a more “Jesus-centered” youth ministry? Start by reading Rick Lawrence’s great book, Jesus-centered Youth Ministry.

Posted by Kurt Johnston

A very simple tweet started some very interesting conversations. Yesterday I tweeted the following:
“Cancelled youth services two weeks in a row hoping families will go to church together…baby steps toward closing the generation gap.”

If you are a youth worker, you know that for the past few years, the hot topic in workshops, articles, books and around the water cooler is the failure of “modern” youth ministry. Apparently we have been doing it all wrong for them past 40 years and our methodology is soley to blame for the current state of Christian teenagers.

This rhetoric has been so dominate that I have assumed most churches and youth ministries have taken steps to change how they minister to students. After all, when most authors, speakers, professors and experts (MANY of whom do not minister in a local church setting) tell us we are doing it wrong, we are quick to course-correct, aren’t we? Certainly my cancelling youth services for two weeks in favor of families worshipping together would be met by yawns by my fellow youth workers. Apparently not.

There was a little interaction on my Facebook page and several messages and emails sent my direction that caught my attention. People were surprised I had the freedom to cancel youth group, people disagreed with my reasoning that it is good for families to worship together, others made the case for why age-based, specialized ministry is still the best approach, and a couple applauded my efforts.

Here’s the deal. I believe strongly in age-based ministry. I believe our “modern” approach to youth ministry still works, but needs a few tweaks. I refute the accusations that modern youth ministry alone is to blame for the ills our church-going teens face. But obviously creating a culture where teens and adults never rub shoulders is no good. Certainly, looking for ways to bridge the obvious generation gap in our churches, and finding ways to break down silos and build multiple-generational community is good.

It is obvious to me, and canceling youth group for two weeks was a simple thing for me to do. Apparently, it isn’t as obvious or as simple for others in the trenches.

Would love for you to share your thoughts.

Note: I am posting this from my iPad which doesn’t allow me to scroll back up to edit text or re-read what I have already written…so I will trust it was cohesive.

Posted by Kurt Johnston

Not sure about Scott or other contributors, but this will be my last post of 2010. Celebrating Christmas and then off to the desert for our annual dirt bike vacation.

Wishing you a very blessed Christmas,

Kj

20 December 2010

posted by Scott Rubin

Ever been part of a “Flash Freeze”?
Yesterday I went to Woodfield Mall; a Facebook invite had gone out with instructions to set your phone on vibrate for 1pm, then freeze in place for 3 minutes.

Hundreds of people did it (probably too many, actually!). It was a blast to be part of … even though it honestly didn’t look as cool as the youtube vid that you’ve probably seen from Grand Central Station. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo&feature=fvwk

But it reminded me of something I often wish for — that I could just freeze time for a while, and have everyone else stand still, so I could take care of some stuff I haven’t gotten to yet! Clearly, that’s not gonna happen any time soon. But it makes me think about which things I just need to Make More Important … even though time’s not going to stand still for me to do it.
- Like emailing that valued middle school ministry volunteer & telling them that I’ve really seen their investment in a kid make a difference.
- Like writing a note to someone who gave scholarship money for kids to come to our Fall Retreat, and tell them how I saw God at work through their generosity.
- Like spending some extra time with my own kids, now that they’re on Christmas Break!

As we rocket towards Christmas, no matter how many things you still need to get done, I pray for some moments where you can act like time is standing still — and get to something you’ve been meaning to do!

Posted by Kurt Johnston

Most readers of this blog know that I have a very close relationship with the wonderful people at Group Publishing/Simply Youth Ministry. it is because of this relationship that Simply Junior High has been able to continue to expand it’s ministry to junior high youth workers over the years. Because of our relationship it makes sense that every now and then I would use this blog to promote upcoming resources, events, conferences, etc that Group/Simply are providing…not because I have to, but because I believe so much in what they have to offer folks who love teenagers and are serving them in the local church.

Group/SYM isn’t really a sponsor of this blog….I just liked that as the title of the post. HERE ARE A FEW THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT:

The Simply Youth Ministry Conference: I realize times are tight and the temptation is to eliminate conferences from your budget. avoid that temptation if possible! You need time away to refresh, recharge, reflect and “re-up” your youth ministry calling. If you aren’t registered, please think about joining us!

LIVE Small Group Curriculum: Simply put; this is some of the best junior high curriculum I have ever seen. We put together an amazing team of in-the-trenches junior high youth Pastors to write TWO FULL YEARS worth of customizable bible studies. Don’t let the price scare you away; do the math and you will see that it costsabout about $3.00 per week. I had oneyouth workerfriend tell me the other day that if she could only spend money on one thing for her ministry, she would spend it on the junior high LIVE curriculum.

Lifetree Cafe:I have to admit, when I heard about Lifetree I was skeptical. It felt too polished, too much like a church franchise etc. But having attended an actual Lifetree service I have a TOTALLY different perspective. It is a fantastic way to help your church reach out to the un-churched and marginally-churched people in your community. If your church is up for something out of the box…that kinda comes in a box, Lifetree is worth taking anup-close look at.