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5 Things a SMALL Youth Ministry Can Learn From Larger Ones · Ministry Coach: Youth Ministry Tips & Resources

0:00
SPEAKER_00: We have to start seeing the church for what it is.
0:02
SPEAKER_00: It is an entity, a spiritual entity that serves its community.
0:08
SPEAKER_00: It is not a holy huddle.
0:10
SPEAKER_00: It is not a country club.
0:11
SPEAKER_00: It is a hospital.
0:13
SPEAKER_00: And anyone who is in need needs to be able to come through the doors of the hospital, find out that there is help available.
0:20
SPEAKER_00: How do we reach the community around us, the neighborhoods around us, the students around us, and the families around us?
0:27
SPEAKER_00: It's, I think, a lot of the things we are talking about today.
0:30
SPEAKER_00: As a smaller youth group, what can you learn from a larger youth ministry?
0:34
SPEAKER_00: That's what we're talking about today on the Ministry Coach Podcast.
0:49
SPEAKER_01: Welcome to the Ministry Coach Podcast, where we give you weekly tips and tactics to help you fast-track the growth and health of your youth ministry.
0:56
SPEAKER_01: If this is the first time we're meeting, my name is Jeff Lascola, and this is Kristen Lascola.
1:00
SPEAKER_00: And today we are talking about five things that small youth groups can learn from larger youth groups.
1:08
SPEAKER_00: And before you put your boxing gloves on and get defensive, these are just suggestions as someone who has gone from small to large.
1:18
SPEAKER_00: And there's probably a lot of factors that play into my growth.
1:21
SPEAKER_00: And if you've listened to our episodes, you've heard some of those and how we've done things for years.
1:27
SPEAKER_00: But I've been in youth ministry for 22 years and I've coached people for six years, and I've coached large churches, small churches, and I've been in both environments myself for years.
1:40
SPEAKER_00: In fact, we've been smaller longer than we've been big.
1:45
SPEAKER_00: And so these are just things that I've picked up along the way that if I were to go back to me, my former self as a small youth group, here's what I would share now that I'm large.
1:57
SPEAKER_00: What could the former me learn from the now me and how I run things?
2:03
SPEAKER_00: So this is all earned over a really long period of time.
2:07
SPEAKER_00: If it doesn't work for you, you don't have to do it.
2:10
SPEAKER_00: You don't answer to me.
2:12
SPEAKER_00: So you can take it if it help is helpful, and if it's not, that's okay.
2:16
SPEAKER_00: So number one, always have a consistent time, location, and day that your youth ministry meets.
2:26
SPEAKER_00: So many small youth groups feel the freedom in a good way to be a little more fluid.
2:33
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
2:34
SPEAKER_00: And it's like, well, we decided not to meet this week, and then you know, we're gonna do something at my house next week, and then I don't know, we might take September off, and then we'll start back up again.
2:44
SPEAKER_00: It's like whoa, whoa, whoa.
2:47
SPEAKER_00: Like, here's what I would say to that.
2:50
SPEAKER_00: I thought of this myself, um, and it kind of felt like a quote.
2:54
SPEAKER_00: So, you know, I was kind of proud.
2:56
SPEAKER_00: Someone put quotation marks in a dash quote me now date.
3:00
SPEAKER_00: So if people have to be involved to feel involved, you're doing something wrong.
3:08
SPEAKER_00: Meaning that only works if you're already involved.
3:11
SPEAKER_00: So the involved people uh stay involved, and those who aren't involved, they have to be involved to get involved.
3:18
SPEAKER_00: It doesn't work.
3:19
SPEAKER_00: You can already see it's like talking in riddles and circles.
3:23
SPEAKER_00: It doesn't work.
3:24
SPEAKER_00: But if you're involved, you know, oh, we're going to Kristen's house next week, and it's great.
3:29
SPEAKER_00: If I'm not involved, there's no possible way I can become involved.
3:33
SPEAKER_01: Who's Kristen?
3:34
SPEAKER_00: Some lady.
3:35
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
3:36
SPEAKER_01: I mean, that's what they would be saying, probably.
3:38
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
3:38
SPEAKER_01: That's what I mean.
3:40
SPEAKER_00: Like, and why would a brand new person come to your house?
3:44
SPEAKER_00: Like, that is not gonna happen.
3:47
SPEAKER_00: So, what ends up happening is like you just retain a few kids, but I just feel like the church is not that is not serving the purpose of a church.
4:00
SPEAKER_00: That is like a small group or a Bible study.
4:03
SPEAKER_00: That's your own personal thing that doesn't serve the church, the local church.
4:08
SPEAKER_00: That is not, it's supposed to be very accessible and it's supposed to be something that anyone can find a way to get a foot in the door, not this closed backdoor, knock three times and figure it out kind of thing, but keeping ourselves available for everyone to get involved.
4:29
SPEAKER_00: That is the purpose of a local church.
4:31
SPEAKER_00: If your style is a lot more backdoor, knock three times, holy huddle kind of thing, that's okay.
4:37
SPEAKER_00: That's called a Bible study, and you're allowed to have one of those.
4:40
SPEAKER_00: It's a free market, right?
4:42
SPEAKER_00: Free country.
4:42
SPEAKER_00: Go ahead.
4:43
SPEAKER_00: But if you work at a church, you have to probably change that mentality up.
4:50
SPEAKER_00: It can't be serving insiders only, or I really would push back on if we're meeting um the definition of what the church should be.
5:01
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
5:01
SPEAKER_00: So you'll never attract those new people.
5:04
SPEAKER_00: And that kind of goes into number two.
5:06
SPEAKER_01: Before you jump to number two, it kind of just made me think of this.
5:09
SPEAKER_01: Is just um another analogy, I guess, but we live relatively close to Disneyland, about an hour and 15, hour and 30 minutes.
5:18
SPEAKER_01: You would never show up and they all of a sudden would say, Just kidding, like we're shut down for today.
5:24
SPEAKER_01: I mean, they may have some rides shut down.
5:26
SPEAKER_00: Did you just compare the church to Disneyland?
5:28
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
5:28
SPEAKER_00: How dare you?
5:29
SPEAKER_01: So, what's the point?
5:31
SPEAKER_01: If you were, let's say, planning a uh trip and you're coming in from wherever, Iowa, and you're flying in, you would book it in advance.
5:40
SPEAKER_01: Right.
5:40
SPEAKER_01: Well in advance, Disneyland would say, We're not going to be here.
5:44
SPEAKER_01: We're closing early that day, or you know, whatever it would be.
5:48
SPEAKER_01: They you wouldn't show up on that day and be like, wow, we just flew 2,000 miles, spent thousands of dollars to get here to have this trip, and you're not open.
5:59
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
5:59
SPEAKER_01: So it's like if there was something on your calendar where you're like, actually, we are going to be doing, you know, barbecue at Steve's or whatever, it would need to be like announced well in advance.
6:11
SPEAKER_01: It would need to be put on your church website, it would need to be on all your Instagram, Facebook, whatever you guys advertise, so that the person has a fair warning well in advance that that's because you guys don't meet every week meet there.
6:26
SPEAKER_01: There's summer camp.
6:27
SPEAKER_01: There's what else the other one?
6:29
SPEAKER_01: Or is it only summer camp?
6:31
SPEAKER_01: Summer camp.
6:31
SPEAKER_00: Unless it's Christmas break, we just take the last two weeks of December off.
6:36
SPEAKER_00: Um small group night out.
6:38
SPEAKER_00: Okay, small group night out and summer camp.
6:42
SPEAKER_00: So that would be for a year.
6:45
SPEAKER_01: Okay, and all of those are on the calendar months in advance.
6:50
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:51
SPEAKER_01: Well, you know about them.
6:52
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
6:52
SPEAKER_00: I wasn't gonna say we're doing it tomorrow.
6:54
SPEAKER_01: It's gonna be a year in advance, but summer camp, you would know like well out, and you put post those things.
6:59
SPEAKER_01: All that to say, you know, take take a page out of the Disney notebook where it's like you wouldn't want to risk that because that I mean, obviously that's huge, a huge deal for that, you know, and people would be furious, but the same mentality though, like I don't want a plan to come, and here's my first day, and where is where is the church?
7:18
SPEAKER_01: Where'd you guys go?
7:19
SPEAKER_01: That would be like horrible.
7:21
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it doesn't, it's not really conducive to the mindset of the church exists for the community and visitors and people who are like, all right, I'm finally gonna do it, I'm finally gonna go.
7:34
SPEAKER_00: Like, we just need to be there, we need to be available.
7:37
SPEAKER_01: Um, I think I'd probably be like, I don't think I'm gonna come a second time then because that was embarrassing and weird.
7:41
SPEAKER_00: And I feel and if you want to do a barbecue, bring the grill to the church.
7:45
SPEAKER_01: Like, if you want to do, you know, um like I guess my point was if you know for sure for whatever good reason you're not gonna be there, it can't be a random decision.
7:56
SPEAKER_01: Hey, this week, how about we just go do whatever?
7:58
SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
7:59
SPEAKER_00: Like, hey, anyone feeling like we want to just take the night off?
8:03
SPEAKER_00: Anyone feel like we just want to like every week, go to McDonald's instead?
8:07
SPEAKER_00: Like, everyone get in my car.
8:08
SPEAKER_00: Let's just go.
8:09
SPEAKER_00: Like, so I think that like small youth groups feel like who's gonna miss us, you know, like we're this is everyone.
8:18
SPEAKER_00: I just would be really careful of making that how you operate your mode of operation, because again, that's called a Bible study.
8:26
SPEAKER_00: That's not called a youth group that's serving the church community.
8:31
SPEAKER_00: It's it's not so with that, you know.
8:34
SPEAKER_00: Number two, I've noticed a lot of smaller youth groups actually love to be small.
8:39
SPEAKER_00: And that's okay, like because it does feel good.
8:43
SPEAKER_00: Like we know everyone, we're this tight-knit little thing.
8:46
SPEAKER_00: So here's where that's tricky.
8:48
SPEAKER_00: I think they maybe intentionally close that back door or front door.
8:54
SPEAKER_01: I mean they as in the youth pastor, or they as in the student.
8:57
SPEAKER_00: The students, both maybe, but the students and maybe even the church, like depending on like we just that's how we pride ourselves in being small, small, small.
9:06
SPEAKER_00: Again, I think you have to be really honest and ask yourself is that serving the purpose of the church?
9:12
SPEAKER_00: If, like, oh, we're full, no vacancy, no newcomers, and they get a little like a little bothered, you know, like when new people come.
9:21
SPEAKER_00: Well, we're good, you know, like we we're full, we have our people, and this is the way we like it.
9:26
SPEAKER_00: Well, here's what I would say to that the church doesn't exist for you, you are the church and you exist for the world.
9:32
SPEAKER_00: I teach my students that over and over and over and over again.
9:36
SPEAKER_00: So if your students are stuck in this like consumer mindset of like the church is for us and we want it to be again, how go have a Bible study.
9:47
SPEAKER_00: You can invite whoever you want to your house.
9:49
SPEAKER_00: When you are a church, you exist for the world.
9:53
SPEAKER_00: You don't get to curate that experience and who you want there and who you don't.
9:58
SPEAKER_00: And let's keep it small on purpose.
10:01
SPEAKER_00: I just don't think that is a church.
10:03
SPEAKER_00: I think that's a Bible study, and you're well within your rights to do that.
10:07
SPEAKER_00: But I think it's you're moving into sort of elitist ground when you do that.
10:13
SPEAKER_00: You're getting exclusive, and I just don't think that mirrors the gospel at all.
10:21
SPEAKER_00: And people sometimes um maybe they wouldn't say that out loud, but their body language, their willingness to include people and welcome people and get excited and like assimilate people is very like, well, you know, like we're over here.
10:38
SPEAKER_00: And if you want, you can kind of figure it out, but we're not going out of our way, you know.
10:43
SPEAKER_00: A church that goes out of their way for the newcomer to welcome them, include them, invite them, get them connected, get them plugged in, get them serving, get them, you know, dis in a discipleship type of program.
10:56
SPEAKER_00: Like that is the job of the church.
10:59
SPEAKER_00: So, you know, like our pastor always says that once people make it into something, they like the bar to be higher for everybody else.
11:07
SPEAKER_00: So it's like, well, I'm already in.
11:10
SPEAKER_00: So that means for anyone else to come in, it's gonna, we're gonna make it really hard for you.
11:14
SPEAKER_00: And it's just again, I just don't see how the gospel's reflected in that anywhere.
11:20
SPEAKER_00: So just be careful if you're starting to sense that spirit of exclusivity in your students.
11:27
SPEAKER_00: You really have to be brave enough to change that culture for your students.
11:32
SPEAKER_00: Again, the tagline, and I didn't come up with this.
11:34
SPEAKER_00: I don't know who said this.
11:35
SPEAKER_00: Maybe it was Erwin McManus or something that the church doesn't exist for you, you are the church, and the church exists for the world.
11:43
SPEAKER_00: We are supposed to change the world through the local church.
11:47
SPEAKER_00: It is totally possible, but not if we're like, we're full, we're good.
11:52
SPEAKER_00: Hey, quick question for you.
11:54
SPEAKER_00: Have you ever felt like you are working really hard in your youth ministry every week, but you don't know what the next step is or how to grow your youth ministry?
12:03
SPEAKER_00: Well, you are not alone.
12:04
SPEAKER_00: And that is exactly why we created our course and coaching program called Youth Ministry Growth Accelerator.
12:12
SPEAKER_00: Inside the program, we're gonna walk you step by step through strategies, systems, leadership principles that help ministries grow, both in size and in health.
12:22
SPEAKER_00: This isn't just theory, it's the exact framework we've used and taught to youth pastors all over the country and even globally.
12:30
SPEAKER_00: In addition to the course and coaching, you will also have the opportunity to join a cohort community where you can meet with other youth leaders who are on the same journey to encourage each other, share ideas, and stay accountable as you put things into practice.
12:45
SPEAKER_00: So if you're looking for a clearer path to grow your ministry, head over to grow your youth ministry.com to see everything that's included.
12:53
SPEAKER_00: Once again, that's growyour youth ministry.com.
12:56
SPEAKER_00: All right, let's get back to the episode.
12:57
SPEAKER_00: Okay, so number three, clear and consistent communication.
13:02
SPEAKER_00: So I think sometimes smaller churches think, like I've had some of my smaller church clients say, Why do I need to send a weekly email?
13:10
SPEAKER_00: I only have 10 students.
13:11
SPEAKER_00: It's like, yeah, I understand that it doesn't feel necessary because everyone who needs to know knows.
13:19
SPEAKER_00: Like, what does it matter?
13:20
SPEAKER_00: But we can't rely on word of mouth forever.
13:24
SPEAKER_00: There has to be some kind of presence where people can access information about us should they want to try a new church?
13:32
SPEAKER_00: People are looking for a church all the time.
13:34
SPEAKER_00: They move to the area, they have a spiritual awakening, their kids, friend at school invites them.
13:40
SPEAKER_00: How can they find out anything?
13:42
SPEAKER_00: And we've talked about this so many times on the podcast.
13:45
SPEAKER_00: Like, can people find out what they need to in order to make that jump?
13:50
SPEAKER_00: So if your website is four years outdated and there's no relevant information, it's like last post was in 2022, you know, like get updated, get refreshed.
14:02
SPEAKER_00: Do you have an Instagram or a Facebook?
14:04
SPEAKER_00: Do you send out a weekly email so people can keep up with it?
14:10
SPEAKER_00: People from the outside obviously wouldn't get your emails, but I know a lot of parents that forward it to their friends, and then their friends will reply, Hey, could I get on your email list?
14:20
SPEAKER_00: I think my kids are interested in coming to youth group or oh, I got your information from one of the moms on our baseball team.
14:26
SPEAKER_00: Could you tell me a little bit more about your youth group?
14:29
SPEAKER_00: And I'll just say, Yeah, I'll answer anything you need to know.
14:32
SPEAKER_00: In the meantime, here's a link to our website where you can find who we are.
14:36
SPEAKER_01: Updated information.
14:38
SPEAKER_00: Yes, it is.
14:40
SPEAKER_00: I don't do it perfectly, but for the most part, it is, you know, and so it's this thing.
14:44
SPEAKER_01: You're worried someone's gonna check right now, aren't you?
14:46
SPEAKER_00: I know.
14:47
SPEAKER_00: Probably.
14:48
SPEAKER_00: Caleb, if it's not, it's your fault.
14:51
SPEAKER_00: Okay, because that was on your list.
14:52
SPEAKER_01: And that's a sign of a true leader, right?
14:53
SPEAKER_00: Of things to do, blaming others.
14:55
SPEAKER_00: That's what I like to do.
14:57
SPEAKER_00: Um, so yeah, it's that communication, like making sure people can get involved.
15:03
SPEAKER_00: Again, do you have to be involved to be involved?
15:07
SPEAKER_00: That cancels each other out.
15:09
SPEAKER_00: That doesn't work.
15:10
SPEAKER_00: So, how can people find out about you?
15:13
SPEAKER_00: And then if you're being really honest, do you want people to find out about you?
15:17
SPEAKER_00: You know, um, I was listening to this famous pastor the other day, and he's, you know, leading a church, but he is keeping it major underground and doesn't want anyone to find out about it, and like he won't, there's no website, nothing public, and like to get in, it's kind of like speak easy sort of thing.
15:39
SPEAKER_00: I was just like, I don't know about that.
15:43
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it just seems very again like it was the church member in this country, yes.
15:49
SPEAKER_01: That makes no sense it's not like you have to.
15:51
SPEAKER_00: Because it's for them, they want a church that they can curate to their preferences, and they don't want the masses to come because they have all these stipulations of like, well, you have to go through this class and you have to do this and you have to do that.
16:05
SPEAKER_00: And I was listening to it, and it he's like a very well-known author, pastor, speaker guy, and I was just like, Okay, I don't know.
16:15
SPEAKER_00: I'm not gonna like judge it, but something about it just doesn't seem totally right to me.
16:23
SPEAKER_00: It just seems like spiritual hoarding almost like we want it how we want it.
16:28
SPEAKER_00: Again, that's a Bible study, and I understand that sometimes you just want to be with people you want to be with and have like off the record, hey, how are you doing?
16:37
SPEAKER_00: Like I choose to be with you on a Thursday night in my home.
16:41
SPEAKER_00: Like that that's okay, but a church being inaccessible, I don't know, feels something about that doesn't add a lot of things.
16:50
SPEAKER_01: Well that's what I was asking if it's in this country because it feels like something where it's like, oh, you're in a country with that persecutes Christians.
16:55
SPEAKER_00: No, they're like going underground on purpose because they don't want just anyone to join or something.
17:01
SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
17:01
SPEAKER_00: I don't want to read too much into his motivation there.
17:04
SPEAKER_00: Maybe that's a whole thing, but it was odd.
17:07
SPEAKER_00: So, anyways, number four, plan like it matters.
17:11
SPEAKER_00: So you can plan like you were saying, like with the whole like Disneyland, whatever, like illustration.
17:19
SPEAKER_00: It's like, so we can plan things that are off campus, whatever, but we need to make sure we plan like it matters, meaning you have a plan, you've communicated the plan, you have people executing the plan, you have an agenda, you have a vision, and you're bringing people on board.
17:37
SPEAKER_00: You're not just like hanging out, like you're doing things with purpose and excellence.
17:43
SPEAKER_00: And I think that is a rut that smaller youth groups fall into, is that they don't feel the need to plan because it's only a handful of kids, but then it just ends up being kind of this hodgepodgy, let's just sort of hang out, maybe chit-chat a little bit, and then I don't know, like wait till our parents pick us up.
18:06
SPEAKER_00: I don't, I don't know.
18:06
SPEAKER_00: I've just gotten the sense a lot of times that the smaller youth groups think structure may not apply to them.
18:15
SPEAKER_00: And the fear there is are we actually accomplishing what we're setting out to do?
18:20
SPEAKER_00: You don't have to have like lights and foggers and loud music, and that's not what I'm talking about.
18:27
SPEAKER_00: But is your night planned with purpose?
18:29
SPEAKER_00: Are you just kind of like, hey, we just open the doors, let kids kind of hang out?
18:33
SPEAKER_00: And then if they feel like having a spiritual discussion, we kind of just, you know, take our cues from them and then like just like cool, man, like see you next week.
18:42
SPEAKER_00: Was there any purpose?
18:43
SPEAKER_00: Did you take them on a journey of connection?
18:47
SPEAKER_00: Like, I think games are a great way to connect.
18:50
SPEAKER_00: And if you can't just leave it up to them, well, I had a ping pong table out or I had air hockey out.
18:55
SPEAKER_00: It's like, okay, well, that fit like four kids' preferences.
18:59
SPEAKER_00: What about an organized game where everyone's working together and doing something and creating an atmosphere of trust through a game?
19:07
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
19:07
SPEAKER_00: And then did I teach them what worship is?
19:09
SPEAKER_00: Did I bring someone in who could do worship and we could express, you know, like that's gonna hit some kids?
19:16
SPEAKER_00: And then did we have a message that challenged them?
19:18
SPEAKER_00: Did we have small groups where they felt discipled?
19:20
SPEAKER_00: You know, like were you taking them on a journey of spiritual growth and connectivity, or was it just like, well, we're here, we're gonna give it our best shot, you know, kind of thing.
19:32
SPEAKER_00: And I feel like smaller youth groups feel, you know, like that feeling, well, ah, it's just a couple of us, like, let's just chit chat, you know?
19:41
SPEAKER_00: And I'm not saying it has to be this professional grade program, but I am saying you need to make sure you are having a purpose, that you're taking them somewhere, that you're planning with excellence, that you put forethought into this, that you didn't just show up and kind of wing it, you know.
20:00
SPEAKER_00: And that's the hard thing too, because a lot of smaller youth groups are led by bivocational youth leaders, which I applaud because I'm like, good for you.
20:12
SPEAKER_00: Like that takes major conviction and passion to say, I work a full-time job and then I'm gonna do this.
20:19
SPEAKER_00: That is not easy.
20:20
SPEAKER_00: I understand that.
20:21
SPEAKER_00: So hats off to the bivocational youth worker, but that's not an excuse for showing up and just sort of like all I had in me was to turn the lights on and like say, hey guys, how was your week?
20:34
SPEAKER_00: Like, no, again, we have to know the difference.
20:37
SPEAKER_00: What is a Bible study and what is a youth group?
20:40
SPEAKER_00: And ask yourself, what am I actually running?
20:43
SPEAKER_00: Am I running a Bible study or am I running a youth program?
20:47
SPEAKER_01: They the students will also take cues from you if you're like taking a lot of pride in it and it's like this is a program, we do these things and it's it's consistent, there's a lot of uh effort put into it.
20:59
SPEAKER_01: I think they'll treat it as such.
21:01
SPEAKER_01: And the opposite being like just as an example, when back when I was in college, I was at San Diego State, I was in the gross dorm.
21:09
SPEAKER_01: It was called Zura.
21:11
SPEAKER_01: I don't know if it's torn down now or what, but it was gross, like everything was trashy, like there was graffiti, like it was just not well kept across campus.
21:21
SPEAKER_01: There was another one, I forget the name of it, but it was all nice and clean, and you know, the walls didn't have it was all nicely painted and everything.
21:29
SPEAKER_01: And people in that dorm treated it that way.
21:32
SPEAKER_01: People in my dorm treated it like a dump.
21:35
SPEAKER_01: Like it was just because it was a dump.
21:37
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
21:38
SPEAKER_01: And so you didn't care if people like, oh, I'm just gonna throw my trash down here or I'm gonna remember they were burning the walls.
21:44
SPEAKER_00: It was it was sounds like a new college.
21:46
SPEAKER_01: I'm like, what is happening right now?
21:48
SPEAKER_01: Um, but anyways, it I felt like I could see the difference.
21:51
SPEAKER_01: It's like you guys take pride in it.
21:53
SPEAKER_01: You know, there was a lot of effort put into, and it's obviously just the building, and not saying that about your church, but it's like you take pride and effort into.
22:00
SPEAKER_01: The program you're putting out, yeah.
22:02
SPEAKER_01: People will reflect that.
22:03
SPEAKER_01: But if you're just like, ah, who cares?
22:05
SPEAKER_01: Kind of, you know, take it or leave it, just like we fly by the seat of our pants, then they'll probably treat it the same way.
22:11
SPEAKER_01: I don't have to go.
22:12
SPEAKER_01: They're never very serious about it.
22:14
SPEAKER_01: Right.
22:14
SPEAKER_01: I think it just reflects that how you're presenting.
22:17
SPEAKER_00: You don't really invite friends to something like that because it's just kind of like, why would I invite a friend to a little like random hangout?
22:26
SPEAKER_01: Right.
22:26
SPEAKER_01: What are we gonna do there?
22:27
SPEAKER_01: Not really sure.
22:28
SPEAKER_00: We don't know.
22:29
SPEAKER_00: We're we just show up.
22:30
SPEAKER_01: They may not even be there this week.
22:31
SPEAKER_01: Who knows?
22:32
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that would be the worst.
22:33
SPEAKER_00: Well, and that kind of brings me into the last one that was a great segue.
22:38
SPEAKER_00: Number five, act professional and official.
22:42
SPEAKER_00: And the reason for that is not because we're CEOs or CFOs or something, but because these things actually breed trust and legitimacy.
22:51
SPEAKER_00: Meaning, like if you have a new volunteer, they need to fill out an application, they need to go through training, you need to have a way for kids to check in and for you to keep track of who's coming and follow up with new people and reach out and add people to your attendance, add people to your email list, like keep up with, like we're saying, your social media, your website, all of that.
23:13
SPEAKER_00: So communication.
23:14
SPEAKER_00: So it looks official.
23:15
SPEAKER_00: The worst thing, like when I try to sign my kids up for something, like it'll be like, oh, did you hear about this like soccer thing at the community center?
23:23
SPEAKER_00: Oh, cool.
23:24
SPEAKER_00: And then you get on the website and there's no information and the last post was like years ago, and there's no one to contact, and everything's a hodgepodge.
23:34
SPEAKER_00: You're like, I am not signing you up for this.
23:36
SPEAKER_00: Like, who are these people?
23:38
SPEAKER_00: Like, if you can't make it user-friendly or like easy to engage with, like, I'm not interested because I now I kind of don't trust like what kind of program is this?
23:51
SPEAKER_00: You know, is this something like I'm gonna pay money and it's like never get a refund and it's not even happening and no one to contact?
23:58
SPEAKER_00: But when you go to a website and it's very well laid out and you can tell it's current and there's information and easy click things so that you can find out or register or whatever, you're like, oh, someone's waking up thinking about this.
24:12
SPEAKER_00: Like, this is like people who are on it have it together.
24:16
SPEAKER_00: And when people are trusting their children with you, like this isn't even something for them, it's for their children.
24:23
SPEAKER_00: All the more reason we have to look like we've got it together.
24:27
SPEAKER_00: We're acting professional and official, not in a sense that oh, I have to wear a suit now.
24:32
SPEAKER_00: Like, I mean professional in the sense that you're organized, you have forethought and safety and organization is a priority.
24:41
SPEAKER_00: Those are important things to parents, right?
24:44
SPEAKER_00: Because if you are bringing your kid to something and there's no information, or you even meet the youth pastor, because parents ask me this all the time.
24:53
SPEAKER_00: What do you guys do?
24:54
SPEAKER_00: Like, that's what a lot of unchurched parents will say to me.
24:57
SPEAKER_00: Like, my kid wanted to come and check this out, but like, what do you guys do?
25:01
SPEAKER_00: And I love that I don't just say, like, we just sort of hang out.
25:05
SPEAKER_00: Like, you just want to sort of hang out with my junior higher.
25:09
SPEAKER_00: Like, what is this place?
25:10
SPEAKER_00: I say, Oh, you know, for the first, you know, five, 10 minutes, like kids can visit the snack shack or play gaga ball, and then we call them in, and then we do this, this, this, and then it goes to uh worship, and that's music and songs, and we're gonna do that for about 15, 20 minutes.
25:27
SPEAKER_00: And I'll probably give a message tonight.
25:29
SPEAKER_00: And then after that, students are split into small groups, and those are age and gender, and there's two adults per group.
25:36
SPEAKER_00: And here's actually pictures of all the adults who lead with me.
25:39
SPEAKER_00: Um, you can check those out.
25:41
SPEAKER_00: And here's a form to fill out to register your student for the first time so we can get them in our system and just keep track of them because it's really embarrassing if a parent shows up and then they go, Do I need to register my kid?
25:53
SPEAKER_00: And you're like, No, it's like, so you don't even what if something happened?
25:56
SPEAKER_00: You you don't need to get a hold of me for anything.
25:59
SPEAKER_00: Nah, it's good.
26:00
SPEAKER_00: Just leave them, it's cool.
26:02
SPEAKER_00: But I have like, hey, here's a QR code to scan, and then you can fill out the online form.
26:07
SPEAKER_00: If you'd prefer to do it in person or I mean on paper, you can go ahead and fill this out and put it in the thing.
26:13
SPEAKER_00: Oh, and let me hand you a calendar.
26:14
SPEAKER_00: And this has our website on it and everything coming up for the next three months.
26:18
SPEAKER_00: It's like, oh wow, this is a real program going on here.
26:23
SPEAKER_00: It's not just like, um, I don't know, just like drop your kid off with us and we'll see what happens.
26:28
SPEAKER_00: Like, I think we'll have pizza and then like throw the ball around for a bit.
26:31
SPEAKER_00: Like, no, no, no, no.
26:33
SPEAKER_00: Are you legitimate because we're building trust with the community that we are serving?
26:38
SPEAKER_00: And I really think that's the bottom line of this episode.
26:41
SPEAKER_00: Like, we have to start seeing the church uh for what it is.
26:45
SPEAKER_00: It is an entity, a spiritual entity that serves its community.
26:51
SPEAKER_00: It is not a holy huddle, it is not a country club, it is a hospital.
26:56
SPEAKER_00: And anyone who is in need needs to be able to come through the doors of the hospital and find out that there is help available.
27:04
SPEAKER_00: And that's what the church needs to be.
27:06
SPEAKER_00: And so, how do we reach the community around us, the neighborhoods around us, the students around us, and the families around us?
27:14
SPEAKER_00: It's, I think a lot of the things we were talking about tonight, there's more to it, obviously, but I think small youth groups, and I'm not saying so they're bad and big or good, big youth groups can learn a lot from small youth groups.
27:29
SPEAKER_00: 100%.
27:29
SPEAKER_00: So that's another episode.
27:31
SPEAKER_00: Today it's just in reverse.
27:32
SPEAKER_00: And I feel like I said in the beginning, I'm able to speak into both because I've done both.
27:38
SPEAKER_00: And it doesn't mean, yeah, like small there's some small youth groups that are doing this stuff in an excellent way.
27:46
SPEAKER_00: It doesn't mean just because you're small, you're not doing these things.
27:49
SPEAKER_00: No.
27:50
SPEAKER_00: But the question is it's not an accusation, it's a question, right?
27:54
SPEAKER_00: Like, are you?
27:55
SPEAKER_00: If you are, check, check, check, check, perfect, you know, delete this episode.
27:59
SPEAKER_00: But if you're not, then it's like, okay, where do we need to adjust so that we're fulfilling our purpose of actually serving the community and not unintentionally, because it's probably all unintentional, creating a little holy huddle club that serves your favorite 10 kids in your community and nobody else because again, Bible study, not a youth group.
28:24
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
28:24
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna link um, as you were talking, I was writing some episodes down that we've done.
28:27
SPEAKER_01: So if you want to go deeper on any of these points, we did one all about website information, all the things that you should have so that people can know all about your youth ministry.
28:35
SPEAKER_01: Communication episodes, we have several on those.
28:37
SPEAKER_01: I'll link those in the description below.
28:38
SPEAKER_01: And then for your volunteers onboarding, we have actually a two-part episode on that, kind of just getting them acclimated onto the team and doing the onboarding process.
28:47
SPEAKER_01: And then finally, uh check-in systems.
28:49
SPEAKER_01: There's so many different ways you can use check-in systems from a robust computer software to an Excel spreadsheet, everything in between.
28:57
SPEAKER_01: So uh make sure you guys check out those episodes if you want to go deeper.
29:00
SPEAKER_01: All right, this is an uh community comment of the day.
29:03
SPEAKER_01: This comes from, I don't know if it's Junior Nudge or JR Nudge.
29:09
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
29:10
SPEAKER_01: I like both.
29:10
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I do too.
29:11
SPEAKER_01: Uh says, I've been in full-time youth ministry over 20 years and serve at a relatively larger church.
29:17
SPEAKER_01: And I would tell anyone at any stage in youth ministry to be listening to this podcast weekly.
29:21
SPEAKER_01: That's right.
29:22
SPEAKER_01: Some advice is appreciated and not applied, but this podcast is absolutely necessary for your youth ministry, no matter your context.
29:30
SPEAKER_01: You're doing an amazing job, Kristen.
29:32
SPEAKER_01: I feel like we're friends even though we've never met.
29:35
SPEAKER_00: Oh, but you're a friend.
29:36
SPEAKER_00: Change that.
29:37
SPEAKER_00: Come to Falbrook.
29:38
SPEAKER_00: Let's be friends.
29:38
SPEAKER_00: Let me buy you a Starbucks.
29:41
SPEAKER_01: Oh, well, thank you so much.
29:42
SPEAKER_01: We appreciate that.
29:43
SPEAKER_01: We appreciate you guys watching and listening, and we'll see you next time.
29:47
SPEAKER_00: Are you a smaller youth ministry?
29:49
SPEAKER_00: Today we're gonna talk about five things that you can steal from larger ones.
29:54
SPEAKER_00: Are you a smaller youth group?
29:55
SPEAKER_00: Today we're gonna give you five things that you can s five.
29:59
SPEAKER_00: What do students actually want from your youth ministry?
30:02
SPEAKER_00: And is your youth ministry offering them?
30:04
SPEAKER_00: That's what we're talking about today.
30:06
SPEAKER_00: I don't like it.