LEADERSHIP VISION

We trust that each of you is doing well as we head in to the Summer Season!  Our prayer is that you can look back and celebrate what God has done so far in 2012!  We continually are excited and amazed at what God is doing in our ministries during services, through Speed the Light, and in the ministry of each pastor and student that is a part of our fellowship. 

As we head in to the next few months of 2012, we want to encourage you to continue holding on to the vision God has given you and to encourage you in that.  Use this fresh look at VISION to help you focus on the rest of 2012, continue to shape and refine your vision, and to make the necessary shifts to allow you to continue to move forward.

Here are some thoughts to consider as you continue to move forward:

Your vision must be rooted in the eternal purposes of God.

This sounds simple for Christian leaders but is sometimes overlooked.  It can never rooted in one person.  If so, it will die with that person as they leave.  In ministry, we see this when transitions take place from one minister to another.  It is never about the leader who follows but rather what happened in the void of leadership that identifies where the priority of purpose rested.  Vision must be rooted in scripture based upon what God wants to accomplish.

Your vision must be able to pass down through generations.

It is not fulfilled in one generation but will be passed to the next generation coming up.  This also means that we have to expose young people to the vision from an early age.  The leadership challenge is, “is the next generation excited about entering your ministry?”  “Do you have the momentum that is attracting the next generation?”  This principle cause us to become intentional in how we train and expose the next generation to what is happening today.

Your vision must be comprehensive.

You will not understand the vision by one thing.  Your ministry may be about confronting culture, but there is more.  Your ministry may be about impacting families, but there is more.  It’s more than evangelism, prayer, discipleship, etc.  Your vision should be as big as God and as big

as scripture.  Anything less is not a God vision!

Your vision cannot be fulfilled by one person.

It is not one great leader.  It is not one great person in the church.  Vision  involves the body of Christ.  Vision takes all of us.  The size of your vision will determine the size of team needed to accomplish it.

As we begin the second half of 2012, we pray that God continues to give you vision and direction for your ministry!  We pray you have a great summer and that God gives you victories as we pursue His vision in Student Ministries throughout Northern California and Nevada!

ABE DANIEL

Student Ministries Director

NCN Student MInistries

STRONG FAMILIES

Success in youth ministry is not simply found in the numbers that attend or how creative something was, but it is found in the long term strength of each student's faith as they mature and grow.  An important factor that plays an key role in the spiritual development of a student's life is family.  Healthy families create healthy environments for long term spiritual maturity of a student.  

What about students who come from broken homes or difficult circumstances?  It is important to expose students to healthy families, if they have not grown up in a healthy environment themselves. Thankfully, God's grace is sufficient beyond our circumstances as many who have come from difficult backgrounds have not only become spiritually healthy, but impactful followers of Christ! 

Below is a Barna Study Group information regarding teenagers and strong families.  Share your thoughts!

WHAT'S IN A NAME

“What’s your name?”

He sat there, tired, beads of sweat dripped down his face.  He could feel the touch on his hip, and the limp in his step.  He had wrestled with Him all night long.  Never had he struggled so much, so long.  It wasn’t just the physical wrestling, but the spiritual struggle taking place in his heart.

It echoed again in his mind, “What is your name?”

He knew his name.  This wasn’t the only time there had been a wrestling in his heart, a struggle in his mind.  Yet tonight, it all came to this one life changing, life altering moment.

“What is your name?”  

 “Deceiver” raced through his mind.  He knew why God was asking him this.  It was more than just the name, it was what the name meant;  Deceiver.  His life had been filled with it.  Deception was his name, and he lived up to it well.

“What is your name?”   

His mind raced back to the smell of fresh meat broiling on an open flame out in the fields.  It was fresh hot stew that he had just made after a long day of work.  In the distance, he saw his brother approaching.  “Can I have some?”  Quickly Jacob said no, and continued to prepare his meal.  Again Esau asked.  This time a thought came to Jacob’s mind.  But hesitant, he again said no.  Finally Esau, starving after a long day of hunting ,but with no success, pleaded with his brother.  “I will give what ever you want, I am hungry!”  The Deceiver saw his opportunity, and in a moment he had stolen his brother’s birthright.

“What is your name?”  

 In another instant, Jacob was taken back to his father’s bed.  His deception this time was not his alone, but his mother’s as well.  To complete the process of stealing a birthright, Jacob, with the help of his mother, prepared to gain the blessing from his father.  As he approached the frail image of who his father once was, Jacob, covered in thick fur, and smelling of Esau’s garments, approached Isaac.   Kneeling down, he altered his voice, and prepared in his heart to deceive his own father, for a birthright that was not his.  In that moment, he reputation as a deceiver was sealed.

“The man said, "What's your name?" He answered, "Jacob."  Jacob knew what his name meant, and he knew he had lived up to it well.

 He realized that his life had been nothing more the a deception to others and himself, and surely now, in this moment, God was seeing the same.  His life had reached this moment of fear, frustration, anger, pain, doubt and anguish.   He knew he was about to face the brother he deceived so long ago, the one who’s very existence he had taken away so many years ago.  He feared the rumors he had heard, his brother was seeking revenge.   It was this night, that he wrestled with God.

It was in this moment of struggle, God gave Jacob hope.  He changed his name.  He changed who he was, and changed history.

“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, because you have wrestled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”  Jacob glimpsed.  Israel?  Prince of God?  What about my deception, my sin, my past?  God had taken this all away, and in its place God gave birth to hope, and created a nation.  Israel, the “Prince of God, “the Righteous Man,” the one “Of God,”  the one who once was “the deceiver” would rise to become the father of a nation, and the seed of Salvation.

Our past does not determine our future.  Who we become does not have to be determined by who we were.

God has the power to change our course.

Scott Tuttle

Operations and Events Director

NCN Student MInistries

NECESSARY DISCIPLESHIP

If you have taken much time to pay attention to the world around you, you know that there is a decline in the number of students who call themselves followers of Christ.  Within those who do profess to be Christian, there exists the reality that many are biblically illiterate and spiritually immature.  Pastors and spiritual leaders are charged with the task of developing disciples and teaching students to follow Christ with their whole lives.

A baby is not born, and left to feed itself.  It is dependent on parents to provide for them.  Such is the case for new followers of Christ.  To see someone grow requires healthy nourishment to a point where they learn to take care of themselves properly.  Such is the case for believers spiritually.  We must teach students a solid biblical worldview, and also teach them how to maintain and grow that worldview.  Unhealthy spiritual development leads to  multitude of concerns.

Some of the dangers that develop if students are not properly discipled are:

-        

• Poor theological understanding of God
• A weak foundation upon which to stand morally and ethically
• An unhealthy view of leadership and servanthood
• Become easily persuaded by any idea that “sounds good”
• A renegade mentality that does not allow for correction or rebuke
• A “me” focused spirituality driven by feelings and emotions
• Leads to long term spiritual immaturity and stunted spiritual growth
• Limited or no ministry involvement in the local church
• No foundation to build upon for further spiritual maturity

In an entertainment driven, “me” focused world, discipleship becomes even more necessary (and at times difficult) to combat the pervasive beliefs and influences that are taking hold in our culture.   We place much on having an encounter with God through worship, and we put great efforts in to creating experiences that will bring students back to our ministries again and again.  While this can be great, and is important, this can by no means be the end result.  

Spiritual maturity requires so much more.  Titus 2:1 states “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.”  Scripture compels us to do so. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”  Spiritual maturity requires that our students know scripture and develop a lifestyle of discipleship

Here are some things that will help you develop healthy discipleship in your ministry:

1. Be Intentional –   Discipleship cannot be a back burner issue secondary to everything else that takes place in our ministries.  It must be intentional and necessary part of our ministry.  I knew of one pastor who spoke of his youth ministry this way:  “I would run 100 students a week, yet when I look back, I can’t think of very many who still serve God today.
2. Look Down the Road – true discipleship requires a long term commitment from both the pastor and the student.   When you see your students 10 years from now, what will you have hoped to see developed in their life?  This should help you map out a discipleship structure for them.  What can you begin to develop now, that helps ensure that students who are in your ministry are serving God faithfully 20 years from now with a depth of maturity that we as pastors desire in our lay people?  This is the moment where it begins.
3. Be Bible Focused – Teach scripture.  Often we fall in to the habit of only teaching topics.  While this can be great and necessary at times, we can fall in to becoming “topically repetitive.”   Scripture itself provides a depth of information and truth that can be applicable in any situation.  If ever we think scriptural teaching to be irrelevant, it is simply because we have not taken the time to do the work necessary to prepare.
4. Go Deeper – Teach Truth.  Absolutes do exist.  Teach students the basics of the Bible.  Teach them sound theology. One of the great tragedies of our time is that so many in the church are biblically illiterate.  They don’t know scripture, they don’t know the Bible.  A solid foundation is necessary for students to mature in their faith.  Theology IS necessary to build a foundation of understanding.  Bible knowledge IS necessary to create a solid foundation on which students can stand. 
5. Activate Their Faith – Truth requires action, and discipleship requires application.  Give them ideas how they can apply what they are learning.  Challenge them on how they can apply it.  Revisit what you have taught, and ask how they are applying what they have learned.  Don’t be afraid to “give assignments” that encourage students to apply what they have learned.  Are you teaching on giving?  Create opportunities to give.  Teaching on fasting?  Fast together as a youth ministry.  Create opportunities to put discipleship in to action.
6. Become a Mentor – discipleship isn’t just a Sunday morning or Wednesday evening lesson.  It is the active participation in the lives of students throughout the duration of their time in your ministry.  True discipleship is long term, it happens in the day in and day out interactions and relationships built between students and pastors, and students and leaders.
7. It Takes a Team – Leadership is essential in developing healthy discipleship in your ministry.  Focus on developing quality leaders who have a spiritual depth that you desire to see developed in the lives of your students.  For those leaders who are young and still growing, invest in them and partner them with those who are more spiritually mature.
8. Do The Work – The sad reality is that our ministries often reflect our own habits.  If you look around and are frustrated by the lack of spiritual depth and maturity, you might examine how much time and effort you are putting in to a) the spiritual development of students in your ministry, and b) your own spiritual development.  Deep people create deep people.

Discipleship isn’t an easy task, but that should not excuse us from doing it’s necessary work.  Just as the word itself implies, it requires of us, and our students the discipline necessary to develop spiritual maturity.  Matthew 28:19 begins by stating “Therefore go and make disciples.”  This becomes our mandate at leaders to equip students to follow Christ and to prepare them to do the work of the ministry.  To do ministry effectively requires healthy discipleship.  

To develop healthy discipleship requires discipline, and in doing so, we become who God has created us to be.

Abe Daniel

NCN Student Ministries Director

Assemblies of God Nor Cal/Nevada District

THE VISITORS

As visitors come in your youth ministries, we have one night to make sure they decide to come back. One encounter. One chance. And feeling alone is the number one reason for no return.

How can we teach student and adult leaders the importance of simply sitting with someone who is sitting alone? Reaching out to someone who looks different? Doug Fields did a great article about this very topic.

Here are some great insights:

1.      Step Into Their Shoes. We need to teach young people to walk in someone else’s shoes.

·         “What is it like to be Jackson?” When talking student leaders, I paint a picture of a fictional kid that might walk into our youth room. “He’s not dressed like you dress. He has a scowl on his face. When you say ‘hi’ to him he almost smirks at you condescendingly. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to be here.”

2.      Ask your Leaders Questions:

·         Why might “Jackson” be acting like this?

·         What does Jackson need?

·         What is the best way to respond to Jackson?

I then tell them a little more about this hypothetical teenager’s background: single parent home, dad left him when he was young, mom is a bartender barely making ends meet, never had a positive role model in his life, desperately wanting to fit in somewhere, grandma brings him to church every once in a while.

“Have you ever thought, What is it like to be Jackson?”

We need to let our teenagers experience the Holy Spirit moving them with compassion. We need to help young people look at the lost with a different perspective…with the eyes of Jesus (Matthew 9:36).

I think this is a great point and a challenge to consider. Maybe this is something you have already addressed with your leaders but it never hurts to push the point across. The reality is there are too many “Jacksons” out there who never get the help they need because we never put our self’s in their shoes. They are hurting for a reason and the only way to truly reach them to see life fro their perspective.  Passion will come when perspective kicks in. 

Source: www.dougfields.com.

TRANSITION IN LEADERSHIP

Ecclesiastes 3 states “there is a time for everything.”  It goes on to say that there is “a time to plant and a time to uproot.”  While we know this is referring to a harvest season, we can relate this to when it comes to seasons of transition.  Each of us comes to a point where we believe God is calling us to a new season of ministry.  For some it is simply because of pastoral and board decisions, but for others, it is due to the Spirit leading us to this new season.

This topic of ministry transition has been our discussion in recent Drive Ins during the past two months.  It has been a healthy and productive time of dialogue, discussion, and learning.  Youth Pastors, Associate Pastors, and Lead Pastors alike face this “fork in the road” in which they must now navigate transition.  How should a pastor proceed?  Does he allow for his staff to transition in a healthy manner?  How should a youth pastor proceed? Does he or she communicate with their pastor?  How do we navigate this?

We received great feedback we received from youth pastors in our drive ins have been exceptional. Here are some insights we received from one of our pastors.  Here are some things to consider:

1.      Wrestle with God in prayer first. Ask yourself these questions and be honest with yourself:

• Am I desiring to leave for personal gain or because of God's promotion? 
• Is my sense of transition from God or personal ambition/ politics? There are God-moves and there are political moves. I need to distinguish the difference.
• Do I have any unresolved frustrations that may be causing me to see that the "grass is greener on the other side"?
• Pastor's big question: Have I truly done all that I can here? Can I honestly say that I feel I can't go any farther here?"
1. When looking at an opportunity, never make a decision too quickly. The devil loves hasty decisions.  Instant anything is the American way, but not God’s way.  God asked us to “wait on the Lord” and hear from him.  Seek counsel.  Pray, and ask the Spirit to speak to and make God’s will clear.
2. Check your ego and motive.  It's easy to be drawn away when someone is stroking your ego.  Are you moving on for a “better opportunity?”  Is it God leading you, or is it you leading you? Our tendency is to think the grass is always greener and bigger is always better. 
3. Communication is key. Never let suspicion get between you and your senior pastor. When you have wrestled with God over these questions, please honor the commitment I made to you by letting me know that it is your time to transition. Explain that you know that you have done all that you can and can do no more here. 
4. Seek wisdom from trusted counsel.  Allow them to ask you the tough questions.  Allow them to challenging your reasons for seeking transition.  Allow them to guide you through this time as you consider what God would have you do.
5. If it's a God thing, there will be peace. How will you know? Opportunity + will of God = peace. That's how you will know! 

Transition is never is easy, and understandably so!  You have spent the previous years building relationships, investing in to others lives, and have been fulfilling your call in that season.  We ultimately have to be sincere before God, seek wisdom, and allow the Spirit to speak to us and lead us when we feel the call to transition.  When we do these things, we will continue to do all that God has asked us to do.