NCN Student Ministries

TEAM LEADERSHIP

2012-03-09T12:51:00.001-08:00

Over the next couple of weeks, we will explorewhat John Maxwell calls “The Law of Dividends.” In his book The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, Maxwell explains itsmeaning by stating that the ‘Law of Dividends’ is “investing in a teamcompounds over time.” It examines how wecan build on the quality of our team over time by how we invest in that team ona regular basis.

Ephesians 4:12 states that we are “to equip his people for works of service, so that thebody of Christ may be built up.” How are you equipping and investing in to yourleaders?

Thinkof an investment in a bank. When youregularly invest in a savings or retirement, it does not just add up, it beginsto multiply because of interest compounded. Such is the case when investing in leaders. When we regularly invest in our leaders,students, and volunteers -- what we get and what they get compounds over timeand results in the development of quality leadership and character.

We must be good stewards of the people God hasplaced under our leadership. 1 Corinthians 4:2 states “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” Invest wisely in to those God hasentrusted to you.

Here are some things to consider wheninvesting in your team:

1. Make the decision tobuild the team. Build a team. Pursueleaders. Invest in others. Scripture teaches us to equip thesaints. Pastors are not called to doministry alone, but to develop and equip others to do the work of theministry. Build the team!

2. Build the best team possible. When it comes toleaders, go after the best, or develop the best! Pursue those who you believe would be a greatvalue to your team, and invest in those who desire to invest in your students.

3. Pay the priceto develop the team. Invest time, money, andresources in to your leadership team. You will reap great rewards. Yourministry will see greater growth when you invest in the leadership, who thenwill invest in your students. When youinvest in your leaders, you multiply your ability to minister to your studentsand community.

4. Do things together asa team. Model teamwork to your team. Do things together as a team. Find ways to build healthy relationshipswithin your team. Have lunch together, play together, work together, and dreamtogether. Build community among yourleaders to create a cohesiveness that brings a strong bond to your team andmodels healthy relationships to your students.

5. Empower your team. Find ways to bring them success. Coach them through ministries they lead anddevelop. Honor their successes andstrengthen their weakness. Set them upfor the win. Your greatest success is the success of your team.

Looking back over the last year, how have youinvested in your team? Look ahead, howwill you invest in your team this year? Takesome time to ask yourself how you can invest both collectively in team, and howyou can invest in each individual leader. Find ways to invest in them over a period of time for growth andinvestment.

As you develop a healthy team and invest inthem over time, you will find great success and your leaders will become whoGod purposed them to be. Invest wiselyin those God has entrusted to you.

Sourcefor Article: The17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, John Maxwell

Abe Daniel - District Student Ministries Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

GENERATIONAL DIVIDE

2012-03-09T12:47:00.001-08:00

Much of the success of the church depends on the ability ofdifferent generations to work together. Congregations have been split overgenerational clashes, of both belief and behavior. Ministries have struggled toanswer the question, “How do we move forward while not forsaking the past?” Perhapsthe better question to ask is, “Are we that different after all?” Barna Grouprecently surveyed three generations on their personal faith, and their resultswere not as varied as their ages:

Here is what their research reveals:

Source: Barna Group - 2012

John Zick - Youth Culture Specialist

NCN Student Ministries Office

CONFRONTING CONFLICT

2012-03-02T12:35:00.002-08:00

One of the great privileges ofleadership is helping shape the lives of people. We are given the opportunity to help othersgrow, change and mature in to who God created each person to be. We are giving the opportunity to developministry. For many, change does not comeeasily, and often results in conflict. Conflict is a natural and necessary part of growth in the life of peopleand ministry.

Many find conflict to be adifficult thing. It challengescomforts, issues of sin, relationships, leadership and the status quo. Conflict can create fear and paralyze us frommoving forward. It can be caused by amyriad of things such as sin, immaturity, or simply creative differences.

Matthew5:23 states “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember thatyour brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of thealtar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer yourgift.” Scripture compels us to deal withconflict in a wise and healthy manner, but it does not teach us to avoid it.

Here is what happens when weavoid conflict:

· Avoiding Conflict Prevents Vision – Conflict not dealt with stops vision. It causes us to shift our eyes from the bigpicture to the small problems. It gripsus with worry about the situations at hand. We no longer look up to the visionahead, but instead we look at the problems around us. When Peter took his eyes of Jesus and saw thewater coming, he began to sink. Conflictwill come, but don’t shift your eyes off of the vision God gives you.

· Avoiding Conflict Prevents Growth – When conflict is not dealt with, it stopsgrowth. We avoid making changes and wenever see progress. Fear grips us from ever moving forward with creativity or new ideasbecause we have become paralyzedby fear of conflict.

· Avoiding Conflict Limits Ministry – Many ministries remain limited and seelittle involvement because they are bound by the wounds of conflict. This is often caused by poor conflictmanagement or because an issue was never resolved or dealt with properly. It can also be caused because we personalizethe problems. Bad conflict managementcauses us to not trust people. Undealt with wounds from conflict keep usfrom using others and helping others growing in ministry.

The reality is that conflict isinevitable. We must learn how to dealwith it in a healthy manner. Here aresome practical ways to deal with conflict:

· Find Healthy Solutions. Have the attitude that you want to help thisperson grow and become better. Work toward constructive conflict thatcreates solutions to help bring clarification and resolution. If someone is not willing to deal with it orfind a workable solution then move on. Don’t dwell on the issue. If you have handled it properly then leave italong and “shake off the dust” and move on. You have done your part.

· Seek Wisdom and Counsel. Mostlikely, someone has dealt with a similar issue that you are currentlyfacing. Know that you don’t have all the answers, and the humility will go along way when dealing with conflict . Mentors will have advice and insight that can help you properly handlewhatever you are facing.

· Pick Your Battles. Somethings do need to be let go. Don’t makethe mistake of turning a minor in to a major. Counsel helps you learn the measuring stick of how to deal withconflict. Some things are simplybecause of taste, preference, or personal style. Whenyou spend so much time dealing with minor issues, it weakens your leadershipwhen you need to deal with major issues. Learn the balance of dealing with conflict.

· Attitude is Everything. Scripture teaches us to come with a softtongue. Pray for God to give you theright attitude so that you can address the issue with a clear state of mind. Know your own personal limitations so that awrong attitude does not get in the way. Go withthe attitude that we are called to serve. Even when we are right, if ourattitude is wrong, it can unnecessarily further the problem.

· Communication is the Key. Butup front and honest. Be clear and fullyinformed. Listen to what they have tosay. Listening is a powerful tool in conflict. Don’t assume you know thewhole story or have it all figure out. Often, conflict is present because of misinformation or partialinformation. Work towards a workableplan to communicate for resolution.

Conflict can be healthy. Conflict comes because something needs tochange. It shows you want to moveforward, make change, and see progress in ministry or the life of anindividual. John Maxwell states “The best team doesn’t alwayswin; it’s usually the teamthat gets along best.” Learn how to handle conflict so that we cando all that God has called us to do.

Abe Daniel - District Student Ministries Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

COACHING INTO GREATNESS

2012-03-02T12:29:00.003-08:00

During the last few months I’ve had the opportunity to coachjunior high basketball. Through all the long practices, time away from theoffice and everything else that comes from a grueling season - I can now say itwas all worth it.

5 of the 7 players now are activators and leaders in our studentministry. They regularly attend Wednesday evenings - serving in ministrypositions, they dove deeper by plugging into a small group discipleship programand I’m allowed the privilege to be a part of their growth.

Even though our season has ended (with a winning record for thefirst time in six years) my coaching has not stopped, but only increased. I’mtaking some lessons learned from the court and applying them to the movement.

As student ministry pastors we are placed in a unique position -to help coach students into the greatness that God has for them and for othersthrough them.

Here are three quick things that I’m embracing as a coach:

1) Nothingis more powerful than the team.

When the team played well together, we’d win games. The oppositeis very true as well, when we lost, it was because we failed to play as a team.

With all the drama, competitive nature and cliques that can befound in student ministry... we can ensure more wins for the team and theKingdom when we bring students together as a team, fighting side by side forsomething greater than ourselves.

2) Knowwhen to press and when to fall back.

We played a few teams that were faster than us. You can’t pulloff a successful press when your defense gets blown by leaving you at adisadvantage on the other end of the court.

As coaches in ministry, we have to be aware of the issues we needto press and the issues that we should just let go. Some may say pick yourbattles, I say focus on the non-negotiable. Let’s move students into hearttransformation instead of spending a wealth of time on behavior modification.

3) Wintogether - Lose together

One rule with my team was that win or lose we will ride back toour home court together. I wanted to be able to focus their attention on how toimprove and what we did well instead of letting them curse the refs or othernegative elements outside of our control.

We win together and we lose together. Some of the greatestmoments of ministry take place when we lose together - they are teachablemoments where students, adults and even ourselves are most open to change andimprovement.

Don Shula, famed coach of the Miami Dolphins, once remarked “I think what coaching is all about, istaking players and analyzing there ability, put them in a position where theycan excel within the framework of the team winning. And I hope that I've donethat in my 33 years as a head coach.”

Greater things are coming for the Kingdom of God as we coachstudents into living in the greatness of God. How awesome it will when we lookback at the finish and declare, “We’ve coached well.”

Justin Simmons serves as our area leader for the Sierra Nevada Section.

He is the Youth Pastor at Capital Christian Center in Carson City, NV

PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP

2012-02-27T11:38:00.002-08:00

This last week, most of us had a day off due to a holidayknown as Presidents Day. Some enjoyedthe chance to sleep in, while others took the opportunity to enjoy an adventurewith their children. Whatever youenjoyed during this day, hopefully you took time to consider the uniqueness ofour American Presidency.

American leadership is unique among any other inhistory. It is a leader selected amongthe people to represent the people. Thehistory of our presidents is as unique as the position itself, and offers avast knowledge of leadership lessonsand principles to be learned, and some to be forgotten.

Scripture teachesus to honor leadership because “…there is no authority exceptfrom God, and those which exist are established by God.” (Romans 13:1) While we may not agree withleadership, we are called to honor them and pray for them. There is much we can learn from the historyof our American leadership.

Here are some leadership insights we can gain frompresidential leaders:

1. Great leaders are willing to take risks. Long before Washington was our firstPresident, he was our first general. During the winter of 1776, he took what was considered one of thegreatest risks of the war, crossing the Delaware River. If he failed, the war could have been over,but he did not. Because of this risk, itbecame a turning point in the war, and solidified his position as Commander ofthe American Army. While we may not befighting a war, we are in the battle for the lives of students we serve. What risks are we willing to take so that wecan make a significant impact? Let ustake the necessary risks so that we can impact our communities.

2. Great Leaders are willing to make unpopulardecisions. Now considered one of the greatest Presidents in our history, AbrahamLincoln was not always so well liked. Because of the deep rift between north and south, his election causedthe southern states to pull out of the Union. He was willing to take a stand against something he deeply believedin. He did not consider polls, oropinions, he considered his conscience and his beliefs. Hestuck to these core values, and we admire him for it today. We as pastors must be willing to make thedifficult decisions that we know are right and true, and do so with grace andhumility. It might mean confronting withlove, and correcting with grace. Let usbeing will to make the right decisions.

3. Great leaders are willing takeresponsibility. Harry Truman had asign on his desk that read “the buck stops here.” He stated, after taking office, that he would be fully open to advice from hisCabinet, which he had inherited from Franklin Roosevelt who had just died inoffice, but that he would be making the final decisions. With this, he also communicated that he wouldbe taking full responsibility for his decisions. He is considered one of the top tenpresidents in our history. As pastors,we must be the ones to take responsibility for how we leader our students andcongregations. It is easy to creditwhen we succeed, but we must take responsibility during difficult times aswell. Let us protect those who serve usin difficult times, and praise them when they succeed. Let us step up to the challenges that laybefore us and lead well.

4. Great leaders are willing to keep anoptimistic attitude. In 1979, thecountry was in a deep recession, not unlike what we are experiencingtoday. It was considered a time of“malaise” and there was not much hope. In to this stepped Ronald Reagan. Instead of focusing on the situation at hand, he focused on what thenation could be. He spoke optimism andbelief in to the American people. Aspastors, we are called to see the best in those we lead, and spoke hope andlife to those we pastor. Even indifficult times, let us remember that our attitude has a great impact on thosewe lead.

No matter your political persuasion, we are admonished topray for our leaders, as scripture teaches:

¹ First of all, then, I urge thatentreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made onbehalf of all men, ² for kings and all who are in ^[a]authority, so that we may lead a tranquiland quiet life in all godliness and ^[b]dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2

As we take time toreflect on leadership, pray for our leaders, locally, regionally, and nationally. And as we see them lead, let us take fromthat all we can, so we too can lead well.

Abe Daniel - District Student Ministries Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO BROADEN YOUR REACH

2012-02-27T11:36:00.003-08:00

WhenI asked them to pull out their cell phones, suddenly their eyes lit up. Youcould see the anticipation and interest of what would come next. "Why doeshe want us to get our phones OUT of our pockets?" I then asked a multiplechoice question, and they could anonymously answer by texting their response to22333 and their answers appeared on the screen in real time. The tool is awebsite called polleverywhere.com. When I use the site, engagement in mymessages increase exponentially. They get to upload and participate in themessage.

It'sa new world! Our world is changing really fast. And if you don't keep up, youcould be left behind. Social media is something that is integral in the life ofstudents, and we have to “go into the highways” and compel them. But how do wedo that? Where do we even start? These are just a few resources and methods forusing social media in ministry.

1. Polleverywhere.com. A free account gets you unlimited polls with up to40 responses per poll. Monthly fees for more responses are contract free, andcan be cancelled anytime. Polls can be posted online, displayed live viaPowerPoint or Keynote, and users can be polled via Twitter, SMS, and/or aprivate website.

2. Foursquare.com is a social “check-in” site and mobile platform.Students with smartphones can download the app for free on just about everykind of smartphone. They “check-in” at locations, let their followers knowwhere they are, and post their check-in to Facebook and Twitter. You can createSpecials for check-ins based on number of criteria, including most check-ins,every X number of check-ins, and first time check-ins. For example, you cancreate a Special for first time check-ins that reward them with a free snack atyour snack bar, or a free t-shirt, or something. When they check-in, therewarded special shows up on their mobile device. This is a great way to getbasic visitor information without them filling out a card.

3. Text Me. I actually got this idea from District Council a few yearsago. Whenever I finish a series based on something I know my students will havequestions about (like dating), we do a “Text Me” night. They send questions tomy phone via text message during the service; then I and sometimes members ofmy leadership team simply answer them. You’d be surprised the questionsstudents will ask when it’s not “out loud.”

4. Google Plus. I realize most students are either going to be on Facebookor Twitter (maybe both), but Google Plus Hangouts allow live video chat for upto ten people at once, both on a computer and mobile device (with front facingcamera). This might be a great way to connect for small groups or otherdiscipleship type settings where “gathering together” might be hindered in someway.

5. Twitter and hashtags. A youth ministry in the Bay Area started a seriesbased on iamsecond.com. During and after their message series, they challengedtheir students to “live second” and post on Twitter how they did that with the#iamsecond hashtag and username of their youth ministry (@youthministry).

6. YouVersion. I have used YouVersion.com for a long time for personalstudy, but when I began to look at the tools it has for events, I startedreally digging. You can create a set of sermon notes for listeners to follow duringyour message, complete with scriptures, notes, audio and video links, questionsand polls, and more. You can also include a form for prayer requests.

7. Instagram. Instagram is an app for iOS (so your reach may vary here)that lets users take photos and then apply retro looking “filters” to theirphotos and post them to instagram.com as well as other social media sites. Youcould do an instagram photo contest for an outreach event. Or just ask studentsto post instagrams with an event specific hashtag like #yourawesomeevent andthen use a site like prinstagr.am to print them in a poster, individual prints,stickers, etc. Also, for a larger conference type event, instaprint.me is aphotobooth type printer that automatically prints instagrams with your events’hashtag as they are posted in instagram.com.

8. QR Code. A QR Code is a scannable code (similar to a barcode) thatstudents can scan with their smartphones. A QR Code can link them to ANYTHINGyou want, whether it’s contact information, a website, videos or downloads onthe internet, etc. You could do one for your entryway that links to yourwelcome video, as well as on your PowerPoint to link students to the YouVersionnotes, or anything you want. They can also be used for digital copies of eventregistration, saving you physical copies.

Theseare just a few resources and ideas for using social media to engage yourstudents differently. If you have questions about any of these or other socialmedia ideas, you can contact me at revtony79@gmail.com.

Tony Mazon serves as our area leader for the Valley Ridge Section.

He is the Youth Pastor at First Assembly of God in Chico, CA

REMEMBERING LEADERSHIP

2012-02-17T19:09:00.000-08:00

Often, when writing on leadership, we speak in hypotheticalterms and principles that could be applied to ministry. This week, we look at the reality of peoplewhose lives have modeled well the value of solid leadership and strongcharacter.

This last Tuesday, Rev. Glen Cole, Pastor of Trinity LifeCenter, and former District Superintendent went to be with Christ. He had suffered a heart attack shortly afterarriving to the church that morning. His was a life marked by great passion for ministry, people and leadership.

We also mourn the loss of Rev. Carolyn Sheley who went to bewith the Lord last Friday. Carolyn served the Northern California and NevadaDistrict Office for 23 years as a secretary and administrator, evenserving while she quietly battled cancer for 8 years.

Pastor Cole leaves a legacy of building great churches and even greater leaders. His legacy can be found in his 2 sons serving in ministry and in the profound impact he made on a multitude of pastors, leaders, missionaries and churches throughout ourdistrict, nation, and the world.

Pastor Cole’s life taught us much. There is much to be learned from a life welllived:

1. He hadunending passion for ministry. He served in ministry till the end. Pastor Cole was serving as a senior pastor,and was at the church when he passed. While most would head in to retirement, Pastor Cole took on theleadership of pastoring Trinity Life Center well after retirement years, growing it to over 1100 inattendance on a weekly basis.

2. He understoodthat ministry was about people. PastorCole has served as a mentor to a countless number of pastors and leadersthroughout our movement. He often wouldencourage others in his congregation to help plant other churches in the local community, and manyof these churches are healthy and strong, because of his passion for people andevangelism.

3. He left alasting legacy. Both Pastor Cole andCarolyn each have children that serve in ministry who are carrying the legacyof ministry that was passed on to them. Carolyn’s daughter, Leanna, serves at the District Resource Center. Her son, Wes, serves as a Youth AliveMissionary in the Oregon Ministry Network. Bothof Pastor Cole’s sons, Rick and Randy, serve as pastors at Capital Christian Center in Sacramento,with Pastor Rick serving as the lead pastor.

It is any easy thing to talk leadership. It is a much greater task to model it. Leadership is never easy, but it isgreatly rewarded with a life that perseveres and remains faithful to what Godhas called us to do.

2 Timothy 4:7-8a states “I have fought the good fight, Ihave finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me thecrown of righteousness.” Today we honor those who have passed in to eternity, havingfought this fight of faith, and we use their legacy as a reminder that we must strive to doall that God has called us to do and end this life well.

Abe Daniel - District Student Ministries Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

PASTORAL PATIENCE

2012-02-17T18:47:00.000-08:00

“For God alone my soulwaits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and mysalvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. ” (Psalm 62:1–2,ESV)

Ministry—and life for that matter—is constantly a work ofbalance. Whether we are dealing with howto allocate funds, how to spend time, or any host of issues, balance is everimportant, yet ever elusive.

Pastors often face a challenge of balance when they mustmake decisions. My gut tells me I knowwhat to do and wants me to act straightway. My spirit tells me to slow down, to think, to pray, to wait. Leaders suffer criticism when they delaydecision-making, the common assumption being that they don’t want to make thehard call. While this can be the case(which of us hasn’t put off a decision that was simple to make but would behard for people to receive?) sometimes leaders do well to hesitate.

Patience is essential to balance and thus a requirement formature pastoral ministry. In patience,you look like you’re doing nothing; in reality, you’re doing somethingcrucial—you’re waiting on the Lord. Inour “do now, think later,” culture, most people don’t want you to wait. And let’s face it, neither do you. We want to get to the front of the line, haveour answer, fix the problem, and we must do it all now. But we must question ifministry works best, or works at all, in such a fast-paced, results-drivenmindset.

Every pastor must wrestle with where ministry begins and howit happens. In The God Who Comes, Catholic theologian Carlo Carletto wrote, “Wemust assume an attitude of waiting…We must do this because it is not our rightto do anything else; the initiative is God’s, not ours. We are able to initiate nothing; we are ableonly to accept.” Ministry begins withthe word and work of God, incarnated in Christ, by the empowerment of theSpirit. As Pentecostals, we must becareful to remember that the heart of our theology isn’t what we do in thepower of God, but what God does in the weakness of human beings (2 Cor.4:7).

Let’s consider a negative and a positive example regardingthis pastoral dilemma of what to do with pressing circumstances. King Saul offers an example of the personaland communal destruction that ensues when spiritual leaders fail to wait. In 1 Samuel 13 war with the Philistinesintensifies. The people follow Saultrembling with fear and uncertainty. Saul waits for Samuel, the man of God, to come and lead the people inworship so that God will deliver them.

He waits a full seven days, but Samuel hasn’t arrived. So Saul offered the burnt offering himselfand with poetic timing, Samuel shows up just as Saul finishes, and he says“What have you done?” (vv 10-11). As aresult of Saul’s decision to seize authority that was not his, refusing to waitfor the Lord, his life eroded and his kingdom fell. Is the failure of many ministers todayconnected to this relentless need to do something before waiting? We press more than we pray. Patience must not be a virtue lost on pastorstoday.

There is another way. In Numbers 9, during the celebration of Passover, certain men had becomeunclean by coming into contact with a corpse. They come to Moses, asking about how they could offer sacrifices intheir condition, and Moses’ reply is instructive: “Wait, that I may hear whatthe Lord will command concerning you” (v 8). Moses tells the men to wait, but what does Moses do? He also waits. But his waiting isn’t passive. He waits on the Lord. He doesn’t need his hands to make a decision,but his ears. He doesn’t act, helistens. He doesn’t rush, he waits. And sure enough, God speaks.

As pastors, we will be confronted with myriaddecisions. If we are true spiritualleaders, not just task managers and problem solvers, we won’t rush to aconclusion or to a solution. We’ll waitin prayer. This patient pastoral worktakes uncommon faith. Do you trust Godto show the way? Each of us must decidewhether we follow God or he follows us.

The former seems obviously right, but it’s easy to act andpray like the latter: “God, here’s whatI’m going to do, please help me.” I’veprayed like this, then realized that I’m not pastoring when I invite God tojoin my efforts and support my decisions. I pastor when I wait upon his wisdom and rely on his grace. Pastoral patience acknowledges that God aloneis the author of truth, freedom, hope, and all the things we, our people, andour ministries need. To access God’shelp, we wait. In waiting, we pray. If we are led to prayer, we’ll never fail tobe in the right place.

“O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait foryou. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. ”(Isaiah 33:2, ESV)

Nathaniel Rhoads serves as Area Leader for the Northern Nevada Section
He is Senior Pastor of Word of Life Fellowship in Winnemucca, NV

THE GATE KEEPERS

2012-02-10T12:43:00.001-08:00

Many youth workersapproach junior high ministry with a sense of fear or even reluctance. Oneyouth pastor I met confessed, “I can handle high schoolers, I can even handlekid’s ministry if I had to, but junior highers don’t make any sense to me! I’mterrified of them!”

Fear of the unknownhas a way of paralyzing people. In 1908, people were fearful of just thethought of driving an automobile at high speeds of 55-65 MPH. It was thoughtthat your head would be blown off at such a speed. The speed limit at that timewas 20 MPH on a freeway and 8 MPH within city limits.

A change ofperspective is in order if we’re ever going to move away from a paralyzing fearof junior high ministry. Rick Warren, Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church,stated that, “anyone who works in the church should know that junior high maybe the single most pivotal period for spiritual decisions in the lives of

our children.” TheBarna Research Group backs up Warren’s statement with statistics showing thatthe overwhelming majority of Christ-followers date their conversion prior to 14years old, after 14 years old the likelihood of conversion drops drastically.

The importance ofjunior high ministry can’t be overlooked, but our success will be found inrealizing the advantage of working with junior high students. Psychologist StephenGlenn states, “Puberty has just hit junior highers, and the physical, intellectual,social, and emotional changes that accompany this change of life createsgrowing awareness in these kids that a whole new adult world is opening up tothem.” This discovery phase produces 3 effects: rapid experimentation, a thirstfor information, and a sense of transition.

If we attempt juniorhigh ministry with the same bag of tricks and same set of rules we use on highschool or college ministry, then we’re doomed to be left frustrated. We have totake advantage of the fact that junior highers are ready to try anything, thirstyfor information, and are trying to find their place in the world.

The world istransitioning on them as they find themselves captured in a whirl wind ofchange. They are crossing over a bridge from adolescence to adulthood. Theylook up to high schoolers and want to be involved in their“cool” world. In an essence, junior high workers are gate keepers. Westand in the middle of elementary and high school, kid’s church and youthministry, Dora and YouTube, Sesame Street and Facebook.

This is the beginningof their adult life and the foundation that their future will be built on. Ourgoal should be to effectively create an experience that will lay a solidfoundation for the rest of their lives. As gate keepers, we have the awesome privilegeof transitioning young students from one season of life to another.

JR Arellano serves as area Leader for the Butte Section

He is the Junior High Pastor at Calvary Christian Center in Yuba City, CA

MOTIVATING HIGH MORALE

2012-02-10T11:07:00.001-08:00

One of the great challenges of a leader is maintaining highmorale. While some leaders have anatural ability to keep people motivated, most of us have to work hard at keepingpeople focused on the ‘big picture’ and vision of ministry.

How do you keep your team passionate? Ready? Motivated? There are four stages of morale: Poor, low, moderate, and high. Poor morale is where the leader must do everything. Low morale is where the leader must doproductive things. Moderate morale iswhen the leader must do the difficult things. High morale is when the leader only does the little things.

Where is your team on this scale? How do you motive for a higher moral? Our attitude toward volunteers, our abilityto encourage them, and to show we trust them plays a great part in how a teamresponds to our leadership.

Here are some things to consider:

1. Show that you trust your team. Trust goes a long way in building momentumand moral. Give them room to fail, andwork with them as they grow. Thegreatest tool you can give your team is trust.

2. Createopportunities for them to succeed. Find ways to give your team opportunities to succeed. Help them grow and find opportunities to dothings well. And when they do, celebrateit with them and the team.

3. Don’tblock them from being involved. Often we don’t let others get involved because we do not think they willdo it as well as us, and that might betrue at times. But the long term affectwill be that you might lose a valuable member of a team that you can mentor anddevelop in to a solid leader.

4. Communicatefor greater impact. What you say has great impact on the team. If you are constantly correcting andrebuking, you might create a team hesitant to serve. If you encourage and speak life in to yourteam, you will find a team ready to grow.

The reality is, when you’re winning, nothing hurts, but whenthere is low morale, there will be wasteenergy and poor involvement. Find waysfor your team to win. Find ways for themto have greater impact. Your greatestsuccess will be in the success of your leaders and students.

Remember, under the right circumstances, people will respondpositively. Create an environment forsuccess.

Abe Daniel - District Student Ministries Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

- Inspired by "17 Laws of Teamwork

CONGRESS REVISITED

2012-02-01T17:22:00.000-08:00

Your Take Aways From Leadership Congress

For those who attended Congress this year, they did not go home disappointed. We gained powerful leadership insight from Pastor Bret Allen of Bethel Church in San Jose, from Pastor Tommy Barnett of Phoenix First Assembly in Phoenix, AZ and from Jeremy Affeldt from the San Francisco Giants.

Here is what you had to say about your take-aways from Congress this year:

FROM THE MAIN SESSIONS:

"Who's on your tandem bike?" Who's leading the journey that you are taking? Are you trying to be in control, or are you letting God lead you?"
"Sharpen Your Axe!" We must work hard and work will to fullfill the call that God has placed on our lives."
"Being ordinary is okay. You can be great by being ordinary. A leaders job isn't telling people what they can't do.Jesus loved people.Tandem bike:If you look at your life on a tandem bike, we're really."
"Don't allow acquaintances to dictate your God given priority. Understand the associates in your life and their role in your life. Define your allys and deposit into them how you would them to give back to you."
"Success in ministry is not a stamp of approval on my personal life. Don’t ever take it that way. Too may pastors have said I thought my life was okay because my ministry was successful after a moral failure."
"The hot water pipe- this really hit home and the fact that as Christians, we still deal with anger hate and all the other things we dealt with before we got saved. It is most important that we tap into Jesus and the Holy Spirit and pray that Jesus turn the water on and flow into our lives and our heart."
" If you want a God-given dream to happen, you have to take action!"
"In order to be great we need to first understand that we are ordinary that way God can work through us."

FROM THE BREAKOUTS:

"We communicate for CHANGE! Why create an experience instead of a simple message? More is caught than taught. Like the rain forest cafe, they don't just bring you in and tell you about rain forest cafe."
" There has never been a bigger need to lead than right now. We are called to finish what the disciples started."
"For a team to be successful, they need to know their roles and play their part."

SOME RESPONSES:

"Hearing the passion of Pastor Barnett and the workshop from Pastor Dean on "Creating Spiritual Rhythm" gave me a renewed strength and excitement for ministry. I regained the "idea generation" that I felt when I was first called into ministry and received the permission to be passionate about the vision that God put in my heart."
"Tommy Barnett’s morning session on quitting was insightful and encouraging. Perfect lesson for any leader."
"I am now a Giants Fan."
"What am I doing to build healthy friendships so that my friendships reach beyond ministry?"
"My leaders and I had time to get together and debrief on what was going on in our lives and our youth ministry. We also were able to sit down and apply the words of wisdom given by each speaker to where we our at in our walk with the Lord and challenged us to move forward with excellence in our youth ministry!"

WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT EACH OTHER:

The youth pastors in the district are really some of the greatest Christians / YP's in the country. All of the churches represented are very blessed to have such awesomeness serving their youth departments.

Thanks for the great insights…we do have amazing youth pastors and leaders!

DREAMERS LEAD

2012-01-20T13:41:00.000-08:00

This last Monday we celebrated the memory of Dr. MartinLuther King Jr. For many of us, it was aday off and an opportunity to catch up on routine tasks, or a day to catch anextra moment of rest. Hopefully in thattime, you took a moment to reflect on the impact of what one person can do whenthey indeed, have a dream.

When we look at Dr. King, we realize we have all beenimpacted by his dream. Amazingly, Dr.King did all of this before reaching 40 years old. He was not limited by the assumptions age thatis often placed on us. He was notlimited by the “inexperience” others would assume he would have. No, he led, and led well, because he wasdriven by the passion of a dream.

What we can learn from Dr. King:

His dreamrequired sacrifice. Dr. King gaveeverything he had for the dream he believed in. For him, it cost him his life. For us, it will cost us time, money, efforts, and energy. When we believe in something, we will bewilling to count the cost.
He didn’twait to accomplish the dream. Dr.King accomplished all that he did before he was 40. He gave his great speech at the age of35. Don’t let any excuse keep you fromthe dream and vision God has given you. What could be accomplished today, that you are putting off untiltomorrow?
His dreamwas captivating. A nation stoppedand listen to one man share his dream. Over 200,000 where in attendance to hear his speech. Millions more watched on television or listenon radio. Let your dream becaptivating. It must first captivateyou.
His dreamchanged the world. Our dreams shouldimpact those around us. Our greatestdreams are selfless and benefit all who we minister to. How are our dreams making things better forthose around us?

In the Old Testament, we read the story of Joseph. He too had dreams. He faced great sacrifice and tribulation. His dream changed the world and met thepeople at the greatest point of need in his time. Even when faced with the greatest ofadversity, Joseph held on to his dream, and saw his dream to completion. God honors the pursuit of spirit-leddreamers.

Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream served a nation in one of itsgreatest times of need. Dr. King left alasting impact because he was driven by his dream, and his passion to see itthrough. What are you dreams and whatare you doing to accomplish them?

Let us dream dreams only God can give us, and let us seethem through.

Abe Daniel - District Student Ministries Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

A STRONG FOUNDATION

2012-01-20T13:37:00.000-08:00

The headline simply read “Whippingpast Cuba, Ivan Roars into Gulf of Mexico.” It would be Florida’s third hurricane in as many weeks. It seemed endless, and people are growingweary. As we saw the pictures on theinternet, TV, and in the newspapers, we couldn’t help but notice the damage anddestruction that these hurricanes leave behind. Many were left homeless, countless millions had no electricity, andlives were being turned upside down.

In recent years, we have seendevastation from the series of hurricanes that have come though the southeastern parts of our nation. As I watch the news, with coffee in hand, I amtaken back to Matthew 5:45b which states “Because He causes the sun to rise on eviland good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.” We will all go through storms, and sometimes“hurricanes” in our lives. That is a guarantee. Not one of us is exempt fromthese trying times. It is not whetherstorms will come, the question is what will we do when they do come.

As I watched the news, it wasn’t whatwas destroyed that caught my eye, but that which remained. Something aboutthese structures enabled them to endure. The strength of their structures, the depth of their foundations causedthem to withstand torrential rains and ravaging winds. This lead me to examine the spiritualimplications for our own lives.

What kind of foundation have I beenbuilding, what kind of structure do I have in my life? It needs to be more thanjust punching my card with token prayers and little Bible crumbs. It needs to be more than a weekend faith, anda sometimes conviction. It needs to be agrowing and molding of who I am, into becoming more like Jesus. It needs to be building the very core of whoI want to be on the solid foundation of who Jesus is.

Many beautiful buildings were tornapart and at a great cost, because something in their structure wascompromised. What am I doing to prepare for the next bighurricane that is promised to come my way? What is compromised in my life that may be revealed in the nextstorm? Am I more concerned about theoutside structure, or am I building a solid foundation that will last?

Our storms might be financial,spiritual, emotional, or relational. Many were met unexpectedly by the trying times of our currenteconomy. Very few, if any of us areready for tragedy when it knocks at our door. While there is much we cannot be ready for, there are things in placethat can prepare us for such times.

How prepared are we for the nexttime we get a phone call, and our world is turned upside down? What will be revealed of our character, ourconvictions, our faith in Jesus? I canalready see the next storm, it is just on the horizon. It could be bigger than the last one, itprobably will test every area of weakness in the foundation of my life. We must build a strong foundation to endurewhat might come.

Scott Tuttle - Student Ministries Operations and Events Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

ON THE EDGE OF LEADERSHIP

2012-01-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

The question is often asked, what separates a successful team,organization, ministry, or company from one the seems to struggle more to getsimilar results? Two seemly similarorganizations can have drastically different outcomes. What gives one the edge over the other: Leadership. True success is dependent on leadership.

What do success leaders do?

Leaders see the potential in those theylead. What potential exists in theteam that surrounds you? What potentialexists in the students who attend your ministry?
Leaders develop a vision people want tofollow. A solid vision will providea clear direction that people will want to follow. What vision are you developing to lead yourteam or ministry.
Leaders are willing to work hard toaccomplish the vision. Behind everygreat accomplishment is someone who has been willing to put in the time toaccomplish the vision. What do you need to be doing to get the vision movingforward?

We have seen this clearly in the sharp turnaround of the SanFrancisco 49ers. The team is basicallythe same from one year to the next, yet the outcome is drasticallydifferent. We can clearly attributethis to the leadership shift that has taken place in the last year, mostnotably, the hiring of Coach John Harbaugh. He has raised the level of potential, has given a clear vision, and hasworked hard t accomplish it.

Leaders raise the level of those around them. Remember, everything rises and falls andleadership. You have all the people youneed to do great things. Here are somethings to consider:

What are you doing to raise the level ofpotential of those you lead?
What are you doing to increase the confidence ofthose you lead?
What youare doing to bring out the best in them?
What areyou doing to give opportunity for those you lead to succeed?

Your greatest success will be seeing others lead andsucceed. Give them this opportunity.This will be your greatest edge as a leader.

Abe Daniel - District Student Ministries Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

CULTURE: LOVE

2012-01-13T11:30:00.000-08:00

John Zick has been a part of our staff as an intern, as an extension of Capital Christian Center's Masters Commission. Recently John's role has shifted to "Cultural Specialist." We are excited that John will continue to work with us not only to help us research cultural trends and thoughts. He is working towards credentialing with the Assemblies of God. John also is a part of Pathway Apprenticeship and has a passion for evangelism. In the next couple of months, he will be launched out of our office as an evangelist through Pathway. We are excited to have John on our team! His article is below:

We are supposed to show the worldthat God is enough, that His love will last you a lifetime. We are the “doctor”and have the equipment and knowledge to stop the pain, but apathy spreads tooquickly to control. It’s a virus that sucks the fight right out of us. We sayGod is all we need, yet eighty percent of young, unmarried Christians have hadsex.

Our Christian culture does not knowwhat love is, and God is love… we say it because it sounds cool, it soundsright, it has a ring to it, God’s love is enough. But we search for the samemorphine the unsaved person desires. Eighty-eight percent of unmarried youngadults are having sex. Eight percent more then Christians, and we get mad andfrustrated when they don’t understand God’s love. Forty-two percent ofevangelical Christians are in a current sexual relationship opposed tofifty-three percent non-evangelicals. But God is enough, right? Just do as Isay, not as I do?

Sex is not the only morphine we use,but in our generation it is one of the main ones. We have to show that God isour addiction. I have recently seen the movie, The Adjustment Bureau.The theme of the movie was a U.S. senator (Matt Damon) and a studio dancer(Emily Blunt) fall in love and this team of people known as “the adjustmentbureau” say it is not in the overall plan for them to be together. The wholemovie consists of the two going against all odds and fighting for their loveagainst the bureau. It got towards the end of the movie and finally Matt Damonasks them at the peak of his frustration, “Why do you care if we are together?”The bureau responded, “Because once you have her, she will be enough. You willno longer need to seek the high from speaking in front of people and that highis what will promote you to president one day.” (Not word for word but the mainidea.)

I could not help but think of myrelationship with God. After sinning and feeling distant, at the peak of myfrustration, I ask satan, “Why do you care? What does it matter to you if Jesusand I are together? Can’t you just leave us alone?” If satan was forced torespond with honesty, I feel like he would have to say something similar to themovie plot: “Because God is enough, once you have Him you won’t search anylonger, you won’t need anything to fill your void. Once you figure that out youwin and I will once and for all lose! But don’t worry that wont happen anytimesoon because I have disguised it. If I can’t get you with sex, I will get youwith a church addiction, I will have you wanting and needing the very gift Godgave you to use for good, it will become your fix.”

If we want our generation and thisworld to change, God truly has to become enough. Period. We have to show themwe don’t need a fix or a quick high, we just need God!

Source; national survey ofreproduction and contraceptive knowledge conducted by the national campaign toprevent teen and unplanned pregnancy, Dec. 2009

THE TASK AT HAND

2012-01-06T13:17:00.001-08:00

It has been said thatvision without task is fantasy, and task without vision isdrudgery. As we begin a new year, many of us start of with greatvision of what lies ahead. We imagine that at the end of this year, thingwill be better than they were before. We see greater impact, greatergrowth, and greater ministry, in whatever capacity God desires.

In Scripture we read thestory of the talents. Each servant was given a certain number of talentsby his master. Two of the three came back and had in same way increasedwhat their master had given them. The third hid his talent, afraid hewould lose it. The master called this servant a wicked and lazy servantbecause he did nothing with what was given to him.

Here are some things toconsider as you move toward the vision God has given you for 2012:

Be faithful to thetask at hand. For many of us, the issue is not the vision that lies beforeus, but the tasks that will be necessary to accomplish the vision. Wehave great dreams, but do not do the work necessary to accomplish thosedreams.

Take the risksnecessary out of obedience God. Two o the threeservants where willing to take risks with what their master had giventhem. The third one did not. Good stewardship of what God has givenus isn’t just holding on to what we have, but willing to take wise risks sothat we can see the kingdom of God increase.

Move Forward inyour God-given vision. The enemy’s greatesttool is distracting us from the vision God has given us. Some ignore the task,others are intimidated by the tasks, while some are distracted. We mustfind practical ways to keep the vision before us, and to accomplish the tasksnecessary to fulfill that vision.

Our tasks substantiatethe vision that God has given as. As we move ahead in to 2012, ask yourselfthese questions: What will my vision be for 2012? What tasks need to beaccomplished to fulfill this God-given vision in my person life, in my family,and in my ministry?

Your greatest potential lies before in thevision that God has given you. Praying that God leads you in to greatthings this year!

Abe Daniel - District Student Ministries Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

OUTREACH IN THE RAW

2012-01-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

I need to start thisarticle off with all honesty as well as sincerity, knowing only one way ofwriting and that is transparently. If you by any chance happen to read thisarticle you are most likely in the throne room, and no it’s not the throne roomof heaven. Was that too real, too soon, and too much info? If so stop readingnow! I’m not a person who plays politics or sugar coats things so people feelbetter about themselves.

When I was asked towrite this article on outreach I was honored. But then I started to think aboutthe big outreach my church has coming up, and started thinking about how Icould share on the growth we have seen and blessing we have been to our city.But, I have to be honest; I’m over all that. I’m over the idea that outreach,and the vehicle of evangelism, has to be skate parks, free bbq’s and givingthings away. That has in fact never been the true meaning of outreach, it hasonly just been man’s perversion of it. Some pastors are motivated to dooutreach and give all sorts of ways to show the wealth of their church or theprominence of their ministry. It has gone from being about the people to beingabout the bragging rights of pastors.

If I haven’t lost youyet chances are you were not dissuaded by the above paragraph of my ownpersonal complaining. Which is good, on account of I really do love outreach, Ihave done it all my life. I’ve done the skate parks, giveaways, bbq’s andconcerts. They have worth and have a great range of impact but widespreadlasting impact does not come from a one-day event or bi-weekly summer event.The core of outreach is just what its name says, plain and simple; reach out.We are called to reach out to the hurting, wounded, and dying. Outreach hasbecome a quarterly event rather than a daily mission. Every day we are passingthose in need of someone to reach out and share the hope and love of who Christis. I could talk about outreaches I’ve done in the past and the growth we haveseen but I believe it has all been heard before. I have not reinvented thewheel I just created a new chrome rim but it’s just as shiny as the rest.

My heart is to share thevision of outreach and the potential that it has to change the lives of thosereached out to and the one reaching out. The impact of outreach is limitlesswhen the perspective is brought back to the passion of the impact of outreach.The church today has placed outreach in a box that says it has to be an eventever so often that is created and implemented by the church. It has not beenclassified as what it truly is, living life as a mission and not mundanely. Ifwe are purposeful with every encounter every day outreach becomes a lifestylenot a day at the park with the church folk and burnt hot dogs. Sorry that wastinged with a little frustration.

We don’t need people wholive like hell everyday of their lives telling me Jesus loves me when theydon’t believe He loves them. We need people who are praying “give me your eyes,your ears and your heart for people”. When we truly seek to see what God seeswe don’t see irritating people, we see the broken and hurting heart as it iscultivated into the heart of the Father; drawing us to them to buildrelationships and minister on a opportunity basis. What I mean by opportunitybasis is any and every opportunity.

Now comes the part ofthe article where I tell you how its worked for me and the growth we have seenin our church and city. However, I don’t want to. I don’t want to tell you itworks because based on even the most limited of Biblical knowledge we know itworks. Jesus himself said, “Go and make disciples” He asked the disciples ifthey wanted to be, “Fishers of men”. We know what the word says, we have tostop compartmentalizing it into how we think it should look and recognize thatit is in fact the light that is to invade every area of our lives. When a tripto the grocery store becomes more about divine appointments for us to pray withpeople and encourage others, to date night with the spouse becoming aboutlooking for ways to serve. To illustrate, allow me to share this story with youabout a night my wife and I had this past Valentine’s Day.

It was a Valentine’slike any other; dinner, movie and I love you’s all around. But, at some pointthrough dinner we were struck with the idea that a woman in her late 60’s hadjust gone through a rough divorce. She was left alone and hurting and this washer first Valentine’s Day as a newly single woman. So my wife and I decidedthat in the middle of our Valentine’s night that we would go to the store andcreate a Valentine’s Day basket for this woman. So we headed off to theransacked isles of Valentine’s Day trinkets. After about an hour of rummaginglike it was a garage sale, we finalized our sale and left. In the car, myamazing wife put together this package that made the odds and ends we pickedlook like stars in the night sky (had to go cheesy its about valentines day).So, we dropped the package and a dozen red roses off to her at 10pm that night.Needless to say the outcome was tears and hugs.

I must be honest I hateusing stories of myself because I feel that it singles me out like I amparticularly better than everyone not doing this. Rather, if anything I amworse. I’ve seen the fruit of that night bud into an amazing relationship andopportunity after opportunity to encourage, support, and love on that woman.And through that I have watched God touch and restore her. And yet I still findmyself selfishly going through my days looking to get my stuff done before Igive a second thought to living out the mission of what God has called us todo, which is to reach the lost. I am writing this not as one who has by anymeans perfected this but as one who has struggled and everyday learns more andmore that outreach is a lifestyle that yields relationships that yieldopportunities that yield change.

I honestly have been sodeeply impacted by this revelation in my own life it has absolutely changed myheart and passion for ministry. As a minister my heart is to see peoples livechanged by a true encounter and relationship with Gods love. As a youngerminister I began cultivating outreach events and began pushing these events outof my heart to see the lost saved. Now through the revelation that outreach isa mindset and everyday mission, I know that my ministry itself has dramaticallychanged, and grown. Rather than me being an evangelist and reaching out tohundreds of people I know that if I raise up a generation of young people wholive daily missionary lives, and outreach than we stand to reach thousands if notmillions on a day to day scale rather than thousands once a quarter.

Inevitably I mustdeclare that the truest form of growth is in people not in numbers. You can dothe popular thing and find the people that will be attracted but are you doingthe things that truly disciple and change lives reproducing followers of Christwho in turn are reproducing followers of Christ. This is truly the way we reachpeople effectively. Events are great and play a roll in outreach but the truthis an individual reaching out in a lifestyle that is purposefully impactingthose they encounter on a daily is where we find the greatest and truest formof outreach, which in turn produces the greatest fruit.

So after reading this what do I hope? I hope youfinished the article and got this far. I hope that you were challenged to takea second look at outreach. I hope you were provoked to re-evaluate your day today perspective. I hope this inspired some sort of great shift of thinking thatmakes you want to jump up off the throne and go conqueror the world. Most ofall I hope that you are encouraged.

Josh Macciola serves as our area leader in the Lake Berryessa Section.

Josh Youth Pastors at Church on the Hill in Vallejo, CA