Shared at Youth Leaders Summit
Intro: Name, Family, Experience, where we’re at, why I love middleschool.
More and more educators, parents, policy makers, and researchers have concluded that early adolescence is the “last best chance” (Carnegie council on adolescent development 1989) to significantly influence in a positive way the paths that adolescents take in their development.
1. What is Age appropriate behavior?
OK- Giggling, laughing, Screeching, bouncing in seats,
Not OK- Hurting, bullying, texting, ipoding, note writing- distracting
We’re responsible for creating the right environment
Yes, They need a lot of physical activity, They also need a balance between supervision and clear limits. Believe it or not, there are times where they need us to BE ADULTS to create a safe environment for every student.
Researchers have found that youth are best supported by people with five characteristics:
- they see genuine potential in youth.
- They put youth at the center of their programs.
- They believe they can make a difference with youth.
- They feel they are contributing to the community something they owe.
- They are “unyieldingly authentic.”
[teachers and other adults] who truly enjoy and have been specially prepared to teach young adolescents will describe them not as loud, nosy, naïve, undiplomatic, stubborn, or unrealistic, but instead as energetic, curious, idealistic, honest, confident, and optimistic.
Young adolescents are said to be asking themselves three psychological questions Am I competent? Am I normal? Am I loveable and loving? (scales 1991). Some days the answers to these questions are reassuring and some days they are not,
2. Make sure every student feels valued in your ministry.
Let them know that you LIKE THEM. Appropriate TOUCH, Follow up –when they are ABSCENT. Call them by NAME, Go to their GAMES after school, Teenagers spell Love T-I-M-E
3. Parents...
a. Dealing with them- At this age Parents play heavily into the situation. They give the rides, they are more protective, and their kid just got out of elementary school. Realize that most of them only see the beginning and the end (when chaotic) Many times they are out of the information loop, and they have to deal with that student all week long.
They also have more life experience than most of us. Sometimes they come in with their old-fashioned advise and opinions, and I know the first thing we want to do is get defensive, but a lot of times they just need a sounding board. They may just want someone to ventilate to.
Something to keep in mind is that there could be at least a little bit of truth to what they’re saying. Dealing with customers. “Let me think about that.” Buys you some more time.
b. Earning their trust, -
Have an Incoming Student Parent Meeting- yearly.
Share your heart for youth, vision and direction, as well as the purpose for existence.
Hand out yearly calendars including estimated costs for each event,
invite them to stop by and watch a youth service sometime.
Return on time from events.
Be concerned about safety of their child,
Show them you’re serious about ministering to their student. Share highlights from camp, blog, etc.
c. Equipping them-Website links, lists of resources to handle situations, Keep a emergency hotline list available in your office.
d. Getting information out- Church Website, Facebook, Take Home Flyers, Monthly Newsletters, Parent Spam, Student Spam, Church Bulletin, advanced calling
Student missed Coast Trip- I had my bases covered.
4. Speaking to Middle Schoolers,
-Know where you’re going. Or they will eat you alive.
Include Stories,
Find Videos that illustrate your point.
Don’t under challenge them,
Take your message seriously, but take time to laugh. Slang of the day; Make sound effects (Shouldn't take yourself too seriously)
Don’t speak for too long.
If you don’t have a lot to say that night, do everybody a favor and end early. Have a game or contest in your back pocket just in case. Sometimes less is more. One talk about ONE Subject.
I don’t use fill in the blanks, because they turn into love notes, or paper airplanes, or some type of origami. I do use Powerpoint, Drama, or have a couple people come up to the front I just try to find ways to make the point stick.
5. Programming Ideas- Know what your purpose is.
Evangelism, Discipleship, Fellowship, Worship, Ministry
Include Christian music (for atmosphere). Include games (for fellowship). Include worship and word (for discipleship & outreach)
6. Sharing ideas on special events
Use special events as Growth Engines.
Strategically place them throughout the year.
Making it special, doesn’t mean making it expensive.
Overnighters- a great way to invite friends
Camps- provides defining moments and memories that will last for a lifetime.
7. Budget-
Fundraisers- Find an Event Planner that needs workers, Fireworks, Club 52, Special Youth Offering Sunday
Take care of your leaders- make sure they go to events for FREE.
Take in (some) more than you spend
Parishioner care
Credit Card Rewards- Must be able to pay in full each month)
8. Leadership- How to share ministry. Ministry Teams. Don’t be a bottle neck. Share the spotlight.
Plug them in:
Media/Lights
Visitor Center/Snack Shack
Video Announcements
Security
Drama
Tear Down
Youth Leadership
Greeters
9. Virtual Church-
Making a scene during worship- Putting on a show
Two Girls talking during your message
What’s a problem one of you has faced?
** Good Online Resources
Sermon illustrations- Bible.org ; sermoncentral.com
Find stuff- Google.com
Games- thesource4ym.com ; youthpastor.com
Jobs- churchstaffing.com ; youthspecialties.com ; northwestministry.com
FREE stuff- Craigslist.com; Buy Nothing GROUPS; Nextdoor.com
Video Search- Godtube.com ; youtube.com ; TVeyes.com
Current Culture E-Updates- pluggedin.com; youthspecialties.com; cpyu.org
Cheap Stuff- ebay.com; amazon.com
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FILL IN SHEET
“More and more educators, parents, policy makers, and researchers have concluded that early adolescence is the “last best chance” to significantly influence in a positive way the paths that adolescents take in their development.” (Carnegie council on adolescent development)
Working with Middle Schoolers:
Youth are best supported by people with five characteristics:
- they see genuine potential in youth.
- They put youth at the center of their programs.
- They believe they can make a difference with youth.
- They feel they are contributing to the community something they owe.
- They are “unyieldingly authentic.”
[teachers and other adults] who truly enjoy and have been specially prepared to teach young adolescents will describe them not as loud, nosy, naïve, undiplomatic, stubborn, or unrealistic, but instead as energetic, curious, idealistic, honest. Peter Scales
1. What is Age appropriate behavior?
OK-
Not OK-
2. Make sure every student feels valued in your ministry.
Let them know that you LIKE THEM. Appropriate TOUCH, Follow up –when they are ABSCENT. Call them by NAME, Go to their GAMES after school, Teenagers spell Love T-I-M-E
3. Parents-
a. Dealing with them-
b. Earning their trust-
c. Equipping them-
d. Getting information out-
4. Speaking to Middle Schoolers-
Know where you’re going.
Include Stories
Find Videos that illustrate your point.
Don’t under challenge them
Take your message seriously, but take time to laugh.
Don’t speak for too long.
Talk about ONE Subject.
I don’t use paper notes.
5. Programming Ideas- Know what your purpose is.
Evangelism, Discipleship, Fellowship, Worship, Ministry
Include music (for atmosphere). Include games (for fellowship). Include worship and word (for discipleship & outreach)
6. Sharing ideas on special events-
Use special events as Growth Engines.
Strategically place them throughout the year.
Making it special, doesn’t mean making it expensive.
7. Budget-
Budget with a purpose
Take care of your leaders
Take in more than you spend
Parishioner care
Credit Card Rewards
8. Leadership- How to share ministry.
Ministry Teams
9. Virtual Church- How to Reach Students Online
Middle School Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Early Adolescents
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