5 Reasons Your Student Should Work At A Summer Camp

5 Reasons Your Student Should Work At A Summer Camp

Did you ever work at a summer camp? 

Most adults remember the fun times, silly games, and weird stories they experienced as a kid at camp. Camps and retreats are incredible tools that churches and non-profits leverage to connect kids, students, and families with Jesus. During these weeks distractions are limited and the Gospel of Jesus is magnified.

But all of these camps don’t magically happen – it takes months of preparation, planning, and training to ensure camps run smoothly when the students show up on campus.

When I worked as a camp director we were always in need of high school and college age employees to run our day-to-day operations, offices, maintain facilities, and lead their peers.

Now, as a family pastor, I encourage our high school and college students to work at camps during the summer months. Some are able to devote their entire break to working at a camp, but others are only able to serve a week or two because of their sports schedules. Either way, working at a camp invests spiritually and professionally in a student’s life.

There are plenty of camps that your student could get involved in: day camps, music camps, traditional summer camps, conferences, and so on.

Regardless of the type of camp the truth is that serving at a camp is the best summer job for students to discover how God has wired them.

If you are a parent who is wondering what your student should do this summer, here are some reasons as to why they should consider working at a camp.

5 Reasons Your Student Should Work At Camp

Your Student Will Grow Spiritually
Would you rather your child to work with someone who views him or her as an employee or as a brother/sister in Christ? All of us need environments that promote spiritual growth and a camp is a perfect place for students to use God’s Word. As students use share their testimony, lead Bible studies, and pray for others they will develop a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Your Student Will Develop Christian Friendships
As your student hangs out with the camp staff they will develop some strong friendships with other Christians teenagers and young adults. This new peer group can be a catalyst for encouragement, growth, and community that your student has been searching for in high school.

Your Student Will Discover His Giftedness
Students hate the question, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” Let’s face it; you didn’t know when you were their age either! Camps will expose students to a wide variety of jobs. They will coordinate volunteers, lead games, write lessons, post to social medias, work with their hands, and lead a staff. As they are doing ministry they will discover how God has designed them for ministry.

Your Student Will Make An Impact In The Kingdom Of God
This is a no-brainer. Your student will be making an impact in the Kingdom of God instead of making milkshakes at the local diner or playing video games all summer long. Believers are called to be doers of God’s Word, no matter their age.

Your Student Will Be Developed Professionally
Camps provide on-the-job training that impacts students professionally as well as spiritually. While working at camps I have learned how to be a part of a team, lead a staff, and prepare meeting notes. I also learned how to relate with others, marketing, fundraising, time management and more. Since students are working in a variety of areas they are trained to be a well-rounded employee.

Now What?

How will your student spend their summer?
If you need help looking for opportunities, contact your church or local denomination to see what opportunities are available in your area.

The Easiest Investment You Can Make In Your Ministry This Week

The Easiest Investment You Can Make In Your Ministry This Week

When you are stuck or unsure of how to proceed, what do you do? What is your go-to for making an investment in your ministry? 

Maybe you check Google to see if there is some info out there that would help. My wife’s go-to these days is Pinterest. She knows that someone else has probably already written about the project she’s up against, and she’s a whiz at finding tutorials for just about anything.

But what happens when you are stuck spiritually? There are a lot of good answers to that question — reading Scripture, seeking out a fellow Christian for advice, and so on. But the one thing you cannot forget, the one we all most often leave out, is prayer.

Prayer. That’s it.

I know how we read blog posts so resist the urge to close out of this because there isn’t anything “new” here. The truth is that we, the spiritual leaders, can quickly dismiss prayer because we are busy working in ministry. 

The Bible is full of instruction on this.

Not enough people to do the work you just know God can do in your group, community, family? Of course there isn’t! God says the laborers are few and to pray for more!

Feeling lonely and desperately desiring really fellowship with other Christians? Pray for it. Pray honestly and earnestly that you would be someone who understands what it means to bear one another’s burdens and that you would find others who are also willing to do that.

Kids in your Sunday school class not talking on Sundays? Pray. Ask God to use His Spirit to convict you where you need to change and to give you inspiration in your planning so you can add in questions tailored to your students.

4 Tips for Unceasing Prayer for Ministers

1. When the problem comes to mind, say a prayer.

This can be a long prayer or a short prayer, but bringing the matter to God in the moment of need is key.

2. Intentionally remind yourself to pray.

If you absolutely cannot forget to do something, what is your go-to method to remind yourself? Do you set alarms, make lists, e-mail yourself, tell a friend … whatever you do for the most important things you absolutely cannot forget, do it to remind yourself to pray.

3. Make a list and refer to it often to see how God is working.

When you pray repeatedly for the same list of things, you’ll start to notice the movements of God in those situations. If you’ve got a list handy of what you have committed yourself to in prayer, you will be able to update it. You’ll see where God is moving, and you will be able to rejoice in His faithfulness.

4. Pray Scripture over your situation.

You probably had some Bible verses come to mind as you read Point No. 4. If God says He is capable of something, and you need Him to do that for you, read those verses and ask God to act. Ask Him to bring you to other areas of Scripture that you need for your own growth, too, because let’s be honest — we aren’t perfect, and we need to be sure that nothing we are doing is hindering our situation.

Prayer that works is prayer with consistency, with regularity, with sincerity, and with strategy.

If you could get God to do just one thing to make your ministry so much ____ (better, easier, wider reaching, deeper, whatever you need) during this season of ministry, what would it be?

How can you improve your prayer life and ask God to give you that?

The 9 Pitfalls of Volunteer Rotations

The 9 Pitfalls of Volunteer Rotations

Every church leader I talk to has the same frustration: People are too busy to serve at church.

It’s been this way for quite some time, so we started rotations to help convince busy people that serving is doable. The aim was to make ministry more manageable and volunteer friendly. But over the years, we have created a dangerous culture that values volunteers more than actual ministry. 

Nearly every church has a rotation of some sort within their church. Within family ministry (my context is babies through college), volunteer rotations run rampant. Volunteers have the option of serving one out of four (or more) weeks in an area.

Seems harmless enough, right?

Over time, I believe this system leads to volunteer burnout, frustrated parents, and kids who aren’t ministered to effectively. Here are a few unintentional issues we have created within the family ministries with volunteer rotations. 

The 9 Pitfalls of Volunteer Rotations

(This applies to both kids and student ministries. I use the word “kids” just to keep some consistency through the post.)

Your Leaders Are Not Rested

One of the main reasons for rotating volunteers is to give leaders flexibility and rest. But the truth is that many volunteers are on multiple rotations (nursery, welcome team, kids worship, etc.) and rest never actually happens. They end up serving in more areas of the church because it’s “just one Sunday out of every four.” They probably serve just as much as your leaders who serve every week in the same area, but they end up with multiple areas of responsibility, more than one set of procedures to learn, and lots of people to know and minister to. 

Elevates Leader Preference Over Kid’s Needs

Is rotating teachers best for the adult leaders or the kids? Rotations cater to the needs of the volunteers. Kids need consistency, relationships, and mentors. Rotations can communicate that we value adult’s schedules more than the kid’s spiritual needs. 

Administratively Exhausting

Pastors dread the words, “Can you find me a replacement?” Trying to get new leaders on the fly when the volunteer for that day cancels, doesn’t show, forgets, or is sick is a nightmare. How do you find a replacement? Can you get them extra curriculum? Does the new person have a background check? Constantly finding replacements and continually reminding people that it is their week to serve is administratively exhausting. It is much easier to have a few substitutes ready when needed than to recreate your entire volunteer roster every week because it’s summer vacation season or a holiday. 

Kids Do Not Know The Leaders

If your Sunday school class had a new teacher each week, how would you get to know them? Honestly, most kids simply don’t. Sure, they may know Ms. Heather’s name, but they don’t really know her or feel secure with her. There is too much transition and newness to create safe environments. I’ll say it again, kids need consistency, relationships, and mentors. They don’t need a new adult with a new way of doing things every week. 

Leaders Do Not Know The Kids

Working in kids ministry is more than teaching a lesson – it is about knowing your kids, their hobbies, and their families so you can connect with them and minister to them. Rotations make it impossible for a leader to develop relationships with kids. If you only minister to a kid 12 times a year, you have not made a lasting impact.

Parents Do Not Know The Teachers

When parents have questions, it is hard for them to navigate which teacher is the main teacher. Who is the contact for the upcoming summer camp? Who knows the details about the family campout? Who puts names on the list for baby dedications? More often than not, a teacher on a rotation has no idea. And from a parent’s perspective, it is difficult to learn four leaders’ names. The less connected the parents feel, the fewer opportunities you have to minister to their kids.

Inconsistent Teaching and Styles

When four teachers rotate in one room over four weeks you essentially have four teaching styles, four schedules, and four routines for the group of kids to experience. The more leaders you add to the equation, the more inconsistent each week is (even if they are using the same curriculum).

Lack of Policies

The less a worker is in the room, the fewer policies they remember. This isn’t to say the worker isn’t a great person. Volunteers have the right intentions. But when you serve once a month, it’s easy to forget child protection policies, checkout processes, what needs to be cleaned, and how to handle discipline problems. If you serve on more than one rotation, you have to remember the procedures for even more areas. 

Lack of Ownership

Whose job is it to minister throughout the week if leaders only work once per month? The hope is that all the volunteers in an area are praying for the kids and their families, thinking of ways to connect with them throughout the week, encouraging kids to grow in their faith, and more. But is that realistic? No. Ownership of that ministry area fades when you see your role as a once-per-month commitment only.

Now What?

Do you only have rotating volunteers for your ministry? If so, how can you secure more consistent leaders?

If you have consistent teachers from week to week, how can you encourage them to keep serving faithfully but also provide rest for them?

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Fight Against Stagnant Student Ministry

Fight Against Stagnant Student Ministry

Do you remember how long high school seemed when you were in 10th grade?

It seemed like you had an eternity left until graduation day. There was little momentum. There was little excitement.

Unfortunately student ministry can unknowingly create the same atmosphere. Think about it, when a 6th grader enters your student ministry they will walk through seven years of camps, events, and worship services with you. If your calendar lacks variety and creativity then this 6th grader will walk through the same stagnant schedule. After five or six years a student will stop attending because there isn’t anything new or exciting.

Your ministry can become stagnant: cold, motionless, stuck, static, dead.

If you have tons of middle school students but are loosing high schoolers you may have a momentum problem.

The best way to fight against stagnant student ministry it to create anticipation. I’m not talking about sending out another flyer or FB ad – I’m talking about creating authentic excitement about what is to come in your ministry. This doesn’t have to be expensive or drastic changes in your current programming but you do have to be intentional.

4 Ways You Can Create Momentum In Your Student Ministry

Limit Annual Events

Just because the event went well doesn’t mean you have to do it every year. Your ministry needs very few annual events. Trust me, it is harder to end an event that you have done for four years. Free your up your calendar and creativity and allow for new events each year. If you have an awesome idea that worked you can always come back to that in a couple of years. Your best attended and most spiritually transforming events should be annual – everything else can be mixed in every few years to keep your ministry out of a calendaring rut.

(Side Note: I make sure that annual events happen around the same time each year so parents are conditioned to know when camp fees are due and to have students asking about the next kickball tournament.)

Separate Camps For Middle and High School

Our student ministry heads to Panama City Beach every year. The students have been going long before I came on staff at VG. This is an amazing camp we attend with FUGE Camps but I have noticed that our high school numbers have dropped because many of them had been to the same camp setting for five or six straight years. There wasn’t any momentum. There wasn’t excitement. We have started offering a middle school only retreat and next summer will have two separate summer camps (one for middle and one for High school). Going to the same location annually is easier for the leader but it kills momentum for the ministry.

Give High School Students Leadership

High school students want a place to belong. For years student ministries thought that meant students wanted their own cool space to worship. Student centers are needed, but the investment is deeper than that. High school students want a place to invest and be invested in. They desire significance. We (like most student ministries) have a student leadership team for high school students. They take the lead in planning middle school midweek worship, designing event shirts, picking theme nights, and planning events. Let’s go beyond the leadership team. How can you encourage high school students to serve at your church, join the women’s ministry bible study, or serve with the Sunday morning tech people?

Separate Middle and High School Midweek Worship

This is not an easy transition to make nor does everyone need to attempt it right now but many groups are healthy enough to make the split. Before you start switching calendars you need to discuss, cast vision, and pray with your student leaders and parents. We worry about the numbers to split middle and high school, but we never worry about the numbers to split preschool and elementary. We understand the gap is too big to have 3rd graders with 3 year olds. The same is true for student ministry. The gap between 12th grade and 6th grade is too big. As you start this conversation I wouldn’t worry about the numbers as much as how many leaders you will need to pull it off. When you make the divide it provides another transition that builds excitement and momentum as students grow up in your program.

Now What?

The first step to fight stagnation is start the conversation with students and volunteers. What areas of your student ministry has become stagnant? How can you create a sense of anticipation in that area? 

7 Reasons Your Student Should Attend Summer Camp

7 Reasons Your Student Should Attend Summer Camp

Doesn’t everyone love summer camp?!

I may be biased towards the awesomeness of camps because it was during camps that I became a Christian, accepted a call into pastoral ministry, met my wife, and lived as an assistant director for several years. 

During my ten-year tenure with camping ministry I was able to minister to 60,000 people who came up for summer camps, weekend retreats, and to serve on mission trips.

Even though I have transitioned into a role in the local church, I still believe that camp is the most influential ministry tool that parents can leverage to spiritually impact their kids. There are thousands of camp settings: traditional weeklong wilderness camps, student conferences, mission trips, or weekend retreats. The possibilities are endless!

As a family pastor I understand the investment that comes with sending your kids to summer camp. The camp fees are expensive. Camps are often out-of-town. Packing is always a nightmare for middle school students. On top of that, you miss your kids when they leave for a week.

So why send them to camp?

Camp is a perfect spiritual investment to make in your student’s life. Because camps are unlike anything kids can experience at home. There is something powerful when we step outside of our schedules and contexts to focus on Jesus for a short period of time. Camp has the opportunity to impact your student unlike any influence they have in their sports or extracurricular activities.

Here Are 7 Reasons You Should Send Your Student To Summer Camp:

(These reasons work for kids of any age. I am just choosing to use the word “student” to describe them all.)

He Will Grow Relationally With The Group

Are they having trouble making friends? Camp is for them! This is the perfect, non-threatening way for your student to build deeper friendships with the other youth group students. Don’t let them play the “I don’t know anyone going” card. If they truly don’t have a friend attending, talk to their best friend’s parents and get them both to attend.

 She Will Grow Spiritually With God

Camps are an opportunity for students to unplug from their smart phones and gaming systems and focus on God. The emphasis of Christian camps is for students to meet Jesus. Many make a decision for the first time in their life to follow Jesus and countless others turnover their habits, expectations, and plans for Jesus to direct.

The Week’s Focus Is All About Jesus

Everything from schedules, meals, studies, and games all point to the theme of the week – meet Jesus. Where else in their community will they find an emphasis like this? Pastors and camp directors spend thousands of hours planning the details to make sure your student is able to meet Jesus throughout his day.

It Is A Safe Place To Ask Spiritual Questions

AS students study God’s Word they will begin to ask questions about faith, life, and God. Camp is a safe place where students can voices questions and feel a part of the community. They realize that other students are dealing with the same issues, questions, and situations that they are struggling with.

He Will Realize That He Is Not Alone

Regional camps allow students to meet other students. As they share their stories they meet others who are walking through the same phase of life, just a few states over. Adults understand that there is nothing new in the world, but students are still trying to figure this out. You know how lonely, shutdown, and reclusive students can become. Camps are a place where students can meet others who understand their struggle.

She Will Take Ownership Of What Her Student Ministry Could Be Like

Camp staffers are highly creative individuals. Seeing these awesome worship environments gets students excited about reaching more of their friends once they return home. Camps have a unique way of giving students ownership of their ministry.

He Will See Other Students Worship

The cool kids, the athletes, and the brainy students are all one body worshipping Jesus each evening. There is nothing more powerful than realizing that Jesus loves everyone regardless of his or her popularity, family situation, or shortcomings. Students who worship at camp gain a better picture of the love and forgiveness that Jesus has for humanity.

Now What?

Camp is a perfect opportunity for your student. Camps aren’t just a fun event. They have the potential to be a life-changing event.

I challenge you to talk with your student or children’s pastor about summer opportunities. I know camps can be expensive, but churches are full of people who have been impacted by camps and are willing to anonymously help support students attending camp.

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6 Tips To Make Sure Your Student Ministry Is Relational This Summer

6 Tips To Make Sure Your Student Ministry Is Relational This Summer

Summer in youth ministry is an incredible time to see God work through relational ministry. A student’s flexible summer schedule lends its self to impromptu hangouts, deep conversations, and opportunities to develop spiritual disciplines.

Summer is a pivotal time where transformation can happen in student’s lives. If you want an awesome fall semester you need to invest relationally during the summer months.

I know what you are thinking; your summer is already too busy. While summer is supposed to be a vacation, we all know that the summer can be busier than other seasons! Youth pastors are traveling to and from camps, leading mission trips, helping out with church-wide events, and planning for an incredible fall schedule. Yes there are a ton of events, camps, and holidays, but don’t overlook the flexible opportunities you have to minister. 

You need to maximize your time this summer to make sure your team is building a relational foundation that will catapult you into the fall.

Here are six tips to keep in mind as you enter the summer rush.

  • Organize Your Calendar For Relational Ministry

Your students will be bored out of their minds by July. Plan to add in some time getting coffee with leaders and grab a burger with a few students. Utilize your flexible schedule and meet up with parents and students throughout your day.

  • Don’t Provide Childcare

The summer is a great time to spend time with your students, but it is not your job to provide childcare. You still have a job to do so don’t feel the pressure to over program your summer schedule. If you are exhausted heading into September you will likely stay tired until Christmas.

  • Provide Opportunities For Your Students To Serve

Summer is an awesome time to get students serving. Try to get them plugged into the things already happening around the church (vacation bible school, men’s and women’s events, kids ministry, etc.) that way you are not adding additional events and projects to your calendar. Serving as a small group is the best option because you can utilize smaller groups to serve when it is convenient for them.

  • Offer Creative Bible Studies

This is the perfect time of year for you to add a short bible study with your students. This can be a small group of 8-10 students, or a focused group of 2-3. I’m aiming to start a high school guys bible study group in the mornings where we work out to P90x then study God’s Word. Students love these opportunities.

  • Reduce Your Student Worship To Small Groups

Our band is lead by college students who head back to their hometowns during the summer. Instead of stressing about the lack of worship leaders we decided to set up round tables and walk through a couple video-based small group lessons in a large group setting. This helps when I have to miss for events I can hand the prepared material to another volunteer to lead.

  • Invite Students Or Leaders Over For A Cookout

If you are able, invite some students to come hang out and eat some hamburgers. You can invite a specific bible study group or have a leader’s cookout. Encourage your small group leaders to host a cookout for their bible study group. Back them with the student ministry budget to take some financial stress off of them cooking for 15-20 students.

Summer is the perfect time to build relationships with students, parents, and leaders.

What are you doing this summer to build community in your student ministry?

 

 

 

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