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thESourceunPluggedSummer 2011

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Photos on the cover and above were taken by Rebecca Rutan at the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering. Photos on page 7, 19, and 20 were taken by Amanda Singer at the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering.

Youth Ministry...Is centered in Jesus Christ...given in bap-tism...nurtured through the proclamation and study of God’s Word...strengthened through participation in the Lord’s Supper.Supports young people as full members of the church today as well as the church of the future.Challenges young people to take a role in shaping the church’s mission to the world.Is a part of and not apart from the congrega-tion’s life and mission.Equips youth to utilize their God-given gifts as faithful disciples.Speaks to the full range of life issues of youth in the congregation and the community.Is person oriented.Is family inclusive.Is congregation based.Is outward focused.Is ministry to, by, with, through, and for youth.

During the summer of 2011, thESource featured articles on each of these statements. Read several of those articles in this issue and

Connect with LCMS Youth Ministry online:Web sites

www.lcms.org/youth www.lcmsgathering.com http://servantevents.lcms.orgwww.lcmsyam.org www.youthesource.com

Social MediaFollow us on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/@lcmsyouth@lcmsnyg@lcmservantevent@lcmsyoungadults@youthESource

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LCMSYouthMinistryLCMSNYGLCMSServantEventsLCMSyamLCMSyouthESource

featuresA Part of, Not Apart From 7

Life Issues and Youth Ministry 13

The Prepositions of Youth Ministry 17

Equipping the (Young) Saints 19

Ministry to One 23

blogs Servin’ Lovin’ Praisin’ 2

Snark, Crackle, Pop Culture 12

Game Guru 22

Betwixt: Middle School Ministry 28

tools & resources Girls Bible Study 3

Guys Bible Study 5

A Prayer Litany for Youth 10

Can I Use It? Book Review 11

Skit 26

Rev. Dr. Terry K. Dittmer, DirectorRev. Mark Kiessling, Associate Director—

National Youth Gathering Jim Lohman, Associate Director—

Servant Events/Gathering ArrangementsKrista Miller, Associate Director—

Gathering Registrar/OperationsJeannie Smithson, Coordinator—

Financial and Clerical Support

Contracted Resource Personnel:Sherrah Behrens, thESource EditorJessica Bordeleau, Lutheran Youth

Fellowship/ Young Adult Ministry Consultant

Summer 2011

How to Stay in Touch with thESource:For feedback, article ideas, submission guidelines, and queries, contact the editor by sending an email to [email protected].

Visit thESource online at:www.youthESource.com

Follow thESource on Twitter and Facebook:www.twitter.com/youthESourcewww.facebook.com/youthESource

Mailing Address:The Lutheran Church—Missouri SynodthESource for Youth Ministry1333 South Kirkwood RoadSaint Louis, MO 63122Phone: 314.996.1155

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by Brian StewardCans for JesusServin’ Lovin’ Praisin’

We are very blessed at our congregation to have a food pantry. Each year we feed over 10,000 people out of our pantry...that’s right...more than 10,000 people each year come into our church and receive a grocery sack full of food as well as the Gospel message of Jesus Christ!

Every day the pantry is open, guests come in and meet with our Care Ministry Director. She discuss-es with them where they are at both in their life and their walk with the Lord. She shares with them Jesus’ words of love and forgiveness and also reads Scripture and prays with them. When appropriate, we gift them with a Bible or devotional book. So, not only are we feeding the hungry, we are feeding the Spiritually hungry as well!

Our pantry is supported by donations from our generous members and friends. It is also support-ed by other organizations that either donate food to us or sell it at a very deep discount. One of those organizations is Foodshare, and every year they do a community-wide event called Can-a-thon.

The Can-a-thon is promoted by many of the ma-jor businesses in the community, including the television and radio stations as well as the newspa-per and grocery stores. One Sunday a year, youth groups, church groups, and individuals go into the community and collect non-perishable food items that in turn are donated to the local food pantries.

I bring this up because I have found that some of the greatest servant projects you can do are the ones right in your community! No matter where you live, there are people who can’t afford as much food as they need. Wherever you live, there are people who have fallen on hard times and they need help. Our youth group not only participates in the Can-a-thon, but we also go into the commu-nity a few other times in the year to collect food from our neighbors for our pantry. This not only gets our kids and our congregation out in the com-munity, but it lets our kids know that there are many people in the world who have very little. It’s a great lesson for them because they are learning that they have been given much, so they should give much as well!

Whether it’s collecting cans for the needy, or another project or cause, I encourage you to go into your community and help. There are so many people who need help and encouragement, and you can be the one who brings hope to them, and that is the certain hope we have in Jesus! Today He is calling us to serve, love, and praise Him in our communities!

Get more ideas on how serve, love, and praise at www.youthESource.com/ServinLovinPraisin.

Brian Steward grew up in DeWitt, Iowa, and graduated from Concordia University Chicago. He has served as DCE at Zion Lutheran in Na-perville, IL, and currently serves as Director of Youth Ministries at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Peoria, IL. Brian has been on the 2010 and 2013 LCMS National Youth Gathering Mass Event Teams. He has a heart for the lost and a strong passion for youth ministry, which started after he

in 1995. Brian loves his Lord, his wife Nicole, his puppy Lily, his family and friends, and he cheers hard for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Bears,

October, Brian and Nicole will welcome into the

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For Girls: Opposites Attractby Lauren Nietubicz

Bible Study

Opening:Option 1: Men vs. Women:

A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, 1.get the mail… A man will dress up for weddings and funerals. A woman will do laundry every couple of days. 2.A man will wear every single article of clothing he owns before he will do his laundry. If Gloria, Suzanne, Debra, and Michelle go out for lunch, they will call each other Gloria, 3.Suzanne, Debra and Michelle. But if Mike, Phil, Rob, and Jack go out for a beer… they will affectionately refer to each other as fat boy, Godzilla, peanut-head, and useless. A man has six items in his bathroom: a toothbrush and tooth paste, shaving cream, razor, bar 4.of soap, and a towel from a hotel. The average number of items in a typical woman’s bathroom is 437. A man would not be able to identify most of those items.

Option 2: Download the PDF of this study at www.youthESource.com/BibleStudy to see option 2.

StudyThere are obvious differences in men and women. One of the most important things, in any relationship, is to understand the other person and honor how they recognize love. Dealing with Women Ask the group: in general, what are some ways that women feel loved? After a few thoughts are shared, discuss the following… Openness

We want full responses (not random grunting while watching TV) Understanding

EsteemTo feel honored and cherished. We want a husband to speak highly of us in front of others. We want encouragement, praise, and kindness. We want someone who notices something different about our hair or clothes.

Dealing with Men Ask the group: what do you think are some characteristics of men (dealing with how they feel loved)? A woman who completes him—Ask the group: Why do you think that’s important?

Read Genesis 2:18.

The differences in men and women are intended to complete each other… For example: a wife may be better at scheduling, while the husband relies on spontaneity. Another example: a wife may be more social and talkative, while the man is more serious and reserved. To complete someone also includes accountability. How do you think the two go together?

Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

person present and willing to understand and support is crucial.

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A woman who admires him—Ask the group: why do you think this is important for a man? Although he brings into the relationship his own talents and weaknesses, success as the head of his family depends largely on what

While women want esteem and honor, for a man, little is more devastating than to be viewed as incompetent by the woman in his life. No matter how successful or

desperately needs the appreciation and support of his wife. Show him you need him—Ask the group: how can a woman show she needs her husband?

Read Galatians 6:2. Scripture reminds us of the importance of having someone come alongside to help. We all want to be and feel needed.

makes the woman in his life feel safer, better, and more beautiful than she was before. He needs to know that his masculine presence makes a difference. Read Genesis 2:18-25.

God forms and equips us both for various tasks, but all these tasks lead to the same goal- honoring God. As discussed earlier, it’s important in any relationship to see the others’ gifts and needs and learn to respect those.

ClosingPray as a group—asking God for guidance in all relationships—that we might learn to recognize and honor the needs of the other. Further discussion possibilities:

Finding the hero in your husband:

The hero in your husband is only his ability to imitate God’s attributes.

hero in her husband?

causes distance and can greatly weaken a marriage. Spend some time reading or summarizing the story of Esther.

respected him? She completed him by giving him a different perspective. She also admired him by showing respect in the way she approached him in front of others.

Read Proverbs 14:1 Just as Esther, a woman is to use the gifts God has granted her to empower and uplift her husband.

Lauren Nietubicz was born and raised in Texas and graduated from Concordia University Texas in 2005. Lauren and her husband Chris are blessed to live in Houston where she serves as the High

her desire to serve and honor God by helping teens learn about the love and grace of our Lord and Savior.


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For Guys: Godly MenBible Study

Opening:Who is it harder to be patient with...your mom or your best friend?Why do men often fail to treat women with respect? Why aren’t we braver and more honorable when it comes to pursuing, romancing, or breaking up with a girl?Biblically every Christian woman is your sister (even your girlfriend) unless she is your wife. If that is true, how are you doing at treating women the way you are supposed to treat them?

Rank these manly responsibilities. 1 being easiest for you, 10 being hardest. As it pertains to his sisters (women), a man should…

___ defend and build up her public and private reputation.___ assure that she has what she needs and if she doesn’t, provide it.___ encourage her in her relationship with the Lord.___ set for her, an example of a Godly man.___ build her up as a woman of God.___ get to know her heart and encourage her Godly desires.___ treat her with respect.___ gently correct and assist her when she is in the wrong.___ be honest and open about your care and concern for her.

Discuss.

StudyRead 1 Peter 3:7.

How are we supposed to treat women?

Is it calling them weak? Is it calling them precious?

Read John 12:1-8. Christ is the ultimate example of manliness. When someone started picking on Mary what were Jesus’ words? How does Jesus treat women? Share a moment when you should have told another man who was not respecting a woman to

The difference between a man and a boy is that a boy is selfcentered and is more concerned with his

Look through this list of dating situations and label whether these are the activities of a boy or a man. Some of these may seem ridiculous, and I agree. But they do happen and so the question is then,

why? As you go through this list as a group, discuss the motivations for why a man or boy might act

In the pursuit of a godly woman’s heart...______ meet her face to face and ask her if you can take her out to get to know her better.______ tell her a dirty joke to try to make her laugh.

______ get her number off facebook and send her a sext.______ read every piece of information about her that’s available online, look through all her pictures, and fantasize about dating her.


______ come up with creative ways to let her know you think she is interesting and worthy of being pursued with care.

______ talk about how other guys she knows are jerks. When dating a Godly woman…

______ let her set the boundaries on

test the limits.______ set the standard for purity and talk about it openly.

______ avoid meeting or hanging out with her parents.

______ seek opportunities to ask her questions about things she cares about and encourage her in things she’s gifted at.

______ if she asks you to, go to church with her or pray with her.

relationship.______ tease her about things that she is sensitive about.______ be quick to apologize when something has gone wrong.______ if she’s ready for sex, you’re ready.______ keep your eyes open for someone hotter who might be interested in you.______ don’t let her talk to other guys.______ talk to your guy friends about her physical attributes.

When breaking up…______ just stop talking to her.______ sit down with her face to face and explain the situation.______ tell a friend to tell her.______ text her that it’s over.______ leave her a voicemail. ______ blame her and hold a grudge for how you were wronged.______ tell your friends what a great girl she is and how unfortunate it is that it didn’t work out.______ even after you’re broken up, check in from time to time to see how she is doing, if it is okay with her.

______ warn her new boyfriend how terrible she was as a girlfriend.

Closing

His forgiveness for your past mistakes.

with teenagers professionally and as a volunteer for more than a decade. He attended Concordia University Wisconsin and Fuller Theological Seminary. He served for 6 years as the Director of Youth Ministry at Lamb of God Lutheran Church. He is currently a public high school teacher and a volunteer leader in the student ministry at the Village Church in Flower Mound Texas.

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A Part of, Not Apart From

by Will Hanke

As a kid I couldn’t wait to be part of the church. I saw what adults did and anticipated the day when my chance would come. I knew my time then was to go to church and Sunday School with my family. During my college years, when I returned home, I got involved in TNT (Tuesday Night at Timothy). It was a Tuesday night youth event that I designed and helped run. This was the

began to attach to the event itself. A drama was created with a high level of interest and participation.


a youth leadership team. The value of a leadership team in youth ministry lies in watching youth grow in leadership, utilizing their creativity and energy in a positive

the church at large. This takes the heart trained in Sunday School and

level of outreach and evangelism. Begin watching for those youth during the middle school years who you can see and develop as potential leaders. Creating a connection and encouraging their faith commitment will help them stay involved in youth ministry, not to mention increasing the number of those who hear about Christ as they bring their friends along.

If the mission of the church is to save the lost and strengthen those who know Jesus already, then providing the opportunity for youth to get involved in this mission and

opens the youth’s eyes to the needs of the grocery checker or the guy behind the fast food counter and provides the training and events geared to ask, “Do you know my

these early years, imagine where the church can be as they move toward adulthood.

The world is hungry to devour our youth with corrupt and unhealthy practices during their high school years. The fast paced world can distract them and demand their time, keeping them outside the main focus of Jesus as their Savior. 8

Youth Ministry is...apart of and notapart from thecongregation’s

life and mission.

A cultural switch was taking place. Youth who once wanted to be entertained by programs were beginning to be a part of running and leading those same programs. The youth appeared to care about making a difference in the world. The years of simply watching as adults taught and being forced to wait to lead was over. Not using the youth was a waste of valuable resources.

Our culture was beginning to accept that youth wanted to make a difference right now. If the church would not allow youth to

somewhere else they would be valued. The youth made a mental switch from wanting to listen and wait for another program, to being a part of developing it. Church leaders watched it happen across the country with a renewed heart for missions, and teams committed to helping others. The rise of the Servant nature was taking over.

Church leaders should take note and see this new heart as a great way to move forward by developing

putting them on track. High school ministry, sometimes viewed as a youth night, develops relationships formed around the growth of faith and the desire to share that faith. This will help them to put

the greatest habits of addiction are created in those teen years when pain and insecurity surrounds them. By encouraging Christian youth to strengthen their faith, they can know a security that will never go away or cause them the pain other unhealthy habits create.

This newfound heart can be a thriving ministry for the church. Seeing your youth involved in bringing people to Jesus and watching as they strengthen those who know him already is amazing.

world change. That servant heart is the heart of Christ. Christ’s overwhelming love for others, when they least expect it, is amazing. In a culture where youth are questioned because of their age and challenged about almost everything they do, the church can be the place to embrace them.

Our opening event to a high school ministry is a red carpet event. The leadership team has worked to plan this event and create a welcoming atmosphere for high school youth. While the world discounts youth and makes fun of them or tells them they are too young, we embrace them. We remind them they are loved and teach them the love of Jesus and how to share it. Jesus continued to love all ages. The heart of Christ was to guide all people to follow him and share his mission. When the youth are incorporated into the mission of the church, they potentially help guide those older than themselves to see a new vibrancy and way to share Jesus. It is a life-changing picture that encourages everyone.

Rev. Will Hanke serves as a pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Ellisville, MO.


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Leader: As we pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs, we pray especially, dear Lord, for young people, for those who know You and for those who don't, for those with whom You have blessed our church community and for those not yet a part of Your family. Let us pray to the Lord . . .

Left side: That our teens and their friends would know Your love, Your grace, and Your mercy;

Right side: That they would be equipped to live whole and hopeful lives;

Left side: That they would be encouraged and cared for;

the love of family, friends, neighbors, teach-ers, and others who genuinely care about what is best for them.

Left side: Cause their families to be strong, sup-portive, caring, and loving.

Right side: And bless them with mentors and guides who help them negotiate the chal-lenges of life.

Leader: Lord, bless the young people in this faith community with an abundant measure of Your grace and equip us as church to be a faithful conduit of Your grace and love to them:

faithful by the power of Your Spirit;Right side: That they would live each day blessed

and renewed in the assurance of their bap-tism;

Left side: That they would know Your truth and the freedom that comes with it;

Right Side: That they would grow in Your Word and in its power for life and salvation;

Left side: That these young people would be equipped in sharing and caring for each other within the congregation and out in the broader community;

Right side: Bless them in their love for each other in Christ and through them, cause them to be a blessing with others.

Leader: We pray, Lord, for Your people every-where:

Men: For the young and the old, for men and women;

Women: For those who know you and for those who don't;

Men: For those who labor and for those without work;

Women: For the education and training of children and young people growing toward maturity;

Men: For those with homes and for the homeless;Women: For the well and for the well-being of

those who are sick;Men: For those who celebrate with friends and

for the lonely and those who mourn, that they would be comforted.

Women: For the well fed and for the hungry;Men: For the rich and for the poor;Women: For victims of abuse and for those bound

up in the terrors of addiction;Men: For those who celebrate freedom and for

those who dream of being free;Women: For people here and for people every-

where;ALL: For children, youth, young adults, the

middle aged, and the old.Dear God, have mercy and grant all people Your

peace for Jesus' sake. Amen.Leader: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend

all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

ALL: Amen.

A Prayer Litany for Youthby Terry Dittmer

Resource


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Follow: Walk in the Rhythm of Jesusreviewed by Katie Thomas

Can I Use It? Book Review

If you are looking for a practical, in-depth Bible study that will encourage high school youth to

intimate relationship with their Lord and Savior, then Follow: Walk in the Rhythm of Jesus by Kevin Johnson (Zondervan/Youth Specialties 2009) is an effective resource for you.

Follow contains 20 Bible-based lessons which help draw teenagers deeper into God’s Word, offering an insightful look at who Jesus really is and what it truly means to take up your cross and follow Jesus in your everyday life.

intended to guide you, beginning with Scripture

how to apply what you have learned to your daily life. These sections include: Start, Read, Think,Live, and Wrap. At the beginning of the lessons,

designed to sum up the main point of each lesson.Start introduces the topic and begins to

paint a picture of a personal, loving Savior with the hope of instilling this image in your mind.

Read includes the Scripture passage, giving you the option to incorporate this into your lesson for teenagers to follow along or just for your convenience.

Think includes contemplative questions designed to provoke the teenager to further examine the topic.

Live offers questions to motivate youth to live out what they have learned about Jesus.

Wrap draws all points together and attempts to unite them with the Gospel.

After Wrap, each lesson includes supplementary sections titled, More Thoughts to Mull and More Scriptures to Dig. These sections provide additional questions and passages that help the participants dig deeper into Scripture.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this

to challenge high school students to delve deeper into Scripture and creatively challenges the participants to examine their personal relationship with Jesus. This curriculum shifts your perspective, transforming biblical text into

appreciation and understanding of Christ’s life and His teaching.

I recommend using this curriculum with spiritually mature high school youth as the content is rather deep in nature. To gain insight into Christ and to grow spiritually by connecting with Christ on a real level, this material is effective, especially if taught in a home, small-group setting led by adult mentors or the DCE.

high school student who is ready to take their relationship with Christ to a new level and is searching for a Bible study to explore on their own.

Overall, I did not see a need for extensive

Church—Missouri Synod. Some of the questions tend to be a bit law-heavy and need to be rephrased to integrate a better balance of law and Gospel. This would require very little time and minimal preparation for those leading the study. I liked this study because it is very careful in ensuring that its topics are useable in all denominational settings. It is also applicable in addressing the questions all postmodern high school teenagers have concerning Christ.

One addition that could be incorporated into the curriculum would be to include technology based off the discussion questions in the curriculum. Depending on the church, this could be done in a variety of ways. Due to this generation’s love for Facebook and Twitter, I

based off the curriculum for them to tweet about and share with their friends.

This curriculum will help high school youth better know Christ, and will encourage a closer walk with Him while helping them to understand the importance of walking in step with their Lord and Savior. You will not skip a beat teaching this

perfect harmony with Biblical teaching and the message of the Gospel.

Find more book and curriculum reviews at www.youthESource.com/Reviews.


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by Julianna ShultsEmotional vs. Physical PainSnark, Crackle, Pop Culture

My friend walked up to me at recess with the news. The look on her face was a mixture of sympathy and reluctance as she explained that

to break up with me. As a seventh grader, it was

didn’t really talk to him outside of school, except to sit next to him when our group of friends went to movies. Okay, I didn’t really talk to him in school either. Our relationship consisted of passing notes, talking in a few stolen minutes after school, and telling other people we were dating while actually interacting very little. Yet somehow the month felt like a lifetime, and I remember crying over his loss.

As an adult, I look back and wonder what hurt so badly. What we had could hardly be construed as a serious relationship. We barely knew each other. Yet, I still remember the hurt just as vividly as any other physical pain I’ve experienced. The

just as much as the physical ones. Now research is showing us why and how.

Columbia University recently published new research suggesting the emotional pain of a breakup may trigger the same parts of the brain as physical pain. In the study, 40 people who had been intensely rejected received brain scans while shown pictures of friends and then pictures of their exes. While they looked at pictures of their friends they were directed to think of a happy memory, but while they looked at their exes, they were directed to think about the breakup. Then the participants underwent the same scan while their forearms were exposed to heat, similar to

the pain felt while holding a hot cup of coffee.What they found was that the same area of the

brain became active when the participants felt the physical pain as when they felt the emotional pain. In fact, these two types of pain shared more regions of the brain than previously thought. The researchers believe studies like these can help to devise ways to help people who have gone through a serious loss or rejection and help us understand how that kind of emotional stress affects people physically.

As I read the study, my thoughts went to how very differently I treat my teen’s breakups from their physical pains. When someone comes in with a broken wrist or stitches, I immediately show my concern and compassion. I provide medicine to those who need it, and would never ignore an injured student’s cries for help. Yet, I have been guilty of treating my teen’s breakups as something petty and inconsequential. I may ask them what happened and listen as they share their story. Yet, I am more dismissive and likely to throw a meaningless platitude their way than I should be. This study speaks to how painful a broken relationship can be, and I should be as eager to show concern and compassion when they are dealing with a breakup as I am a broken bone.

Teaching students to deal with emotional pain is just as important as teaching them to deal with physical pain. One is not more serious than the other. We live in a sinful world and that brings with it a host of broken relationships. Our bodies are clearly wired to feel the pain of those broken relationships. God gave the answer to the sin and brokenness in our relationships when he sent Jesus to die on the cross. Finding healthy, God-pleasing ways to comfort and reconcile the emotional pain of those broken relationships is just as important as dealing with physical pain.

Perhaps next time a junior high student talks with me about a breakup, I will be more aware of just how painful a broken heart can be.

Read more pop culture articles at www.youthESource.com/SnarkCracklePop.

Julianna Shults is a DCE currently serving in children and youth ministry at St. Paul Lutheran in Chicago. She drinks entirely too much coffee, only does her dishes when absolutely necessary, knits, writes, and is unapologetically nerdy.

dutchnotgerman.


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Life Issues andYouth Ministry

by Emily Norman

In my brief time in youth ministry I have learned an abundance regarding youth culture and ministering within it. Communication is constantly changing because of the advances in technology. Families are broken in more ways than ever

and common place in our society. But the one thing that has not changed is the way that we minister, that is, in building relationships.

In order to gain a better perspective on this subject, and to provide a well-rounded discussion, I interviewed three DCEs: one with years of experience and great insight, and two who are just starting out, but offer fresh outlooks shaped by their varied immersions.


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Interviewees: Scott Rauch, Trinity Lutheran

Church in Peoria, Illinois - 25 years plus one year of internship

Rebekah Freed, First Trinity Lutheran Church in Tonawanda, New York - DCE Intern

Julia Mueller – Currently serves in internship placement and as a missionary in Riga, Latvia, with LCMS World Mission

Why or why not?Scott: “Youth and adults

serving together for the glory of

it encompasses everything I understand our lives in Christ to be about just from a youth ministry viewpoint.

ministry as the investment in the lives of young people in the name of Jesus Christ. It is not just spiritually guiding, or providing activities for them to do. It is walking with people as they journey through this time in life referred to as 'youth'.

Do you agree with the

congregation and community”? Why or why not?

Scott: I understand the premise and agree but would maybe add

community. My context here as I write is that I had a conversation with two sets of parents this week

about the relationship their teens have with each other. I do not plan to have the same conversation with the youth because their parents will. So adding family to the statement would be an important word for me.

Rebekah: Yes, I agree with this statement. It seems that one of the biggest parts of youth ministry is really just meeting students right where they are... and often times it seems that most of the doors into true life-changing ministry happen

this past week there was a student at an area school who committed suicide and earlier this year a teacher at another area school was killed in a car accident. Through those issues and situations I had a chance to interact and share Christ with some students who would never show up on a Sunday morning. But on the other end, youth ministry is also about celebrating the high points in students’ lives and doing things like showing up at a student’s musical to encourage and support them. It really is about the whole range, good and bad.

Julia: Yes. Youth ministry can and even should be made fuller by including generations outside of their own in the ministry that is purposed for them. Faith life is not just something that should be encouraged at church or on high school mission trips where it is easy to see God and live faith. I think we are doing more of a service to God’s children by being aware of reality and facing it with young people, instead of leaving them hanging to

Upcoming Youth Ministry EventsYouth Ministry 2012At the Foot of the Cross?January 5-7, 2012Irvine, CARegistration opens on-line, Fall 2011

A symposium for tackling tough youth ministry issues in an intensive way. Join Dr. Andrew Root (Luther Seminary–St. Paul, MN), Rev. Dr. John Oberdeck (Concordia University–Wisconsin), and facilitator Dr. Craig Oldenburg (Mt. Cross Ministries–Felton, CA) for a challenging look at helping youth understand the theology behind a living, loving, genuine, sustainable relationship with Jesus Christ. The symposium is January 5-7, 2012, in Irvine, CA. Check the LCMS Youth Ministry Web page for more information and registration this fall.

NATIONAL Lutheran Youth Workers Conference 2012July 12-15, 2012 San Antonio, TexasRegistration opens on-line, Fall 2011

Join youth workers and youth from across the LCMS for days of practical workshops, inspirational and challenging speakers, Bible Study, and community building opportunities. Youth are also invited to attend with their youth leaders and participate in a leadership training module. This will also be an opportunity to get a sneak peek at the 2013 National Youth Gathering and the host city of San Antonio. Keep posted at http://www.nlywc.com/.

Follow both events and LCMS Youth Ministry:www.twitter.com/LCMSYOUTH (#NLYWC; #LCMSYMS)www.facebook.com/LCMSYouthMinistry

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discern the world with whatever tools they can come up with. We can provide a safe and educated setting for discussion and action in regard to the full range of life issues.

do you manage this? Rebekah: I have had the joy this

year on internship to explore what it looks like to work with both high school students and young adults. While a lot of places seem to group middle school and high school together (at least in a job description) it’s been fun to see

school and young adult ministry as the focus. It has shaped the way I look at high school ministry in the sense of realizing more of what the high school graduates will face once they are out of high school. It puts a higher focus in my mind to be using the years they are in high school ministry as a time to prepare them for what’s next in their lives and their faith.

Julia: With my limited exposure to working in youth ministry I have been pleasantly surprised to

different from place to place. Here in Latvia our youth ministry ranges from seventh or eighth grade to people in their 30’s... basically anyone who is not married. While some could say it is bad to have such a huge age range, I think it has been a blessing here. It provides opportunity for the younger people to see older people they admire and look up to living out their faith. We

have small groups that are divided by age, which is good for discussion (eighth graders are working with a whole different level of development, not to mention life experiences). There is also a mentoring of sorts that happens as the older youth are leaders and they help the younger

and a place to contribute and serve.

ministry here was so widespread I thought it could never work out. Now as I am more involved and seeing things as they play out, I see that it is a very natural thing. I think intergenerational ministry is very important, and this is one way that I see it happening; it may not be from age 1 to 100, but I still think it is an important and valuable way of being intergenerational.

How does Scripture play a role in how you minister

ministering and what it means

Youth Ministry... speaks to the full

range of life issues of youth in the

congregation and the community.

to you in engaging students in

Scott: Ephesians 2:8-10 helps me remember that it is by God’s graceful work in Jesus that I get to participate in His mission and ministry of restoring His creation to what it was meant to be. It is His workmanship in the lives of youth that needs to be focused on. He is the One who is to be bragged about as I see youth struggle, survive and thrive this side of heaven.

Rebekah: As I think about using Scripture as I interact with students, I love the theme verse that has been used for our high school ministry, Crossroads, since before I came, from Jeremiah 6:16, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will

that there aren’t a lot of places to

especially in the high school years, it

where faith and real life intersect. To be able to continually point

I pray for each of you, as your continue to minister to youth in whatever setting God has called you,

of Jesus Christ with youth and their families.

Emily Norman is a DCE at Grace Lutheran Fellowship in Romeo, MI.

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The Prepositions of Youth Ministry

by Jay Reed

The kid asking me the question was Cliff, a seventeen-year-old African American teen who showed up at our church one Sunday. He and his two brothers had been attending off and on for a month or two.

I listened as he explained the charge: the lack of people of color in our church,

they were going through the cookie line after service and a few other things he noticed that I had never thought of. Looking at our church through his eyes, I realized he had a point. Not that we were intentionally racist, but that to people


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For a lot of youth, many Lutheran

alone embrace and become part of. The question Cliff was posing to me is the same one we often face from youth in our congregations: Is there

My encounter with Cliff sent our church on a journey to answer that question.

If you are challenged by that question from youth both within and outside of the church, I have a

prepositions that helped us re-focus how we do ministry. I heard these kicked around in my early days as a DCE and used them off and on in mission and purpose statements. But as a result of my discussion with Cliff, they took on fresh meaning and purpose.

home revealed a household of nine kids being raised by his aunt and his grandma. When I asked the aunt how our church could help, her response was, “Help me raise these

He wanted us to communicate the Gospel to and care for. We had to get into where they lived and hear

Lord wanted to minister to Cliff and his family. Over the next weeks and months we started to understand the world from their point of view.

What we learned was that our traditional summer programs would

our VBS and a few other programs, directed funds toward getting a couple of summer interns and came

for Cliff and his family. Too many times ministry is

not geared to and for youth. Our churches and leaders don’t take the time to see things from their point of view and so our “Gospel delivery

to a different culture and for other people.

Ministry to and for youth means that we have to learn their language and how Jesus needs to be received and heard in their culture.

As a DCE I spent a lot of time sweating how to keep kids interested and challenged. I saw them mostly as consumers and me as the provider. Our student intern Jordan was more insightful than I was. “Why don’t we just do stuff with them and see what God does

program took shape with “Jordan

men in our church to prepare a

looked like them walking around

cook hotdogs, sponsor games, and show movies as part of our community outreach program. The ministry to and for them evolved to connecting these youth with a number of people in the church in a variety of ways.

Ministry with youth means connecting youth with Christian adults they can watch, learn from

and by youth.“Pastah Jay, I want you to see my

little over a year later. He sat me down to show me a PowerPoint presentation he had created for the upcoming summer. It was titled

God’s plan, he said, to use him to help stop segregation, and he wanted to do it through our church. To be sure, it was a little rough

Cliff’s plan was about reaching kids of all cultures through fun activities and then let the Spirit change their hearts as they learned and studied God’s Word together.

Ministry through and by youth means they see themselves in light of the Gifts God has given them and use those gifts in service to others.

This summer Jordan is back as our intern and Cliff, now a senior in high school, will be his intern. Together they are designing a summer youth ministry program; ministry to, for, with, through and by youth. Why? To intentionally connect more people to Jesus Christ and the life He gives.

Pastor Jay Reed serves at Light of the Valley Lutheran Church

about his passion for youth and youth ministry, Pastor Reed shares, “To see kids connected to Christ Monday through Saturday as well as Sunday. See them living, breathing and walking in Him every moment.”

Pictured: Cliff and Jordan in front

Youth Ministry is... ministry to, by, with, through,

and foryouth.


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Equipping the

by Steve Jorgensen(Young) Saints

One of the core practices of a congregation is to equip the saints for faithful service in the church and in the Great Commission. Paul reminds us of our calling in Ephesians 4:12: “to equip his people for works of

limited to just what we might consider mature adult believers but to all who are called into God’s family, including youth and children.


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Why is This Important?Being equipped to serve is

extremely important for adolescents as they journey into adulthood and solidify their identity and values that will shape how they live. The state of adolescent culture contributes to the urgency of this task as it constantly

the psychological development process that a teen experiences tends to make youth self-focused as they begin to differentiate from their

The best thing we can give our youth during this stage in life is the opportunity to connect with something bigger than themselves. Our task is to engage them in a life that serves God and others, using the gifts that God has given them.

A Biblical BasisPaul tells us in Ephesians 2:10,

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for

since we are redeemed in Christ, God empowers us to do these good works. It’s important that we remember that serving or good works are not just something on our

being created in Christ.Some Practical IdeasSo how do we encourage this to

happen? How do we equip the young saints?

Connect Bible lessons with action.When you teach on a particular topic

way to practice it. For example, when teaching on a parable of Jesus such as the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25) or the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), give them a practical way to serve those in need. Take them to help serve a meal at a community soup kitchen, collect coats and blankets for the homeless and deliver them to a shelter, or visit someone in a nursing home. This can be an effective teaching tool as it’s very important for an adolescent to connect life with Bible truth.

ministry to be entertainment-based. Sometimes it feels like we have to compete for a student's time. It is true we can attract students with fun games and attractive events (and these can serve well as an “open

well as create opportunities to build relationships). However, if that’s the focus of our ministry, we run the risk of communicating to the kids that church and Christianity are just additional venues in which the purpose is to be amused.

Make sure your ministry has regular opportunities for mission and service. The fact that you regularly do mission trips, servant events, or service projects communicates what your church values. They also help students discover their giftedness and skills in practical ways.

Involve them in congregational ministry. Volunteering in the church isn’t just for adults. Youth can regularly serve in areas such as Sunday School or VBS as well as greeters, lectors, and musicians. This can be a powerful experience as they learn about what it takes to work in a ministry, and it provides an inter-generational experience where they can witness to others using their gifts in service.

Building the FutureA congregation that values its

youth in these ways will help them discover who they are as God’s handiwork and help develop the gifts given to them. This can, in turn, cultivate in them a desire to serve God and His people rather than revert to the culturally dominant mindset that focuses on self. Finally, this will also help them stay involved in church as they transition into adulthood. The Augsburg Youth and Family Institute found that youth who developed and practiced their giftedness by being involved in service and assimilated into leadership during their youth were more likely to be involved in church and have a vibrant faith life into adulthood.

Steve Jorgensen has been in youth ministry in Lutheran congregations for over 20 years and currently serves at Pointe of Hope Lutheran Church in Blue Springs, MO. He has been married to his wife Nancy for 21 years and they have two

Youth Ministry... equips youth to

utilize their God-given gifts as faithful disciples.

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by Sean CramerMarble MuchnessGame Guru

There’s a certain sweetness in keeping games simple. Sure, there are groups of people who love strategy games, and will take hours to do so (I’m a Settlers fan myself), but when planning activities for a large (more than four) group of people, simple is always sweeter. Lots of rules can bog down momentum, and frustration can occur when the same questions are asked repeatedly. In addition to all this, complex games take more set-up, props, and time to prepare. For these reasons, this game is very simplistic in inspiration. Enjoy!

Props: Marbles of varying sizes (look online if

Set-Up:or a couple of chairs/cones forming an area.

Play: Give each player a marble, and have them immediately close their hand over it. Tell participants that they are free to go to the safe

largest possible marble. If they want to trade, however, they may walk

extend an open palm. The other player has to oblige, and coordinate their hands with their

of three, players swap marbles, quickly closing

they feel they can go to the safe zone. Continue play until everyone is in the safe zone,

or until most of the players are. Possible discussion questions:

What was the experience of swapping marbles like?How did you rationalize taking a risk to swap?What did it take for you to decide to enter the safe zone? What does taking a risk look like in life? How does transitioning to high school or college compare/contrast with this activity?

Extra Ideas:If time or resources dissuade you from using marbles, consider using three or four decks of playing cards. Only use 4’s through 8’s, and on each of the cards, rank them. Gather all the 4’s and number them 1 - 12, etc. Tell players that if they swap the same card as another, the higher the written number, the higher the value (so a 4 with a 10 on it beats

a 4 with a 3 on it, etc...) Continue play in a similar fashion.After play, have players arrange themselves in order of smallest marble to largest. Then have them get into groups by color, or pattern, or size, etc.Get paper towel tubes, magnets, and glue. Cut the tubes in sections length and width

travel. Hang magnet glued tubes on a fridge or other magnetic surface, to have an activity that will remain in your youth room.Have a marble themed party:

Take some marbles and make “bowling

Guess how many marbles in the jar.Teach a classic game of marbles, and play chinese checkers.For younger kids, get cups of paint. Put a piece of paper in the bottom of a shoe box, and roll color coated marbles in it to create works of art.Marble cake!

Get more game ideas at www.youthESource.com/GameGuru.

Sean Cramer graduated as a DCE from Concordia University, River Forest and served

hometown near Rockford, IL, Sean currently works with developmentally dsabled individuals.

ministry again, Sean enjoys volunteering, reading, playing games, exercising, and observing his dog be absolutely resistant to any new tricks.

2323

Ministryby Derek Broten

to OneHow many people are in our youth group? Well…Just one!How many times have we engaged in conversations with other

youth ministers, pastors, or church members trying to determine the effectiveness of our ministry by the number of kids who came to our last event? How do you get so many to come to your Bible Study? Why did only four people come to your four-day fasting event, and where was the pastor’s kid? Did you know that the church across town has 5,000

Dews? These types of conversations can be haunting, frustrating, and keep you awake at night, and they are misplaced.


friends with one event feeding the next, and we couldn’t have enough events on the calendar because kids were engaged.

As I look back I notice a key difference between then and now.

Youth didn’t have as many other things going on in their lives that I had to compete with. It’s easier to attract youth when they have a choice between coming to the juggling lawn dart outreach event or going to a movie with friends. Today, they have eight to ten other things that are competing with the church event. “What do you mean you are choosing your choir trip that is

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Youth Ministry is... person

oriented.

In our youth ministry we have wrestled with these questions and with what we believe is a culture shift changing the way ministry should be perceived. The hard thing about any shift is changing the mindset of a culture. It reminds me of my youngest daughter who seeks great comfort in her stuffed elephant that she calls Elle. The more scared she gets as things change around her the more she seeks that Elle for comfort. In youth ministry we can be the same way, clinging to the things we have always done, and despite the shift in culture, clinging even tighter to our Elle’s.

I was brought up and trained in the youth group mentality that doing dynamic programs to attract large numbers and forming strong relationships create a great youth group. Even the questions we

“How many people are coming to

experiences that we set up seemed to connect with youth and their

taking a ten-day cruise to Alaska to sing to orphaned penguins over our

It was in light of this cultural shift that we started to change our perspective on ministry to maximize opportunity. We felt like the days of youth group were slowly fading and thus with much prayer changed our mindset to a Ministry of One’s. We have a ministry to this one, to that one, and don’t forget about that one who doesn’t come a lot. Each of our one’s has such different needs that it is not possible to meet them all with a single program and a few random events.

This type of thinking has a lot of push back in our corporate mindset where numbers reign and serve as proof of how effective we are. However, that doesn’t always translate well into ministry. We are trying to change the scorecard as Reggie McNeal suggests in The Present Future. When someone asks us how many people came to our three night lock-out we simply


25

There was this one whose family is splitting and doesn’t have a strong

There was that one who is struggling with self worth and identity.

There was that one who is being transformed by the Holy Spirit in the midst of her deep questions and searching.

We can’t forget that one who gave up his 127-hour streak of playing Call of Duty to be at this event.

I love that this one who was forced to come by his parents actually cracked a smile and felt cared for by the end of the second day of no sleep.

However there were some we missed with this event:

We had that one who is gone again this weekend with traveling baseball.

There was this one with no desire to be in this church and is wrestling with some major life questions.

There was that one who typically comes to everything but according to her facebook status broke up with her boyfriend this week.

This type of thinking has shifted our mindset from numbers to individual needs and crafting ministry opportunities around those needs. Our focus is not on having the biggest youth group in our community, but on meeting

needs and connecting with youth where they are. Our main goal is not to have them feel a part of the youth group community, but to have them feel a part of the Kingdom community.

It reminds us when our attendance is low at an event that we have more time to spend meeting youth where they are at and creating deeper relationships. The more we can connect with them, the more their needs are revealed to us. It changes our mindset from trying to determine what events bring them to our turf (youth group) to how we meet their needs on their turf. How do we minister to the one’s that drop

step back into the church? This has led us to spending more

time on Facebook, sending text messages, making phone calls, and focusing intentionally on a ministry to one. It causes us to equip and recruit other adults to join us in that ministry to one’s so that we can be more effective and readily available when needs arise. This week we only had eight youth at Bible study, but I connected with eight others on Facebook, prayed with ten others through text messages, and commented on nine other status updates.

With all that said we have not eliminated our programs as they do connect with a certain group of individuals who need that safe place. Programs are part of ministering to the ones, but in shifting our focus to Ministry to One’s we are reminded that God’s Kingdom is much bigger than the youth group. I wonder if our church council would ask Jesus,

“How many people are in Your

“Well, there is this one, and there is that one, and this one here...all

with an emphasis on Senior High Ministry at Woodbury Lutheran Church in Woodbury, MN. He enjoys the variation of Youth Ministry and creating caring community inside and outside of the church walls. He loves spending time with his wife and three kids, playing most sports and sitting on his deck with a good book. One of Derek’s great joys is having coffee with people talking about life and our walk with Jesus.


26

The ABCs of God the Fatherby Mark Englehardt

Skit

(1 and 2 are talking to one another, playing a letter association game, 3 walks in on them)

1: All-powerful – as in He can control the wind and the waves, you know, like when Jesus calmed the storms.

2: Good. How about this one? Breath – as in He gave the breath of life to Adam at creation.

1: That’s creative. Oh, hey, creative – as in He’d have to be creative to create the platypus – what is that a duck, a beaver, an otter? Did you know the platypus is also poisonous? It’s got a self-defense button on its foot that shoots venom into its predators! How creative is that?!

2: No kidding? That’s cool. Okay I’ve got an easy one – death defying – as in you can’t keep Jesus in the tomb; He’s God!

1: I’ve got an easy one too – eternal – He was, is, and always will be.

(3 enters and hears 1 and 2 talking)

3: What are you guys doing?

1: Oh we’re just messing around. We’re going through the alphabet and trying to think of words to describe God, and then you have to give an example to back up your description.

2: Yeah. Right now we’re on F.

3: Oh, well that’s not hard; how about Father– as in Maker of heaven and earth, He has made me and all creatures; He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me.

For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.

2: Show-off.

1: Wow, I didn’t know that about you.

article of the Apostle’s Creed?

1: No, I didn’t know you were a family man, with house and home, wife and children.

(2 laughs with 1)

3: Very funny.

1: No really, I think that’s pretty cool actually, that you’ve got that memorized.

3: It’s no big deal; we had to do it for

it simply because He loves us. I know that I can trust God’s promises to me. He is an awesome, amazing, incredible God.

1: Wow, that was a great statement of your faith!

3: Yeah, that was awesome! Now who’s the show-off?

2: Whatever. Come on, we’re on letter G. Whose turn is it?

1: I got this one! G. Grace! Because of God’s grace we don’t get what we deserve, instead we get all the cool things you were just talking about, AND, best of all, we get eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

3: Nice!

(all three begin to exit on the following line.)

2: Very cool. Okay, I’ve got H!...

(all three are off stage now)

End scene.Find more skits at www.youthESource.com/Skits

2: I think it’s amazing! I have a hard time memorizing anything! Now, ask me what God the Father does for us, and I can tell you that in my own words, but I could never rattle off the meaning like that.

1: Okay, what does God the Father do for us?

2: Huh?

3: Go ahead. Put it in your own words.

2: What, now?

1: Yeah, sure. Why not?

2: Well, okay, here goes. God the Father is just one part of the Triune God. In fact, the Apostles’ Creed talks about all three parts of the Triune God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father is our creator. He created each one of us. Not only did He create us, but He also created everything! As our Father, He takes care of us. He gives us everything we need and more, emphasis

emotions, He gives us our brain to be creative with, He gives us family and friends; did I mention He gives us everything? The cool thing is that He doesn’t do this because He has to; He’s not obligated to, He does

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by Cassie MooreThey Think I’m CrazyBetwixt: Middle School Ministry

When I tell people that I work full-time with middle school students, the most common response I get is this: “Oh, geez, I don’t know how you could possibly do that. Middle school kids are

I’m never quite sure if I should be offended by that statement or not. If you think about it,

I’ll come up with a good comeback. Anyway, I recently spent an entire weekend

with over eighty middle school students at a retreat. I learned some valuable lessons—like the fact that I can no longer function on just a few hours of sleep, and that you should never

woke up the next morning to a hallway bedecked with toilet paper, shaving cream messages on the wall, and couches piled on top of each other.

Watching these boisterous kids climb over furniture and scream like hyenas prompted me to step back and think about them seriously. I vividly remember what it was like to be in middle school. You’re squarely caught between an adult world and a child world, and you know you don’t

last week the struggles I had with friends, parents,

who I was and where my life was headed. It’s daunting.

As youth leaders, we need to know everything we can about our kids, so we can best learn how to work with them and help them grow in their faith. Here’s a quick glimpse of what exactly we’re dealing with when we talk about your average middle school student:Physically:

Middle schoolers are dealing with the headaches of growth spurts and puberty. Muscle development is just starting, and along with that is a budding interest in the opposite sex. They’re starting to become more aware of their physical appearance, and the frustrations of acne are just becoming reality for many of them. I like to play a fun game in my head, called “Wait-And-See-How-Many-Kids-With-Glasses-Get-Contacts-Before-

correctly nearly every time. Socially:

This is the time in their lives that friends

are often the sole focus of living (in their own minds, that is). Popularity and acceptance are huge issues every young teen deals with. The

time, the desire to be more independent kicks in.

schooler. They want to be trusted and considered responsible by their parents and other leaders, but they haven’t yet mastered the art of self-discipline. Intellectually:

This is one of the biggest challenges of middle school ministry, because not all kids are advancing intellectually at the same pace. Kids at this age are transitioning from concrete to abstract thinking. For instance, concrete

a rock fall to the bottom of a lake, while abstract thinking would reason, “Rocks sink because

Most middle schoolers are idealistic, and are just starting to develop more complex problem-solving skills. They soak up knowledge like a sponge, and are hungry to learn as much as

to question what they’ve been taught, and need rational explanations for why they do what they do in order to keep doing it. Emotionally:

Middle school is an emotional roller coaster—they regularly vacillate between being giddy, expressive, moody, sad, melancholy, excited, and a whole slew of emotions in between. They are more expressive about their emotions, especially as they relate to their struggles with self-esteem, friends, and other frustrations. Most kids are so excited to have an adult taking an interest in them that they’ll blab just about anything without much prompting, so it doesn’t take a whole lot to get students sharing their emotions quite openly. Spiritually:

Personally, this is one of the biggest joys I have in working with middle school ministry. These kids are just starting to apply spiritual principles to daily life, and they’re rearing to act on what they’ve been taught. They’re constantly looking for ways to tie what they’ve learned together, and often I’ll hear kids relating what they’ve experienced at school that day to the Biblical principles we’re talking about. At the same time,


29

they’re beginning to question the faith of their

of a scary time for adults, because these kids are often full of questions and doubts—sometimes things we can’t even really answer—but it’s important to let them wrestle and reason through this season in their lives.

So, how can we best work with these complicated but amazing young teenagers? I have a few suggestions for effective middle school ministry:

Set boundaries early, and stick to them. Middle schoolers will always try to test your boundaries, to see how far they can push you. Set clear expectations and rules, share them with your students, and keep them—don’t let their constant nagging change your decisions. I’ve been on trips where students nagged me for days about the same things, but my refusal to cave in and cater to their whims makes a bold statement about who I am: I’m the adult in charge, who loves them enough to do what’s truly best for them—not what’s going to make them happy at the moment. They see that, and will respect you for that.

Since kids are growing and changing very rapidly (and at varying rates), an activity that one student might like is one that another might hate. Keep your activities varied, and try to include some kinesthetic activities, where the kids are

more effective than any lecture. Additionally, keep things moving rapidly.

Generally, students have a minute of solid focus per year old they are—so a 12-year-old can focus well for 12 minutes. That doesn’t mean switching activities—it means breaking up the routine with music, conversation, handouts, getting kids up and out of their chairs, doing a game, adding some auditory or visual elements, a song, moving around in the room—anything to keep the kids out of a routine. And, try your hardest to avoid pauses, since thirty seconds of dead time means you’ll spend several minutes trying to get them re-focused.

Middle schoolers need to feel safe and unthreatened. Since they are dealing with a lot of physical and emotional changes, they don’t tend to like games or activities that single them out. Avoid doing things that draw attention to individuals, deal with speed or strength, or make kids nervous beforehand. Try to plan things where all the kids participate, instead of just one kid.

Also, kids in this age range respond well to a diverse mix of leaders: parents, high school and college students, young adults, and older adults. Don’t be afraid to have a lot of variety in your

leaders and volunteers. And, don’t be discouraged if your middle schoolers laugh at you. They’ll relate to you better when you’re in a humble posture, and they’ll appreciate that you’re willing to share some of your embarrassing moments, not just your accomplishments.

The time that you and your leaders spend with the kids is what they’ll really remember. They realize that you’re investing time and energy in them, and they appreciate that—even if they

as a leader—a friend, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, an advice-giver, and sometimes a disciplinarian.

Through all of that, remember that your primary role is to love your middle schoolers and help them grow in their faith in Christ. As 1

that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade

Read more about middle school ministry at www.youthESource.com/Betwixt.

Cassie Moore is a Director of Christian Education overseeing middle school ministry at Faith Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Missouri. She lives with her husband, Tyler, a seminary student at Concordia Seminary St. Louis, and


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