Youth leaders!
I'm looking forward to 2013 with much anticipation. I've been challenged by this blog post to ask two important questions as we head into a new year:
- What does God want you to say 'goodbye' to in 2012?
- And what is God calling you to say 'hello' to in 2013?
What we're saying a gentle 'goodbye' to in 2012 is YOU, the adult volunteer leader, being the primary leader & discipler for middle school students.
The 'hello'?
Well, we're saying 'hi' to an experiment where we change your job description from being the primary discipler for middle school students to being the primary discipler for one or two high school students. The high school students will be the main disciplers for our middle school students. We are looking for twenty high school students to say 'yes' and apply to be a middle school coach (discipler). We've got about eight students right now, pray for our remaining twelve to step up!
Well, we're saying 'hi' to an experiment where we change your job description from being the primary discipler for middle school students to being the primary discipler for one or two high school students. The high school students will be the main disciplers for our middle school students. We are looking for twenty high school students to say 'yes' and apply to be a middle school coach (discipler). We've got about eight students right now, pray for our remaining twelve to step up!
Logistically, here's what the changes mean. Every other week, the high school students will lead a middle school discussion group. The topic they'll teach middle school students will be what the teacher taught the prior week on Sunday morning.
Example: On January 6th, we'll have some worship and age specific (separate MS and HS teaching). I'll teach from Nehemiah 1:1-11. We'll have short small groups for you to check in with kids. On January 13th, we'll have some worship and then head straight to our small group time where we drill deeper into applying Nehemiah 1:1-11 to our lives. This small group time will be extended and last approximately 30 minutes. That will be the every other week rhythm for the semester.
The high school students will eventually lead that small group time and you will be their support. Since they've never led a small group before, we want them to be able to watch you do it before they take on the task in February.
The rhythm is very intentional. Steve Weatherford and I want the high school students to have multiple touches with the topic before they teach it to students. They will have heard the content taught once in their high school specific audience. They'll have been led by the high school adult volunteers to process what God is saying to them. And then they'll finally get to teach it to a younger audience, which will be the most fruitful part of the process for them. (Allegedly, learners retain 90% of what they learn when they teach someone else/use immediately what they've learned.)
The high school coaches will gather a couple times a month to share a meal and be a missional family together. They're already giving their lives OUT (giving their lives away to middle school students who don't know Jesus) together. And we want to gather them in a host family's home share a meal and do some UP (connect with God) and IN (connect with other Jesus followers) together. Those dates and times are forthcoming and you are invited to take part in those evenings as well.
Sound like a different approach to student ministry?
Yup, it's an experiment that will last through May/June. We think the potential payoff is huge because it will give 7th graders Johnny and Sara a picture of what we expect (and perhaps they'll see that it's what Jesus expects): that they give their lives away to the next generation of students when they get to high school someday.
Example: On January 6th, we'll have some worship and age specific (separate MS and HS teaching). I'll teach from Nehemiah 1:1-11. We'll have short small groups for you to check in with kids. On January 13th, we'll have some worship and then head straight to our small group time where we drill deeper into applying Nehemiah 1:1-11 to our lives. This small group time will be extended and last approximately 30 minutes. That will be the every other week rhythm for the semester.
The high school students will eventually lead that small group time and you will be their support. Since they've never led a small group before, we want them to be able to watch you do it before they take on the task in February.
The rhythm is very intentional. Steve Weatherford and I want the high school students to have multiple touches with the topic before they teach it to students. They will have heard the content taught once in their high school specific audience. They'll have been led by the high school adult volunteers to process what God is saying to them. And then they'll finally get to teach it to a younger audience, which will be the most fruitful part of the process for them. (Allegedly, learners retain 90% of what they learn when they teach someone else/use immediately what they've learned.)
The high school coaches will gather a couple times a month to share a meal and be a missional family together. They're already giving their lives OUT (giving their lives away to middle school students who don't know Jesus) together. And we want to gather them in a host family's home share a meal and do some UP (connect with God) and IN (connect with other Jesus followers) together. Those dates and times are forthcoming and you are invited to take part in those evenings as well.
Sound like a different approach to student ministry?
Yup, it's an experiment that will last through May/June. We think the potential payoff is huge because it will give 7th graders Johnny and Sara a picture of what we expect (and perhaps they'll see that it's what Jesus expects): that they give their lives away to the next generation of students when they get to high school someday.
If it doesn't work? Well, we listened to the Father and tried! What will your experiment be in 2013?
Questions? Thoughts? Please get ahold of me.
Shibu
Questions? Thoughts? Please get ahold of me.
Shibu
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