Five things teenagers need to see in you before they will follow you. (Part-3)

As a Pastor, Youth Pastor, or Youth Leader here are five things that teenagers need to see in you before they will really step in and begin to follow you. 

1 - Authenticity

Check out the entire blog on Authenticity by CLICKING HERE

2 - Expertise

Check out the entire blog on Expertise by CLICKING HERE 

3 - Love

Teenagers spell love T-I-M-E. The more time you spend with them the more you show you love them. So get into their world. Don't just connect quickly in the hallway at church or simply speak a good message to them from the stage, get into their world. The more you get into their world, the more they will consider getting into yours. 

4 - Consistency

There are far too many people in teenagers lives that are here today and gone tomorrow. You cannot be one of those people. Do what you do, over, and over, and over again. When student see that you are in for the long haul, they will begin to walk alongside you. 

5 - Vision

Who are you? Why are you here? Where are you going? If you don't know those three things, you are not as influential as the kid they sit next to in Algebra 1. The student next to them, knows who they are and they know what they want. (Well at least they act like they do.) When you know where you are going and cast a compelling reason why you are going there, teenagers will stand up and follow. Until then, they will continue to follow their friends.  

Click the links below for resources designed to help you grow. 

12 THINGS EVERY YOUTH PASTOR NEEDS TO KNOW - eBook. 

YOUTH MINISTRY UNIVERSITY - one year online training course

Five things teenagers need to see in you before they will follow you. (Part 2)

The second thing that teenagers need to see in you before they trust you is .... 

Expertise.

Teenagers are looking for someone who has been down the road a little further than they have.

Someone who really knows the Bible and can unpack in a way that is interesting and applicable to them. 

Someone who totally understands money and isn't afraid to share the secrets they have learned.

Someone who has mastered their personal craft of writing, teaching, photography, media and graphic design is someone that a teenager will be want to be around. 

Teenagers are looking for the real deal. So, be the real deal. Know your stuff. Deliver it in interesting ways. They will trust you and maybe even listen to what you have to say! 

Click the links below for resources designed to help you grow. 

12 THINGS EVERY YOUTH PASTOR NEEDS TO KNOW - eBook. 

YOUTH MINISTRY UNIVERSITY - one year online training course

Five things teenagers need to see in you before they will follow you. (Part 1)

If you want to help teenagers know and follow Jesus, there are a few things they need to see in you, before they will really listen to what you have to say. 

In the next few blogs I'm going to share a few things that I've learned not only as a youth pastor that worked with teenagers for 20+ years, but also as a father of teenagers myself. 

Here is the first thing teens need to see in you. 

1 - Authenticity.

Are you real or are you putting on a show? Teenagers hate to be lied too.  If your private life does not line up with your public persona, you are lying to them. Eventually the truth will come out and they will not trust you. Teenagers have plenty of people in their life that consistently say one thing and then do another. Don't be one of them!  If you are who you say you are. If you keep your word. Teenagers will love you. 

Teenagers just want you to be yourself. If you are a 34 year old Dad who likes country music, then don't act like a hipster around them. If you are really into sports, then be into sports. If you love reading then talk about the books you read. 

Teenagers are trying to discover who they are. Because of this, anyone who knows who they are and is comfortable in their own skin is very magnetic to a teenager. Just be yourself. Love God in front of them and they just might love him too. 

Click the links below for resources designed to help you grow. 

12 THINGS EVERY YOUTH PASTOR NEEDS TO KNOW - eBook

 

YOUTH MINISTRY UNIVERSITY - one year online training course

10 things to "NEVER DO" in Youth Ministry.

To be successful sometimes you just need to know what NOT to do.
Here are nine never’s of Youth Ministry. 

1. Never yell at one of your students.

In those cases when a student is acting up or causing trouble, raising your voice will not help help the situation. In fact it will generally make it a lot worse. Stay in control. You are the one in charge. Look them in the eye. Speak to them firmly but never yell at them.

 

2. Never "wing it" when you are speaking. 

Here are a few reasons why you should never just get up there and start speaking with out preparing your message before hand. 1. You are not that good. 2. God word deserves your best effort. 3. You are not that good. (I know I said that twice ... but I just wanted to get the point across). 

3. Never use slang words around them.

Shoot – Dang – Darn – can easily be misunderstood or cuss words. Don’t use them around your teenagers.

4. Never be alone with the opposite sex.

Say this out loud as you read it – “IT IS NOT WORTH IT” – never be alone in the car, in the hallway, in a room with a teenager of the opposite sex, I don’t care the reason why … IT IS NOT WORTH IT.

 

5. Never expect them to obey a rule you have not explained to them.

What are your rules? If they don’t know them, they cannot obey them.

 

6. Never make a promise you cannot keep.

Don’t be a people pleaser – let your yes be yes and your no be no – if you can’t do it – don’t say you will.

 

7. Never expect them to get into your world until you have gotten into theirs.

Jesus came to our world so that we would want to come to HIS. I think we should do the same with the people we want to reach.

 

8. Never think of a students parent as the problem.

The only reason you have the ability to be in this teenagers life is because their parent is allowing you to. Parents are not the problem they are part of the solution.

 

9. Never preach to them until you have prayed for them.

There are four P’s in Preaching. Plan – Prepare – Pray – Present. Never forget to pray.

 

10. Never spend more time on what your wearing than what you are teaching. 

There are two things you need to know about how you dress. 1. Stylish clothes never saved a soul. 2. The kids already think you are old, so just be yourself, know your stuff, and give them Jesus! 

Those are some things to NEVER do in student ministry.

To help go to a whole new level in making disciples, building teams, and making an impact check out our one year online training platform - YOUTH MINISTRY UNIVERSITY.  It is only $75 for an entire year of training! 

Before you advertise at your church, here are a few things you need to know.

Advertising is such a great asset and tool that needs to be used by your church.  However, as you work at building your advertising game-plan, please keep in mind a few things that advertising will and will not do for you. 

Great Advertising Will Not ... 

Advertising will not ... change the situations the people who attend your ministry venues are living in.

Great advertising will not ... win people to Jesus .

Great advertising will not ... make disciples.

Great advertising will not ... replace personal relationships.

Great advertising will not ... make up for lack of quality or content in your gathering. 

Great Advertising Will ... 

Great advertising will ... build strong "buy in" with your team and people. 

Great advertising will ... create a climate of excitement and growth.

Great advertising will ... attract people to your ministry venues.

Great advertising will ... shape people’s perception of your ministry.

The Very Best Way To Advertise For Free  .... 

The very best way to advertise for absolutely free is to be "great at what you do". 

When you are great at what you do, people will talk. When people talk, their friends listen. When their friends listen, they will come check out what you are doing. And then the cycle continues. 

Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear what you are currently doing to advertise. What is working. What is not working.