Students and The American Dream
The American Dream. Ah yes, that’s the thing we hear all about it from Pastors in pulpits (do we still call them that?) all over our country on the weekends. It’s meant several different things for different generations, but somehow we’ve pigeon holed it.
For one generation, the American Dream was about freedom from a tyrant leader of their country. For others, it was about opportunity; opportunity to worship freely, opportunity for gender equality, and opportunity for a fresh start. For another generation, it was about the pursuit of wealth, accumulation of stuff, and vacation homes. We often preach against the later.
May I make a bold assertion? As Student Pastors, when we preach against the American Dream to our students as the accumulation of stuff, pursuit of wealth, and owning vacation homes, I think it often falls on deaf ears. Not because they don’t care, but because it doesn’t resonate with their generation as a whole.
The Millenial Generation is a generation who is passionate. They want to succeed, but their success is measured on a different level. Their accumulation of wealth doesn’t lead to a strong desire for a bigger house or a vacation home. This generation would rather use that accumulation of wealth as a means to something else. They would rather take that money and go to Africa and build a village, go to Central American and dig a well, launch an organizaiton to stop human trafficking in Asia, or develop a shoe company that gives a pair of shoes to someone when you purchase a pair. They’re different. (For some great resources on this, check out The Millenials and Soul Searching) They desire global impact, and it’s at their fingertips.
What this generation needs is the gospel as THE reason for global impact. Student Pastors, we must keep preaching the gospel as better than the accumulation of stuff, but this generation is different. The American Dream is shifting. Let’s hit’em with the gospel and unleash them on the world.
This could be the generation that ushers in the kingdom.
Then and Now
Thought this to be pretty interesting. Someone on our staff sent it to me, and wanted to share it with you.
From: BestEducationDegrees.com
What Defines Your Ministry?
If a local youth pastor, parent, or friend were to ask you that question, how would you respond? The question at hand is not just about your programming, it’s about your DNA. If every resource and tool were stripped from your possession, the DNA of your ministry still exists. It’s the non-negotiable’s of your ministry.
If you’ve never pondered on the DNA of your ministry, may I encourage you to get away from the office for a day and spend some time with the Lord? If you have staff on your team, bring them along as well. Pray together. Ask for wisdom. Ask for vision. Ask for God to give you direction and strength.
But don’t just think about the DNA of your ministry being the gathering of your students. Think outside the walls. Think both the church gathered and the church scattered. What do you want to define your students when they are in their schools? On their athletic teams? Clubs?
May I offer a tip? Don’t just read people’s blogs on this, or another book, or another article in a another Youth Ministry magazine. There’s plenty of great resources out there, and I think you’d be crazy not to utilize them, but make those places secondary to the gospel.
Search the Scriptures.
Now go grab a journal and a bible and get to work!
Plumblines
Our church has developed over the past couple of years a set of guides that help us in our decision-making that we call our “Plumblines.” They are, at the core, the DNA of who we are as a church. Over the next few weeks, I want to simply share with you a few of them and talk with you how they affect our Student Ministry. I hope you enjoy this little series of posts.
Plumbline #1: People are the Mission
In all of our programming and strategy, we have to always remember that People are the Mission, and our programming and our facilities are simply tools in helping us reach and equip people. So many times we (myself included) get caught up in making secondary things the “main thing.” People are our mission. They are our main thing. Not our facility. Not our programs. Those are simply resources that help us…not define us.
Here’s what this means for our Student Ministry:
- This means that we will be good stewards of the resources we’ve been given. We’ll keep the facility clean and make good use of what we’ve been given. Nobody wants to use crummy tools.
- We’ll spend our money wisely.
- We’ll see our programs as platforms to always connect with students and equip them with the gospel
- If our emphasis becomes on our resources and not students, we’ll repent.
We’ve been equipped with the message of hope. That message is for people. People that are created in the image of God, yet separated by sin. We will take that message to them and help them grow in it daily. They are our mission.
Preach Christ
“Of all I would wish to say this is the sum; my brethren, preach Christ, always and evermore. He is the whole gospel. His person, offices, and work must be our one great, all-comprehending theme.”
- Charles Spurgeon
Glory Chasers
Student Pastors…this is fact; We are all glory chasers. We can do this in one of two ways. Lord help us to be the second.
1. We chase for the glory of our name.
- Our ministry compared to __________(insert name)’s ministry
- Our name to be spoken among many different networks of people
- We don’t take into consideration anything that our volunteer leaders offer us in regards to making our ministry better…because, well, it’s offensive.
- The next biggest and best Youth Ministry Conference in the nation with special guest speaker ___________________! (insert our name)
- We recognize and repent of our idolatry of self glorification
- We lift high the name of Christ and wave His banner (whenever I say banner, I always think of those banner flags they used to use in worship back in the day in our churches….thank GOD those are gone) and His Kingdom
- We see our student ministries as a sending place and not just an audience for the Kingdom of God
- We allow our student leaders to speak into our ministries..after all, we are called to equip the saints for the work of the ministry right?!?!
- Saturate yourself in the truth of the gospel.
- Examine your heart. Ask God to show you where you may be covering self glory with the language of “God’s glory.”
- I’ve been praying this prayer every morning for a while now. God has used it to change my life. I’m thankful for it. Hopefully God will wreck you with it as well.
Breaking Boards
Ever been fascinated with the way that someone can break boards or concrete blocks with a swift “Chop?” I have. (editors note: I was so intrigued that I actually took this class to see if I could learn the ins and outs of becoming a true ninja.) In fact, several years ago I decided to have a go at it. It ended in many laughs and a swollen hand. Epic Fail. Here’s what I learned from a friend in martial arts about my experience.
The ability to break a board is not about muscle, but speed. It’s not just about speed, but focused speed.
Where are you trying to “break boards” in your student ministry with sheer muscle and not a focused effort? Where does that focused effort come from? In my opinion, it’s a clearly defined vision from God that sets you on mission. That’s your focus. That’s where you harness your time, your resources and your staff (or lack thereof).
Where are you stretching yourself too thin? Where are you spending time and energy outside of the vision? Put your resources into a focused area; the mission & vision, and attack it for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom.
Live
Dear Christian,
If the enemy has really been defeated, if Christ really did bear the weight of sin (every ounce of it) on the cross, if Christ really did punch death in the throat through His resurrection, and if we who were vertical corpses have been brought to life through Christ, then live in His victory today. This victory should our banner that we wave high. The conqueror is Christ and His name and glory should be our passion.
Live it. The world needs to see it on display.
Quick bickering. Start living.
It’s Your Turn
This past weekend, we were challenged with the biblical truth that we all have been entrusted with the gospel of King Jesus to share with the next generation. We experienced brokenness, repentance and we celebrated (as a couple of students trusted Christ at some of our campuses after the message.) Now what?
It’s your turn. It’s your turn to engage in the reaching and discipleship of the next generation. This generation (78million+ strong) is being equipped with something. Will we equip them with the gospel?
To find out more about our ministry to the next generation, check out the links below.
- Summit Student Ministry
- Summit Kids Ministry
- Route 56 (5th/6th Grade Ministry at Summit)
- Summit College Ministry
To find out how you can get plugged in with the following at any of our campuses, click the appropriate link and shoot us an email!
It’s Budget Time!
For many, the thought of budgeting for the upcoming year is dreadful. For some of us, when we think of “Budget Time,” we think of Excel Spreadsheets, number crunching, calculators (if you’re awesome, you’ll use the calculator APP on your iPad,) THE meeting, THE vote, the recalculating of the budget, and so on and so forth. I love this time of the year, but not for the busy work aspect of it. I love it for the opportunity I have to utilize our resources to reach and equip students here in RDU. Let me share with you some thoughts I have on budgeting for your ministry.
1. The Budget backs the Vision: (Or the Vision DRIVES the budget!) Don’t just throw money into certain line items because they’ve “always been that way.” Work with your staff and the Elders/Deacons at your church to align your budget as much as possible to your vision. Remember, vision should drive the budget.
2. Dream Big: When the budget proposals start rolling in, the dreams start flowing. When you turn in your budget proposal to your staff, you’re turning in your vision. Numbers are just numbers if there’s no vision to drive it.
3. Don’t Complain, Use what You’ve Got! Let’s face it, most of us out there aren’t going to go from having a Student Ministry budget of $10,000 one year to having $45,000 the next. Most likely, your massive budget request in most churches will come back MUCH SMALLER than you had hoped.In my first student ministry position, my budget was, well, less than desirable. One of the leaders in the church encouraged me with some old school advice that God used to convict me and challenge me. He simply looked me in the eyes and said “Quit complaining and use what you’ve got to reach students for the the Kingdom of God.” Reality Check. I’ve used the line so many times. But this time it was real. We got creative, and stretched that budget as far as it would go. It was also one the most fruitful year of ministry we had during my time there. God is faithful. Plan and simple.
