Jn.6.

35 Whoever believes in me will never thirst

Daniel Globig Sen. Reflection YMI480 Prof. Brian Kono Weekly Article 2.0 9.17.13 o o o o o o Title of Article: Where Do I Start: Dougs Top 10 Youth Ministry Commitments Author: Doug Fields Source: Book Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry Date of Article: Copyright 2002 by Youth Specialties Length: 21 Pages Subject/Issue: Expected of You; Personal Needs; Ministry Foundation

Summary (421 words): Youth Ministry is a marathon, which needs to be run like a marathon. It requires discipline to make sure pace is kept. At the beginning of the race, everyone starts out as one mass. Rookies start out talking and being very optimistic and happy, but serious runners with experience are silent, thoughtful, planning, stretching, and in the zone. There is a mental state a runner has to be in since a marathon is also a mental marathon. As the miles progress people spread out more, and some even drop out of the race. By mile 10, some people have started to walk. By mile 15, many have stopped to eat an early lunch. By mile 20, only those who started realistically, and who are the most prepared, have a realized chance of finishing well. Running a marathon is like the big-picture of youth ministry. Its not easy. Its long, tiring, often unrewarding, complex, unique, intense, humorous, joyfilled, painful, and can take everything out of you if you are not careful. The longer someone works in youth ministry, just like a marathon runner, the easier it becomes. This is why setting the proper pace is so crucial to thinking of longevity and sustainability. Aside from the wild animal reference in Exodus 23.29-30, youth ministry is much like how the Israelites could not handle God giving the Promised Land in one day. They would have been overwhelmed, so it was Gods plan to gradually conquer Canaan. Gods pace was the right pace. This scriptural principle applies to your youth ministry because God wont give you everything at one; instead, Hell develop a foundation of your youth ministry gradually. So, we need to focus on Him first, and the development of this realistic foundation second. Youth workers would love Doug to simply hand a checklist of exact steps to take, but its an impossible request because youth ministry is so diverse. There are 10 commitments given in this chapter to prayerfully consider as a foundation for your youth ministry to be healthy, effective, and sustainable. 1. I will move slowly 2. I will regularly check my motives and evaluate my heart

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Jn.6.35 Whoever believes in me will never thirst

3. I will steer clear of the numbers game 4. I will not criticize the past 5. I will avoid the comparison trap 6. I will focus on priorities 7. I will pace myself 8. I will serve 9. I will be a learner 10. I will pursue contentment All in all, these commitments should be considered and kept in a visible place. Reflection Questions (8-10): 11. So, how many changes are typical for a youth worker to write down in nots, in the first year, or the second year? 12. Does it really take 5 years to start a healthy ministry; what about if a youth ministry is also a start-up youth center? How long might that take? 13. How often does a youth worker have to continually ask questions like why do I want to lead this ministry, and what are my motivesetc? 14. So, how does someone approach church supervisors to make sure the numbers game is not played, but yet standards are still met to an extent? 15. When should someone ask the expectations of numbers in the interview process? 16. I have heard this over and over; youth ministry never ends. I get it. But how many hours are typical for a work week, and how many are actually sustainable? 17. But Jesus gave the church a unique model of leadership that requires serving. What is meant by this? Because it seems as though Church structure often leaves leaders without leaders? What is an effective way to make sure a leader has palpable leaders? 18. I was really interested in the time blocks of each day; does this mean the typical youth ministry hours are from 9am to 9pm? 19. Aside from books, articles, conferences, and recorded messages, what is the best way a youth worker should continually learn? It seems like this would just bog down more of the unrealistic schedule. 20. What does the typical church honeymoon look like? How long does it typically last? 21. What can I do to improve the commitment that I struggle with most, which is moving slowly? Application and Action: As I look at all of these commitments, I cant help but think about our final project, which is technically our first full-time youth ministry project, because we will be tested in the real world which is to develop a portfolio and such. John

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Jn.6.35 Whoever believes in me will never thirst

Grandys portfolio had a mission statement, and so I would like to also have a commitment list and priority list, as well as Scripture to back everything up. I like that there was scripture behind most each commitment, as well as experience. That covers two of the quadrilateral! So, now I will type and tweek commitments for myself to be used in the future, and I will also apply one of them currently. As a merge group leader, life can keep me from being effective, so I will commit to focus on priorities. I will plan out more of what we will do in the near future, and make sure they are all a part of the priorities. I will put these commitments, among other things, in the binders and I would also like to have a mission statement which even touches on my personal weaknesses, as well as weaknesses of urban youth workers. When I think about my personality, I think about a maverick, and I didnt realize what that was until reading through this, and looking up the definition. Wow! Thats not the best thing to be when it comes to youth ministry. So, I need to consider how I will submit to authority, and keep myself in a community of accountability. Otherwise, I could very well plow over other people without the intention of hurting people; I might just be attempting changes too fast. Quotes or Stats: a. In 1979 I was a rookie youth worker with no idea what I was doing. I took teenagers to R-rated movies; I had a Jacuzzi party in the baptismal because a 12-year-old thought it would be fun; I yelled at a group of parents; I taught a 15-year-old to drive using the church van; and I almost got arrested for having underage students in an over-21 club. Thankfully, a lot has changed, but its been an eventful ride ever since. b. [Finishing, in terms of the marathon,] is not only a matter of the body, but the emotions and the mind. c. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. (Hebrews 12.1) d. The youth ministry world is like God not wanting to overwhelm Israel by giving them the Promised Land in one day: But I will not do this all in one year because the land would become a wilderness, and the wild animals would become to many to control. I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to fill the land. (Exodus 23.29-30) e. [One day I was parking my wifes care, and while I shaved 10 or 15 seconds off of her time, I also caused $250 in damage, because I was rushing through the garage much faster than she normally did (which I would make fun of her for). f. No. No. No. Keep practicing those words.

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