Youth Night Switch Model - WordPress.com€¦ ·...
Transcript of Youth Night Switch Model - WordPress.com€¦ ·...
Youth Night Model Changes for September 2016:
The Exciting Changes:
1) Having both Junior High & Senior High Youth-group on Thursday Nights Some integration of both age groups (Worship expression and Announcements) but separated for Teaching, off site events and special events (i.e. coffee house, air bands ect.) 2) Having Wednesday take on a “Youth Connect” Model This is focused on weekly Sr High Bible Study, Teams and Leadership Development. This would Mirror what our Church is doing as a whole* 3) Having Sunday Morning Junior High Bible Study during the Sunday Sermon This would be aimed at Grade 6 and 7’s primarily and would follow the same topics (THE STORY) as the Sunday sermon and Senior High Bible Study on Wednesdays. 4) Re-focusing our “Student Leadership” program as a SERVANT TEAM. This would manifest as a hybrid of internship/ practical service and discipleship without the onus to take on adult responsibilities and disciple “peers” yet. This team would be targeted at grades 9-‐12 to serve on Thursday Nights with their own age group have biweekly team planning and input meetings to have creative input and help craft ideas for Sr High leaving the pastors and adults to set the course and direction for the ministry. In this model, Junior High would staffed ENTIRELY by Grade 12+, Adult/YA Leaders & Parents*
Why are we Switching our Night & Model? 1) Unity -‐ Same night, same places, same faces
-‐ Modeling Ephesians 4 living and a better ecclesiology, this models the [C]hurch better and creates less Silo’s and separation.
-‐ Better utilization of our facility & “resources” (people, spaces ect.) -‐ Opportunity to have all of our youth leaders serving together on the
same team. This creates less need for multiple planning meetings and vision to be cast and keeps the youth team unified.
-‐ Brings our Vision and direction to a point & make it more possible to have vision for ONE group.
-‐ This model can combat losing grade 9’s & the feeling of joining a WHOLE NEW youth group at that key transition age*
-‐ Creates opportunity for HOSTS (All adult generations) on Service nights in the hallways to pray and keep eyes out for students who are disengaged, need to talk, or are sneaking around so that Youth leaders can focus more on relational endeavors instead of “crowd control”.
2) Creates Space for BETTER Discipleship
- Opens up the Next Generations ministries to include young adults with Matt on Tuesdays (a key discipleship aspect for our young adult aged youth leaders)
-‐ Opens up Wednesday for Youth specific courses such as “The Story”, Alpha, weekly Bible study, Discipleship meetings & Creativ* team meeting/ practice.
Key Thought* Jesus “discipled” his Disciples for 3 years before he had them disciple anyone else and they were full-grown men.
-‐ This model gives designated roles to Adults and Students so that there is not confusion as to who the youth leaders are and who can be “trusted” to confide in or be a possible advocate.
Adopt the Visual Values of Sr High for Whole Group: S: Scripture / Solace / Spirit W: Worship / Wisdom / Words Activ* (The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two edged sword) The Spirit is Active and Moving, we are active in community!! Creativ* (ideas supplemented by the Creativ* Team which meets every second Wednesdays to plan and be discipled*), this is the replacement for “Student Leadership” and could include more people as well as give those on the team a greater sense of ownership over things**
Why are we Switching “Student Leadership” to The SERVANT Team?
1) Giving grade 9-‐12 students an opportunity to grow and thrive in their gifting where failure is ok. This is no longer primarily about having highschoolers “disciple-‐ing” the Jr highs it is about focusing on being disciples* in their own age group context.
2) This SERVANT Team is completely INCLUSIONARY and OPEN where as a leadership team is EXCLUSIONARY i.e. invite or application only and we want all of our student teams to be inclusive. We want to take away the feeling of certain students being the “chosen” or “favorite” ones and instead everyone has the opportunity to be chosen and favorite!
3) Defining Adult Roles in our Ministry / i.e. Youth Leaders are only Grade 12+
-‐ This ensures that the environment is safe and that discipleship is ACTUALLY being accomplished, as it is an ESSENTIAL for our MINISTRY. -‐ Students need to feel able to confide in their small group leader and not in a “peer to peer” sense but in a trust-‐based student to leader sense.
First of the Month: S//W Night - Worship Service Games open from 6:30pm - 7:00pm (Together to worship at the start then separated) Second of the Month: ADVENTURE NIGHT!! // Off Site* Third of the Month: S//W Night - Worship Service (Together to worship at the start then separated) Fourth of the Month: Connect Groups* (Sr High off site, Jr High on Site)
Sample YOUTH CONNECT Wednesday:
3:30pm -‐ 4:30pm SERVANT Team Meeting & Training (Youth Room)
Every 2nd Week 4:30pm -‐ 5:00pm Dinner/snack with SERVANT Team (Youth Room)
Every 2nd Week 5:00pm -‐ 6:30pm Senior High Bible study (Youth Room)
(Alpha in May) 6:30pm -‐ 8:00pm Creativ* Team Training (October -‐ April)
Pro’s Con’s, Questions or Difficulties -‐ Group unity, same night, same places &
same faces. ONE BODY -‐ Bussing becomes more complicated and we
would need 1 more+ consistent bus volunteers who are totally self sufficient (i.e
don’t need Nicole with them) Solution: We are looking into having a part time paid intern joining the team who will
cover this among other things. -‐ Better Discipleship/ Only one “Night” per week of Program as opposed to 2 so the week is open for bible study, worship
practices and team building
-‐ The need to specify Jon & Nicole’s roles more (are they still the point leaders for
BOTH nights in tandem) Solution: Our roles will look essentially the same but we will each need to take on certain extra responsibilities depending on what the
night calls for. - Potential for larger worship gatherings with Jr & Sr combined service components. This also gives us the opportunity to have more proficient bands and not throw students in front of a crowd who aren’t
ready.
-‐ This model is logistically more difficult and may need additional explanation (i.e.
leaders, parents, students) Solution: We will be providing a lot of prior notice and info, i.e. website, calendar, email ect. And briefing our leader well in advance.
-‐ More leaders doing SPECIFIC things and a higher chance of having ENOUGH Leaders on larger nights. The more space we have available for leaders to interact the more plays time can seem BIG and exciting!
-‐ Might feel empty of leaders during exams times and college based holidays
Solution: This model actually gives us more leaders & adults per student than what we
currently have in our model. - Opportunity for Young Adults nights to
be consistent and well attended (Tuesdays)
-‐ Harder to go off site for regular events* (Who takes what group?)
Solution: The amount of events needing both groups off site the same week are minimal
-‐ On a Thursday nights the building is more empty and we could make use of more
rooms for larger weekly events* and more opportunities for leaders to take on
responsibilities*
-‐ The age integration could be a point of contention for certain parents (not wanting the older group around the grade 6/7’s)
Solution: The integrated parts are monitored by more adults and leaders than would be present in the current model. We already do retreats all together and they work great!
-‐ New for the sake of newness. We want to stay creative while avoiding stagnation and
complacency among our group.
-‐ People are often resistant to change (students included), lots of changes are
being proposed… Solution: We are focusing our discussion with the students on the importance of WHY we
are doing this not just “when”) Could offer opportunity for numerical growth
(Bigger events and movements attract more people)
Could shrink the group (older kids not wanting to be around the younger kids) Solution: Bigger groups often attract more
people; we believe the give will be equal to the take in this regard.