Here are 10 youth ministry Ten Youth Ministry “Don’t Forgets”…

4. Don’t forget, be honest with your teens about everything.

If they are really growing spiritually, let them know it. However, if they need to step it up a notch, let them know that as well.

5. Don’t forget, never embarrass a teen in front of his or her peers.

If there is a problem with a teen, pull them off to the side and begin working on it. They will respect you for the way you handle things and will begin working on it quicker.

6. Don’t forget, live by the ETEM rule.

That simply means, contact every teen every month. You may visit, phone, e-mail, etc., but be sure that a month doesn’t go by that you don’t get in touch with your teens.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,

Paul & Al

Sign up for The Zone!  http://tinyurl.com/223da4

P.S. Pass this issue of the Youth Ministry MAXimizer along to 3 youth ministry friends.

P.P.S. Missed an issue? http://www.teenlifeministries.com/blog

Members: Login to your account for access to this week’s updates.

New Bible Lesson :: Parables Lesson 5… http://tinyurl.com/2z8btu Includes, PowerPoint, lesson outline, discussion guide and class handout (as usual).

Youth Ministry  - Involving parents in ministry

Relay Games - Get those last water games in before the cold weather hits.

Tip of the Week - Youth Ministry

Daily Bible Readings for December (just print or copy and paste and email to your group) - Called on a Mission December 1 Leviticus 25:8-12 ……..

Spiritual Influences (Listen to Lisa - for your youth group girls) -   I am in a particularly reflective mood this week (although that is not saying much, as I am nearly always in…

Sudden Impact -   November 2008  Without a doubt, the human mind is the most awe inspiring creation of God. The mind of man would stand above all other miracles of creation if they were listed in an order of importance.

Are You Praiseworthy - Students should learn that when they seek the praises of man they do not get the praises from God.

Teamwork in Ministry  - Modeling a servant heart with humility is a must in ministry.

Who Am I?  -   Who Am I?   Purpose: To help students understand who they are and how important they are to God.   Passage: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

Outdoor Football Game and Testimony Night  - Last football season our campus minister decided to do something a little on the radical side.

Not a Member of The Zone? Get the details here

NO! We’re not kidding. You get everything on that page. Al gets several calls a week to ask if Teen Life is for real with this offer.

Did you receive this email as a forward? Sign up for this free newsletter at:

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Here are 10 youth ministry Ten Youth Ministry “Don’t Forgets”…

1. Don’t forget, you are not a teen, you are their leader. Oh, yeah, it’s cool to go out and play ball with the zoo crew and even check out the latest flick. But when it gets down to crunch time you are their leader, not their peer.

2. Don’t forget, always keep your church leaders informed of what’s going on in your ministry. They need to know what you are doing and how well your group is growing spiritually. It’s not bragging or “blowing your own horn,” but they usually will not know unless you tell them.

3. Don’t forget, video all special events and show them at the end-of-the-year party. Your teens will love it and so will the parents. You might make copies and give to your seniors as a graduation gift.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,

Paul & Al

Sign up for The Zone!  http://tinyurl.com/223da4

P.S. Pass this issue of the Youth Ministry MAXimizer along to 3 youth ministry friends.

P.P.S. Missed an issue? http://www.teenlifeministries.com/blog

Members: Login to your account for access to this week’s updates.

New Bible Lesson :: Parables Lesson 5… http://tinyurl.com/2z8btu Includes, PowerPoint, lesson outline, discussion guide and class handout (as usual).

Daily Bible Readings for December (just print or copy and paste and email to your group) - Called on a Mission December 1 Leviticus 25:8-12 ……..

Spiritual Influences (Listen to Lisa - for your youth group girls) -   I am in a particularly reflective mood this week (although that is not saying much, as I am nearly always in…

Sudden Impact -   November 2008  Without a doubt, the human mind is the most awe inspiring creation of God. The mind of man would stand above all other miracles of creation if they were listed in an order of importance.

Are You Praiseworthy - Students should learn that when they seek the praises of man they do not get the praises from God.

Teamwork in Ministry  - Modeling a servant heart with humility is a must in ministry.

Who Am I?  -   Who Am I?   Purpose: To help students understand who they are and how important they are to God.   Passage: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

Outdoor Football Game and Testimony Night  - Last football season our campus minister decided to do something a little on the radical side.

Not a Member of The Zone? Get the details here

NO! We’re not kidding. You get everything on that page. Al gets several calls a week to ask if Teen Life is for real with this offer.

Did you receive this email as a forward? Sign up for this free newsletter at:

http://tinyurl.com/2bojj9

Here are 10 youth ministry frustrations and what you can do about them.

7.  Unjustified Complaints. We’re human and we’re going to make mistakes. Truth be known, I make a lot of mistakes.  That’s why I don’t like getting the blame for something I had nothing to do with.

Tip: Consider the source. Does the complainer have the right information, the right attitude, and the right credentials to bring the complaint? Consider the nature of the complaint. Is there any truth in it. Finally, offer a solution if the complaint has some validity. Forget about it if it doesn’t.

8.  Low Budget. Keep fighting in this department.  It can be a never-ending battle. Read “Low Cost, No Cost Ideas” by Group for a mass of ideas.

Tip: Make a list of youth group alumni and ask them to contribute five or ten dollars a month to the youth fund. Ask them to sign up for a year at the time. You’ll be amazed at the number of people willing to do this when they have been blessed by the ministry in the past.

9. Cliques in the group. Before getting too concerned, make sure cliques really exist. A clique happens when subgroups form to the exclusion of others. Do your teens try purposely to leave others out, or are they just being thoughtless?

Tip: If cliques do exist, put everyone in a seating arrangement next to someone they are not close to and tell them they can’t sit where they want until the cliques disappear (just kidding). Of more benefit may be using small groups in class where students draw names each time to see who they are paired with. That way they get to work with people they are close to and get to know others at the same time.

10. Undisciplined Teens. Some teens won’t listen or behave. They try to make you look like a fool in front of the group.

Tip: Love’em anyway. Deal with the troublemakers with patience and pray that your seeds of love will bring a harvest.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,

Paul & Al

Sign up for The Zone!  http://tinyurl.com/223da4

P.S. Pass this issue of the Youth Ministry MAXimizer along to 3 youth ministry friends.

P.P.S. Missed an issue? http://www.teenlifeministries.com/blog

Members: Login to your account for access to this week’s updates.

New Bible Lesson :: Parables Lesson 4… http://tinyurl.com/2z8btu Includes, PowerPoint, lesson outline, discussion guide and class handout (as usual).

Sudden Impact -   November 2008  Without a doubt, the human mind is the most awe inspiring creation of God. The mind of man would stand above all other miracles of creation if they were listed in an order of importance.

Are You Praiseworthy - Students should learn that when they seek the praises of man they do not get the praises from God.

Teamwork in Ministry  - Modeling a servant heart with humility is a must in ministry.

Turning Trick-or-Treat Around  - Do you want to take trick or treating to a whole new level for your youth group?

Twilight Zone  - Just about every time I consider hanging up the cleats I think of a teen who came through our ministry.

Sudden Impact - It was just a few months ago that Larry told me his dad packed up in the middle of the night and left.

Daily Bible Readings  - Encourage your teens to be daily Bible readers.

Who Am I?  -   Who Am I?   Purpose: To help students understand who they are and how important they are to God.   Passage: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

Outdoor Football Game and Testimony Night  - Last football season our campus minister decided to do something a little on the radical side.

Not a Member of The Zone? Get the details here

NO! We’re not kidding. You get everything on that page. Al gets several calls a week to ask if Teen Life is for real with this offer.

Did you receive this email as a forward? Sign up for this free newsletter at:

http://tinyurl.com/2bojj9

Here are 10 youth ministry frustrations and what you can do about them.

4. Lack of Parental Support. Even if you do everything you can to get parents on your side, there may be times when you lack the support you desire and need. As the youth minister, you may get blamed for a teen’s personal problems because, “You didn’t do enough.” Or you may not be going in the direction that the parents want you to.

Tip: Regardless of the circumstances, avoid overreacting. Treat parents with respect and honor through the hard times and the next time things get rough you may find that you have more supporters than ever before.

5.  Lack of Staff Member Support. Even if the parents aren’t on your side all the time, you certainly want the staff on your side. These are the people you work with everyday - they’re hard to avoid!

Tip: Tensions on staff arise from multiple sources: envy, personality, salary, office hours, to name a few. Keep relationships strong by having a weekly share session to talk about problems, prayer requests, and dreams. Form a team concept among staff members.

6.  Not enough time. There are only twenty-four hours in a day, and nothing will change that. You put in your office time, visit with kids after school, catch a quick supper, and then attend a school function of one of the teens. This cycle can seem endless when you suddenly realize you have to get a class, devotional, and leader’s material ready by this afternoon!

Tip: Prioritize your time. There never seems to be enough time when you don’t know what’s coming next. Review your day each morning and make every minute count.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,

Paul & Al

Sign up for The Zone!  http://tinyurl.com/223da4

P.S. Pass this issue of the Youth Ministry MAXimizer along to 3 youth ministry friends.

P.P.S. Missed an issue? http://www.teenlifeministries.com/blog

Members: Login to your account for access to this week’s updates.

New Bible Lesson :: Parables Lesson 3… http://tinyurl.com/2z8btu Includes, PowerPoint, lesson outline, discussion guide and class handout (as usual).

Teamwork in Ministry  - Modeling a servant heart with humility is a must in ministry.

Turning Trick-or-Treat Around  - Do you want to take trick or treating to a whole new level for your youth group?

Twilight Zone  - Just about every time I consider hanging up the cleats I think of a teen who came through our ministry.

Sudden Impact - It was just a few months ago that Larry told me his dad packed up in the middle of the night and left.

Daily Bible Readings  - Encourage your teens to be daily Bible readers.

Who Am I?  -   Who Am I?   Purpose: To help students understand who they are and how important they are to God.   Passage: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

Outdoor Football Game and Testimony Night  - Last football season our campus minister decided to do something a little on the radical side.

Not a Member of The Zone? Get the details here

NO! We’re not kidding. You get everything on that page. Al gets several calls a week to ask if Teen Life is for real with this offer.

Did you receive this email as a forward? Sign up for this free newsletter at:

http://tinyurl.com/2bojj9

Increasing Youth Event Participation…

Here are 10 youth ministry frustrations and what you can do about them.

1. Losing teens. Whether to the world, another group, or relocation, losing a teen pulls a minister down. And it always seems to happen when the kid was making a breakthrough, or having a tremendous impact on the rest of the group.

Tip: Don’t take it personally when a teen leaves. It may be her parent’s decision. Or he may not have fit in well with the dynamics of your group and decided to try another group. Instead of being hard on yourself, pray and ask God to bless the teen wherever he or she may go.

2. Lack of Commitment. “How many want to get together and pray before school at your campus?…No one?..Okay, then how many would be interested in hosting a free car wash next month for the senior citizens? … Anyone?…No?…Okay, then how about…” In youth ministry cycles there come periods when no one acts like they want to do anything for the Lord. Casual Christianity seems to rule.

Tip: When no one wants to get involved, have the teens plan, and host the event. By giving them ownership, they put in the time and energy. Teens might not mind if your plans don’t work, but they will if their plans don’t work.

3. Poor Attendance. I remember showing up one Saturday morning to go with my youth group to a rally. Only the youth minister showed up out of a group with seventy teens. Do you know what my youth minister did? He took me to the rally!

Tip: Don’t worry about poor attendance.  View it as an opportunity to give special attention to the handful that do show up.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,

Paul & Al

Sign up for The Zone!  http://tinyurl.com/223da4

P.S. Pass this issue of the Youth Ministry MAXimizer along to 3 youth ministry friends.

P.P.S. Missed an issue? http://www.teenlifeministries.com/blog

Members: Login to your account for access to this week’s updates.

New Bible Lesson :: Parables Lesson 2… http://tinyurl.com/2z8btu Includes, PowerPoint, lesson outline, discussion guide and class handout (as usual).

Twilight Zone  - Just about every time I consider hanging up the cleats I think of a teen who came through our ministry.

Sudden Impact - It was just a few months ago that Larry told me his dad packed up in the middle of the night and left.

Daily Bible Readings  - Encourage your teens to be daily Bible readers.

Who Am I?  -   Who Am I?   Purpose: To help students understand who they are and how important they are to God.   Passage: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

Outdoor Football Game and Testimony Night  - Last football season our campus minister decided to do something a little on the radical side.

Not a Member of The Zone? Get the details here

NO! We’re not kidding. You get everything on that page. Al gets several calls a week to ask if Teen Life is for real with this offer.

Did you receive this email as a forward? Sign up for this free newsletter at:

http://tinyurl.com/2bojj9