REyouthpastor.com | Home » Youth Pastor Interviews http://www.reyouthpastor.com Running Experiments For Youth Pastors Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:13:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Youth Pastor Interview With Terrace Crawford http://www.reyouthpastor.com/student-ministry-skills/youth-pastor-interviews-ypqt/youth-pastor-interview-terrace-crawford/ http://www.reyouthpastor.com/student-ministry-skills/youth-pastor-interviews-ypqt/youth-pastor-interview-terrace-crawford/#comments Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:17:01 +0000 Jeremy Zach http://www.reyouthpastor.com/?p=6259

(pic of Terrace’s was stolen from http://www.terracecrawfordbio.com/)

Terrace is one of my youth ministry blogging buddies.  I had the chance to meet Terrace for the first time this year at The Orange Conference.  Terrace and I  worked on a few online blogging projects so it was cool to finally meet and give him a faux hawk high five.  I wanted to interview Terrace because there are some cool endeavors he is doing— editing the youth channel for churchleaders.com and launching a youth ministry coaching network.  I am really excited for Terrace, so I wanted to pick his brain about youth ministry.

The Official Interview With Terrace Crawford by Jeremy Zach

Why did you go into youth ministry?
Ultimately, I went into youth ministry because I felt God’s call to it.  I was very involved in my youth group (as a teen) and my youth pastor gave me leadership opportunities. I felt God’s call to full-time service during my time there.

 

What do you think youth workers biggest struggle is right now?
I think the economy has made things a bit difficult for many youth workers.  Even if their event budgets haven’t been cut, they’ve suffered losses elsewhere.  Also, I think we’re seeing more and more teens today become indifferent to church because they are not seeing the impact. With regards to both, I think we have to redefine what ministry looks like for us, get innovative — all through the power and knowledge by the Holy Spirit.

 

What is your prediction for the future of youth ministry?
There was some talk a while back about the future of youth ministry and I shared (via churchleaders and my blog) 5 glimpses of what I thought we would see and who are the younger voices that will help shape the future of YM.

 

What are a few problems youth are struggling with today?
I think there are a number of things youth will always struggle with, but I’d say that one struggle in particular would be how to live out their faith.  Youth need to see adults model how to live out an authentic faith and a victorious Christian life.

Who are you currently learning from?
In my role as an editor for ChurchLeaders.com I’m doing a lot more reading these days.  It’s been great to read the content of not only the notable thought-leaders but also those who are younger voices.  I’m learning a lot from doing this.  Additionally, I have a life coach and a couple of mentors that I meet with regularly who stretch my thinking.

 

What are some exciting things that are happening for you?

I would say that I feel I am living in a time where God is calling me to step out of the boat. I have found myself taking more risks and learning to trust Him.  It’s been very exciting.  I have a confidence and peace… yet I’m scared to death. I’ve already been blessed by it… so it is exciting.

What is one thing you would tell a rookie and/or veteran youth worker?  Remember only one thing.
I would encourage any youth worker (whether rookie or veteran) to not ever be content with where they are at. I think we should always be learning and growing … and our ministries and work should (and will) reflect this too.

 

]]> http://www.reyouthpastor.com/student-ministry-skills/youth-pastor-interviews-ypqt/youth-pastor-interview-terrace-crawford/feed/ 1 Youth Ministry in The United Kingdom: An Interview With A Mate (Jon Jolly) Across The Pond http://www.reyouthpastor.com/student-ministry-skills/youth-pastor-interviews-ypqt/united-kingdom-youth-ministry-interview-mate-pond/ http://www.reyouthpastor.com/student-ministry-skills/youth-pastor-interviews-ypqt/united-kingdom-youth-ministry-interview-mate-pond/#comments Wed, 18 May 2011 11:23:17 +0000 Jeremy Zach http://www.reyouthpastor.com/?p=5905

I love UK culture and style.  I have a secret obsession with the BRITS, which is why I am super excited that Jon Jolly agreed to do an interview about youth ministry in the United Kingdom with me.  I have been following Jon since 2007, so I know he has some fresh thoughts about youth ministry.

 

Bio:
Jon has been working with young people since he volunteered to help at the church kids club aged 11.  He spent many years working for a community based charity while studying for a degree in Community & Informal Education. He now heads up the youth and community work for his home church in Littlehampton, UK while writing and advising for national groups and publications.  He holds a professional JNC youth work qualification in Informal & Community Education.  Jon is married to Kirsty, they have a daughter named Hope and a second
child on the way!
 

Connect With Jon:

 

Interview With Jon Jolly
(1) What are some of the challenges youth workers are facing in the UK?
To answer that question, you need a little context! Youth Work as a profession has grown and diversified greatly in the UK. For many years the government has financially supported their own (non-faith) youth services, while charities and Christian community projects also gained funding for their work by showing they could achieve prescribed targets. Now we have hit a funding crisis, much of that youth provision has been stopped with many workers losing their jobs and young people left with no support. The big challenge is for youth services, youth workers and young people to simply survive without the structure and security that was there before.

 

However Christian ministry within youth work has traditionally been given little recognition despite being one of the biggest areas of work supported by thousands of churches and volunteers. It seems to carry on regardless as it is financed through the local church and is far more sustainable. So the challenge and opportunity for churches is: how can they continue to be distinctively Christ-like, yet develop key support services and opportunities for young people with nowhere else to go?
 

(2) How supportive are churches/organization of youth workers and youth ministries?
My personal experience has been very good. I’ve worked with some amazing churches and organisations who simply love people and want to see youth thrive. In these places (including my home church) there is an attitude that although individual activities, events, or people might not work out, it’s still worth doing it anyway!
Of course, that’s not always the case. I’ve talked with many youth ministers who feel burnt out, misunderstood, depressed and sometimes even victimised in their churches. This is not solely a UK problem, but I believe it stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of what youth work is and does. When youth work is seen as a babysitting service, it has already failed.
 

(3) What are the best ways to deal with teens who don’t care about God, church, and youth group?
Love them, love them, and love them some more. I spent 8 years working for a Christian-based community project. On my first day I was introduced to a very troublesome young person, yet it was four years later that they finally trusted me enough to tell me the terrible things they’d been through. This individual wasn’t interested in God, church or a youth group, but needed a safe and consistent presence in their life. Through the years, we’ve had many conversations and experiences of God together. As a result I’ve become passionate about serving the ‘church-grown’ young people develop their relationship with Jesus, but also to bridge the gap with the ‘community kids’ who have no connection with our faith.
 

(4) What are 2 clear features that separate UK and US style of youth ministry?
Our countries have a lot in common. We eat similar foods, listen to similar music, wear similar clothes. Our culture is influenced by yours and we speak a common language. But while the majority of the US still recognise church attendance as a normal practice and would quote Christian values as their own, the UK has changed. We are pretty much a Post-Christian nation now with faith seen (at least through the media) as largely irrelevant, and a very aggressive atheism trying to denounce faith as dangerous! This may seem like a bad thing, but it gives us GREAT opportunity for ministry and evangelism. While most children may have heard the name of Jesus mentioned somewhere, very few have any understanding of Him or have had an opportunity to hear the Gospel explained clearly. This is our privilege.

 

The second feature that is different to the US is the potential freedom we have within schools. It is still law in England that schools have a regular act of worship, which is largely problematic for non-faith teachers who will often ask local ministers to come and do “something religious.” There are thousands of youth workers who have built positive relationships with schools and who
spend their time going in and taking lessons, presenting assemblies, and doing support work – all with a clear Christian purpose. So there is some very creative work happening in schools, including large interactive prayer spaces and art installations.

 

(5) What advice would you give US youth workers?  What can US youth ministry learn from UK youth ministry?
My observation is that the US have the youth ministry thing sewn up pretty well. You have great conferences, resources and speakers, and I regularly read books, articles and blogs from some amazing US youth ministers. So I’m not sure I’m in a position to give advice, but I would be very encouraged to start hearing more stories of churches, youth workers and young people challenging and transforming their communities. There’s a lot out there on practically supporting youth pastors, and running a ministry, even going on mission trips. But grass roots community engagement with young people seems to be an element that’s missing from the US youth ministry world right now.

 

Aside from correct grammar and spellings, I believe US youth ministry could learn a couple of things from the UK! Firstly is the vast creativity in engaging with young people. I am constantly amazed by workers I meet who are thinking differently about church and young people, and experimenting in different ways with amazing results. I think there is more of a freedom here to try new things, which would be great to see happen in the States.

 

Secondly, I believe one of the big strengths in the UK is partnerships. Our church alone regularly meets with 7 other churches, runs a community centre, and works closely with 3 local government organisations. There is amazing opportunity to be had in drawing alliances and developing relationships with other groups outside of church. This is increasingly common in the UK and we now have people approaching the church with money, asking if we could start a dance group for the community, or employ someone for pastoral care! I would encourage US youth ministers to think carefully about how they might connect with other organisations to further the work of the church and make Christ known in those places where churches aren’t normally welcome.
]]> http://www.reyouthpastor.com/student-ministry-skills/youth-pastor-interviews-ypqt/united-kingdom-youth-ministry-interview-mate-pond/feed/ 0 Polling My Youth Pastor Homeys http://www.reyouthpastor.com/blog/polling-my-youth-pastor-homeys/ http://www.reyouthpastor.com/blog/polling-my-youth-pastor-homeys/#comments Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:40:27 +0000 Jeremy Zach http://www.reyouthpastor.com/?p=4782

According to Urban Dictionary homeys mean:  definition #1: The boys (and girls), the ones you not only like, but trust definition #2: Originating from the word home boy.  People you grew up with. Trusting them and having faith in them.

When I sit down to write on reyouthpastor.com, it all depends on how much coffee I drank and what I am reading, which determines what I blog about.  I thought I should poll my youth pastor audience and/or others who are considering on becoming a youth pastor because ya’ll are my peeps. Please take a few seconds and tell me what you want me to write about.  Also feel free to add something, if I am missing something– in the Other section.

Take Our Poll ]]> http://www.reyouthpastor.com/blog/polling-my-youth-pastor-homeys/feed/ 0 1 Thing Interview With Josh Griffin http://www.reyouthpastor.com/blog/1-thing-interview-with-josh-griffin/ http://www.reyouthpastor.com/blog/1-thing-interview-with-josh-griffin/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:22:09 +0000 Jeremy Zach http://www.reyouthpastor.com/?p=4206

Josh is the high school pastor at Saddleback Church with 15+ years in the student ministry trenches. He’s also a rabid Star Wars fan that has attended Comic-Con a few times too many.

Website:  www.morethandodgeball.com

Josh Griffin what is the one thing you want the youth pastor population to know?

Be a servant. Think of yourself as below everyone else … because that’s how they see you anyhow. You will never go wrong when you put others ahead of you. Clean the rain gutters. Flip the pancakes. Wipe down the counters. Fill up the van. Be the first to arrive and the last to leave. Have boundaries, sure. Take vacation, of course. Even mark your day off as holy ground. But serve every day as the least for the Highest. Or … don’t. And be frustrated out of your mind every day. Mutter silent obscenities under your breath at the adults. Resent parents, needy students, and the leadership of your church. And make your stay in youth ministry short. If you’re a servant, you get it. And your students will, too. And eventually the whole church will. One thing? How about one word: serve.

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Brad Griffin is the Associate Director of the Fuller Youth Institute, where he gets to develop research-based training for youth workers. A native Kentuckian, Brad now lives in Pasadena with his wife Missy and their three children and volunteers in student and worship ministries at NewSong Church.

Brad Griffin what is the one thing you want the youth pastor population to know?

Don’t substitute ministry for your own life with God.

At the same time, don’t assume that ministry and your spiritual life are two different things.

We’ve created unhealthy fragmentation in both directions on this one, and youth pastors tend to fall into one bucket or the other.  Yet when we’re living as whole persons, our work flows both out of and back into who we are.  Plus faith is much more something we live out in community than something we simply believe in our hearts.

So the “one” thing sounds like two, but it’s really this: caring for your soul and your flock are not the same thing, but they’re certainly intertwined.  This takes a lifetime to work out, but as we do we experience the love and grace of God in surprising ways on both fronts.

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