Strategy of a Different Color (2)

Really just slicing this blog into two parts, you may want to also read "Strategy of a Different Number" also. We started with talking about how the one-program to one-audience idea or the "Funnel Strategy" is either dying or at least shifting because teens seem just as likely to connect at an outreach event as they do in a deep Bible study or a high-commitment mission experience.

So then, I've also discovered the joy of creative programming thanks to heroes like Jeanne Mayo, my predecessor Brandon Bates, and the amazing young people who serve on as a Youth Council at my new church. I began this journey of discovery years ago as a volunteer in youth ministry and as Jeanne suggested in her book "Thriving Youth Groups" that periodically your youth group might want to have a small group night or an outreach night she calls "Andrew Nights" where the focus is on bringing friends.

I love my namesake, by the way! Andrew was the disciple who was known for bringing his brother Peter to Jesus. I believe he also brought the boy to Jesus whose lunch of bread and fish was used to feed over 5000 people. I just hope my life is known for bringing others to Jesus and seeing him feed and change their lives.

Back to this strategy however, think of it a bit like "the progressive meal" thing many youth groups do where you go from one house to the next: an appetizer is served at one place, the main course at another, the desert at another and so on. Think of what I'm about to describe like this, kind of a journey that is not unlike offering various parts of the "meal" Jesus has prepared to our young people in various settings.

Using my predecessor Brandon's calendar as a template, we expanded out the idea of color coding and providing various focuses in our scheduling. See our current calendar here: http://www.expandingthelight.org/clientimages/42883/youth%20spring2012cal.pdf. For fun, each focus has a different color and two names of a man and a woman from the Bible who exemplified that focus.

Andrew/Lydia nights are outreach nights. I've already described Andrew already. Lydia was known for inviting people into her home. Outreach is about bringing others in to meet Jesus.

Paul/Priscilla nights are mission nights. Paul is certainly known for his missionary journeys and Priscilla was a part of this effort too.

David/Mary nights are worship nights. David was a worshiper who sought after God's heart and Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. On these nights, we pray, sing, and experience God's presence in different ways.

Timothy/Esther nights are spiritual growth nights. Timothy grew under Paul and served as a young pastor while Esther was a young queen. These are nights where our young leaders and influencers grow in God.

There are a number of ways to approach this strategy. One of the first youth ministries I was a part of as a volunteer had a FOCUS strategy where programming was Friends focused (outreach), Outward focused (missions) Christ-like life focused (spiritual growth), Upward focused (worship), and Servant focused (service). Taste the Rainbow!

See "Strategy of a Different Number (1)"

Strategy of a Different Number (1)

As I strive to build relationships and seek to discover the DNA in my new ministry setting, I've discovered two things: (a) building relationships is job one--duh!--followed closely by this joy of discovery in my first year. And (b) part of this discovery is being willing to embrace a shift in strategy.

Mark DeVries wrote a great article that challenges the paradigm he and so many of us youth workers have held dear for years. Check it out at http://archive.youthministry.com/details.asp?ID=7436. In short, his premise is that "it's getting harder and harder to provide programming that has a singular focus on a clearly defined group of students."  In other words, an outreach level teenager is just as likely to connect in a deep Bible study or a high-commitment mission experience.

I've noticed this shift even in the ten years or so I've worked with young people. I've also noticed a need for a shift in our thinking about numbers. (I'll admit I DO play the number game because I think young lives count!) Youth Group is no longer the be-all-end-all program we MUST get kids too in order to be seen as a "success." Honestly, I was a bit bummed out to see 15 or so at my first Youth Group, 10 or so the following week, and then around 5 the third week.

So a few things to share here. Remember that any time you follow a well-loved youth worker, and even if there's a structure in place toward sustainability in youth ministry, there is always going to be a level of rebuilding. Whether it's rebuilding a youth program or building new relationships and trust, it takes time, and there may even be a drop in attendance initially. One new friend shared with me how hard it is for her to open up when she feels like people keep coming in and out of her life. She graduates this year, and my hope is that we can build a relationship into her college years even as she is "out from under" my direct responsibility.

So then, I've discovered the importance of tracking an overall picture of attendance. The week we had just 5 at Youth Group, we had 30 total participating in some capacity that week whether it be Sunday morning worship, Sunday school, a Sr. High small group, Youth Hand Bells, a Youth Ensemble, etc. All in all, 30 kids participating in various ways multiplied out to about 70 points of contact with our church in just one week!

We're still working out how to track this, but in some capacity or another teens are connecting in some way and "Expanding the Light by seeking, serving, or sharing the message of Jesus Christ" in some way each week. (Lakewood UMC Mission Statement)

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