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)"