Can I interest you in a network?
I know, I sound like your brother-in-law, the multilevel marketing horsefly. But I'm so convinced that youth ministry networks hold the key to both personal and ministerial development, I'm not afraid to sell you on them. Networking has nothing to do with schmoozing or using people to accomplish our goals. It's all about advancing the cause of Christ in a way your individual church can't.
I've been involved in three different youth ministry networks—small, mega-sized, and "under construction" (it's restarting after a two-year hiatus). The first two groups succeeded because they focused on two things: ministering to each other and ministering with each other.
MINISTERING TO EACH OTHER
I've learned that you can't effectively minister with each other until you've ministered to each other.
1. Seek unity without demanding uniformity. I'm no fan of a politically correct "ecumenical" faith that shaves off all the pointy edges from our individual traditions. But effective networking must "major in the majors" and "minor in the minors." Every member of a networking group has different convictions—when we respect those differences and respect our calling to follow our own convictions, we create an openness that allows God to stretch us in our understanding of his kingdom.
2. Seek first to care for others, not to be cared for. We're all simply too busy to care for others unless it becomes a part of our DNA. When I joined my first network as a rookie youth leader, I hoped the other youth workers would call the newbie to check up on me. I realized after a short time it wasn't going to happen. So I began treating the others in my network like I wanted to be treated. I'd call to check on them and their ministries. Some clichés are true—the more I gave the more I received.
3. Rejoice with each other. One profound reason we typically avoid networking with other youth pastors is captured by something John Stott 1 wrote: "Personal ambition and empire- building are hindering the spread of the gospel." Most of us are far more concerned about our individual churches than the corporate church—that's human nature. But our true nature is God's nature, and in God's kingdom his co- workers don't operate out of comparison, fear, and ego. Comparison is sin. When we repent of it, we're freed to rejoice with each other and celebrate what God is doing within the entire body of Christ.
4. Learn from each other. One of the great perks about involving yourself in a network is you get a free graduate-ministry education from veteran youth workers. One of my network friends has been in youth ministry for almost a quarter-century. He's done it all—volunteer, part-time staff, full-time staff, small church, medium church, megachurch—and he's even handled the administrative side of a large ministry. I've basically audited a course in Youth Ministry Hard Knocks" because Barry is my network friend. But let's say you're the grizzled veteran—what's in it for you? Well, God has given you the privilege and honor to help other youth workers launch off of your hard-fought foundation.
5. Encourage each other. Most youth Most youth pastors don't hear from their supervisors unless a seventh-grader broke something, or an adult leader broke a seventh-grader before he had a chance to break something. Who better understands your struggles, hopes, and dreams than someone who's right there in the trenches with you? Mark Twain once said, "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up." My goal has been to call one youth pastor in my network each week just to encourage him or her.
6. Jesus in their lives. At every network meeting, commit to pray for at least one other person for the month. When I was involved in a smaller network we could pray for everyone at every meeting. In the meganetwork we found prayer partners by trading business cards or praying for our table-mates.
MINISTER WITH EACH OTHER
Ministry to each other is the foundation that allows ministry with each other to succeed.
1. Small-scale events — If your network group is still in its infancy, start small. Team up with a church from your own tradition and host a simple event together. A friend and I brought our groups together for a lock-in. It was fun even though it wasn't easy. Initially the kids didn't interact well with each other. The host church had more kids at the event so my teenagers felt more like guests than partners. However, by the end of the event they all said it had been a positive experience for them.
2. Medium-scale events — A friend of mine is teaming up with four other churches in his area for a lock-in. It's exciting to hear him talk about how they've all been involved with planning the event. Next year they want to invite youth workers who aren't involved with the network to join this event—a precursor to joining the network.
3. Large-scale events — My first church was in Princeton, New Jersey. Our little network of four or five youth workers teamed up with a network from northern New Jersey to sponsor an event that reached more than 900 teenagers and attracted churches from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
4. Prayer-focused events — Last year I experienced a highlight moment in my ministry when 80 teenagers representing six churches gathered for an event. It didn't involve silly games, prizes, or even pizza. Rather, we met for a two-hour concert of prayer! 3 It's a beautiful thing to see 15-year-olds intercede for their friends with other young believers.
5. Worship events — A good friend of mine began talking with another youth pastor about canceling their Sunday night program once a month so they could participate in a joint worship time. They decided to do it and began inviting others to join them. Their very first worship night attracted 21 churches and more than 800 young people. Some think it was the timing and location that made the event so successful—I think it was that one leader who'd been praying for the event for more than two years.
6. Service events — The San Antonio network I was involved with decided to help an urban ministry with a Thanksgiving dinner for the residents of a large housing project. In less than a month 30 churches got involved—we provided more than 100 turkeys and our 300 volunteers fed more than 1,500 people. While people ate, musicians sang and a speaker shared his testimony. Many people committed their lives to Christ that day because 30 churches and hundreds of youth workers joined to advance God's kingdom.
- InDepth: Prayer
- InDepth: Relationships
- InDepth: Strategy
- Leadership
- Network Leader Coaching
- Networking
- Prayer
- Strategy & Planning
- Urban Youth Ministry