I Work With Students

4 Practices in Preparing Videos for Your Youth Ministry

Scott — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:38:07 +0000

Have you ever wanted to have a video that would drive a point home with your teenagers, but could not find it anywhere. Well there is hope. Here are 4 practices in preparing your own videos for your youth ministry

The first thing you want to do is create a story on how you want your video to flow. With in that story you want to find all the sources (google, yahoo, etc…) that will help you drive the point of your video.
Once you have your story, then you need to figure out if you want your story to acted out by others or if you want to tape people answering questions. You can go to a park or mall and interview kids talking about your subject (you need to ask permission to video in a mall)
Now that you have with all this content on it then you need to edit it down to a short film that will drive this point. You can use programs like iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, Adobe Elements and Final Cut Express
When editing the film just remember these key point in prep

Begin and end your video with a black screen
Don’t go Long with it
Maintain continuity
Start with the end in mind
Use Transitions wisely

With these practices and a little practice you can produce a video that will reach the youth of your church. If you have any questions please email me. Scott

Who Needs an office? Not Me

Scott — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:07:18 +0000

This past week I ask the church that I work at if I could have an office so I could lock up stuff and for some privacy. Well what I have received is a closet and no window. I was just reminded by God that its not the office but who we are reaching. 10 years ago one was identified by how big your office was. Now If I spend more than a few hours there I will be lucky. I rejoice about my office in the closet. Because I get a lock and will be able to have some privacy. Thanks God, for reminding me why you called me into youth ministry. Scott

How Much Does it Cost to Do a Youth Ministry?

Scott — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:20:50 +0000

I am finding more and more that church people think that to do youth ministry does not cost anything. Once you hire the minister then that is all that is going to cost them. I am currently in a church were I need to raise my own operating cost for the ministry. I wish that I could post what students do in a typical year and what that cost. I think people would be surprised by the cost factor. I am learning day to day how I need to rely on God for this funding. Being new to this church is fun in a lot of ways but not having money to rent a van when we need to take a trip is starting to drive me crazy. We just finished a fundraiser called Change for Change. The hope is to raise awareness and money for the operating cost for the youth ministry this year. This next Sunday we are going to count all the change that was given to us over the corse of the last month. Trusting God is tough. But I must do it. Its His ministry not mine.

Saying Goodbye to a Ministry

Scott — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:08:35 +0000

Two months ago I had to say goodbye to a church that I had ministered at for 4 year. It was hard to say goodbye but it was time for me to go. The church wanted to move in a new direction not focusing on youth ministry but the adults and the homeless. I was fine with what they wanted so I left. Over the past few months the pastor and others from the church wanted me to stay in contact with them. I have refused to do so. Why is I have moved on and left that ministry behind. I feel that when God moves you from one church to another then you must put your old church in your past and not try to minister to both churches. This has caused some sadness from the old church family. I think they feel that I have betrayed them by not talking but I feel like I need to move on and they do too. I do feel God lead me away and to a new church family. At my new home, there is a desire to learn and a mission field to reach people for Jesus. I am so glad God moved me away. When working with students, it can be hard to leave them. I worry about the students in my old church. But I have new ones that need guidance and direction. I thank God for New Ministries. To check out our new ministry visit us at Owensville Youth Ministry

Teaching to Word to Teenagers

Scott — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:53:16 +0000

Over the past few days I have been thinking about How to teach the Word of God to the teenagers in my youth group. Today’s teens have no knowledge of who did what or how to find it in the Bible. Somewhere we have let down teens by not teaching them the basics of the Bible and who did what.The first thing I need to do is teach them the stories about who did what and then use application to apply it to today’s life. The Students don’t see a connection to then and now. Start with who, what, when, then why. Once they see it God will do the rest. The Word is God breathed and so If we communicate it God will do the rest. My Goal in the next few weeks is to put a plan to teach the stories and applications and watch God do His thing. Scott

Time to Refresh and Reflect

Scott — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:17:43 +0000

I just spent the weekend with my wife at the National Youth Ministry Conference in Cincinnati, OH. Wow what a weekend. I spent most of my time listening to Duffy Robins teaching us how to Nurture Students. I have so much info about helping students know about God. One of the things that I loved and was challenged about was that I do not need to focus on the flash in getting the message across but the Message. I am so guilty of wanting to put on a show that will bring them back. If I do that then the students will come back for the show and not for God. I need to program around what the students need and not put a program to bring them and entertain them. There are so many youth ministers out there that want to show boat with no real in deep Bible study. I am a firm believer that the Word of God will speak to the students and not just the show. Another thing I was reminded about was God is still in control. No matter what I think, He is guiding and protecting Us in Ministry.Scott Huge selection of Youth Ministry Resources – YouthMinistry.com

Great Youth Ministry Resources

Scott — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:08:42 +0000

YouthMinistry.com – One Place… Infinite Ideas

Helping Teens Find Answers

Scott — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:06:19 +0000

In the past few weeks I have found myself helping teens find answers to tough questions. Kids today are so filled with drama in their lives that it is very hared as a youth worker to bring them down to the real world. When you tell them that God has a plan, they say well I have looked and God does not answer this question. Well, I them that it is there and we need to look together. Ministry is getting harder and harder everyday. Spend the time and show teens were they can find the anwsers they need. Educate them. Dont just say it. But show them were they can find it.

When working with students we must be positive and always reflecting God to teens. Even when their drama is better then watching it on tv. We must be Gods light to these teens. Work with them on finding the answers in the Word. Dont just say it do it. Use every resource you can, web, youtube, texting, email, video casting. What works will help you in ministry and help your students as well.

Scott

When does friendship and ministry mix?

Scott — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 03:44:57 +0000

I am trying to figure out when do you mix ministry with friendship. How can they mix. You are a minister to people and a friend to them as well can be hard. In ministry, being there friend is fine but sometimes it crosses with helping them spiritually and people can get angery. Where does the line exsist. Is there a line at all.

Most of my ministry life has been filled with friendships and then when I tried to minister to them it hurt our friendship. Most of the time I feel like I am on an island and in this alone. I know I am not, but it can be hard.

Never Too Old For Ministry

Scott — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:00:15 +0000

Recently I have found churches who think that because you are not in your twenties that you cannot relate to teenagers. Well I am here to tell you that they are wrong. I believe the older you get the better you can give. As a young youth minister I made a lot of mistake and did things I should have never tried with teenagers. As I grew up both age and spiritually I was able to minister to students and do it very well. But some of the church I have met with think that because I am not young then I can not work with young people. Student today need to build relationship with adults that will last. Creating an bond with a student can help them long after they leave the ministry.

I believe the best years are ahead of me in ministry. I am just look for the church that will let me help and lead there students.